Partners

Thermo Fisher Scientific

Thermo Fisher Scientific (TFS) is a leading provider of scientific instruments, chemical reagents, consumables and software solutions for industrial, medical and academic laboratories, including biotechnology and pharma sectors. It was created in 2006 by merging of Thermo Electron and Fisher Scientific. In 2016 TFS acquired FEI Company, the well-known manufacturer of electron microscopes. FEI Company was founded in 1971 as a provider of ion and electron sources. Then it merged with Philips Electron Optics B.V. in 1971 and with Micrion Corp. in 1999 to deliver electron and ion-beam microscopes. TFS sells its product under the brands: Thermo Scientific (this includes electron microscopy business), Fisher Scientific and others. Within the super-large TFS portfolio, Labsoft offers transmission, scanning electron and DualBeam electron/ion microscopes. The flagship products include extremely high-resolution Spectra (S)TEM with its predecessor Titan, ultra-high-resolution Verios and Apreo SEMs, unrivaled Helios SDB and revolutionary Krios cryo-TEM. Besides fundamental research in materials and life sciences, these instruments are found across many industries.

Bruker

Bruker Corp. is among the world’s largest manufacturers of research and measurement equipment for academics and industry. The company was established in 1960 in Karlsruhe as Bruker-Physik AG and initially delivered high-resolution nuclear magnetic resonance systems. Within the next years, it had extensively broadened its product portfolio and rapidly expanded into global markets. Currently, Bruker Corp. has over 6000 employees and provides a broad spectrum of products for chemical analysis and phase identification of materials, imaging of live tissues, and topography analysis of surfaces. Within a huge Bruker portfolio, Labsoft offers market-leading surface characterization instruments – AFM microscopes and profilers, live tissue imaging tools – light-sheet and other fluorescence microscopes, and x-ray instruments – diffractometers and spectrometers. These include the following flagship products: Dimension Fastscan and NanoWizard AFM microscopes, MuVi light-sheet microscope, Contour and Dektak 3D surface profilers, D8 Advance DaVinci XRD, and D8 Lion spectrometer. These products are found in academic research laboratories and in industrial quality control facilities.

EDAX

EDAX International Inc. is a global manufacturer of energy- and wavelength – dispersive X-ray microanalysis detectors, and electron backscatter diffraction systems. It was founded in 1962 under the name Nuclear Diodes and ever since has been at the cutting edge of EDS, WDS and EBSD challenges for improved and meaningful microanalysis. In 2001 the company was acquired by AMETEK Inc. EDAX developed the first commercially available EDS system for electron microscopy already in 1969 and the first fully automated, digital EBSD system in 1994, which proves its great experience and know-how in X-ray and electron detection fields. The company currently offers EDS detectors for SEM and TEM microscopes, WDS and EBSD detectors for SEMs, and thorough software for standard and standardless quantitative analysis and for phase analysis. The flagship products are Octane SDD detectors, TEXS WDS detector, ultra-high-speed Velocity EBSD detector, and Tridient system integrating all microanalysis detectors under single software control.

Sentech

SENTECH Instruments GmbH develops and manufactures superior instruments for thin-layer optical characterization, systems for plasma processing and reactors for thin layer deposition. This German company was established in 1990 and ever since has extensively broadened its product portfolio and improved the capabilities of its instruments. SENTECH offers laser and spectroscopic ellipsometers, reflectometers, reactive-ion surface etching (RIE) systems, CVD and ALD deposition reactors. The flagship products are SENresearch wide-range (190-3500 nm) ellipsometer, SENDIRA FTIR ellipsometer, RIE SI 500 plasma etching reactor, PECVD SI 500D plasma deposition system with proprietary PTSA inductively coupled plasma source, and SI ALD reactor for deposition of oxide, nitride and metallic layers. SENTECH products are dedicated to fundamental research and industrial facilities, at the stage of both pilot and batch production.

Veeco

Veeco is an esteemed maker and supplier of cutting-edge instruments for technological processes related to formation, modification, and etching of thin films and layers. It was founded in 1945 in New York and its name stand for Vacuum Electronics Engineering Company. The current strategy to become a leading semiconductor and data storage equipment provider and to focus on advanced innovative surface technologies was established in 1990. Veeco offers a plethora of MBE sources and a full range of high-performance ALD, MBE, MOCVD, PVD and IBD systems. They include reactors suitable for manufacturers of highly specialized products like solar cells, high-brightness luminescence diodes, hard drives, semiconductor devices, MEMS, and wireless communications devices. The company is entirely committed to helping customers build superior devices by customizing the reactors to fit non-standard needs and requirements. The powerful and flexible systems for academic research are also offered. The flagship Veeco reactors are: GEN MBE, Lumina MOCVD, Savannah and Fiji ALD, and Nexus PVD.

