Bluefors Oy

In 2005 Rob Blaauwgeers (PhD physics, Leiden University / Helsinki University of Technology) was hired by the renowned Low Temperature Laboratory (LTL) at Helsinki University of Technology (now known as the Low Temperature Laboratory at Aalto University) to move and upgrade all of their dilution refrigerators systems. One of the tasks was to construct a versatile, fully automated gas handling system capable of working in combination with all the different dilution refrigerator systems. At the same time Rob started to develop the first cryogen-free dilution refrigerator system for the LTL.

In the summer of 2006 the newly developed gas handling system underwent first tests in combination with the first prototype of the cryogen-free (“dry”) dilution refrigerator system. It became immediately apparent how simple and easy it was to operate the fully automated cryogen-free dilution refrigerator system as compared to a conventional “wet” dilution refrigerator system. The great interest that followed lead to the business idea of commercializing these systems.

Rob contacted study friend and cryogenic engineer Pieter Vorselman (MSc physics, Leiden University). Together they optimized the automated cryogen-free dilution refrigerator system for reliability, ease-of-use and performance. In 2007 the first system was taken into use by the NANO group of the LTL and shortly after, in 2008, BlueFors Cryogenics was founded.

BlueFors quickly established itself as a market leader in the field of cryogen-free ultra-low temperature systems, commonly referred to as “DR systems” or “dil fridges”. The company is today known as Bluefors Oy with about 300 employees and has an annual revenue of approximately 80 million euro. The name Bluefors reflect the founders names, Blaauwgeers and Vorselman.

In April 2021 Bluefors formed a long-term partnership with Helsinki based DevCo Partners Oy to support the company’s next growth phase. DevCo became co-owner in Bluefors and brought complementary know-how related to building world leading companies. Rob and Pieter will continue as co-owners and in their current operational roles – and will have an instrumental role as going forward. The long-term partnership will enable Bluefors to focus on continuing to push the technology boundaries, innovate new products, and develop services to improve customer experience in a rapidly developing market with changing customer needs.