Leica Microsystems Inc. announced it has acquired Liechtenstein, Germany-based Bal-Tec AG, a maker of mechanical and cryo sample preparation equipment for scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Terms were not disclosed. Bal-Tec becomes part of Leica Microsystems, which makes biological sample preparation instruments for electron microscopy and other products for applications requiring microscopic imaging, measurement and analysis.Leica Microsystems recently entered the SEM and solid-state sample preparation market with the launch of the EM TXP target preparation instrument. Bal-Tec products such as the EM VCT100 vacuum cryo transfer system for SEM, which provides sample transfer from preparation equipment to analysis systems for electron microscopy, and the EM HPM100 high-pressure freezing unit are now available from Leica Microsystems. For more information, visit: www.leica-microsystems.com