Delong Instruments
Delong Instruments is a Czech scientific instrument manufacturer (founded 1992, under 100 employees) that designs and sells compact low-voltage transmission electron microscopes (LVEM 5, LVEM 25E) and Schottky electron guns (DIGUN) to research institutions, universities, pharmaceutical and biotech firms, national laboratories, and electronics companies worldwide.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1992
- HeadquartersBrno, Czechia
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Delong Instruments does
Delong Instruments a.s. is a privately held Czech scientific instrument manufacturer founded in 1992, headquartered in Brno with a machining facility in Boskovice, and operating with fewer than 100 employees. The company designs and produces compact low-voltage transmission electron microscopes (the LVEM 5, LVEM 25, and LVEM 25E) and standardized Schottky electron guns (the DIGUN platform at 10 keV and 30 keV), all built around proprietary low-voltage electron optics that operate at 5–25 keV rather than the 100–300 keV used by conventional TEMs. The LVEM 5 is marketed as the world's only benchtop TEM, and the multi-mode architecture is protected by European Patent EP4364179 with co-funding from the European Union.
The business model is capital equipment sales, plus design and engineering services. Revenue streams include one-time sales of LVEM microscopes and DIGUN electron guns, OEM and custom engineering projects (mechanical, electron-optic, electronics, and control systems delivered from initial consultation through prototype under NDA), and accessory sales (specimen holders, control electronics, ion pump supplies). Distribution is hybrid: direct sales for enterprise and custom OEM accounts, a wholly-owned Delong America subsidiary, and eight named regional channel partners across Europe (France, DACH, Hungary/Slovenia/Croatia, Italy, Moldova, Poland, Romania, and Spain/Portugal). Customer segments are horizontal, spanning research institutions and universities (MIT, Tsinghua, Charles University, CEITEC Nano), pharmaceutical and biotech companies (Sanofi), national laboratories (Sandia, PNNL, Los Alamos), healthcare and medical laboratories (FDA NCTR, Geisinger Medical Center), and electronics/semiconductor firms (Toshiba, IMS Nanofabrication). Marketing is primarily content-led through a technical whitepaper library, micrographs gallery, customer case studies, and a demonstration-request sales motion. Long-running custom engineering programs, notably the ELI Beamlines project (over 50 optomechanical manipulators and 15 vacuum chambers since 2012), supplement the product business.
Delong Instruments firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Delong Instruments
- Legal name
- DELONG INSTRUMENTS a.s.
- Website
- https://delong.cz
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1992
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Delong Instruments is a Czech scientific instrument manufacturer (founded 1992, under 100 employees) that designs and sells compact low-voltage transmission electron microscopes (LVEM 5, LVEM 25E) and Schottky electron guns (DIGUN) to research institutions, universities, pharmaceutical and biotech firms, national laboratories, and electronics companies worldwide.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Delong Instruments industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Electron Microscopy Instruments
- NAICS
- Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing (33451), Other Measuring and Controlling Device Manufacturing (334519)
- SIC
- Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, And Control (3823), Laboratory Analytical Instruments (3826)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Metrology, Inspection & Machine Tool Accessories (CMMs, Probing, Gauging) (IMAHADAK)
Keywords
Where Delong Instruments is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Brno
- HQ country
- Czechia
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
Delong Instruments business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- LVEM Microscope Sales: Sale of low-voltage transmission electron microscopes (LVEM 5, LVEM 25, LVEM 25E) as capital equipment to research institutions, universities, pharmaceutical companies, and industrial laboratories
- DIGUN Electron Gun Sales: Sale of standardized Schottky electron guns for custom electron optic solutions in inspection/analytical microscopes, lithographs, and other electron optics devices
- Custom OEM Solutions: Development and engineering services including mechanical design, electron optic design, electronics design, and control systems for customer-specific applications. Revenue from prototype manufacturing, testing, and final OEM products under strict NDA
- Specialized Components: Manufacturing of specialized components based on customer specifications, including optomechanical manipulators and vacuum chambers
- Accessories and Add-ons: Sale of accessories including LVEM Tilt Specimen Holder, control electronics, ion pump supplies, customized cable sets, and other components
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | LVEM 5 - Benchtop TEM |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
Delong Instruments product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Delong Instruments designs, develops, and manufactures compact low-voltage transmission electron microscopes (LVEM 5 and LVEM 25E), standardized Schottky electron guns (DIGUN), and provides custom OEM engineering services for electron optic solutions. The instruments operate at 5-25 keV enabling naturally high contrast imaging without heavy metal staining, with the LVEM 5 being the only benchtop TEM in the world.
