Azenta

{{Infobox company

| name = Azenta, Inc.

| logo = Azenta logo.svg

| former_name = Brooks Automation

| type = Public

| traded_as = {{ubl|{{NASDAQ|AZTA}}|S&P 600 component}}

| industry = Biotechnology

| founded = {{Start date and age|1978}}

| location_city = Burlington, Massachusetts

| location_country = U.S.

| key_people = {{unbulleted list|Stephen S. Schwartz (CEO)|Lindon Robertson (CFO)}}

| revenue = {{US$|656 million|link=yes}} (2024){{Cite web|url=https://investors.azenta.com/2024-11-12-Azenta-Reports-Fourth-Quarter-and-Full-Year-Fiscal-2024-Results-Announces-the-Plan-to-Sell-B-Medical-Systems-and-Appoints-Lawrence-Y-Lin-as-CFO|title=Azenta Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year Fiscal 2024 Results; Azenta|website=Investors | Azenta}}

| num_employees = 2,984 (September 30, 2019)

| website = {{URL|https://www.azenta.com}}

}}

Azenta, (formerly Brooks Automation) was founded in 1978, and is based in Chelmsford, Massachusetts, United States. The company is a provider of life sciences services including genomics, cryogenic storage, automation, and informatics.

History

Brooks Automation was set up in 1978, and incorporated in 1994.{{Cite web |title=Making Bold Inroads into a New Business Area |url=https://www.ulvac.co.jp/en/news/upload/ulvac69e-1.pdf}}

Brooks acquired the German company Jenoptik-Infab GmbH, subsidiary of M+W Zander, in 1999 to incorporate its mini-environment technology for 300 mm wafer handling.{{Cite news |date=1999-10-26 |title=Brooks completes acquisition of mini-environment supplier Infab |url=https://www.eetimes.com/brooks-completes-acquisition-of-mini-environment-supplier-infab/ |work=EE Times of Aspencore Network}}

In 2002, Brooks Automation, Inc. completed the acquisition of Intelligent Automation Systems, Inc. of Cambridge, Massachusetts, a custom automation company with technology and products for the semiconductor, photonics and life sciences industries.{{cite web |url=http://investor.brooks.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=197950&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=840920&highlight=|title=Brooks Automation Announces the Acquisition of Intelligent Automation Systems}}

Brooks Automation acquired the Celigo automated Cell Cytometer product line from Cyntellect, Inc in 2011. The same year, Brooks acquired Nexus Biosystems, which produced compound and sample management systems.{{Cite news|url=https://www.genomeweb.com/sequencing/brooks-automation-acquire-genewiz|title=Brooks Automation to Acquire GeneWiz|last=|date=September 26, 2018|work=GenomeWeb|access-date=September 26, 2018|location=New York City}} The following year the company acquired intangible assets from Intevac, Inc. and acquired Crossing Automation Inc.{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/finance/stocks/companyProfile?rpc=66&symbol=BRKS.O|title=Company Full Description|work=Reuters|access-date=2017-06-30|archive-date=2017-07-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170708015745/http://www.reuters.com/finance/stocks/companyProfile?rpc=66&symbol=BRKS.O|url-status=dead}}{{Cite web|url=https://finance.yahoo.com/news/Brooks-Automation-Announces-pz-2564819212.html?x=0|title=Brooks Automation Announces Expansion of Life Science Systems Business With Acquisition of Celigo(R) Cell Cytometer Product Line}}

In October 2012, Brooks Automation entered into an agreement to acquire Crossing Automation Inc.{{cite press release|url=http://globenewswire.com/news-release/2012/10/29/500612/10010167/en/Brooks-Automation-Announces-Agreement-to-Acquire-Crossing-Automation-Inc.html |title= Brooks Automation Announces Agreement to Acquire Crossing Automation Inc. |date=October 29, 2012 |access-date= Jan 10, 2014}}

In April 2014, Brooks Automation entered into an agreement to sell its Granville-Phillips division to MKS Instruments.[http://investor.brooks.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=197950&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1909619 Investor News] {{dead link|date=February 2024}}

Brooks closed the sale of Granville-Phillips to MKS Instruments on May 30, 2014.{{cite web |url=http://www.brooks.com/company/news-and-events/press-releases/20140530-Granville-Phillips |title=Press Release: Brooks Automation Closes Sale of Granville-Phillips to MKS Instruments |website=www.brooks.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141029173810/http://www.brooks.com/company/news-and-events/press-releases/20140530-Granville-Phillips |archive-date=2014-10-29}}

Brooks automation announced the acquisition of Biostorage Technologies on 1 December 2015.{{Cite web|url=https://brooks.investorroom.com/news-releases?item=55|title = Brooks Automation Announces Completion of BioStorage Technologies Acquisition}}

In 2017, Brooks acquired 4titude, a maker of scientific tools and consumables, while in 2018, Brooks acquired GENEWIZ, a genomics services provider as part of their life sciences division's expansion.

