Ibss Group
ibss Group, Inc. designs and sells downstream plasma cleaning systems that remove hydrocarbon contamination from electron microscopy chambers, samples, and synchrotron beamline optics, selling capital equipment globally through direct sales and a 14-country representative network to research labs, synchrotrons, and semiconductor failure-analysis users.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2002
- HeadquartersBurlingame, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Ibss Group does
ibss Group, Inc. is a privately held, founder-owned scientific instrument manufacturer founded in 2002 in Burlingame, California, that designs and sells plasma-based contamination-removal systems for electron microscopy and synchrotron beamline applications. Its core technology is a remote, inductively coupled low-pressure RF downstream plasma source that removes carbon and hydrocarbon contamination from SEM, FIB, and TEM chambers, detector windows and samples using a gentle chemical (near-zero kinetic energy) process that the company claims is 10-20X more effective than conventional vacuum-pressure methods. The product platform is anchored by the GV10x Downstream Asher family (including a UHV-compatible variant that can remain on chamber without breaking vacuum), the portable Mobile Cubic Asher (MCA), and the Chiaro high-vacuum system, supported by the Qwk-Switch quick-connect mount that allows one plasma source to service multiple instruments.
The company monetizes primarily through capital-equipment sales of these plasma cleaning systems plus associated service and software support, with pricing set via quote-based inquiry forms rather than published list prices. Distribution is global, combining direct sales from its US headquarters and a China office in the Shanghai Free Trade Zone with a network of authorized representatives covering 14+ countries across the Americas, Europe, Asia-Pacific and the Middle East. Customers include academic electron microscopy labs, government-funded synchrotron facilities (notably UTA, Alba Synchrotron Light Facility and SSRF) and, increasingly per the company's stated go-to-market focus, the semiconductor failure-analysis market. The business remains small (1-10 employees) and bootstrapped, with no disclosed external funding, valuation or revenue.
Ibss Group firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Ibss Group
- Legal name
- ibss Group, Inc.
- Website
- https://ibssgroup.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2002
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- ibss Group, Inc. designs and sells downstream plasma cleaning systems that remove hydrocarbon contamination from electron microscopy chambers, samples, and synchrotron beamline optics, selling capital equipment globally through direct sales and a 14-country representative network to research labs, synchrotrons, and semiconductor failure-analysis users.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where Ibss Group is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Burlingame
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Ibss Group business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Plasma Cleaning Equipment Sales: Sale of GV10x series downstream plasma ashers, MCA, and Chiaro systems along with accessories and controllers (BT Controller and 2U Controller options). Products are sold directly and through authorized representatives worldwide.
- Support and Service: Product support, software updates, and service requests for registered products. Products come with commitment to swift support throughout product lifetime.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
Ibss Group product offering
Product offeringCore offering
ibss Group develops, manufactures, and sells proprietary downstream plasma cleaning systems (GV10x DS Asher, GV10x UHV DS Asher, Mobile Cubic Asher, and Chiaro) that remove carbon and hydrocarbon contamination from electron microscope chambers (SEM, FIB, TEM), detector windows, samples, and synchrotron beamline optics. The company's products use a gentle chemical remote inductively coupled low-pressure RF plasma process that achieves 10-20x more effective contamination removal than conventional methods while preserving delicate samples.
Product overview
Ibss Group offers a portfolio of plasma cleaning products centered on the GV10x downstream plasma asher platform, designed for contamination mitigation in electron microscopy and analytical instrument chambers. The core GV10x DS Asher provides in-situ contamination control using a gentle chemical downstream plasma process that is 10 times more efficient than traditional methods. The GV10x UHV variant extends this capability to ultra-high vacuum environments without requiring costly isolation valves. The Mobile Cubic Asher (MCA) adds portability with a Qwk-Switch quick-disconnect source that can service multiple SEM/FIB instruments from a single plasma unit. Chiaro serves as a high-vacuum solution with integrated optical microscopy for TEM specimen viewing and leak detection. Additional accessories include the MCA Plasma Storage Expansion and SPex TEM Holder. The product line uses RF inductively coupled plasma sources operating across power ranges of 5-100 watts and pressure ranges from <5 mTorr to 2 Torr, with CE, KC, CB, and RoHS compliance.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- GV10x: Downstream plasma asher product line for electron microscopy contamination control, including GV10x DS Asher, GV10x UHV DS Asher, and GV10x CF models.
