Optimal joins Bruker

Pharma PAT software and manufacturing automation specialist acquired by global scientific instrumentation and solution provider

The Optimal Group consisting of Optimal Industrial Automation and Optimal Industrial Technologies has been acquired by Bruker Corporation. The acquisition underpins Optimal’s strategic growth plans and enhances its vendor-agnostic offering of fully integrated automated manufacturing process and quality control solutions for (bio)pharmaceutical and other process industries.

Optimal has evolved into a global provider of high performance, vendor-agnostic automated systems, supported by the award-winning software platform synTQ, which is an enabling technology for the digitalisation of R&D, manufacturing and quality testing. Optimal’s offering is aligned with future-oriented smart manufacturing trends, including data-driven, flexible processes that support highly optimized processes, consistent product quality and sustainability.

synTQ, Optimal’s PAT Knowledge Management platform, already supports many of the globally leading (bio)pharmaceutical manufacturers in the delivery of advanced products. Optimal also supports various leading companies in the chemical, fast-moving consumer goods as well as food & beverage markets.

Combined with Bruker’s wide range of innovative analytical instruments, life-science and diagnostic solutions, Optimal’s automation system integration and software solution capabilities will help customers benefit from more comprehensive solutions, especially but not limited for small molecule, biologics and new drug modalities companies.

A key aspect of Optimal’s capabilities is its vendor agnostic, interoperable approach. A clear commitment to vendor neutrality is retained by Optimal and its products. synTQ continues to connect to an increasing number of instrumentation, MVA packages, automation systems or other third-party systems (such as MES, historian, LIMS) from any vendor. This approach allows Optimal customers to take advantage of cutting-edge technologies embedded into flexible systems that suit the customer’s needs and allows them to expand their existing infrastructure as it evolves.

Dr. Falko Busse, President of the Bruker BioSpin Group, comments: “The acquisition of Optimal is a very exciting step for Bruker as it supports more comprehensive solutions for the biopharmaceutical industry, now adding the capabilities to integrate cutting-edge systems into biopharma manufacturing processes and workflows. We welcome the Optimal team with their strong PAT and automation expertise and, together, are eager to support biotech and pharmaceutical companies in increasing their manufacturing efficiency and flexibility – a global need highlighted by the response to the pandemic crisis.”

Martin Gadsby, co-founder of the Optimal group, concludes: “We are delighted to become part of the Bruker family. Optimal and Bruker together are a perfect fit – we share the common ethos of innovation with integrity, together with our industry recognition as a high-quality solutions provider delivering tangible benefits to our customers.

“I am proud of what this company has accomplished for all stakeholders through these past 35 years. The entire staff at Optimal is very excited about becoming part of the Bruker team and the opportunities that a large provider of analytical instruments offers while being able to remain a vendor-agnostic solution provider.”