Goodfellow, a leading supplier of advanced materials and metals owned by Battery Ventures, has made its first acquisition, purchasing microfabrication specialist Potomac Photonics. This strategic move enhances Goodfellow’s capabilities and establishes an immediate manufacturing footprint in the United States.
The acquisition of Baltimore-based Potomac Photonics marks a significant step for Goodfellow, particularly in the rapidly expanding medical device and microfluidics sectors. These fields are crucial for numerous biomedical applications, including cell therapies and cancer diagnostics.
“This acquisition ticks all the right boxes for us,” said Simon Kenney, CEO of Goodfellow. “As a net global exporter, bringing Potomac Photonics into the family allows us to increase our range of products, enhance our post-processing capabilities, and gain a state-of-the-art manufacturing plant in the United States.”
Kenney highlighted Goodfellow’s role in providing materials for groundbreaking projects, such as Lawrence Livermore’s nuclear fusion reaction. He emphasized the acquisition’s potential to support customers from research to production by offering a full range of high-end material capabilities.
Potomac Photonics, renowned for its expertise in microfabrication, specializes in developing high-quality miniature components. The company utilizes a broad range of technologies to micromachine materials like polymers, metals, ceramics, and glass, producing features on the micron-scale. Potomac’s ability to scale from single prototypes to millions of parts makes it a valuable partner for clients.
Mike Adelstein, President and co-owner of Potomac Photonics, expressed enthusiasm about the deal: “Having used Goodfellow’s products for more than two decades, I am honored to partner with the Goodfellow team. Access to their global network will accelerate our reach across key geographies and markets.”
Andrew Watson, CFO of Goodfellow, emphasized the importance of the US market for growth: “The United States is a vital growth market for our business. With Potomac serving as our US hub, we look forward to enhancing its advanced machining capabilities and expanding our product range in the USA.”
Goodfellow has also recently launched new branding to reflect its modern image. Inspired by the baseline of the firm’s products at nano, microscopic, and macroscopic levels, the new design incorporates shapes corresponding to rods, tubes, balls, and beads, forming a brand icon above the strapline “Advanced Materials, Innovation Delivered.”