Faces of Technology: Industry Growth Enables Vacuum Technology Innovation

Success doesn’t happen in a vacuum. For Paul Sergile, it happened because of a vacuum.

Paul always loved working on mechanical objects. With an auto-mechanic uncle and a penchant for fixing things, he found mechanical engineering was the right fit when working to obtain his degree from the University of Florida. And though Paul dreamed of one day working in the automotive industry as a race engineer, he discovered his passion for manufacturing by recognizing his strengths: designing, building and improving.

Paul is now the director of engineering at ANCORP, a high and ultra-high vacuum manufacturing facility in Gainesville. The vacuum technology and innovative components developed at ANCORP live in the background of processes that make many modern implements possible – objects that are relied upon daily in households and industry.

As he explained, “Some of the products we empower through vacuum technologies are LED lights, handheld devices, semiconductor chips, coated vision lenses, insulated glass and even the foil lining inside a bag of chips. But we also support industries like solar energy, space exploration and lab research at the national level.”

ANCORP’s flagship product is its patented vacuum ball valve – a high-performing, premium device that is ideal for isolating reactors, traps and scrubbers on vacuum process tools.

While Paul’s career has grown, so have the aerospace and nanotechnology industries where vacuum technology is becoming more common. In fact, more than half of the high tech industries represented in The Corridor use vacuum components directly, with the other half still being indirectly affected. This leaves an opportunity for growth in Florida and beyond.

Paul has achieved so much throughout his tenure, but he’s still looking to the horizon.

“Professionally, I feel my greatest accomplishments are yet to come because I take pride in my work and strive for excellence in everything I do,” he said. “If I remain faithful to my pursuit of excellence, there are sure to be a lot of accomplishments in my future.”

Surely, there are. Paul has passed his love for technology and science on to his children who both aspire to become scientists and are bound to be his most important legacy.