Company Announcements

FEI opened a nearly 300,000 ft2, $38 million technology center in Brno, Czech Republic, in September. The facility expands the company’s operations in the city, employs around 600 people and is responsible for about 60% of the company’s electron-microscope production.

In October, Yale University and Leica Microsystems opened a microscopy Center of Excellence. They also plan to collaborate in the development of novel imaging technologies. This is the business’s first such partnership in the US.

Biplane, an Oxfords Instruments company, partnered to distribute microDimensions’ Voloom software for the alignment and reconstruction of whole-slide scanner images to the life science market.

In October, the University of Connecticut announced a collaboration with FEI to establish a center for microscopy and materials-science research, which will open in mid-2015 and house seven FEI instruments. Funding, which is provided in roughly the same amount by the partners, is expected to top $25 million over 15 years.

In November, Nikon Instruments announced a strategic partnership with JEOL to research and develop solutions for correlative light and electron microscopy.

Product Introductions

DELMIC and Phenom-World introduced in September the cost-efficient Delphi fully integrated correlative tabletop fluorescence and electron microscope, designed for ease of use.

Leica Microsystems launched the easy-to-use Leica Application Suite X imaging software for life sciences, which spans its widefield, confocal and super-resolution platforms. Modules are available for specific applications.

RHK Technology released the closed-cycle cryogen-free PanScan-Freedom LT UHV SPM. It features 15–400 K operation.

Park Systems launched in September Park Analytical Services for the US market in October.

In November, Park Systems released the PinPoint Nanomechanical Mode, designed to measure and map mechanical properties in materials and biological cells simultaneously and in real time from high-speed force-distance curves with accurate control of both contact force and time.

Park Systems launched SmartScan operating software, which automates all of the functions of setting up and capturing the image.

In September, Olympus introduced the FV-OSR super-resolution technology, via an imaging license, for use in conjunction with the FLUOVIEW FY1200 biological confocal laser-scanning microscope with a maximum resolution of approximately 120 nm.

Hiden Analytical introduced the Hiden Compact SIMS, featuring a small footprint and ease of use.