Materials characterization company Malvern Instruments has acquired Viscotek Corporation, a provider of chromatography solutions for the characterization of natural and synthetic polymers and proteins. Malvern Instruments is a supplier of systems for the characterization of particulate materials, providing complete application solutions across a broad range of industries. The acquisition of Viscotek brings new and complementary technologies and expertise into the company, adding Gel Permeation Chromatography (GPC), Flow Injection Polymer Analysis (FIPA) and Dilute Solution Viscosity (DSV), and extending the range of characterization solutions offered. Paul Walker, Managing Director of Malvern Instruments said: “Viscotek has a long-established reputation for innovation and quality, and there is a close and complementary fit between the Viscotek product range and Malvern’s, for both protein and polymer applications. This acquisition will increase the characterization capabilities of Malvern’s existing nanometrology product lines.” Viscotek Corporation, headquartered in Houston, Texas, was founded in 1984 by Dr. Max Haney, inventor of the four-capillary differential viscometer detector. “Since its inception, Viscotek has pioneered innovative technologies and products for gel permeation chromatography of natural and synthetic polymers and proteins, and determination of dilute solution viscosities,” he said. “In recent years Viscotek has experienced exciting growth. The powerful alignment of Viscotek’s products with the Malvern range will provide even more opportunity to comprehensively meet a broad range of customer needs. I am delighted that the company has become part of Malvern Instruments, where I am confident of further development and a thriving and expanded business.” Expanding on the complementary nature of the two companies’ product ranges, Paul Walker went on to say: “In the biomolecular arena the addition of Viscotek systems alongside our existing product range will further inform physical biochemists of the structure-function relationship of proteins, important in determining disease mechanisms for example. In the field of industrial and pharmaceutical polymers, Malvern will now be able to offer complete characterization solutions, essential in the development of new functional polymers that meet the demands of increasingly complex drug delivery systems and stringent environmental requirements. “Through Malvern’s global sales organization, customers worldwide will have access to the full range of solutions, all backed by the company’s extensive technical and applications support network.” Viscotek’s present management team will continue to lead the business, which will operate as Viscotek Corporation, a Malvern Company.