In November 2021, Brooks Automation Inc. split into two entities, Brooks Automation and Azenta Life Sciences. The latter will focus exclusively on their life science division.{{Cite web|title=Azenta, Inc. Announces Completion of Corporate Name and Stock Ticker Symbol Change from Brooks Automation, Inc.|url=https://www.finanznachrichten.de/nachrichten-2021-12/54637983-azenta-inc-announces-completion-of-corporate-name-and-stock-ticker-symbol-change-from-brooks-automation-inc-008.htm|access-date=2021-12-03|website=FinanzNachrichten.de|language=de}}

In August 2022, Azenta Life Sciences has come to a definitive agreement to acquire B Medical Systems S.á.r.l., in a transaction of approx. €410 million (with an additional €50 million in future performance milestones) is expected to be completed by October 2022.{{Cite web |last=Adam.K |date=2022-08-08 |title=Azenta announces agreement to acquire B Medical Systems |url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/azenta-announces-agreement-to-acquire-b-medical-systems-301601855.html |access-date=2022-08-09 |website=trendeepro |language=en-US}}

Business

Brooks Automation operates in three segments: Brooks Product Solutions, Brooks Global Services, and Brooks Life Science Systems.{{Cite web|url=https://finance.yahoo.com/lookup/|title=Symbol Lookup from Yahoo Finance|website=finance.yahoo.com}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.google.com/finance/|title=Google Finance - Stock Market Prices, Real-time Quotes & Business News|website=www.google.com}}

Brooks Automation provides mainly four kinds: semiconductor automation and life science systems equipment, gas analysis and vacuum measurement, cryopumps, cryochillers and compressors, asset tracking equipment. The company features in developing and building the handling system and related technology. Automation products are used to support both atmospheric and vacuum based processes while the company's focus remains on improving performance and productivity. The company provides vacuum pumps and instrumentation to maintain pressure consistency of the known process gas. The Brooks Life Science Systems provides automated sample management systems and equipment, such as automated blood fractionation equipment, cellular imaging, and consumables parts.

Research and development

In January 2012, Brooks Automation announced that it had acquired the Celigo Cell Cytometer product line from Cyntellect Inc. Celigo had an advantage in cell imaging systems based on its unique combination of high-throughput, ease-of-use, and affordability.

In April 2012, Brooks Automation announced the Polycold Systems XC Cryochiller (a multi-purpose cooler) product line and set a new standard in the industry. With the new production line put into use in vacuum and thermal management applications, it would greatly increase water vapor pumping speed and decrease the operating costs.{{cite news|date=August 27, 2012|title=Brooks Automation Announces Two Product Extensions to the Innovative Vacuum Quality Monitor Line|work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/2012/08/27/idUS98634+27-Aug-2012+GNW20120827|url-status=dead|access-date=June 30, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924170409/http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/08/27/idUS98634+27-Aug-2012+GNW20120827|archive-date=September 24, 2015}}

In July 2013, Brooks Automation announced that it had signed a definitive agreement to acquire the assets and business of Matrical, Inc.($10 million) to expand the Brooks Life Science Systems business. Matrical focuses on biological sample preparation, management, and storage solutions.{{cite press release |url=http://globenewswire.com/news-release/2013/07/23/561729/10041380/en/Brooks-Automation-Announces-Signing-of-Definitive-Agreement-to-Acquire-Matrical-Bioscience-to-Expand-the-Brooks-Life-Science-Systems-Business.html|title= Brooks Automation Announces Signing of Definitive Agreement to Acquire Matrical Bioscience to Expand the Brooks Life Science Systems Business |date= 23 July 2013 }}

Awards

Brooks Automation won the R&D 100 award (100 most technologically significant new products introduced) by R&D Magazine for its Model 830 Vacuum Quality Monitor (VQMTM). VQMTM was used to determine gas composition with an electrostatic autoresonant ion trap.{{cite web |url=http://investor.brooks.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=197950&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1577960&highlight=|title= Brooks Automation Wins Prestigious R&D 100 Award for the 830 Vacuum Quality Monitor(TM) }}

{{cite web |title=BROOKS AUTOMATION ANNOUNCES COMPLETION OF BIOSTORAGE TECHNOLOGIES ACQUISITION |url=https://brooks.investorroom.com/news-releases?item=55 |website=Brooks.com |publisher=Brooks Automation |access-date=2020-11-08}}