Berlin, Germany 8/7/17­—Scientific instrument firm Bruker has purchased Italian company XGLab for an undisclosed amount. XGLab provides x-ray spectrometry and x-ray imaging systems, as well as x-ray and gamma radiation detection electronics. “Their instruments perfectly fit into our portfolio of handheld and mobile spectrometers for elemental analysis and imaging, and will allow us to serve our customers in many application fields even better, particularly in art and conservation, and materials research,” commented Bruker Nano Analytics (BNA) Division President Thomas Schuelein. “In addition, XGLab’s expertise in detector electronics and customized spectrometers will enhance our technology base and help us drive further innovation in x-ray detection and analysis.” XGLab will maintain is name and management. (For information about the small spot XRF market, see Market Profile.)

Asked about the product overlap, Mr. Schuelein told IBO, “There is actually very little overlap of XGLab’s products with the current product lines of the Bruker Nano Analytics (BNA) Division. Much rather XGLab’s portable analytical instruments, namely the ELIO portable small spot XRF analyzer, the CRONO macro XRF scanner, and the XRAMAN portable combined XRF and Raman analyzer, are fully complementary to BNA’s portfolio of handheld and portable XRF analyzers, closing the current gap (in terms of price/performance) between the TITAN and TRACER 5i handheld XRF analyzers and the higher-end micro XRF analyzers ARTAX and M6 JETSTREAM.”  

Regarding the company’s detector electronics and customized spectrometers, he commented, XGLab has deep knowledge and experience in the design of advanced electronic components for radiation detection and related signal processing, as well as in the design and production of complete, customized x- and gamma ray spectrometers. Electronic components include innovative Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs), such as the unique CMOS-based CUBE preamplifier for SDDs, or the VERDI versatile single or multi-channel readout solution for different types of radiation detectors, e.g., SDD, scintillation detectors, photomultipliers and others. 

He told IBO that XGLab currently has 14 employees. Bruker signed a distribution agreement with XGLab in 2015 for the portable ELIO XRF system for art conservation applications (see IBO 6/15/15).