Bruker Expands AFM Capabilities

Billerica, MA 7/12/18—Scientific instrument firm Bruker has acquired JPK Instruments for an undisclosed amount. JPK Instruments’ 2017 revenues totaled €10 million ($11 million at €0.89 = $1). JPK’s systems are used for biomolecular and cellular imaging, and force measurements on single molecules, cells and tissues. “We have been making a substantial investment in advanced technologies for life science imaging, and have built up a portfolio of fluorescence microscopy products that enable biologists in research areas that require deep, fast imaging at high resolution and at low phototoxicity,” said Bruker NANO President Dr. Mark R. Munch. Bruker stated that the acquisition adds to Bruker’s existing fluorescence microscopy techniques, which include multiphoton microscopy, swept­-field confocal microscopy, super-­resolution microscopy and single-­plane illumination microscopy. JPK makes biological AFM and optical tweezers for applications including life science imaging and force measurements.

This is Bruker’s fifth acquisition this year (including Bruker Buys Dairy Analysis Firm) and the second AFM-focused firm it has purchased in addition to Anasys Instruments (see IBO 4/15/18). The purchase adds to Bruker’s technology offering for cell biology and neuroscience, which are among the company’s applications focus. JFK’s instrumentation is used to study the effects of physical forces on cells and tissues.

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