Product overview
Delong Instruments develops and manufactures compact transmission electron microscopes (TEM) and electron optic components. The product portfolio centers on two main low-voltage electron microscope lines—LVEM 5 (benchtop design) and LVEM 25E (all-in-one multi-mode)—along with DIGUN Schottky electron guns available in 10 keV and 30 keV configurations. The company also offers custom/OEM solutions including development & engineering services, optomechanical components, and specialized accessories. LVEM microscopes combine TEM, STEM, SEM, and energy-dispersive (ED/EDS) modes in compact, affordable instruments designed for regular laboratory use without demanding special conditions.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- LVEM 5 The world's only benchtop transmission electron microscope, offering resolution as good as 1.2 nm with a unique combination of TEM, STEM, SEM and ED imaging modes in a compact benchtop design for researchers, universities, and laboratories.
- LVEM 25E A compact all-in-one electron microscope combining naturally high contrast with space-saving portable design, equipped with TEM, STEM, SEM, EDS and ED modes for multiple data results from one sample for research institutions, pharmaceutical and industrial laboratories.
- LVEM 25 A compact and powerful transmission electron microscope from the LVEM series for researchers and laboratories needing high contrast low-voltage imaging.
- DIGUN Schottky Electron Gun A standardized Schottky electron gun serving as the cornerstone of electron microscopes or custom electron optic solutions, with beam energy up to 10-30 keV, available in 10 keV and 30 keV models for industry, science, inspection/analytical microscopes, lithographs, and other electron optics devices.
- DIGUN 30 A 30 keV Schottky electron gun from the DIGUN line for industry and science applications, used in inspection/analytical microscopes, lithographs, and other electron optics devices.
- Custom OEM Solutions Custom development and engineering services including mechanical design, electron optic design, electronics design, control systems, OEM solutions, and specialized component manufacturing from first proposal to prototype for customers in electronics, semiconductor, and analytical instrumentation industries.
- LVEM Tilt Specimen Holder An add-on accessory for LVEM microscopes providing stronger handling for samples and holding specimens in more accurate positions during LVEM microscopy for laboratory users.
Quantifiable outcome
- Resolution down to 1.2 nm with LVEM 5 benchtop TEM
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Delong Instruments
Customer profileNamed customers13 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Delong Instruments technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- Yes
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Delong Instruments partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
15 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.
- ELI BeamlinesflagshipLong-term partnership since 2012 developing optomechanical manipulators and vacuum chambers for the world's most intense laser system. Delivered over 50 optomechanical manipulators and 15 vacuum chambers. Coordinator: Fyzikální ústav AV ČR v. v. i.
- Vironova ABcoreEurostars project MiniTEM (2011-2014) for world's first portable TEM for virus identification. Ranked #2 out of 110 qualified applications. Vironova AB was project coordinator.
- Centre for Image Analysis (CBA) - Uppsala UniversitycoreAcademic partner in MiniTEM project providing image analysis technology expertise alongside Delong Instruments and Vironova AB.
- IMS Nanofabrication AGcorePartner in multiple EU projects including RIMANA (maskless nanolithography) and CHARPAN (charged particle nanotech). IMS Nanofabrication is Vienna-based coordinator of CHARPAN project.
- Nano-UVminorCoordinator of McXI project (2009-2011) developing affordable compact soft X-ray microscope. Delong Instruments provided vacuum technology and mechatronics expertise.
- Silson LtdminorPartner in McXI project providing expertise in zone plates and silicon functional membranes using lithographic processes.
- Cordouan TechnologiescoreRegional distribution partner for France handling sales and support of Delong Instruments products including LVEM microscopes and DIGUN electron guns.
- Physical Electronics GmbHcoreRegional distribution partner for Germany, Austria, and Switzerland handling sales and support of Delong Instruments products.
- Image SciencecoreRegional distribution partner for Hungary, Slovenia, and Croatia handling sales and support of Delong Instruments products.
- Media System LabcoreRegional distribution partner for Italy handling sales and support of Delong Instruments products.
- LokmeracoreRegional distribution partner for Moldova handling sales and support of Delong Instruments products.
- PIK InstrumentscoreRegional distribution partner for Poland handling sales and support of Delong Instruments products.
- NanoTeamcoreRegional distribution partner for Romania handling sales and support of Delong Instruments products.
