Company Announcements

Etaluma and DR Vision announced in June a strategic partnership to combine their respective Lumascope inverted LS microscope, and Aivia image visualization and analysis software. The solution is designed for image-based assays, including live-cell assays.

JEOL announced in June that it initiated in April a collaboration with Tohoku University to develop a soft x-ray emission spectrometer and spectrum database.

In June, Nikon announced a reorganization of its business segments, beginning March 31, 2018. The Instruments Business, consisting of the Microscope Solutions and the Industrial Metrology Business Units, will be dissolved. The Microscope Solutions business, along with the Medical Business Development Division, will form the new Healthcare Business Unit.

In July, Nikon Instruments announced the development of the Nikon Imaging Center at the University of California, San Diego, which will provide imaging technology. It will be the third Nikon Imaging Center in North America.

Leica Microsystems named in July Opti-Tech Scientific as its exclusive representative for microscope solutions for industrial, materials research and forensic science in Québec, Canada. Opti-Tech currently represents Leica Microsystems’ imaging products in several regions of Canada.

In July, ZEISS announced its entry into the semiconductor process control market, forming the Process Control Solutions business unit, part of the ZEISS Semiconductor Manufacturing Technology business group. The unit’s product lines include the ZEISS Crossbeam and MultiSEM electron microscopes, and the ZEISS ORION NanoFab ion beam microscope. In connection, ZEISS opened a Customer Center in Pleasanton, California, in June.

In July, ZEISS announced the term of office extension of President and CEO Dr. Michael Kaschke until June 2020.

Product Introductions

LIG Nanowise launched in May the Nanopsis One based on its Super-resolution Microsphere-Assisted Lens (SMAL), which uses a microsphere to collect the invisible sub-wavelength light and convert it into a virtual super-resolution image. The resolving unit is sub-100 nm across X, Y and Z planes.

In July, Shimadzu Japan launched the SPM-8100FM SPM for ultra-high-resolution observation and high throughput. Compared to the SPM-8000 FM, it offers 5 times faster data acquisition and 4 times larger maximum scan range.

Hitachi High-Technologies released in July the TM4000 and TM4000Plus tabletop microscopes. New features include export of SEM images into a wider range of software formats, assisted navigation of a sample during visual field search and a motor-driven stage to select regions of interest via digital navigation.

Hitachi High-Technologies launched in July the new ETHOS FIB-SEM, featuring a new magnetic/electrostatic compound lens to deliver sub-nanometer imaging features in high contrast for low-voltage SEM applications. Sales will begin this fall.

In July, Phenom-World introduced the fifth generation desktop Phenom Pro and ProX SEMs, featuring enhanced imaging performance, a 20% resolution improvement, a larger choice of detectors and new software enabling more applications.

JEOL released in July the 4DCanvas STEM Detector for TEM, which records the position and intensity of all transmitted, diffracted and scattered electrons as a 2D pattern for every pixel of an SEM image. The detector acts as a highly sensitive multichannel STEM detector with 264 x 264 channels (one per pixel).

In August, JEOL launched the JSM-IT500HR SEM, featuring a high-brightness electron gun and the Multi Touch Operating System. It is available in two models: the JSM-IT500HR/LV for high- and low-volume image observation, and the JSM-IT500HR/LA with a EDS system.

In August, WITec announced the availability of its RISE (Raman Imaging and Scanning Electron) microscope with the ZEISS Sigma 300 FE-SEM for correlative Raman-SEM, enabling 3D chemical characterization. The fully integrated instrument is available as an OEM product through ZEISS that features a standard, unmodified vacuum chamber and SEM column, along with a complete confocal Raman microscope and spectrometer.

Thermo Fisher Scientific released in August the Thermo Scientific Krios G3i and the Thermo Scientific Glacios cyro-TEM for structural biology. The systems can be used together for a single particle analysis workflow or independently. The Krios G3i features enhanced automation.  The Glacios cyro-TEM provides an entry path into cryo-EM with a small footprint and ease of use.

In August, Thermo Fisher Scientific unveiled the new Thermo Scientific Aquilos, calling it the first commercial cryo-DualBeam system dedicated to the preparation of frozen, thin lamella samples from biological specimens for high-resolution tomographic imaging in cryo-TEM.

In August, Thermo Fisher Scientific launched the new compact Thermo Scientific Talos F200i S/TEM for materials research in research labs. It allows for customization to meet specific lab’s requirements and includes automated features.

Thermo Fisher Scientific introduced in August the new Thermo Scientific Quattro FE environmental SEM for materials science research under a wide range of experimental conditions, including hot, wet or chemically active. Accessors include a CL detector and high-vacuum heating stage.

In August, Bruker released the XMethod software package, calling it the world’s first software package for the analysis of composition and thickness of single or multiple layers based on data obtained by sample excitation with the XTrace micro-focus x-ray source for SEM.

Oxford Instruments introduced in August a solution for real-time chemical imaging by EDS, combining the new fast SDD, the Ultim Max, and AztecLive software. It enables real-time sample navigation. The Ultim Max can collect maps of active areas up to 170 mm².

Sales and Orders of Note

In June, the University of Limerick’s Bernal Institute announced the installation of a Thermo Fisher Scientific Titan Themis TEM, which it valued at €6 million ($7 million).