- MCA (Mobile Cubic Asher)
- Chiaro
- Qwk-Switch
Products and services
- GV10x DS Asher In-situ downstream plasma cleaner for SEM, FIB, and TEM chambers that removes carbon and hydrocarbon contamination 10 times more efficiently than traditional methods using a gentle chemical downstream plasma process at 5-100 Watts RF power and 2 to <0.005 Torr pressure range. Designed for electron microscopy laboratories and synchrotron beamline facilities.
- GV10x UHV DS Asher Ultra-High Vacuum compatible downstream plasma asher designed to reside on UHV chambers after plasma cleaning without breaking vacuum. Eliminates the need for costly isolation valve and pre-pump components typically required to convert HV plasma sources into UHV-compatible units. Used for synchrotron beamline optics (gratings, mirrors) and other UHV chamber applications.
- Mobile Cubic Asher (MCA) Portable plasma cleaning center with small chamber for cleaning, storing, and processing SEM/TEM samples and holders. Includes onboard plasma driving gas cylinder, touchscreen operation, and the Qwk-Switch source that can shift between multiple SEM or FIB sites for in-situ chamber cleaning. Provides less than one year ROI for electron microscopy labs.
- Chiaro High-Vacuum System High-vacuum plasma cleaning system with turbomolecular pump for higher vacuum operation. Features optional integrated optical microscope for specimen observation during plasma conditioning, leak detection for gas/liquid cells at <2e-5 Torr, surface hydrophilization capabilities, and 40X specimen loading. Designed for TEM specimen viewing and leak checking of fluid cells.
Quantifiable outcome
- 10-20X more effective at carbon/hydrocarbon contamination removal compared to conventional vacuum methods
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Ibss Group
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Ibss Group technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Ibss Group partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
15 partnerships are on record, tiered regional.
- ApolloWave, Inc.regionalNew Japan representative appointed in 2025. President Jack Yamashita has served the EM and technological marketplace for approximately 25 years. Provides sales and service support for ibss Group in Japan.
- Edge ScientificregionalAuthorized representative for ibss Group products in Canada. Located in Ottawa, Ontario. Provides local sales and service support for ibss plasma cleaning products in the Canadian market.
- Rave ScientificregionalAuthorized US distributor for ibss Group products. Located in Somerset, New Jersey. Offers sample preparation equipment including ibss plasma cleaners.
- Milexia FranceregionalAuthorized representative in France. Located in Verrières-le-Buisson. Provides sales and support for physics-related ibss products in the French market.
- PIK InstrumentsregionalAuthorized representative in Poland. Located in Piaseczno. Distributes ibss plasma cleaning products in the Polish market.
- NanoTeamregionalAuthorized representative in Romania. Located in Cluj-Napoca. Provides sales and service for ibss products in Romania.
- FIBregionalAuthorized representative in Germany. Located in Kassel. Provides ibss product sales and support in the German market.
- Hong Kong Guanghong International Co., LtdregionalAuthorized representative in China. Located in Shanghai. Distributes ibss products in the Chinese market.
- NanoBizKorearegionalAuthorized representative in Korea. Located in Seoul (Seongbuk-gu). Provides ibss product sales and support in the Korean market.
- EION CompanyregionalAuthorized representative in Korea. Located in Osan-si, Gyeonggi-do. Additional sales channel for ibss products in Korea.
- Do The ScienceregionalAuthorized representative in Australia. Located in Melbourne, Victoria. Provides sales and service for ibss products in the Australian market.
- Da Fung SolutionregionalAuthorized representative in Malaysia. Located in Penang. Distributes ibss plasma cleaning products in the Malaysian market.
