Roentec has developed an X-ray microanalysis product line with outstanding detector technology, fast acquisition electronics and a comprehensive analysis and quantification software
Bruker AXS has announced an agreement to acquire Roentec, an X-ray microanalysis instrumentation company with annual revenues of US$6-7 million, based in Berlin, Germany.
Terms of the transaction were not disclosed, but the acquisition is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2005.
The worldwide X-ray microanalysis market is estimated to be greater than $150 million per year, and Bruker AXS so far has not participated in this market segment.
Typical applications of X-ray microanalysis include nanotechnology and advanced materials research with customers in industry, academia and government research facilities.
Roentec has developed a 'technically leading' X-ray microanalysis product line with outstanding detector technology, fast acquisition electronics and a comprehensive, user-friendly analysis and quantification software suite.
Roentec also has developed unique mobile systems for the X-ray elemental microanalysis of works of art, as well as transportable total X-ray reflection (TXRF) systems for elemental trace analysis in liquids, eg for environmental or beverage analysis applications.
Roentec has established good distribution and service capabilities in certain countries, primarily in Europe.
Thomas Schuelein, CEO of Roentec, stated: "We are excited about this acquisition because we see strong technological and distribution synergies between Roentec and Bruker AXS in the microanalysis market.
"Moreover, we believe that Bruker AXS' global distribution capabilities can also enhance the revenue growth for the novel mobile microXRF and TXRF systems that we have pioneered in recent years.
"Being part of the international Bruker AXS organisation will enable us to offer our customers around the globe enhanced support and service for our innovative, high quality products".
Frank Burgaezy, executive vice president at Bruker AXS, commented: "Roentec has pioneered advanced detector technologies and novel methods for microanalysis, and has a strong customer base in certain geographical markets.
"However, Roentec has been distribution-limited and at a size disadvantage relative to its larger competitors.
"We believe that the innovative Roentec technologies and product lines, further enhanced by our technological capabilities, can offer leading performance and comprehensive software capabilities to X-ray microanalysis customers in materials research worldwide".
Background on X-ray microanalysis market.
The X-ray microanalysis market consists of X-ray accessories for scanning and transmission electron microscopes, as well as of stand-alone micro X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectrometers.
X-ray microanalysis is considered to be one of the faster growing segments of the overall X-ray analysis market.
Bruker AXS, a technology and market leader in X-ray diffraction (XRD) systems for advanced materials and nanotechnology research, in X-ray single crystal diffraction (SCD crystallography) systems for small molecule and protein 3D structural analysis, and in X-ray fluorescence (XRF) elemental analysis for a variety of materials analysis and quality control applications, so far has not participated in X-ray microanalysis, which is a fourth important X-ray analysis market segment.
Bruker BioSciences, headquartered in Billerica, Massachusetts, is the publicly traded parent company of Bruker AXS and Bruker Daltonics.
Bruker AXS is a developer and provider of life science and advanced materials research tools based on X-ray technology.
Bruker Daltonics is a developer and provider of innovative life science tools based on mass spectrometry.
