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Business Description
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
Business Description
1) Business Description

MKS Instruments, Inc. (“MKS” or the “Company”) was founded in 1961 and is a global provider of instruments, subsystems and process control solutions that measure, control, power, monitor and analyze critical parameters of advanced manufacturing processes to improve process performance and productivity of advanced manufacturing processes. MKS groups its products into three product groups based upon the similarity of the product function, type of product and manufacturing processes. These three groups of products are: Instruments, Control and Vacuum Products; Power and Reactive Gas Products; and Analytical Solutions Group Products. MKS’ products are derived from its core competencies in pressure measurement and control, materials delivery, gas composition analysis, control and information technology, power and reactive gas generation and vacuum technology.

The Company has four reportable segments: Advanced Manufacturing Capital Equipment; Analytical Solutions Group; Europe Region Sales & Service; and Asia Region Sales & Service.