What Gloor Instruments does

Gloor Instruments AG is a privately held Swiss value-added distributor and system integrator of scientific instrumentation, founded in 1976 and headquartered in Kloten/Glattpark-Opfikon, Switzerland. The company resells and integrates electron microscopy, optical microscopy, X-ray microscopy/CT, Raman/AFM/SNOM, focused ion beam, and correlative microscopy systems, together with accessories such as cathodoluminescence detectors (Delmic), EDX/EBSD detectors (Oxford Instruments), micromanipulators (Kleindiek), anti-vibration and field compensation systems (Spicer Consulting), high-speed and scientific cameras (PCO/Excelitas, Photron), modular lens systems (Optem), sample preparation tools (Coxem, Agar Scientific), ultrafast laser sources (KMLabs EUV/VUV, Ti:Sapphire oscillators and amplifiers), and radiation measurement instruments (Automess). It also sells used/refurbished equipment and provides installation, calibration, application support, and remote assistance.

The company operates as a value-added reseller (VAR) with a consultative enterprise field sales motion, serving Swiss universities, universities of applied sciences, research institutions, and industrial laboratories in material testing, quality control, failure analysis, and product development. Revenue is generated primarily through hardware sales of new and used equipment, plus recurring service and support contracts, with a small e-commerce webshop for Optem FUSION accessories. Owning no external investors, no parent company, and no subsidiaries, Gloor is owner-controlled (Heinz Lüscher as owner and Chairman; Harry Brandenberger as Managing Director) and ISO 9001 certified. Operations are strictly domestic in Switzerland, with a workforce of 11-50 employees concentrated across sales, application/service engineering, technical service, marketing, and administration.

Name

Gloor Instruments

Legal name

GLOOR INSTRUMENTS AG

Website

https://gloorinstruments.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

1976

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Gloor Instruments AG is a Swiss value-added distributor and system integrator of microscopy, spectroscopy, laser, and radiation measurement instrumentation, serving Swiss universities, research institutions, and industrial laboratories since 1976 through a multi-vendor portfolio and local service.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Scientific Instrumentation and Microscopy Distribution

NAICS

Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing (334516), Photographic Equipment and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers (42341)

SIC

Laboratory Analytical Instruments (3826), Optical Instruments & Lenses (3827)

akta.pro primary industry

Microscopy, Imaging & Flow Cytometry Instruments (HLAGAIAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

Mass Spectrometry & Spectroscopy Instruments (HLAGAIAB)

Keywords

• Electron microscopy distribution
• Material testing instruments
• Scientific imaging equipment
• Spectroscopy systems integration
• Laboratory instrumentation supply

Headquarters

HQ city

Kloten

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Microscopy Equipment Sales: Sales of electron microscopes, optical microscopes, X-ray microscopes, and related equipment from manufacturer partners including Zeiss, Coxem, and others
2. Accessories and Consumables: EDX/EBSD detectors, ion beam milling, cameras, cathodoluminescence systems, consumables, specimen preparation materials
3. Service and Support: Installation, calibration, technical support, application assistance, and maintenance services for microscopy equipment
4. Used/Refurbished Equipment: Sale of occasion/used electron microscopes and other pre-owned equipment

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Gloor Instruments distributes and integrates scientific microscopy, spectroscopy, imaging, and laser equipment for the Swiss market as a value-added reseller. The company offers complete solutions covering specimen preparation, electron, optical, and X-ray microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, complementary accessories (cathodoluminescence, EDX/EBSD, cameras, lens systems, laser sources), and installation, calibration, and ongoing technical service.

