Crystal Sonic Inc.

By David Lee | May 6, 2026

Crystal Sonic Inc. develops in advanced manufacturing for next generation semiconductors. The company’s patented Sonic Lift-off technology reduces waste and lowers cost for semiconductor manufacturers by harnessing the power of sound. By incorporating Sonic Lift-off technology, chip makers can improve manufacturing sustainability and accelerate the emergence of advanced chips essential for electrification, communications, and sensing applications of tomorrow.

Arno Merkle

Arno Merkle, Co-founder and CEO of Crystal Sonic is an accomplished leader in the capital equipment and deep tech industries. With a robust background in leading product teams and driving business development at renowned companies including Carl Zeiss, Tescan, Xradia, and XRE, Arno has been instrumental in shaping the landscape of advanced electron- and X-ray microscopy systems across various sectors. His strategic contributions led to successful exits at startups Xradia and XRE in 2013 and 2018, respectively.

Arno holds a Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering from Northwestern University (2007) and currently resides in Phoenix, Arizona.