Nanotronics Imaging LLC has acquired Franklin Mechanical & Control Inc. (Franklin MCI) of Hollister, Calif., a manufacturer of advanced mechanical and optical equipment. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. The acquisition will allow Nanotronics to serve as an end-to-end provider of both software and hardware for rapid prototyping and deployment, the company said. Franklin MCI will be incorporated as a manufacturing division known as Nanotronics Automation Inc. and will offer a fully integrated suite of hardware prototyping, production services and solutions. "In the present market, customers in advanced hardware manufacturing like semiconductors can have a difficult time testing out new designs that show a lot of promise but may be too risky to invest the kind of capital required to design and build a new factory system," said Julie Orlando, vice president of technology at Nanotronics Imaging. "By combining Franklin's expertise in customized precision equipment and our expertise in nanoimaging, we're able to help our customers test out new design concepts and experiment with new product possibilities at off-the-shelf prices and faster turnaround times." Nanotronics Imaging develops systems that allow computer-controlled microscopes to process, analyze and report on nanoscale images. The company is supported by San Francisco's Founders Fund. Franklin MCI designs and manufactures precision equipment for industries requiring microscope inspection, precise motions or automation. These include the electronics, biomedical, semiconductor, agricultural, mining and automotive industries. Under the terms of the acquisition, Franklin MCI's employees will be retained and its executive team, led by Randy Griffith, will continue to oversee day-to-day operations at Nanotronics Automation.