Evident now owns CrestOptics S.p.A. The deal is done. CrestOptics’ advanced optical systems, already used in many labs, are now part of Evident’s toolkit. This gives Evident a direct shot at faster, richer 3D imaging for research, pharma, and biotech.
The two companies know each other well. CrestOptics’ spinning disk tech has been inside Evident’s microscopes for years. They worked closely before this buyout. Now, the partnership is official. Evident gets more than just new products. It gains a research and manufacturing base in Rome. The CrestOptics team brings deep experience in confocal and super-resolution microscopy. According to an official company statement, the acquisition closed on October 5, 2026. CrestOptics is now fully part of Evident.
CrestOptics will retain its headquarters, research and development, and manufacturing facilities in Rome following the acquisition, ensuring continuity for its team and partners.
What CrestOptics adds
CrestOptics started in 2011. The company designs and builds confocal spinning disk and structured illumination microscopy (SIM) modules. These fit with top microscope brands. The X-Light line gives sharp optical sectioning and even lighting across wide fields. The CICERO system is small and brings confocal imaging to smaller labs. DeepSIM goes further, offering sub-diffraction imaging with the simplicity of a widefield setup. All these products are made to work with many systems. The goal is to help researchers who deal with complex biological models.
"Researchers are asking harder questions of increasingly complex biological models, and that demands faster, gentler, higher-resolution imaging," said Wes Pringle, Evident CEO. He pointed to the companies’ shared vision and engineering strengths as the reason for the deal. He said they can now "deliver more complete solutions to the scientists who depend on us." CrestOptics will keep serving its current partners and distributors. It stays a technology supplier for the wider microscopy field, as confirmed in the official announcement.
Keeping operations steady, aiming global
CrestOptics will stay in Rome. Its R&D and manufacturing site remains open. Partner and distributor ties stay in place. CEO Renato Giacobbo Scavo and his team see this as a natural next step. They plan to use Evident’s global reach and production power to speed up innovation and bring CrestOptics’ tech to more labs worldwide. Apposite Capital and Primo Capital, along with Chairman David Martyr and the board, are recognized for backing CrestOptics during its growth.
Evident sees this as a strategic move. The company’s imaging lineup already covers brightfield, darkfield, advanced fluorescence, 4D analysis, and digital pathology. Evident, which carries on the Olympus legacy, now adds CrestOptics’ confocal and super-resolution skills. The aim is clear: push optical technology forward for science.
Evident and CrestOptics had collaborated for several years prior to the acquisition, with CrestOptics’ spinning-disk technology already integrated into Evident’s microscope configurations. The acquisition formalizes and expands this longstanding partnership.
Industry context and competition
Adding CrestOptics’ tech lets Evident fight harder in a market where speed, resolution, and access matter most. Other companies are making similar moves, like the recently reported buyouts. The race to combine top imaging and analysis tools is heating up. Evident’s move is about more than new products. It’s about owning the innovation pipeline and setting the pace for modern microscopy.
CrestOptics’ team and tech stay in place. Evident will spread this technology across its global network. The message is simple. Evident wants to be the top choice for scientists who need the best imaging. This buyout is not just about growing the product list. It’s a clear step to shape the future of research imaging, where speed, access, and resolution drive discovery.
