Entering Raman spectroscopy market, Agilent acquires Cobalt Light Systems

Agilent Technologies (Santa Clara, CA) has acquired Raman spectroscopy instrumentation maker Cobalt Light Systems (Abingdon, Oxfordshire, England). Cobalt's Raman spectroscopic instruments have uses in the pharmaceutical industry, applied markets, and public safety.

Cobalt's benchtop and handheld/portable Raman spectroscopic instruments are based on proprietary technologies that enable through-barrier identification of chemicals and materials. By enabling measurement through opaque barriers and surfaces, the company's solutions can analyze whole tablets or inside sealed containers, reducing the need for quarantines and time-consuming sample processing and testing in pharmaceutical quality control, hazardous chemical identification, and security. The result is significant time, cost, and resource savings for customers, as well as increased safety for certain market segments such as first responders or air passengers.

Cobalt's customers include more than 20 of the largest 25 global pharmaceutical companies, and more than 75 airports across Europe and Asia-Pacific, including eight of the 10 largest European airports, with over 500 devices deployed at airport checkpoints. Recently, Cobalt has entered the hazardous substances market with its handheld platform.

Agilent is acquiring Cobalt for £40 million (over $51 million) in cash.

For more information, please visit www.agilent.com and www.cobaltlight.com.