National Electrostatics Corporation (NEC) is the world's leader in the manufacture of electrostatic ion beam accelerator systems. The principal founder of the National Electrostatics Corp., Professor Raymond G. Herb, was the first person to make the Van de Graaff electrostatic generator practical for use as an MeV ion beam accelerator in the early 1930's. The basic concepts of the pressurized generator with a reliable charging system, positive ion source integrated into the high voltage terminal, graded accelerating tube and column were developed by Prof. Herb, his students and colleagues at the University of Wisconsin. NEC was incorporated in Middleton, Wisconsin in 1965.