Gatan

Gatan has been serving the customers for over 50 years providing leading technological products known for their high quality, robustness, and upgradability. Its products, both hardware and software, extend the performance and capabilities of electron microscopes, integrate various signals, and assist the scientists and operators. They are compatible with a wide range of electron microscopes, regardless of their manufacturer and age. Gatan, established in 1964, was acquired in 2006 by Roper Technologies, whilst in 2019 it became a part of Ametek Inc. The company motto is “There is always more to see”, which is of particular importance in electron microscopy world. Gatan delivers specimen preparation equipment, cameras, imaging energy filters and EELS spectrometers, TEM holders, imaging and CL detectors. The flagship products include a revolutionary GIF Continuum, a high-performance K3 direct detector, an efficient DigiScan beam controller, a robust PIPS polisher, and a novel SEM-CL Monarc system. They are complemented with Elsa cryo-transfer holder, a successor of the famous 626, and Digital Micrograph software, a well-recognized standard in TEM. Gatan products will perfectly fit any laboratory with an electron microscope.

PHI

Physical Electronics (PHI) is a recognized manufacturer of high-performance AES, XPS/ESCA, and SIMS spectrometers for surface chemistry. It was founded in 1969 as a spin-off at the University of Minnesota. From early days a relationship was established with ULVAC Corporation, which led to the formation of a joint-venture ULVAC-PHI in 1982. In 2003 ULVAC-PHI purchased Physical Electronics bringing both companies under one umbrella. The PHI instruments are well recognized for their high resolution and sensitivity, a range of ion guns suitable for etching any sample including polymers, a robust automation, and exceptionally good performance on difficult and inhomogeneous samples. The PHI instruments are used for research and development of advanced materials in many high-technology fields including: nanotechnology, microelectronics, storage media, bio-medical, and basic materials such as metals, polymers, and coatings. The company commitment is to provide customers with tools to solve challenging problems so that they can develop new and better materials and products. The flagship PHI spectrometers include VersaProbe XPS with a scanning source, Quantes HAXPES with scanning Cr source, and nanoTOF MS/MS SIMS.

Safematic GmbH

Safematic GmbH is a small 100% Swiss company established in 2010 in Zizers (Graubünden, Grisons). Not only a well-known Swiss precision but also the location in the so-called Vacuum Valley, which is known for high-tech and innovative vacuum technologies, already put high requirements on any company delivering vacuum-based instruments. Being aware of these expectations, Safematic engineers have designed and mastered robust vacuum coaters for electron microscopy preparation by evaporating carbon and/or sputtering metallic layers on low conductive specimens. Coaters are seemingly simple instruments; however, within Safematic approach they were equipped with several interesting, convenient, and unique modalities. They include an automatically fed carbon thread, limiting any user interventions particularly for thicker layers, and the modular design allowing for future upgrades. With these modalities, Safematic motto “make it visible” sounds both efficient and effective.

RMC Boeckeler

RMC is a well-known brand of products and solutions for preparation of biological and “soft” matter samples for electron microscopy. In order to judge their quality, reliability, and on-going development, let history speaks for itself. It all started in 1953 when Sorvall Inc. marketed the first commercial ultramicrotome, i.e. “Porter-Blum” MT-1. This concept and technology were acquired and mastered subsequently by DuPont de Nemours Inc. in 1974, then by RMC Inc. in 1985, and finally came under the umbrella of Boeckeler Instruments in 2000. The latter company had become the ideal place for further development. Indeed, the company is an experienced manufacturer of mechanical precision instruments. Already when established in 1942, Boeckeler Instruments produced mechanical micrometer heads accurate to 10 millionths of an inch, which still remains the finest precision. RMC Boeckler products include PowerTome ultramicrotomes with cryogenic attachment, ATUMtome for automatic thin section collection, rotary microtomes (also cryogenic versions), an automatic stainer, and a tissue processor.

