Kratos Analytical
Kratos Analytical is a UK-based, Shimadzu-owned manufacturer of high-performance X-ray photoelectron spectrometers (XPS) and MALDI-ToF mass spectrometers, serving academic and industrial materials research laboratories worldwide from its Manchester headquarters.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1969
- HeadquartersManchester, United Kingdom
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Kratos Analytical does
Kratos Analytical Ltd is a UK-based manufacturer of scientific instrumentation, headquartered in Manchester and operating as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Shimadzu Corporation of Kyoto, Japan. Founded in 1969 as AEI Scientific Apparatus, the company traces its origins to Metropolitan-Vickers and pioneered the first commercial X-ray photoelectron spectrometer (the ES100). Today it designs and builds high-performance X-ray photoelectron spectrometers (XPS), with the AXIS Supra+ as its flagship instrument, alongside MALDI-ToF mass spectrometry instruments produced through its Shimadzu partnership. The technology stack centres on probing the outermost 5-10 nanometres of materials to deliver quantitative elemental and chemical state information, enabled by proprietary components including the spherical mirror analyser integrated with a hemispherical sector analyser, delay-line detector, co-axial electron-only charge neutraliser, and patented anode coating technology. The product portfolio extends to ion source accessories (Minibeam 4 monatomic Ar+, Minibeam 6 GCIS, VCIS) and the ESCApe data system software, supporting applications across thin films, semiconductors, batteries, catalysis, polymers, adhesives, and biomaterials.
The business model is B2B sales of high-value capital equipment to academic and industrial research laboratories worldwide, complemented by software updates, technical support, accessories, and consumables. Revenue derives primarily from hardware sales of XPS instruments (AXIS Supra+, AXIS Nova) and MALDI-ToF instruments, with a recurring layer from ESCApe software licences and service contracts. Go-to-market combines direct sales from the Manchester headquarters and the North American office in Nanuet, New York, with a global network of regional agents and Shimadzu subsidiaries covering Europe, the Americas, Asia Pacific, the Middle East, Africa, and Oceania. Sales engagement is led by doctorate-level Applications Specialists, reinforcing the company's positioning as a technical specialist in surface analysis rather than a volume commodity vendor. Kratos holds ISO 9001 certification and serves more than 330 AXIS Supra+ installations globally.
Kratos Analytical firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Kratos Analytical
- Legal name
- Kratos Analytical Ltd
- Website
- https://kratos.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1969
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Kratos Analytical is a UK-based, Shimadzu-owned manufacturer of high-performance X-ray photoelectron spectrometers (XPS) and MALDI-ToF mass spectrometers, serving academic and industrial materials research laboratories worldwide from its Manchester headquarters.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where Kratos Analytical is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Manchester
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices3 records
Markets served
Kratos Analytical business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- XPS Instruments Sales: Sale of X-ray photoelectron spectrometers including AXIS Supra+, AXIS Nova, and related systems. Instruments are high-value scientific equipment sold to research laboratories and industrial customers.
- MALDI-ToF Instruments: Sale of MALDI (Matrix Assisted Laser Desorption and Ionisation) mass spectrometry instruments including Axima series, MALDI-8020 and MALDI-8030 benchtop instruments.
- Software Licenses: ESCApe data system software for instrument control, data acquisition and processing. Software updates like ESCApe 1.5 provided to users.
- Technical Support and Maintenance: Technical support services for Kratos surface analysis equipment. Support team available Monday to Friday 8.30am to 4.30pm UK time.
- Accessories and Consumables: Sale of accessories including ion sources (Minibeam 4, Minibeam 6, VCIS), sample holders, and other instrument components.
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels7 records
Kratos Analytical product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Kratos Analytical manufactures X-ray photoelectron spectrometers (XPS) and MALDI-ToF mass spectrometry instruments from its Manchester headquarters, with the AXIS Supra+ as the flagship. The company designs, produces and sells AXIS-series surface analysis instruments supported by ion source accessories (Minibeam 4, Minibeam 6 GCIS, VCIS), the ESCApe data system software, and complementary multi-technique capabilities (HAXPES, UPS, AES, REELS, IPES, ISS) for materials characterisation in research and industrial laboratories.
