Farfield has completed the acquisition of the resonant mirror optical biosensor business (formally known as Affinity Sensors ) and related assets from Thermo Electron
The acquisition, for an undisclosed sum, will increase Farfield's life science market penetration.
The acquisition is in line with Farfield's strategy of providing a comprehensive range of products and services allied to its core patented dual waveguide interferometer technology, including measurement tools for the characterisation of protein structure and function.
Farfield has contracted with Thermo Electron to undertake the manufacture and supply of cuvette consumables and provide continued service delivery to the existing Affinity Sensor IAsys instrument worldwide customer base.
The supply of the resonant mirror products will be undertaken by a new subsidiary, NeoSensors, which will also supply all the group's consumable products; including consumables for its sister subsidiary Farfield Scientific, which markets AnaLight dual polarisation interferometry (DPI) products.
The acquisition also gives Farfield the opportunity to introduce existing Affinity Sensor IAsys instrument users to the next generation of optical biosensors, as the AnaLight DPI product range provides this capability as one of the many application areas that it addresses.
Customers to be targeted cover a wide range from household names in pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries through to leading academic research facilities.
Farfield believes that this is an important addition that will enhance its long-term sales and earnings growth.
Neosensors is planned as a further Farfield subsidiary to be based at NetPark, Sedgefield, Co Durham.
The management team of Farfield Photonics will assist in the development of the business.
Sarfraz Mian, CEO of both businesses, says "NetPark is an ideal location for NeoSensors".
"Local academia, in the form of Durham University and the University of Newcastle, has attracted our presence here and we are confident that they will add to our successful development and delivery of customer requirements".
Gerry Ronan, CEO of Farfield Group, said: "I am delighted that we have been able to conclude this acquisition after a period of close collaboration".
"This addition to the technologies we offer is now part of a unique product portfolio that is generic and specifically addresses the difficult measurement challenges associated with functional and structural proteomics".
"By building on Thermo Electron's excellent customer relationships which we have in future undertaken to service, I am sure that we will mutually benefit from addressing all their application needs".
"We will be delighted to meet current requirements and fully expect to deliver to their increased future expectations."
