SmartLabs & Automation | Industry Spotlights & Insight Articles

Bruker Corp to buy Chemspeed in ramp-up of automation portfolio

Automation of laboratory workflows can improve the speed and efficiency of QC and R&D; the acquisition represents the development of Bruker’s entry into the field.

NASDAQ-listed Swiss scientific instruments company Bruker Corporation announced on January 25 2024 that it has agreed to acquire Chemspeed Technologies AG, another Swiss provider of laboratory equipment.

Chemspeed provides automation, digitisation, and robotics solutions for modular R&D and QC workflows, which counterparts Bruker’s own development into the lab automation field. Bruker’s platform SciY aims to provide software solutions for vendor-agnostic laboratory automation.

RELATED:

The introduction of automation into life science workflows is able to vastly improve development time for drug products. To this end, Chemspeed offers a wide range of machinery to integrate automation into the R&D and QC workflows of pharma and biotech companies.

Rolf Gueller, founder and CEO of Chemspeed, will stay with the company on the advisory board. He said: “Our team is excited to join Bruker to further boost automated and digitalized workflows for our customers. With decades of experience in automating R&D workflows, our modular solutions accelerate developments, allowing lab technicians and scientists to focus on their core competencies and creativity.”

In 2021, Bruker launched their strategy ‘Project Accelerate 2.0’ which included a commitment to progress further in the automation space as a part of their ‘Assays, Software and Aftermarket’ initiative.

Chemspeed will operate independently under Bruker’s BioSpin Group which focuses on magnetic resonance technology-based instruments. Falko Busse, President of BioSpin Group, commented on the deal:

“Chemspeed’s scalable modularity and flexibility demonstrate what is achievable today in lab automation to customize workflows, integrate automation layers with efficient workflow and data management. We are excited to welcome the experienced team of Chemspeed to Bruker. Their commitment to excellence is reflected in the wide range of Chemspeed automation, and their dedication to customer service.”

The exact financial details of the acquisition are not disclosed, but it is expected that the transaction will be closed by March 2024, subject to approval from regulators.