Product overview

Gloor Instruments is a Swiss scientific instrumentation provider offering comprehensive microscopy solutions and related scientific instruments. The company provides a portfolio of core microscopy products including electron microscopy, optical microscopy, X-ray microscopy/CT, Raman/AFM/SNOM, Focused Ion Beam, and correlative microscopy systems. These are complemented by a wide range of accessories and components from partner manufacturers: cathodoluminescence systems (DELMIC SPARC, JOLT), EDX/EBSD detectors (Oxford Instruments), ion beam milling, cameras (PCO, Photron with FASTCAM series), Optem FUSION lens systems, radiation measurement instruments (Automess ALADOX series), and laser sources (KMLabs including Hyperion VUV, XUUS, Pantheon, RAEA amplifiers, and Griffin oscillators). The company also offers used/occasion equipment and provides service, application support, and remote assistance through AnyDesk and TeamViewer. The product ecosystem is primarily a distribution and integration model combining multiple specialized manufacturers' products with local Swiss service and support.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Electron Microscopy Systems High-resolution electron microscopy systems including ZEISS EVO and ZEISS SIGMA 360VP for materials analysis, surface analysis, and failure analysis across research and industrial applications; distributed and integrated in Switzerland with installation, calibration, and ongoing service.
• Optical Microscopy Optical microscopy systems including upright microscopes such as the ZEISS Primostar 3 for research, educational, and materials applications.
• X-ray Microscopy / CT X-ray microscopy and computed tomography systems including the ZEISS Xradia 810 Ultra for non-destructive 3D imaging of materials.
• Raman / AFM / SNOM Systems Analytical microscopy combining Raman spectroscopy, Atomic Force Microscopy, and Scanning Near-field Optical Microscopy using WITec alpha300R systems for materials and nanoscale analysis.
• Focused Ion Beam Systems Focused Ion Beam systems such as the ZEISS Crossbeam 540 for sample preparation, cross-sectioning, and combined electron imaging.
• Correlative Microscopy Solutions Integrated correlative microscopy solutions combining multiple imaging modalities such as light and electron microscopy for comprehensive sample analysis.
• Cathodoluminescence Systems (SPARC CL-System and JOLT CL Detector) Cathodoluminescence detection systems from DELMIC for imaging and quantifying light emitted from materials under electron beam excitation, used in geology, ceramics, and materials research; the JOLT CL Detector attaches to any SEM with a free EDX port.
• EDX / EBSD Detectors Energy Dispersive X-ray and Electron Backscatter Diffraction detectors from Oxford Instruments (e.g., Ultim Max 100) for chemical analysis and crystallographic orientation mapping in electron microscopes.
• Ion Beam Milling Systems Ion beam milling systems including the CP 8000+ for sample preparation and surface preparation prior to microscopy analysis.
• Coxem Coater SPT-20 Tabletop sample coating system from Coxem for preparing non-conductive samples for electron microscopy imaging.
• Consumables and Specimen Preparation Materials Consumables and specimen preparation materials from Agar Scientific and other partners for microscopy sample preparation workflows.
• Micromanipulation and Probing Systems Piezo-driven multi-axis micromanipulation and probing systems from Kleindiek for positioning small samples, lamella transfers, and fine conductor path contacting inside electron microscopes.
• Room Optimization Systems (Anti-Vibration and Field Compensation) Room optimization solutions including anti-vibration isolation systems and electromagnetic field compensation systems (Spicer Consulting) for electron microscope installations to ensure optimal resolution and prevent interference.
• PCO Scientific Cameras High-quality scientific cameras from Excelitas PCO GmbH for microscopy and scientific imaging applications, with 30+ year distribution partnership.
• Photron High-Speed Cameras (FASTCAM Nova, SA, Mini series) Ultra-high-speed cameras from Photron including the FASTCAM Nova, SA, and Mini (AX, UX, WX, CX) series for combustion studies, materials testing, fluid dynamics, automotive crash testing, and university research.
• Optem FUSION Modular Lens Systems Modular lens systems from Optem (Qioptiq) enabling custom microscope configurations at large working distances, including basic modules, SWIR modules, illumination, motorization, and accessories sold via the Gloor webshop.
• Radiation Measurement Instruments (Automess 6150AD and ALADOX) Radiation measurement instruments and personal dosimeters from Automess including the 6150AD series for dose rate measurement and the ALADOX dosimeter series for personal deep dose Hp(10) measurement from photon radiation.
• Ultrafast Laser Sources (KMLabs Griffin, RAEA, Hyperion VUV, XUUS EUV, Pantheon) Tabletop ultrafast laser sources from KMLabs including Ti:Sapphire oscillators (Griffin) and amplifiers (RAEA), and VUV/EUV sources (Hyperion VUV, XUUS, Pantheon) for nanoscale imaging, spectroscopy, high harmonic generation, and ultrafast dynamics research.
• Used / Refurbished Microscopy Equipment Pre-owned and refurbished microscopy equipment including used ZEISS EVO electron microscopes for budget-constrained customers.
• Installation, Service, and Application Support Professional installation, calibration, technical support, application engineering, and remote assistance (AnyDesk, TeamViewer) for all microscopy and accessory equipment distributed by Gloor Instruments in Switzerland.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 50 years of market presence since 1976
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• ZeisscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLong-standing partnership in electron microscopy. 25 years of partnership celebrated. Gloor distributes Zeiss electron microscopes including EVO and SIGMA models in Switzerland. Collaboration includes installation and service support for Swiss customers.
• CoxemcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnership for tabletop electron microscopes including Coater SPT-20. Gloor distributes Coxem products in Switzerland.
• Oxford InstrumentscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnership for EDX/WDX/EBSD analytical solutions. Gloor distributes Oxford Instruments EDX and EBSD systems in Switzerland.
• Excelitas PCOcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor30+ years partnership with PCO (now Excelitas) for high-quality camera systems. Gloor distributes PCO cameras in Switzerland.
• DelmiccoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnership for cathodoluminescence solutions including SPARC CL-System and JOLT CL Detector. Gloor distributes Delmic products in Switzerland.
• KleindiekcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnership for micromanipulation and probing systems including piezo-driven multi-axis systems. Gloor distributes Kleindiek products in Switzerland.
• KMLabscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnership for ultrafast laser sources including Ti:Sapphire oscillators and amplifiers, VUV/EUV sources. Products include Griffin, RAEA, Hyperion VUV, XUUS, and Pantheon systems.
• PhotroncoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnership for ultra-high-speed cameras including FASTCAM Nova, SA, and Mini series. Gloor distributes Photron cameras in Switzerland.
• Optem (Qioptiq)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnership for Optem FUSION modular lens systems. Gloor distributes Optem products including illumination, motorization, and accessories in Switzerland.
• AutomessminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnership for radiation measurement instruments including the 6150AD series and ALADOX dosimeter products. Gloor distributes Automess products in Switzerland.
• Agar ScientificminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnership for consumables and specimen preparation materials. Gloor distributes Agar Scientific products in Switzerland.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Broad incumbents

