Agilent in AFM acquisition

Agilent Technologies has acquired privately held Molecular Imaging Corporation, a developer and manufacturer of nanotechnology measurement tools. Financial details were not disclosed.

Based in Tempe, Arizona, Molecular Imaging is known for its atomic force microscopes (AFMs), the principal imaging and measurement instruments used by researchers working in nanotechnology.

“This is a strategic acquisition for Agilent because it complements our core strength of measurement technology while growing our presence in nanotechnology,” said Bob Burns, vice president of Agilent’s Nanotechnology Measurements Division. ”Molecular Imaging has premier AFM technology that is the high-performance value leader in the market and is the leader in imaging ’in-situ’ samples in their natural state.”

Nanotechnology is important to Agilent, Burns said, because it is a common denominator between the two chief areas of the company’s business, electronic measurement and analytical measurement, which concentrates on life sciences and chemical analysis.

Atomic force microscopes represent a significant portion of the $1 billion market for nanotechnology measurement tools. Molecular Imaging’s chief product line is the PicoPlus family of modular, high-resolution AFMs, which are used for high-resolution imaging in fluids as well as ambient and controlled environmental and temperature conditions.