Imago Scientific Instruments

About Imago Scientific Instruments

In 1999, University of Wisconsin-Madison professor Dr. Tom Kelly founded Imago Scientific Instruments to commercialize a technology that could analyze materials at the atomic level. Kelly, who served as the Director of the university's Materials Science Center, eventually left his tenured position to focus entirely on the company's growth. The company's core product was the Local Electrode Atom Probe, or LEAP, a microscope that provides a 3D atom-by-atom "picture" of a material. This technology represented a significant leap forward, offering performance that was orders of magnitude faster than existing atom probes. It gave researchers in fields like semiconductors and data storage unprecedented insight into the atomic-scale features of materials. Imago's journey included key strategic moves, such as the acquisition of UK-based Oxford NanoScience in 2006, which strengthened its technology and product portfolio. The company's innovation attracted venture funding and customers including top academic, government, and industrial research facilities. The pivotal moment in Imago's story came in April 2010, when it was acquired by AMETEK, a global manufacturer of electronic instruments. Imago was then merged with CAMECA, another AMETEK subsidiary, to bolster their Materials Analysis Division, solidifying its place in the world of high-end analytical instrumentation.