Oxford Instruments, a leading provider of high technology tools and systems for industry and research, has spent more than £40m acquiring nanotechnology companies in Germany and the US.
The Oxfordshire-based group, which has a plasma technology subsidiary focused on the engineering of micro and nano structures, at Yatton, North Somerset, has paid £28.1m for Omicron NanoTechnology, near Frankfurt that designs and produces advanced microscopes and chemical analysis instruments for nanotechnology research. It has also committed £12.1m to the acquisition of Omniprobe based in Dallas, Texas, which designs and produces tools giving customers nano-scale laboratory capabilities within microscopes.
The group says both acquired businesses share a similar customer base and will create opportunities for the development of integrated new products in its nanotechnology tools sector.
Chief executive Jonathan Flint said: "I'm delighted with these acquisitions, which augment our growing ability to offer a suite of tools that help our customers benefit from the opportunities offered by nanotechnology."
