Bruker AXS Acquires Metals Analysis Company

Bruker AXS GmbH today announced that it has acquired privately-held Quantron GmbH from its founders. The stock purchase agreement was signed and the transaction closed simultaneously on Wednesday. The purchase price was not disclosed; the new company will be known as Bruker-Quantron GmbH.

Quantron, located in Kleve, manufactures advanced arc/spark optical emission spectroscopy (OES) systems for numerous metals analysis applications, including: ferrous and non-ferrous foundries, primary metal production, metal processing and machining industries (diecasting, forging, rolling mills, etc.) and suppliers of metal products to automotive industries.

The Quantron Magellan spark-optical emission spectroscopy system. (Photo: Business Wire)

The arc/spark OES market has been growing significantly in recent years, with an estimated total market size of $150 million to $200 million in 2006, Bruker AXS said. Since its inception, Quantron has grown rapidly to an annual revenue run-rate greater than $6 million.

Quantron was established in June 2002 by a group of founders with many years of experience in the spark-OES metals analysis markets. Quantron's main shareholder was Paul Friedhoff, the former founder and CEO of Spectro A.I. GmbH, and a well-known pioneer in the field of spark-OES. Friedhoff will continue to lead the business as managing director and executive chairman, Bruker said.

After the acquisition, Bruker-Quantron GmbH will remain and expand in its Kleve location to provide leading stationary and mobile OES systems. Bruker AXS will provide distribution, service, research and development and operating management assistance. The majority of Quantron's successful distributors will be retained, and will be supported by additional regional Bruker AXS spark-OES applications and service centers worldwide, Bruker said.

Friedhoff said, "The speed with which Quantron has been growing in the past two years shows that we started with the right team and the right product ideas. In order to maintain this rapid growth, we have been looking for a complementary and competent strategic partner. With Bruker AXS we have found a company from the same industry that can positively contribute to every aspect of Quantron's business activities. The Bruker management has developed an in-depth understanding of Quantron's fundamental interests and requirements, and we share the same philosophies of quality and excellence. Our goal is long-term success with a growing product line. We want to become a leader in the field of optical emission spectroscopy."

Bruker AXS President Frank Laukien said, "Quantron has developed a strong distribution system in the metals industry, particularly in many parts of Asia. The Quantron spark-OES systems and technology are very complementary to our existing stationary x-ray fluorescence (XRF) systems for metal foundries, as well as to our new handheld XRF product line. This acquisition will further strengthen the industrial analysis business of Bruker AXS."

Bruker BioSciences Corp. of Billerica, Mass., is the parent company of Bruker AXS Inc., which is based in Karlsruhe. For more information, visit: www.bruker-axs.de