New Castle, DE 1/30/14; New Castle, DE 1/30/14; Washington, DC 2/27/14—TA Instruments, a division of Waters, has acquired three companies. In December 2013, TA acquired US-based LaserComp, a manufacturer of thermal conductivity test instruments, including heat flow meters and guarded hot plate systems. The company was purchased for $12 million in cash, according to an SEC filing. LaserComp’s FOX product line of thermal conductivity test instruments is used by many leading insulation manufacturers, according to the filing. “LaserComp systems are well recognized for their accuracy, durability and ease of use. They are a perfect complement to our fast growing laser flash and xenon flash systems,” said TA President Terry Kelly. Also in December 2013, TA acquired Italy-based Expert Systems Solutions (ESS) for $3 million in cash, according to the SEC filing. ESS designs and manufactures noncontact optical thermal analysis instrumentation, including heating microscopes, optical dilatometers and optical fleximeters, with a focus on the ceramics industry. “The addition of the ESS product line positions TA at the forefront of the emerging field of optical dilatometry. TA is the only company in the world capable of offering customers such a wide range of dilatometer systems for measuring dimensional changes in materials,” commented Mr. Kelly. Also disclosed in the filing was Waters’s January 2014 acquisition of ULSP for $3 million in cash. ULSP manufactures and services low temperature coolers for thermal analysis and rheology applications.