Max Analytical Technologies Acquired by Thermo Fisher Scientific

Max Analytical Technologies Acquired by Thermo Fisher Scientific

Locally Developed Company Acquired by World Leader in Serving Science

MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich., February 24, 2022 — Central Michigan University Research Corporation (CMURC) announces the acquisition of portfolio company MLS ACQ, Inc. (DBA - Max Analytical Technologies), a chemical instrumentation company founded in Mount Pleasant, Mich. Max Analytical was acquired by Thermo Fisher Scientific, a world leader in serving science.

Max Analytical was formed in 2017 after a divestiture of assets was completed by Prism Analytical Technologies, Inc (Prism). With 17 patents and counting, Max Analytical is a leader in developing FTIR gas analysis technology for in-processes monitoring, source testing, and ambient air monitoring. Coca Cola, Air Products, Ford, 3M, Intel and various other industry leaders have utilized these technologies.

Martin Spartz, CTO of Max Analytical, recalls a memory from early stages of their company Prism. “We began seeking investment and we set up a dinner meeting with an investor group. By the end of the dinner, the potential investor told us he wasn’t going to invest in our company and handed us each a jar of peanuts. The funny thing is that every year since then, we’ve always brought peanuts to our annual board meeting to serve as some motivation,” said Spartz.

Founded in 1992, Prism was started from an introduction by Paul Sears of Isabella Bank and Trust and two people he thought had to meet: his neighbor Martin Spartz and a good friend Les Keepper. This connection was instant – the pair brought in Bruce Gartner and the rest is history. As the company grew and started to develop new technology, they joined the entrepreneurial ecosystem at CMURC.

“My advice to new entrepreneurs is to stick to your plan and vision. It’s easy to get sidetracked and lose faith in certain areas, but if you really truly believe inside you’ve got something - you do,” said Les Keepper, co-founder of Prism Analytical Technologies Inc. “I can’t say enough good things about the support offered to our company. It was CMURC who really helped grease the skids to make it work for us and make all this happen.”

The ripple effect from these founders has made a major impact on the local economy. Over 25 high-wage jobs still exist in Mount Pleasant, with growth on the horizon. In addition, those that took an early investment are now cashing out – growing the wealth locally.

“When launching an innovative business, there are many different opportunities through the MEDC SmartZone network that can help accelerate a company forward,” said President + CEO of CMURC Erin Strang. “All entrepreneurs can benefit from the resources available to support the growth of their company - whether that be space and programs or investment.”

The entity acquiring Max Analytical, Thermo Fisher Scientific, is the largest chemical instrumentation company in the world. With $40 billion in annual revenue and 130 thousand employees, Max Analytical looks forward to working with their new colleagues and providing the world’s most innovative FTIR gas analysis solutions.