- Quark IbericacoreRegional distribution partner for Spain and Portugal handling sales and support of Delong Instruments products.
- Delong AmericacoreWholly-owned subsidiary covering Americas market directly for Delong Instruments products.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Delong Instruments competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- JEOL Ltd. Japanese manufacturer of transmission and scanning electron microscopes. Direct competitor serving the same university, research, and industrial customers with TEM and SEM product lines; both companies compete for high-resolution imaging installations.
- Raith GmbH: German specialist in electron-beam lithography and nanofabrication, including customized electron-optical columns. Comparable to Delong in electron-optics engineering services and OEM-style deliverables (e.g., IMS Nanofabrication partnerships).
- Tescan: SEM and FIB manufacturer also headquartered in Brno, Czech Republic. Competes most directly with Delong in electron-beam-based imaging and analysis; geographic proximity in Brno reinforces direct comparability on labor market and supplier ecosystem.
Emerging players
- Nion Co. US-based developer of high-end, aberration-corrected STEM instruments. Niche peer with overlapping electron-optics R&D culture and custom-instrument focus, though positioned at the high-end atomic-resolution end of the market.
Others
- Gatan (AMETEK): Acquired by AMETEK; supplies cameras, specimen holders and accessories for electron microscopes. Adjacent rather than direct competitor — Delong sells similar specimen-holder products (LVEM Tilt Holder), and Gatan is a complementor within many of the same TEM installations.
Broad incumbents
- Hitachi High-Tech: Major Japanese electron microscope maker offering TEM/SEM product lines to research and industrial inspection markets. Overlaps with Delong in materials and life-science imaging but operates in a broader instrument portfolio.
- Carl Zeiss Microscopy: Premium microscopy brand within the ZEISS group offering TEM, SEM and crossbeam instruments. Competes with Delong on high-resolution imaging, especially in materials and life science research, though focused on larger, more expensive systems.
- Bruker Corporation: Analytical instruments maker with electron microscopy / microanalysis tools (formerly Bruker Nano Surfaces). Comparable to Delong in serving materials and life-science research with complementary characterization modalities.
- Thermo Fisher Scientific (FEI): Through the FEI brand, the dominant global supplier of high-end TEM and SEM instruments. Overlaps with Delong on electron microscopy applications but competes predominantly in high-voltage, room-sized systems rather than the benchtop LVEM niche.
- Oxford Instruments: Through its nanoanalysis / Asylum Research divisions, supplies electron microscopy and nanoanalysis tools. Overlaps with Delong in materials characterization and electron optics, with broader instruments portfolio including AFM and ETD detectors.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Delong Instruments social profiles
Digital presenceDelong Instruments compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
Delong Instruments financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Delong Instruments leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Delong Instruments funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Delong Instruments 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 Delong Instruments
What does Delong Instruments do?
Delong Instruments designs, develops, and manufactures compact low-voltage transmission electron microscopes (LVEM 5 and LVEM 25E), standardized Schottky electron guns (DIGUN), and provides custom OEM engineering services for electron optic solutions. The instruments operate at 5-25 keV enabling naturally high contrast imaging without heavy metal staining, with the LVEM 5 being the only benchtop TEM in the world.
Is Delong Instruments a public or private company?
Delong Instruments is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Delong Instruments founded?
Delong Instruments was founded in 1992. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Delong Instruments based?
Delong Instruments is headquartered in Brno, Czechia, in the Europe region.
How does Delong Instruments make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. LVEM Microscope Sales are the primary driver. The others are DIGUN Electron Gun Sales, custom OEM Solutions, specialized Components and accessories and Add-ons.
Who are Delong Instruments's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are JEOL Ltd., Raith GmbH and Tescan. Nion Co. is listed as an emerging player. Gatan (AMETEK) is listed as an others. Broad incumbents are Hitachi High-Tech, Carl Zeiss Microscopy, Bruker Corporation, Thermo Fisher Scientific (FEI) and Oxford Instruments.
Does Delong Instruments have an API?
Yes. Delong control software includes an API for controlling DIGUN Schottky electron guns, enabling remote control and integration with custom electron optic solutions.
What industry is Delong Instruments in?
Delong Instruments's product category is Electron Microscopy Instruments. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAHADAK, Metrology, Inspection & Machine Tool Accessories (CMMs, Probing, Gauging). Its NAICS code is 33451 and its SIC code is 3823.