Develops and manufactures in Berlin fully automatic sputter coaters (gold, platinum) and carbon coaters for SEM sample preparation.
Aptco Technologies GmbH (Marke LUXOR)
Berlin (DE) · Nazareth (BE) · Annapolis, MD (US)New on Amplifa
About LUXOR
LUXOR is a brand of Aptco Technologies GmbH, a manufacturer of measuring and testing equipment for academic and industrial laboratories, and part of the international Aptco Group. The company develops and manufactures fully automatic sputter coaters at its Berlin site for sample preparation in electron microscopy (SEM/TEM). The devices coat samples with thin, homogeneous layers of gold or platinum to prevent charging effects, improve edge resolution and protect beam-sensitive samples; the LUXOR C carbon coater is used for EDX/EDS analysis. The core technology is A² technology, an algorithm-controlled process that keeps vacuum and sputter current constant via micro-dosed quantities of process gas, enabling reproducible layers at low, stable current. The upside-down design protects the microscope column, facilitates sample handling and improves 3D coating of porous samples. The devices are distributed worldwide through a network of distributors and sales partners with local application and technical support.
- Site
- Berlin
- Processes
- Sputter coating (gold) for SEM – sample preparation, Carbon coating for SEM/EDX – LUXOR C, Platinum coating (sputter coating with platinum) for high-resolution FEG-SEM, 3D coating of porous and three-dimensional samples (cement, ceramics), Fully automatic sputter coaters for SEM (gold, platinum), Carbon coaters for EDX/EDS sample preparation, A² technology for reproducible, thin, homogeneous layers, Application support and technical service via global distributor network
- Materials
- Gold, Platinum, Carbon, Argon (process gas), Polypropylene (respirator mask), Cement, Ceramics, Glass fiber
- Certificates
- Application notes and laboratory tests, ISO 9001
- Industries
- Electron microscopy (SEM/TEM), Industrial and academic research and QC laboratories, Construction materials (cement, ceramics), Building materials (cement, ceramics)
- 01
Engineering and development
- 02
Production of the sputter coaters in Berlin
- 03
Manufacturing/testing of the devices
- 04
Distribution via global distributor network
- 05
Application support and technical service
Materials and Processes
Gold (sputter target)
Standard sputtering material for conductive coating of non-conductive samples for SEM imaging.
Platinum (sputter target)
Sputtering material for high-resolution FEG-SEM applications with finer grain size.
Carbon (carbon)
Coating material of the LUXOR C for charge-free EDX/EDS chemical analysis.
Argon (process gas)
Inert process gas for plasma generation in the sputtering process.
Sites
Berlin
DEHeadquarters with development and production of the LUXOR sputter coaters
- Materials
- Gold, platinum, carbon, argon
- LUXOR Au Sputter Coater (A² technology)
- LUXOR Pt Sputter Coater (A² technology)
- LUXOR C Carbon Coater
Nazareth
BESales Office Europe
Annapolis, MD
USSales Office USA
Products and Applications
Inside the production
Industries
Processes & technical limits
| Processes | Tolerance | Max. part | Weight | Lot size | Materials |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sputter coating (gold) for SEM – sample preparationSurface | – | – | – | – | Gold, Polypropylene, Glass fiber, Styrofoam |
| Carbon coating for SEM/EDX – LUXOR CSurface | – | – | – | – | Carbon |
| Platinum coating (sputter coating with platinum) for high-resolution FEG-SEMSurface | – | – | – | – | Platinum |
| 3D coating of porous and three-dimensional samples (cement, ceramics)Surface | – | – | – | – | Cement, Ceramics |
3 Anlagen & Maschinen
| Machine | Manufacturer / model | Quantity | Working area | Year built | Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sputter coater (gold) with A² technology | LUXOR LUXORAu | – | optimal coating zone approx. 60 mm diameter | – | Berlin, Germany |
| Carbon coater | LUXOR LUXORC | – | – | – | Berlin, Germany |
| Sputter coater (platinum) with A² technology | LUXOR LUXORPt | – | – | – | Berlin, Germany |
Additional services
Quality
LUXOR routinely conducts laboratory tests on coating quality (e.g. application notes on layer thickness and homogeneity); A² technology automatically controls vacuum and sputter current and ensures reproducible layer thicknesses. Certifications are not published.
| Evidence | Berlin |
|---|---|
| Application notes and laboratory tests | |
| ISO 9001 |
History
- 2021
Launch of the LUXOR website/brand; developed from the demand of the (desktop) SEM market for a fully automatic, easy-to-operate gold coater.
- o. A.
Second generation LUXOR Au and LUXOR Pt for floor-model SEM and high-resolution FEG-SEM; subsequently development of the LUXOR C carbon coater for EDX/EDS.