What BITPLANE AG does

Bitplane AG, headquartered in Schlieren, Switzerland, develops Imaris, a specialized 3D/4D microscopy image visualization, analysis, and interpretation software used in life-science and material-science research. The software enables researchers to visualize, analyze, and quantify complex biological structures and processes at the cellular and subcellular level, with capabilities spanning cell tracking (ImarisLineage, 2018), large-image analysis (2017), and AI-powered detection of neurons, microglia, and blood vessels (Imaris 10.0, 2024). Bitplane made its IMS file format open source in 2017, establishing it as a community-driven interoperability standard across the microscopy ecosystem.

Bitplane AG was acquired by Oxford Instruments plc (LSE: OXIG), a UK-based public company founded in 1959, and operates as a wholly-owned subsidiary within Oxford Instruments' Bio Imaging & Life Science segment. Under this structure, Bitplane benefits from Oxford Instruments' global sales footprint across 16+ countries and cross-selling opportunities alongside sister brands including Andor (scientific cameras), Asylum Research (AFM), WITec (Raman microscopy), First Light Imaging (high-speed cameras), and FemtoTools (nanoindentation). Pricing is not publicly disclosed; the business model relies on software licensing distributed through Oxford Instruments' corporate channels and eCommerce platforms rather than direct Bitplane sales.

Imaris has followed a steady major-version release cadence: Imaris 8.2 (2018), Imaris 9.8 (2021), Imaris 9.9 with ML and Open Source Connections (2023), Imaris 10.0 with AI-powered detection (2024), and Imaris 11.0 (2025-2026). No direct revenue, headcount, or customer logo disclosures are available for Bitplane AG as a privately held subsidiary.

Name

BITPLANE AG

Legal name

Oxford Instruments plc

Website

https://oxinst.com

Company type

Public

Founded year

1959

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Bitplane AG develops Imaris, a 3D/4D microscopy image visualization and analysis software used by life-science and material-science researchers. It operates as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Oxford Instruments plc and integrates AI-powered detection features for cellular structures.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Microscopy image analysis software

NAICS

Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing (334516), Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing (33451)

SIC

Laboratory Analytical Instruments (3826)

akta.pro primary industry

Medical Imaging AI (HDAAAEAH)

akta.pro secondary industry

3D Vision, Depth Sensing & Point Cloud Analytics (HDAAAEAK)

Keywords

• 3D image visualization
• Microscopy analysis software
• 4D image rendering
• Scientific imaging software
• Biological image analysis

Headquarters

HQ city

Schlieren

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

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

Core offering

BITPLANE AG develops and sells Imaris, a 3D/4D microscopy image visualization, analysis, and interpretation software used by researchers in life sciences and material sciences. The software enables visualization, quantification, and interpretation of complex biological structures and processes at the cellular and subcellular level, incorporating AI and machine learning capabilities for automated detection of cellular features.

Product overview

Oxford Instruments offers a comprehensive portfolio of high technology products and systems for research and industry, centered on tools that fabricate, analyze, and manipulate matter at the atomic and molecular level. The product portfolio includes Imaris (3D/4D visualization software acquired from Bitplane AG), atomic force microscopy (AFM), electron microscopy solutions (including EBSD and EDS detectors), Raman spectroscopy systems, X-ray technology, NMR spectroscopy, plasma deposition and etching tools, and confocal microscopy platforms. Imaris, originally developed by Bitplane AG (now part of Oxford Instruments), provides AI-powered 3D/4D image visualization and analysis capabilities for life science research.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Andor: Scientific cameras, confocal microscopes, and spectroscopy solutions for life science and microscopy applications.
• Asylum Research
• WITec
• Imaris
• AZtec
• Proteox
• X-Pulse
• MQC+
• Atomfab
• BC43
• Dragonfly
• Vero
• First Light Imaging
• FemtoTools
• Bitplane