Product overview
Kratos Analytical manufactures X-ray photoelectron spectrometers (XPS) and MALDI-ToF mass spectrometry instruments. The core product portfolio centers on the AXIS Supra+ flagship spectrometer, supported by ion source accessories (Minibeam 4, Minibeam 6 GCIS, VCIS) and ESCApe data system software for instrument control and data processing. Legacy instruments include AXIS Nova, AXIS Ultra, and XSAM series. MALDI-ToF instruments are offered through the Shimadzu partnership. The company operates exclusively in B2B scientific instrumentation with no direct API or integration capabilities.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- AXIS: Series of X-ray photoelectron spectrometers including AXIS Supra+, AXIS Nova, and predecessors AXIS HS, AXIS HSi, AXIS 165, AXIS Ultra, AXIS Ultra DLD.
- ESCApe
- Minibeam
- VCIS
- AXIMA
Products and services
- AXIS Supra+ Market-leading, high-performance X-ray photoelectron spectrometer combining XPS with complementary surface analysis techniques (HAXPES, UPS, AES, REELS, IPES, ISS). Designed for materials characterisation laboratories requiring automated sample handling, remote operation and ultimate imaging resolution below 1 μm.
- AXIS Nova Automated sample-handling X-ray photoelectron spectrometer with delay-line detector for both spectroscopy and imaging modes; suited to high-throughput industrial and QA/QC environments.
- ESCApe Data System Integrated instrument control, data acquisition and data processing software for AXIS Supra+ and AXIS Nova photoelectron spectrometers; provides automated peak identification and Known-Sample Workflow methods for QA/QC.
- Minibeam 4 Monatomic Ar+ Ion Source High-flux monatomic Ar+ ion source for rapid sputtering, depth profiling of inorganic/metallic materials and He+ ISS measurements, designed as a Kratos XPS accessory.
- Minibeam 6 Gas Cluster Ion Source (GCIS) Multi-mode gas cluster ion source (Arn+ cluster and Ar+ monatomic modes) for sputter cleaning and depth profiling of organic, inorganic and metallic thin films on XPS systems.
- VCIS (Versatile Cluster Ion Source) Versatile cluster ion source with multi-mode operation (10 keV Arn+ cluster and 5 keV Ar+ monatomic) for improved monatomic mode etch rates in depth profiling.
- MALDI-ToF Instruments Matrix Assisted Laser Desorption and Ionisation time-of-flight mass spectrometers including the Axima series and MALDI-8020 / MALDI-8030 benchtop instruments, supplied via the Shimadzu partnership.
Quantifiable outcome
- AXIS Supra+ trusted in over 330 materials characterisation labs worldwide
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Kratos Analytical
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments7 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Kratos Analytical technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature11 records
Kratos Analytical partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Shimadzu CorporationcoreShimadzu Corporation of Kyoto, Japan is the multi-billion dollar parent company of Kratos Analytical Ltd. Kratos is a wholly owned subsidiary of Shimadzu. Shimadzu provides global infrastructure including manufacturing facilities worldwide (USA, China, Australia, Philippines, UK) and sales/distribution in almost all countries. Kratos also has MALDI business relationship with Shimadzu.