DENSsolutions

DENSolutions is an innovative company established in 2012 in Delft (Netherlands) enabling in-situ TEM research. Its in-situ solutions for heating, biasing, gas and liquid allow scientists to control these stimuli inside the transmission electron microscope during real-time observations. The dedicated and field proven technology, software and service fully support users from sample management, data acquisition to data analysis. DENSsolutions products upgrade a TEM microscope, usually considered as a tool for static imaging and analysis, into a laboratory for nanotechnology that unveils the sample dynamics in micro- and nano-areas, even at the atomic scale. This upgrade, imparting a huge boost in capabilities, is seamless and truly noninvasive to a TEM hardware. It is realized by a dedicated TEM holder and a specialized MEMS sample carrier with proper electrodes, gas and liquid tubing and a vacuum-tight sealing. The current DENSsolutions products include Wildfire heating, Lightning biasing, Climate gas, and Stream liquid holders. They are at the forefront of today research in materials and life sciences and make valuable addition to any TEM laboratory.

Kleindiek

Kleindiek Nanotechnik GmbH is a widely known supplier of precision engineering devices for positioning and manipulation with micro- and nanometric precision. This German company was founded in 1997 and has already sold almost 3000 instruments and devices. Kleindiek develops high-precision micromanipulators and five-axis substages compatible with SEM and DualBeam microscopes offering maximum maneuverability and high resolution while maintaining small outer dimensions. Main applications include in-situ electrical probing, FIB lamella transfer from a sample to a grid, manipulation of nanoobjects, gas and fluid injection into sample microregions, and nanoindentation. Additionally, Kleindiek provides custom solutions tailored to customer needs.

SPI Supplies

SPI Supplies was established in 1975 and has been a division of 5-year older Structure Probe Inc. SPI Supplies is a widely known manufacturer and distributor of sample preparation equipment, spare items and consumable materials for a daily, routine operation of SEM, TEM, FIB, LM and SPM microscopes. The company offers also a wide range of reference samples for SEM and TEM calibration and performance testing, as well as standard kits for EDS and WDS spectroscopy. Furthermore, It provides a full range of devices, instruments, accessories, materials and chemicals related to preparation, cleaning, fastening and storage of samples. Due to its long-term experience, SPI Supplies readily supports customers in choosing the most appropriate materials and techniques.

SIOS

SIOS Meßtechnik GmbH was established in 1991. It develops and manufactures high-precision instruments measuring lengths, displacements, angles, and oscillation motion characteristics. With these instruments, the measurement process is contactless and bases on laser interferometry principle. The use of proprietary He-Ne lasers with stabilized emission results in less than 0.1 nm measurement resolution. The measured quantities can be used to calculate mass, force, velocity and others. SIOS offers independent miniature vibrometers and interferometers to be fitted into user-defined environments and devices. There are also ready-to-use instruments like nanovibration analyzers and nanopositioning systems, and stabilized He-Ne lasers.

PHI AB

Phase Holographic Imaging AB (PHI AB) is an advanced Swedish company founded in 2004 that has enabled the efficient use of holographic microscopy for live cell imaging. Its ground-breaking technology involves the automated, fast and digital extraction of images from a hologram recorded by an image sensor. In 2011, PHI AB launched its first HoloMonitor, a bench-top microscope for continuous 24/7 imaging of cell cultures directly inside an incubator. This time-lapse cytometer, currently the 4th generation M4, can quantify and monitor a large number of cells individually without artifacts introduced by staining and labeling. HoloMonitor is indispensable in every laboratory working on cancer research, autoimmune diseases, stem cell biology, gene therapy, regenerative medicine, and toxicology.

EBS Euchner Büro- und Schulsysteme GmbH

EBS is a German company that has been developing and manufacturing robust and intuitive multimedia lab systems for over 30 years. These systems are indispensable in training, conference and auditory rooms where they support instructors, teachers, lecturers, and presenters in enriching their sessions with active multimedia content like a live stream from scientific and lab instruments. Thus, the audience, students or course participants by being animated comprehend and digest the intended subject matter more efficiently. The company was established in 1984 as alpha Computer Service GmbH and sold its first own system called alphadidact® only a year later. In 1991 the company was renamed to EBS Euchner Büro- und Schulsysteme GmbH which translates to EBS Educational and Business systems. The EBS products, ever-developing alphadidact® Digital and videodidact® systems, have been purchased by many well-recognized universities, banks, global corporations, civil services and (non)government agencies.