Products and services

• Imaris 3D/4D visualization and analysis software for microscopy image data, enabling researchers in life sciences and material sciences to visualize, analyze, and quantify complex biological structures and processes at the cellular and subcellular level. AI-powered features (Imaris 10.0, 2024) enable fast and accurate detection of neurons, microglia, and blood vessels. Imaris 9.9 (2023) added Machine Learning and open source connections.
• ImarisLineage Cell lineage tracking capability within the Imaris platform, introduced with Imaris 8.2, designed for developmental biology and cell tracking applications.
• IMS File Format Open source file format for 3D/4D image data storage and processing, supporting interoperability across microscopy imaging tools and community-driven development.

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability1 record

Feature1 record

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Oxford InstrumentscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBitplane AG was acquired by Oxford Instruments and operates as part of the Oxford Instruments group, specifically within the Imaris business unit for 3D/4D visualization software. The company made its IMS file format open source.

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Leica Microsystems (Danaher): Confocal and widefield microscope manufacturer with LAS X and Aivia software for 3D/4D image analysis. Comparable to Bitplane because Leica sells end-to-end microscope-plus-analysis solutions to the same life science and neuroscience customers that use Imaris.
• Nikon Instruments (Nikon NIS-Elements): Microscope OEM with NIS-Elements software for 4D imaging, deconvolution, and AI-assisted analysis. Comparable to Bitplane as a bundled imaging hardware + software competitor in the same core facility and research lab procurement cycles.
• Carl Zeiss Microscopy (ZEISS): Major microscopy and imaging platform with integrated software (ZEN, arivis) for 3D/4D image visualization and analysis. Directly comparable to Bitplane because ZEISS bundles visualization/analysis software with its confocal and light microscopes, competing for the same neuroscience and life science imaging core facilities.
• Thermo Fisher Scientific (Scientific Instruments & Microscopy): Diversified scientific instruments group including electron microscopy and Amira/Avizo 3D visualization software. Comparable to Bitplane because Amira/Avizo directly competes with Imaris in 3D/4D microscopy and connectomics visualization across life science and materials research.
• Evident (formerly Olympus Scientific Solutions): Microscope and imaging systems vendor (cellSens, FV3000 software) serving life science and materials imaging. Comparable to Bitplane because Evident offers microscope-native 3D/4D visualization that competes against Imaris in shared microscopy core facilities.
• Revvity (formerly PerkinElmer Life Sciences): Life sciences and imaging solutions provider with Columbus, Opera Phenix, and image analysis capabilities for high-content screening. Comparable to Bitplane as a broader imaging platform with software-centric analysis workflows overlapping Imaris' cell and tissue analysis use cases.

Direct peers

• arivis (Carl Zeiss arivis): Dedicated scientific 3D/4D image visualization and analysis platform (Vision4D, InViewR) used in microscopy and large-image workflows. Closest direct peer to Imaris because it competes head-to-head on very large 3D/4D dataset visualization for life science and materials research.
• Media Cybernetics (Image-Pro): Long-standing microscopy image analysis software suite (Image-Pro Premier) for 2D/3D quantification. Comparable to Bitplane as a competing commercial image analysis platform for research and industrial microscopy customers.
• MBF Bioscience: Specialist in microscopy image analysis software (Neurolucida, Stereo Investigator) focused on neuroscience and stereology. Comparable to Bitplane because MBF targets the same neuroscience and 3D neuron reconstruction use cases as Imaris, especially in academic research labs.

Emerging players

• BioVoxxel (Fiji/ImageJ ecosystem): Open-source image processing ecosystem (Fiji, ImageJ, Napari) widely used for microscopy visualization and analysis. Comparable to Bitplane as a competing environment for the same life science imaging workflows, particularly relevant because Bitplane itself open-sourced its IMS format to engage this community.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/OxInst
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/oxinst
• Facebookfacebook.com/oxinst
• LinkedInuk.linkedin.com/company/oxford-instruments

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries7 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 BITPLANE AG