SMC bought for $13 million

has entered into an agreement to acquire the stock of

, a supplier of laser assemblies, laser components and materials, for $13 million cash. The transaction is expected to close within the next thirty days.

Based in Bozeman, MT, Scientific Materials was founded in 1989 as a producer of specialty crystals for use in high-end laser manufacturing. The company has expanded into the production of military grade laser assemblies and high quality laser components used by a variety of industrial, medical, scientific and military laser manufacturers.

"We are seeing increasing demand for laser payloads in many of our systems, and the acquisition of SMC will give us greater control over the development, manufacturing, and cost of this important subassembly," commented Earl R. Lewis, President and CEO of FLIR Systems.