Tech Digest: Bruker AXS; RedPrairie

Bruker AXS Inc. of Berlin, Germany plans to acquire Roentec AG, an X-ray microanalysis instrumentation company with annual revenues of $6-7 million, based in Berlin. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed, but the acquisition is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2005. Bruker AXS has its North American headquarters in Madison, Wis. The worldwide X-ray microanalysis market is estimated to be greater than $150 million per year, and Bruker AXS so far has not participated in that market segment. Typical applications of X-ray microanalysis include nanotechnology and advanced materials research with customers in industry, academia and government research facilities. Bruker AXS Inc. has also just launched GEO-QUANT, a trace element analysis system designed for geology, minerals and mining applications.

Atlas Cold Storage, based in Toronto, will implement the DLx Transportation Management Solution package of Waukesha, Wis.-based RedPrairie Corp. across its distribution network. Atlas operates one of the largest public refrigerated warehouse networks in North America and the largest in Canada. Atlas plans to implement the RedPrairie TMS in its Green Bay, Wis; Hatfield, Pa; and McDonough, Ga. facilities later this year and in Canada in 2006.