Agiltron's acquisition of portable/handheld device developer Raman Systems aligns with growth strategy
Agiltron, Inc. (Woburn, MA), developer and manufacturer of photonic and optical components for communications, sensing and imaging, says it has acquired the assets of privately held Raman Systems Inc. Founded in 1997 by professors at Boston University's Photonics Research Center, Raman Systems pioneered the development of portable--handheld and compact benchtop--and affordable Raman spectrometers for chemical analysis.
Initially based in the Boston area, Raman Systems, Inc. moved its headquarters to Austin, TX in 2005; as a business division of Agiltron, the company will return to New England. "Agiltron has retained the services of the key employees and moved the production facilities to Massachusetts," Agiltron's Director of Systems Engineering, Matthew Zavracky, told Laser Focus World.
The acquisition demonstrates Agiltron's strategy to accelerate growth in the emerging and rapidly growing optical technology markets. "Agiltron's industry leading position as a manufacturer of photonic components and systems will enable the company to offer Raman analysis solutions with better performance at reduced cost," said a press release from Agiltron. Amid the recession, Agiltron continues to hire industry veteran engineers and scientists to expand its U.S. operation, which employs more than 100 people. Earlier this year, Agiltron acquired the assets of the privately held SensArray Infrared (Burlington, MA).
Raman Systems initially targeted detection of low concentration contaminants in water. The company later diversified into delivering handheld and portable Raman spectrometers for most routine chemical analysis in the research lab, or on-field. It worked to expand the technique from the high-end research domain right into the general laboratory and industrial warehouses and quality control departments through three flagship products, the R-3000, the RSLPlus and the RPC-1. The company also made its own lasers, sampling accessories and software to create fully integrated systems.
Recently, Raman Systems announced that its products now can be configured to detect the radial breathing modes that are so important in working with carbon nanotubes.
For more information see the websites for Agiltron, Inc. and for Raman Systems, Inc.
Barbara Gefvert | Editor-in-Chief, BioOptics World (2008-2020)
Barbara G. Gefvert has been a science and technology editor and writer since 1987, and served as editor in chief on multiple publications, including Sensors magazine for nearly a decade.