Low-Key Tech Firm Moves to Mesa del Sol

Albuquerque, NM – July 5, 2010 Are-energized, local supplier of technical services is expanding with a move to the former Advent Solar building at Mesa del Sol.

“We have 40 people working 24/7 now,” said Steve Cox, CEO of global operations at MSR-FSR. “We will have 65-70 people before the end of this year.”

The company, which traces its roots back to 1996 in Albuquerque, is going to occupy more than half of the 87,596- square-foot building at 5600 University SE vacated by Advent Solar last year. MSR-FSR – stands for Field Support Resources and Material Support Resources – currently has about 14,000 square feet at 5601 Midway Park Place NE.

MSR-FSR is making the move without the fanfare that accompanied the recent announcement that CFV Solar Test Laboratory and the Fraunhofer Research and Development Facility were planning to take space in the same building. The test lab and the research facility are considered economic development home runs.

MSR-FSR, on the other hand, is a private company that’s growing organically in the local economy. A big reason for its expansion is landing the service contract to launder the “bunny suits” and other apparel worn in the clean rooms at Intel Corp.’s chip-making plant in Rio Rancho, Cox said.

“We’re starting from scratch,” he said.

The company is investing $2 million to get the laundering service on line, he said. Last month, the first two high-tech washing machines were delivered, each weighing nine tons and capable of doing 600 lbs. of laundry at a time. An estimated 25,000 to 30,000 articles of clean-room clothing are expected to be washed each week.

The company provides support services to the semiconductor, solar and pharmaceutical industries, including material and equipment supply, cleaning, repair, removal, conversion and installation. It is a supplier for Schott Solar, which will be one of its neighbors at the Mesa del Sol master-planned community south of the airport. It also works as a contractor and subcontractor in various capacities at Sandia National Laboratories.

The LEED-certified building at 5600 University SE was custom-built for the now-defunct Advent Solar in 2006. CFV Solar and Fraunhofer will take a combined 27,000 square feet, while MSR-FSR will occupy 46,000 square feet and use the existing clean room.

“It’s a pretty big coup given this commercial real estate market,” said Jason Lott, director of leasing at Mesa del Sol developer and building owner Forest City Covington. He attributed the success of simultaneously landing three tenants in one building to the future potential of the community, which is still in an early stage of development.

“People understand the vision at Mesa del Sol,” Lott said. “They understand it will be a special place.”

Jim Smith of CB Richard Ellis was the point man in the MSR-FSR lease. Terri Dettweiler and Scott Whitefield are marketing the remaining 6,704 square feet of available office space in the building.

MSR-FSR operated for years as ATMI Fab Services until its Danbury, Conn.-based parent company sold it and other noncore operations to a Canadian investment group in 2004. Cox said he was brought in to find a buyer when the investment group decided to sell the former ATMI operations in Albuquerque and elsewhere.

Recognizing the potential of the operations, Cox organized a management buyout in May 2009 and five operations were consolidated into MSR-FSR. In addition to Albuquerque, the company now has operations in Chandler, Ariz., which serves as its headquarters, as well as Gresham, Ore., and County Kildare, Ireland.