Saint-Gobain Crystals is an operating unit of Compagnie de Saint-Gobain, which is based in Paris, France.
Saint-Gobain was created in 1665 by Louis XIV’s Minister of Finance, Jean-Baptiste Colbert, to break Venice’s monopoly over the glass trade. Saint-Gobain supplied the mirrors for the Hall of Mirrors in the Palace of Versailles in 1684.
Has been established since:
1853 in Germany, 1889 in Italy, 1904 in Spain and Benelux, 1937 in Brazil, 1967 in the United States.
The Foundation of Saint-Gobain Crystals, Scintillation Products
1930’s
Harshaw Chemical Company is the first major manufacturer to develop and produce scintillation crystals.
1940’s
Quartz & Silice, a subsidiary of Saint-Gobain, begins production of optical crystals and scintillation crystals.
1969
Bicron Corporation is established and begins production of NaI(Tl) scintillation ingots.
1990
Saint-Gobain acquires Bicron Corporation and Harshaw brand products from Engelhard.
1992
Crismatec-Grenoble is acquired. Crismatec becomes the new name for the Quartz & Silice entity.
1997
Bicron Products Private Limited (BPPL) production facility is opened in Bangalore, Karnataka, India
1999
Bicron acquires TGM Detectors and Gamma Laboratories.
2000
All of the above businesses and brand names are united under the Saint-Gobain name.
2002
Bicron Radiation Measurement and Protection division is sold to Thermo Electron.
2003
Introduction of new scintillation crystals Lanthanum Chloride, Lanthanum Bromide and LYSO, which are later, marketed under the BrilLanCe and PreLude trademarks.
2008
Saint-Gobain Crystals headquarters and Scintillation manufacturing operations move to new facility in Hiram, Ohio.