Velaris acquires Markes International to expand its automated sample preparation capabilities
Markes joins the Velaris family of brands – Skalar Analytical, LCTech, PromoChrom, EST Analytical, GERSTEL and TE Instruments – expanding Velaris’ product and service capabilities and global presence
12 Jan 2026
Velaris, a platform of laboratory-automation brands backed by global investment firm Battery Ventures, has acquired Markes International from strategic investor Schauenburg International and its founders Alun Cole and Elizabeth Woolfenden.
Markes, founded in 1997, is a recognized global provider of specialist analytical technologies that enhance the sensitivity, separation and interpretive power of gas chromatography (GC) and GC–mass spectrometry (GC–MS).
Through complementary strengths in sample preparation, sample introduction, advanced chromatographic separation, mass spectrometry and data processing, Markes International supports laboratories worldwide addressing increasingly complex analytical challenges across environmental, food, security, industrial and life science end markets.
Working with their distribution channels, Markes enables a generation of reliable, high-quality data and deeper analytical insight to support informed decision-making in demanding scientific and regulatory environments.
Joining Velaris’ existing brands, Markes provides a complementary product offering for commercial, academic and government laboratories worldwide. The strength of the company in Europe and North America together with local assembly in China will enhance Velaris’ presence and greatly expand regional sales and service capabilities.
Nigel Fry, CEO of Markes International, commented, “Joining the Velaris family marks an important milestone in our journey, creating a compelling platform to work alongside a group of complementary businesses and expand our capabilities. This combination strengthens our ability to support our customers and the markets we serve, while creating meaningful development opportunities for our people.”
"Markes is recognized worldwide as a leading global designer and manufacturer of advanced, high performance analytical instrumentation and software for challenging GC & GC–MS analyses, and this is an excellent extension of Velaris’ market leadership," said Amod Kher, CEO of Velaris. "The brand represents technical leadership in thermal desorption and adjacent separation technologies and is committed to providing the best products and application support to end users."