Bruker AXS Buying AFM Maker

Analytical x-ray systems manufacturer Bruker AXS GmbH of Karlsruhe, Germany, announced it will acquire the German company SIS (Surface Imaging Systems) GmbH, a maker of advanced atomic force/scanning probe microscopy (AFM/SPM) systems, for an undisclosed amount.

AFM/SPM is used for ultrahigh spatial resolution surface imaging and the characterization of surfaces down to atomic dimensions. SIS, which is located in Herzogenrath, near Aachen, has annual revenues of about $3 million, Bruker said. Its systems are used for applications in materials research including semiconductors, data storage, electronic materials, solar cells, polymers and catalysts.

"Many of the AFM/SPM market segments and applications overlap with those of our x-ray diffraction (XRD) business, making the SIS products an excellent addition for our established worldwide XRD sales force. This clear marketing and distribution synergy is expected to be a major driver for the growth of our new Bruker AFM/SPM product line," said Dr. Frank Burgaezy, executive vice president of Bruker AXS.

Following the acquisition, SIS will be renamed Bruker Nano GmbH but will remain in Herzogenrath. Frank Saurenbach and Hans-Achim Fuss, physicists who founded SIS in 1993 and who now serve as managing directors, will continue to lead the business in their current positions. Some SIS distributors will be retained, Bruker said.

"We are very excited about this acquisition because we see a strong potential for revenue growth using Bruker AXS' global distribution capabilities. Being part of the international Bruker AXS organization will enable us to grow our customer base around the globe and offer our existing customers enhanced applications support and service capabilities for our innovative, high quality AFM products," said Dr. Saurenbach.

The transaction is expected to close in the third quarter of 2008.

For more information, visit: www.bruker-axs.com