- International Business Solutions IncregionalAuthorized representative in Taiwan. Located in Zhubei, Hsinchu. Provides ibss product sales and support in Taiwan.
- Nova Analitik SistemlerregionalAuthorized representative in Turkey. Located in Ataşehir, Istanbul. Distributes ibss products in the Turkish market.
- Advanced Technological Solutions IncregionalAuthorized representative in Israel. Located in Kiryat Ata. Provides sales and support for ibss products in the Israeli market.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Ibss Group competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Fischione Instruments: Specializes in electron-microscopy sample-preparation and imaging accessories including the Model 1020 Plasma Cleaner, a direct downstream plasma-cleaning alternative to ibss' GV10x family for SEM/TEM/FIB chambers.
- XEI Scientific (Evactron): Sells Evactron plasma cleaners purpose-built for in-situ hydrocarbon removal in SEM chambers, directly competing with ibss' GV10x DS Asher on the same contamination-control use case.
- Gatan: Supplies EM specimen-preparation equipment and accessories, including the Solarus Advanced Plasma System that directly overlaps ibss' downstream-plasma cleaning value proposition for TEM and SEM users.
- Harrick Plasma: Manufacturers low-pressure plasma cleaners used in surface conditioning and sample preparation across laboratory applications, overlapping ibss' core downstream-plasma cleaning technology for microscopy and optical surfaces.
Broad incumbents
- Leica Microsystems: A broad incumbent in EM and sample-preparation workflows (e.g., EM TIC 3X ion-beam mill, EM KMR knife), competing with ibss as part of a wider EM-prep portfolio rather than as a niche plasma specialist.
- JEOL: Global electron-microscope OEM whose installed base of SEMs and TEMs defines ibss' core customer set; JEOL sells its own accessories that can compete with or complement ibss' aftermarket cleaning products.
- Thermo Fisher Scientific: Owns major EM brands (formerly FEI) and a broad instrumentation portfolio; supplies EM accessories and consumables that overlap ibss' after-sale contamination-control value proposition across large installed bases.
- Hitachi High-Tech: Major electron-microscope manufacturer whose SEM/TEM installed bases are part of ibss' addressable market; offers various analytical accessories that compete in adjacent workflows.
- Oxford Instruments: Operates broadly in plasma-based etching and deposition equipment for scientific and industrial users; overlapping plasma-source and vacuum expertise with ibss' downstream-plasma technology, though serving different end-applications.
Others
- Ted Pella: Long-standing distributor and manufacturer of microscopy consumables, holders, and supplies; routinely cross-sells products into the same EM labs that ibss targets, making it an adjacent ecosystem participant rather than a direct competitor.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Ibss Group social profiles
Digital presenceIbss Group compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance4 records
Ibss Group financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Ibss Group leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Ibss Group funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Ibss Group 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 Ibss Group
What does Ibss Group do?
ibss Group develops, manufactures, and sells proprietary downstream plasma cleaning systems (GV10x DS Asher, GV10x UHV DS Asher, Mobile Cubic Asher, and Chiaro) that remove carbon and hydrocarbon contamination from electron microscope chambers (SEM, FIB, TEM), detector windows, samples, and synchrotron beamline optics. The company's products use a gentle chemical remote inductively coupled low-pressure RF plasma process that achieves 10-20x more effective contamination removal than conventional methods while preserving delicate samples.
Is Ibss Group a public or private company?
Ibss Group is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Ibss Group founded?
Ibss Group was founded in 2002. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Ibss Group based?
Ibss Group is headquartered in Burlingame, United States, in the North America region.
How does Ibss Group make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Plasma Cleaning Equipment Sales are the primary driver. The others are support and Service.
Who are Ibss Group's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Fischione Instruments, XEI Scientific (Evactron), Gatan and Harrick Plasma. Broad incumbents are Leica Microsystems, JEOL, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Hitachi High-Tech and Oxford Instruments. Ted Pella is listed as an others.
Does Ibss Group have an API?
No public API is recorded for Ibss Group.