FLUORESCENCE SPECTROSCOPY/ NANOBIOTECHNOLOGY: Acquisitions strengthen positions of equipment suppliers

Recent acquisitions promise to strengthen the positions of HORIBA in fluorescence spectroscopy and Oxford Instruments in nano-bio.

HORIBA's (Kyoto, Japan) acquisition of the global assets of Photon Technology International (Birmingham, NJ) and its affiliate companies increases the market share of HORIBA Scientific group companies (including the U.S.-based Fluorescence Spectroscopy Division) in fluorescence spectroscopy, a technique critical for a number of high-growth applications.

HORIBA says it is the world leader in fluorescence spectroscopy with 15% global market share. While recent economic developments have reduced global government research spending, demand for fluorescence-based spectral analysis in the life sciences is growing, driven by biomedical applications such as next-generation regenerative medical therapies and developing next-generation food and agricultural products. HORIBA aims to leverage this opportunity by using PTI's network in these rapidly growing areas. The company says that five years from now, the company expects $44 million in fluorescence spectroscopy sales.

Meanwhile, research tools supplier Oxford Instruments' (Abingdon, England) acquisition of Andor Technology (Belfast, Northern Ireland), maker of high-performance cameras, microscopy systems, and software, will spearhead Oxford's strategic expansion into nano-bio: "We want to be part of a future which sees the use of nanotechnology tools in the biological arena for both analysis and eventually fabrication of bio materials," said Jonathan Flint, CEO of Oxford Instruments. For Andor, which becomes an Oxford Instruments company, joining the group means increased investment in R&D, expansion of its product range, and the opportunity to broaden its reach into new markets and applications.