Thorlabs Adds Scientific Cameras Through Acquisition

Thorlabs Inc. has expanded its life sciences portfolio with the acquisition of Digital Video Camera Co. (DVC) of Austin, Texas, a manufacturer of digital imaging solutions for scientific and industrial applications.

Over the past several years, Thorlabs has invested heavily in the life sciences market, adding a Virginia-based imaging systems group that offers a range of microscopy-based products. The DVC acquisition further strengthens the company’s portfolio through the addition of scientific cameras, including an interline CCD camera with optional time delay imaging capability that significantly increases the throughput of whole-slide scanning as compared to conventional methods.

“Our initial step into the life sciences market began over a decade ago with the development of our optical coherence tomography systems,” said Alex Cable, founder and CEO of Thorlabs. “Since that time, a focused effort by our Virginia-based team has expanded our imaging systems offering to include confocal and multiphoton imaging systems. The acquisition of DVC is yet another step forward in terms of providing the tools and systems life sciences researchers need.”

The DVC group and manufacturing facility will remain in Austin and will operate under the name Thorlabs Scientific Imaging (TSI).

“We will continue to create new products and add value for our world-class OEM customers, while also serving the scientific imaging needs of Thorlabs' expanding customer base,” said Ash Prabala, founder of DVC and now chief technologist and co-manager of TSI. In collaboration with other groups within Thorlabs, the company also will develop solutions for whole-slide scanning and other challenging applications.

For more information, visit: www.thorlabs.com