Bruker AXS Receives 2004 Frost & Sullivan Market Leadership Award in XRD Markets.

PALO ALTO, Calif. -- Frost & Sullivan's recent analysis, World X-ray Instrumentation Markets, selected Bruker AXS as the recipient of the 2004 Market Leadership Award for its exemplary dominance in the X-ray diffractometers (XRD) market.

Every year, Frost & Sullivan presents this award to the company that has exhibited market share leadership through the implementation of a robust market strategy. It recognizes excellence in all areas of the market leadership process, including the identification of challenges, drivers, and restraints, as well as superiority in strategy development and methods of addressing these market dynamics.

Formed in 1997 from the acquisition of the X-ray business of Siemens AG, Bruker AXS has grown to be one of the largest analytical X-ray instrumentation companies in the world. Research indicates that in 2003, Bruker AXS was the largest XRD manufacturer in the world, accounting for over 30 percent in revenue market share.

While the rest of world was going through a downturn, Bruker's XRD division proved to be its biggest growth driver during the otherwise slow year 2002. Offering an ever-expanding range of applications, Bruker was able to meet the demands of the recovering semiconductor industry catering to compound semiconductor applications such as robotic sample handling in clean room environments.

"A strong pipeline of new techniques is one of the many factors that will aid the company in maintaining its market-leading position in the coming years, as well," says Frost & Sullivan Industry Analyst Kiran Unni. "In addition, the company's keen focus on customer service and satisfaction has fostered strong brand recognition and loyalty that are projected to sustain the company's position in the XRD market place."

Bruker AXS acted early to gauge and understand key customers' changing needs and focus on the research and development happening in advanced materials design and cost-effective techniques. Taking into consideration the wide variety of materials research applications, the company has maintained its position as provider of one of the widest product portfolios using the XRD technology.

"By offering modular hardware and software platforms that are unique to the techniques, Bruker AXS developed its primary asset -- clear customer orientation," notes Unni.

The company's X-ray technologies are best projected in their flagship D8 Discover, which incorporates high-speed detection systems and high-density optics that is unprecedented. The latest in line, the Super Speed Solutions, features the company's most successful instrumentation including the D8 Discover and D8 Advance and the new Nanostar Super Speed series of XRD techniques. These solutions have been touted to be the fastest of their kind in the industry -- rivaled by none.

Overall, its understanding of the customers' needs and the ability to offer comprehensive solutions -- modular, turnkey systems with open architecture interface that enable incorporation of new and changing techniques -- are Bruker AXS strengths.

Other factors that have won it the Market Leadership Award include insightful investment into research and development that ensures a healthy pipeline; acquisition of key techniques and suppliers that enables further penetration into important markets such as the Japanese materials R&D market; and commitment to customer service through extended warranties in aftermarket service.

About Bruker AXS

For more information, visit http://www.bruker-axs.com.

About Frost & Sullivan

Frost & Sullivan, a global growth consulting company founded in 1961, partners with clients to create value through innovative growth strategies. The foundation of this partnership approach is our Growth Partnership Services platform, whereby we provide industry research, marketing strategies, consulting, and training to our clients to help grow their business. A key benefit that Frost & Sullivan brings to its clients is a global perspective on a broad range of industries, markets, technologies, econometrics, and demographics. With a client list that includes Global 1000 companies, emerging companies, as well as the investment community, Frost & Sullivan has evolved into one of the premier growth consulting companies in the world.