- AC Scientific (Italy/Slovenia)minorRegional agent for Italy and Slovenia. Contact: +39 333 7702383, https://www.ac-scientific.com/en/
- SPECION, s.r.o. (Czech Republic/Slovakia)minorRegional agent for Czech Republic and Slovakia. Address: Květnového vítězství 332/31, 149 00 Praha 4 – Chodov, Czech Republic. Contact: +420 727 824 267, www.specion.cz
- Shim-Pol A.M. Borzymowski (Poland)minorRegional agent for Poland. Address: Kochanowskiego 49A, Warszawa, 01-864, Poland. Contact: +48 22 72 27 048, www.shim-pol.pl
- Dias De Sousa (Portugal)minorRegional agent for Portugal. Address: Rua dos Jasmins, Nº 541, Parque Industrial do Batel, Alcochete, 2890-189, Portugal. Contact: (+351) 21 953 31 20, www.dias-de-sousa.pt
- Neyco (France)minorRegional agent for France. Address: 30 Avenue de la Paix, F-92170 Vanves, France. Contact: +33 (0)1 41 90 50 50, www.neyco.fr
- Spectral (Nordic Countries)minorRegional agent for Nordic countries. Address: Bredablicksvägen 7, 181 42 Lidingö, Sweden. Contact: +46 (0)8 410 70 440, www.spectral.se
- SIA Armgate (Latvia/Estonia/Lithuania)minorRegional agent for Baltic states. Address: Liliju iela 20, Mārupe, LV-2167, Latvia.
- Asteriadis S.A. (Greece)minorRegional agent for Greece. Address: 4 Koukoufli str., 54 622 Thessaloniki, Greece. Contact: +30 2310 260331
- Microbeam (Spain)minorRegional agent for Spain. Address: Trovador, 43-45 bajos, 08041 Barcelona, España. Contact: +34 934 500 875, https://www.microbeam.es/es
- Edge Scientific (Canada)minorRegional agent for Canada. Address: 1431 Merivale Road, Lower Level Suite 200, Ottawa, Ontario, CA K2E 0B9. Contact: 1.855.832.9360
- Bara Scientific Co., Ltd. (Thailand)minorRegional agent for Thailand. Address: U Chu Liang Building Floor 7, 968 Rama4 Road, Silom, Bangrak, Bangkok 10500, Thailand. Contact: 02-6324300, www.barascientific.com
- INA Korea Co., Ltd. (Korea)minorRegional agent for Korea. Address: 12F, 110, Mallijae-ro, Mapo-Gu, Seoul, 04184, Korea. Contact: 02-714-5456
- Vacutec (South Africa)minorRegional agent for South Africa. Address: 399A Ontdekkers Service Road, Florida Park Ext. 3, 1709, South Africa. Contact: +27 11 475 1823, www.vacutec.co.za
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Kratos Analytical competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Thermo Fisher Scientific (Surface Analysis / Thermo Scientific): Thermo Fisher Scientific offers the ESCALAB Xi+ and NEXSA XPS instruments as part of its massive analytical instruments portfolio spanning mass spectrometry, electron microscopy, and chromatography. As the dominant analytical instrument incumbent globally, Thermo Fisher is Kratos's largest competitor in XPS and competes for the same academic and industrial materials characterisation budgets.
- Bruker: Bruker is a broad analytical instruments incumbent whose portfolio includes X-ray diffraction, mass spectrometry, and selected surface analysis offerings. While Bruker's XPS focus is narrower than its XRD or MS businesses, it competes for adjacent analytical instrument budgets in materials science and life sciences research, the same funding pools that drive Kratos sales.
- Rigaku: Rigaku is a Japanese scientific instrument manufacturer with a portfolio including X-ray diffraction, X-ray fluorescence, and X-ray analytical instruments. While Rigaku's primary focus is XRD/XRF rather than XPS, it competes for materials characterisation instrument budgets in the same academic and industrial customer base and shares Japanese scientific instrument heritage with Kratos's parent company.
Direct peers
- ULVAC-PHI: ULVAC-PHI (PHI, Physical Electronics) manufactures the VersaProbe line of X-ray photoelectron spectrometers, including the PHI Versaprobe III and Quantes. PHI is one of Kratos's closest direct competitors in the high-end XPS market, with comparable installed bases in academic and industrial materials characterisation labs and similar multi-technique integration capabilities.