• Bruker: Bruker manufactures electron microscopes, AFM, X-ray microanalysis, and other analytical instruments overlapping with Gloor's product portfolio. As a broad incumbent with global direct sales, it competes with Gloor for end-customer relationships while remaining a potential vendor partner.
• Oxford Instruments: Oxford Instruments is both a key distribution partner (EDX/EBSD systems) and a direct manufacturer of analytical instrumentation including electron microscopes and AFM systems. As a broad incumbent, it competes in adjacent categories where Gloor also operates.
• TESCAN: TESCAN is a global manufacturer of electron microscopes and focused ion beam systems competing directly with the Zeiss product lines that Gloor distributes. It operates its own European sales and service organization and competes for the same Swiss research and industrial customers.
• WITec (Oxford Instruments): WITec manufactures confocal Raman, AFM, and SNOM microscopes (alpha300R series distributed by Gloor in Switzerland). It is now part of Oxford Instruments and combines direct global sales with regional distributor support in markets like Switzerland where Gloor operates.
• Carl Zeiss Microscopy: Zeiss is Gloor's most important principal partner (25-year relationship) and is also a global manufacturer of electron, optical, and X-ray microscopes with direct sales and service capabilities. As a broad incumbent, Zeiss could bypass distributors in Switzerland and represents both the company's biggest channel partner and a competitive threat.

Direct peers

• LOT-QuantumDesign: LOT-QuantumDesign is a European value-added distributor of high-end scientific instrumentation (cryogenics, microscopy, spectroscopy, nanofabrication). It is the closest comparable to Gloor Instruments in business model — multi-vendor integration, application support, and recurring service revenue across European research and industrial customers.
• Photon Lines: Photon Lines is a French/European distributor and integrator of scientific lasers, photonics, microscopy, and imaging instrumentation. Like Gloor, it combines multiple international manufacturer partnerships (KMLabs, Andor, Oxford Instruments, etc.) with regional service, application engineering, and turnkey installation support for research customers.

Emerging players

• KMLabs: KMLabs is a US-based manufacturer of ultrafast Ti:Sapphire lasers and VUV/EUV sources (Griffin, RAEA, Hyperion, XUUS, Pantheon) distributed by Gloor. As an emerging player in tabletop ultrafast sources, KMLabs is both a key vendor and a future-direct-sales risk.
• Delmic: Delmic manufactures cathodoluminescence systems (SPARC, JOLT) distributed by Gloor in Switzerland. As an emerging player in correlative and CL microscopy, Delmic represents a growing product category Gloor brings to the Swiss market and could evolve into a broader direct competitor.

Regional players

• Micro Photonics: Micro Photonics is a US-based distributor of scientific instrumentation (microscopy, surface analysis, mechanical testing) operating under a similar value-added distribution model as Gloor. It is comparable on business model but serves North America rather than Switzerland, making it a regional rather than direct competitive peer.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Gloor Instruments