Thermo Fisher Scientific acquires laser-based sensing company NovaWave

Franklin, MA--Thermo Fisher Scientific, a provider of scientific instrumentation, acquired NovaWave Technologies (Redwood City, CA), a developer and manufacturer of advanced laser-based chemical sensors for environmental monitoring, industrial, and safety applications (see also “Thermo Fisher introduces high-resolution UV-visible spectrophotometer” and “Thermo Fisher Scientific and Siemens collaborate on spectroscopy for drug development and manufacture”). NovaWave has 18 employees and generated revenues of $4 million in 2009 (see also “NovaWave Mid-IR laser source is broadly tunable”).

NovaWave has developed an extensive array of gas measurement systems that use laser technology to enhance sensitivity, specificity, precision, and accuracy for multiple applications. The acquisition expands Thermo Fisher’s leadership position in environmental monitoring, process monitoring, and isotopic ratio measurements, and provides complementary technology to more accurately measure the presence of critical gases.

“The growing concern regarding climate change and the collective development of regulatory controls present a unique opportunity to showcase our leading Thermo Scientific line of environmental instruments,” said Greg Herrema, president of Thermo Fisher’s Analytical Instruments businesses. “The expansion of our portfolio through NovaWave’s sensors for monitoring greenhouse gases is another great example of how we enable our customers to make the world cleaner.”

In the United States, the Environmental Protection Agency recently mandated that facilities exceeding established greenhouse gas emission standards be required to submit annual reports. This includes utilities, oil and chemical refineries; cement, glass, pulp and paper plants; manufacturers of motor vehicles and engines; and confined animal-feeding operations. The technology acquired from NovaWave will reinforce Thermo Fisher Scientific’s leading position in this rapidly developing regulatory arena.

NovaWave will be integrated into Thermo Fisher’s Analytical Technologies Segment and provide enhanced measurement capabilities for environmental instruments, scientific instruments and process instruments.

--Posted by Gail Overton; [email protected]; www.laserfocusworld.com.