Block Engineering Gains Investor

Block Engineering, a quantum cascade laser (QCL) based spectrometer developer, announced that Michael L. Bickford of Vero Beach, Fla., has made a major equity investment in the company and has joined as one of its directors.

With Bickford’s investment, the company said it is now positioned to expand its commercial markets. In addition to providing growth capital, Bickford brings his business experience in the spectroscopy market.

Although the company has received more than $17 million in government product development contracts for microelectromechanical and QCL-based spectrometers for the detection of chemical agents and explosives, it said it needs private investments to take its next-generation pharmaceutical, chemical, medical and semiconductor technologies into commercial markets.

For more information, visit: www.blockeng.com