Shimadzu Corporation has entered into a business partnership agreement with TESCAN GROUP, a.s., a major manufacturer of scanning electron microscopes (SEM) in the Czech Republic. By adding TESCAN's SEM to our lineup of analytical and measuring products, we will create synergies with our existing products and launch sales in Japan this fall.

TESCAN is one of the pioneers in SEM manufacturing. Brno, Czech Republic, where the company's headquarters is located, is home to many companies and scientific institutions engaged in electron microscopy, and cutting-edge research is active. TESCAN products are renowned for their robustness and ease of use, with a cumulative sales of more than 4,000 units in 80 countries worldwide. The SEM market in Japan was worth 17 billion yen in fiscal year 2022 and has been growing by more than 10% year-on-year in recent years.

In general, optical microscopes, which are commonly used, cannot observe anything smaller than the wavelength of light. However, SEM uses electron beams with wavelengths shorter than light to enable high-resolution surface observations at the nano level (1 nm is 1 billionth of 1 m), which is essential and fundamental for observation and analysis of all scientific technologies. However, due to the principle of "irradiating a sample with an electron beam, detecting electrons generated from the sample, and observing differences in the morphology and composition of the sample surface," non-conductive samples that are prone to charge buildup can be difficult to observe. TESCAN's SEM always provides optimal resolution and contrast observation images regardless of the conductivity of the sample.

Complementary roles are played by surface observation and analysis using TESCAN products and composition analysis using our analytical and measuring instruments, enabling the construction of a highly reliable and consistent analysis system. Through our business partnership with TESCAN, Shimadzu Corporation will provide high-value-added solutions and research platforms to customers engaged in research and development in structural biology, nanotechnology, energy materials, and metal and iron and steel materials.

TESCAN Company Overview