Bruker broadens optical portfolio with Spectral Instruments Imaging

07 Feb 2024

Acquisition of Tucson company fills a gap with bioluminescence and fluorescence tools for preclinical disease research.

In vivo imaging

Analytical instrument vendor Bruker is set to further expand its offering of optics-based equipment with the acquisition of Arizona-based Spectral Instruments Imaging (SII).

Established in Tucson’s “Optics Valley” region in 2009, SII has developed a range of scientific tools used in disease research, in particular in vivo animal studies.

Those imaging tools include bioluminescence (BLI), fluorescence (FLI) and X-ray systems, which are said to be engineered with superior optics and proprietary LED illumination designs.

“Intelligently designed around the needs of animal scientists, all Spectral Instrument Imaging systems include a robust build, patented LED illumination source, custom filter options, -90°C cooled camera, and absolute calibration,” states the firm.

Bruker added: “This acquisition fills a gap in the technology and product portfolio of the Bruker BioSpin Preclinical Imaging (PCI) division, broadening its range of preclinical solutions for disease research.”

Disease research
In a statement from the two companies, SII’s CEO Keith Copeland - who co-founded SII with current CTO and president Gary Sims - said: “Spectral Instruments Imaging systems perfectly complement the Bruker Preclinical offering.

“Joining Bruker represents a significant milestone in our history, and we are looking forward to enabling our customers to benefit from different preclinical imaging modalities to understand biological disease processes even more comprehensively in vivo.”

Wulf-Ingo Jung, the president of Bruker’s PCI division, added: “We are very pleased to welcome the talented SII team. Their advanced BLI, FLI and X-ray imaging systems complement our portfolio to better serve the diverse needs of our preclinical customers.

“We are committed to fostering strong collaborations with our customers for advanced preclinical in vivo disease research.”

According to Bruker, in 2023 SII generated a profit on sales in the region of $10 million. Neither company disclosed the acquisition price or any additional financial details about the transaction.

News of the latest deal comes just a couple of months after Bruker said it was acquiring the Sheffield, UK, microscopy startup Phasefocus. Related recent moves have also included agreements to buy the neurophotonics firms Inscopix and Neurescence.