60 Years of Innovation
The Bruker Corporation owes its existence to Professor Günther Laukien who already in the 1950s recognized the need for impulse spectrometers. In 1960, Professor Laukien set out to fill this need by establishing Bruker Physik-AG in Karlsruhe. Since there, Bruker has been developing groundbreaking analytical solutions.
The Beginnings
Prof. Günther Laukien
- Bruker owes its existence to Prof. Günther Laukien, Professor for Experimental Physics in Karlsruhe in 1960
- First high-resolution systems for use in analytical chemistry in the US
- Recognized power of NMR and need for an impulse spectrometer
- Established company in 1960
Why the Name Bruker?
- At the time Bruker was founded, University professors in Germany were not allowed to commercialize their research while still teaching.
- Since Professor Laukien could not be named as a founding member, co-founder Dr. Emil Bruker provided his name to the growing start-up.
The Founding of Bruker-Physik AG
Bruker Physik AG’s first operational facility in Hardtstraße, Karlsruhe, Germany.
- Bruker Physik-AG was incorporated on September 7 in 1960
- Located in the backyard of a Karlsruhe residence
- Development of first NMR spectrometers began with the production of laboratory magnets and power supplies
- Bruker quickly outgrew this facility
- Moved to Rheinstetten
Trüb Täuber and Bruker in Switzerland
1962: NMR laboratory with with KIS1
- 1960 - Trüb Täuber was developing NMR systems in Zurich
- Closely collaborating with the ETH
- First NMR, KIS, operated at 25 MHz using a permanent magnet
- KIS 2 introduced for high-resolution spectroscopy (90 MHz)
Bruker-Spectrospin Collaboration
1967: HFX 90, the first fully transistorized NMR system, equipped with three independent channels
- Establishing Spectrospin AG enabled close cooperation with Bruker
- Introduction of first fully transistorized NMR instrument, the HFX 90
- First spectrometer to offer three independent channels for detection, decoupling, and lock
- New experiments became possible
- Previously difficult experiments became routine
Expansion towards North America
1968: First HFX 90 for the United States (Yale Univ.) being loaded onto a Boeing 707
- 1968 - Bruker began delivering systems to America (Yale University)
- Systems were shipped by transatlantic air service
- To address growing American demand for these systems, Bruker opened its first US office in Elmsford, NY
Fourier Transform (FT) NMR
1971: WH 90, the first FT-only NMR Spectrometer
- 1964 - Fourier Transform research led to significant increases in sensitivity
- 1969 - World’s first FT-NMR spectrometer system that enabled broadband proton decoupling
- Sensational results including revolutionary 13C spectra
1969 : One of the first 13C FT Spectra. Measuring time now reduced to 200 seconds
The Global Bruker Group
1975: Mr. Fanf Yi, PRC Vice President and President of the Chinese Academy visits the Bruker stand at show in Beijing
- Increased global presence needed to become key player in the analytical instrument market
- Sales offices established throughout Europe, including UK and Italy in early 1970s
- 1969 - Expansion into USSR
- 1972 - Expansion reached Australia
- 1975 – Arrival in China, with a successful appearance at Exhibition in Beijing
FT-IR
1974: IFS 110, Bruker’s first FT-IR spectrometer
- Development of new infrared spectrometers in the 1970s
- 1974 - IFS 110 was the beginning of a very successful product line
- Foundation of the Bruker Optics division
- Today, Bruker Optics offers a comprehensive vibrational spectroscopy product-line
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
1983: One of the first whole body MRI tomographs with air coil magnet
- Strengths in NMR led to developments in MRI
- Late 1970s – Tomography systems for clinical and pre-clinical applications led to whole-body clinical MRI instrumentation
- Focus shifted towards pre-clinical systems
- Bruker BioSpin MRI today market leader in the field
Mass Spectrometry
1980: MM1, the first mobile detection system
- 1980 - Bruker founded “Bruker-Franzen Analytik”
- Adding quadrupole mass spectrometers to the Bruker portfolio
- Based on expertise in MR and superconducting magnet technology, Bruker successfully developed a new type of mass spectrometer
- 1982 - First installations of FT-ICR mass spec systems
- 1990 - Foundation of Bruker Saxonia in Leipzig, dedicated to ion mobility spectrometry
X-ray Technologies
D8 ADVANCE, new generation of X-ray powder diffraction instrument launched in 1997
- 1997 - Bruker acquired the analytical X-ray division of Siemens AG
- Manufacturing facilities in Karlsruhe and Madison, Wisconsin
- Extended its technology portfolio by complementary business acquisitions
- Today Bruker AXS is a global market and technology leader in materials research and quality control instrumentation for elemental and crystalline structure investigations
Superconductor Technologies
Production of Bruker Energy & Supercon Technologies in Hanau
- Superconducting wire essential component of several product lines
- 2002 – Acquisition of Vacuumschmelze of Hanau
- 2008 - Acquisition of ACCEL
- Formation of Bruker Energy and Supercon Technologies (BEST)
- BEST is a leading manufacturer and developer of a broad range of high-performance superconductor wire products and devices
New Bruker Corporation
Bruker Corporation headquarters in Billerica, Massachusetts, USA
- 2000 - Organizational restructuring to meet the needs of modern markets
- 2001 - Bruker Daltonics was the first of to be listed on the NASDAQ, soon followed by Bruker AXS
- 2006 - Joined by Bruker Optics
- 2008 - Merger of all Bruker corporate units was complete, with the final addition of Bruker BioSpin, the magnetic resonance division that started it all
Bruker Today
- Dynamic nature will drive introduction of many more key innovations in the future
- Positive and committed progress is assured through confidence and reliance on more than 8500 highly motivated employees and through continuing excellent customer relations
Future
- Bruker continues to build upon its extensive range of products and solutions, its broad base of installed systems and its strong reputation with its customers
- Ideal conditions for developing innovative solutions for tomorrow’s analytical questions
