Park Systems, the world’s leading provider of atomic force microscopy solutions, has completed the acquisition of Rocky Mountain Nanotechnology LLC, a Salt Lake City-based manufacturer of ultra-high-purity solid platinum and platinum-iridium AFM probes. The acquisition marks Park Systems’ first entry into probe manufacturing and is described by the company as a strategic step to bring a critical component of AFM-based nanoprobing and electrical measurement in-house, thereby securing supply chain continuity for the high-performance specialty probes on which its electrical measurement solutions are built. Financial terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.
Rocky Mountain Nanotechnology was founded in 2003 by Dr. Clayton Williams, a former physics professor at the University of Utah and former research staff member at IBM. Over more than two decades, RMN has built a strong reputation for producing ultra-sharp, solid-metal AFM probes with tip radii as small as 10 nanometers. RMN probes support a wide range of advanced and electrical AFM modes, including Conductive AFM, Electrostatic Force Microscopy, Kelvin Probe Force Microscopy, Piezoresponse Force Microscopy, Scanning Capacitance Microscopy, Scanning Microwave Impedance Microscopy, and Nano-IR. The company’s customer base includes leading universities and corporate research institutions worldwide.
Following the acquisition, Park Systems plans to establish a dedicated probe production facility in South Korea through a technology transfer from RMN’s existing operations in Salt Lake City. RMN’s US facility will continue full production during the transition period to ensure uninterrupted supply for existing customers, a commitment the company says reflects its priority of maintaining product continuity while introducing new probes and an expanded product lineup under the combined organization. Existing RMN customers can continue purchasing products through their current channels as the transition is managed.
Park Systems was founded by Dr. Sang-il Park, a contributor to the invention of AFM at Stanford University, and has grown through continuous innovation and strategic acquisitions — including Accurion GmbH and Lyncée Tec SA — to become a leading force in the global nanometrology industry. The company’s technology portfolio spans atomic force microscopy, imaging spectroscopic ellipsometry, digital holographic microscopy, white light interferometry, and active vibration isolation systems, with regional offices across the Americas, Europe, and Asia. The addition of Rocky Mountain Nanotechnology deepens Park Systems’ vertical integration across its AFM ecosystem.
KEY QUOTES:
“RMN’s solid-metal probe technology is directly complementary to Park Systems’ advanced electrical measurement modes and next-generation nanoprobing systems currently under development. This acquisition represents a step toward that strategy — one that secures a stable supply of high-performance specialty probes our electrical measurement solutions are built upon.”
Dr. Sang-il Park, Founder and CEO, Park Systems
“Joining Park Systems opens new possibilities for Rocky Mountain Nanotechnology — expanding the reach of our probe technology, enabling applications we could not have pursued independently, and strengthening our position in the global AFM probe market.”
Dr. Clayton Williams, Founder, Rocky Mountain Nanotechnology