- Scienta Omicron: Scienta Omicron is formed from the merger of Scienta and Omicron, specialising in surface analysis systems including XPS (ESCA+, Nexta), ARPES, and STM. It is a direct competitor in the high-end XPS market, particularly strong in academic research and synchrotron-adjacent surface science applications, overlapping significantly with Kratos's AXIS product positioning.
- JEOL: JEOL manufactures XPS instruments (JPS-9030, JPS-9200) and is one of the established Japanese scientific instrument makers. Like Kratos, JEOL combines surface analysis with electron microscopy and mass spectrometry, and competes for the same materials characterisation and semiconductor QA/QC customers globally.
Others
- Shimadzu Corporation (broader): Shimadzu Corporation is the parent company of Kratos Analytical and also manufactures MALDI-ToF instruments (Axima, MALDI-8020/8030) and a broad analytical instrument portfolio including chromatography, mass spectrometry, and spectrophotometers. While MALDI-ToF is operated inside Kratos, Shimadzu's broader analytical instrument business serves overlapping materials and life science customers and is the corporate context that anchors Kratos within a multi-billion dollar organisation.
- Thermo Scientific (subsidiary of Thermo Fisher, broader analytical): Beyond XPS, Thermo Fisher's broader analytical portfolio — including scanning electron microscopy (Apreo, Helios), ICP-MS, and chromatography — competes for adjacent materials characterisation budgets. Many Kratos customers use both XPS and complementary techniques from Thermo Fisher, making the broader Thermo Fisher portfolio a competing supplier for the same research lab capital expenditure.
Emerging players
- SPECS GmbH: SPECS GmbH is a Berlin-based manufacturer of surface analysis instruments including XPS (EnviroESCA, FlexPS) and ARPES systems. SPECS is a smaller but technically strong competitor with particular focus on near-ambient pressure XPS, representing an emerging technology axis that could compete with traditional high-vacuum XPS offerings from Kratos.
- IONTOF: IONTOF specialises in time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS), a complementary surface analysis technique. While not a direct XPS competitor, IONTOF competes for surface analysis instrument budgets in materials science and semiconductor research, where customers may choose ToF-SIMS or XPS depending on analytical question — making it an adjacent competitor for the same customer wallet.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Customer concentration
Kratos Analytical social profiles
Digital presenceKratos Analytical compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Kratos Analytical financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Kratos Analytical leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Kratos Analytical subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries2 records
Kratos Analytical funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Kratos Analytical M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Kratos Analytical
What does Kratos Analytical do?
Kratos Analytical manufactures X-ray photoelectron spectrometers (XPS) and MALDI-ToF mass spectrometry instruments from its Manchester headquarters, with the AXIS Supra+ as the flagship. The company designs, produces and sells AXIS-series surface analysis instruments supported by ion source accessories (Minibeam 4, Minibeam 6 GCIS, VCIS), the ESCApe data system software, and complementary multi-technique capabilities (HAXPES, UPS, AES, REELS, IPES, ISS) for materials characterisation in research and industrial laboratories.
Is Kratos Analytical a public or private company?
Kratos Analytical is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Kratos Analytical founded?
Kratos Analytical was founded in 1969. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Kratos Analytical based?
Kratos Analytical is headquartered in Manchester, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Kratos Analytical make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. XPS Instruments Sales are the primary driver. The others are MALDI-ToF Instruments, software Licenses, technical Support and Maintenance and accessories and Consumables.
Who are Kratos Analytical's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Thermo Fisher Scientific (Surface Analysis / Thermo Scientific), Bruker and Rigaku. Direct peers are ULVAC-PHI, Scienta Omicron and JEOL. Others are Shimadzu Corporation (broader) and Thermo Scientific (subsidiary of Thermo Fisher, broader analytical). Emerging players are SPECS GmbH and IONTOF.
Does Kratos Analytical have an API?
No public API is recorded for Kratos Analytical.