Company
The Story So Far…
In less than 10 years, Bluefors grew from an idea to the global market leader in ultra-low temperature cooling. Our journey has taken us from strength to strength — and we’re only getting started.
The Birth of Cool
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 refrigerator 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. The company is today known simply as Bluefors — the name reflects the founders’ names, Blaauwgeers and Vorselman.
Ultra-Low Temperatures Made Easy
Before Bluefors, creating a stable environment with temperatures close to absolute zero was unwieldy and complicated. Frequent liquid helium transfers were required, and maintaining systems was both time-consuming and tedious.
With a Bluefors cryogen-free dilution refrigerator, all these problems vanished. Systems use a closed-loop design that recycles helium within the system, making them more compact, more reliable, much easier and cheaper to operate, with push-button simplicity and an almost maintenance-free lifecycle.
With a strong R&D presence, our team has continued to develop new technologies that have become industrial standards. For example, our pre-integrated side-loading solutions introduced the ability to easily exchange wiring, further reducing experimental setup complexity.
Through our innovative systems, Bluefors became the recognized global leader in dilution refrigerators, with the largest worldwide install base.
We are immensely proud that our systems are relied upon by scientists all over the world to carry out their cutting-edge research, and consider it a privilege to support their work.
Bluefors Systems in Use
See how our systems are utilized by numerous researchers worldwide.
Long-Term Growth with DevCo
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, bringing key knowledge and experience in building world-leading companies.
Rob and Pieter continue as co-owners and having an instrumental role at Bluefors. The long-term partnership enables 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.
Bluefors and Cryomech
In 2023, Bluefors announced the acquisition of Cryomech, the pioneering cryocooler technology and manufacturing company based in Syracuse, New York, USA – bringing Cryomech’s 60-year expertise in cryogenics to Bluefors.
Cryomech’s journey began in 1963, founded by William E. “Bill” Gifford following his groundbreaking work on the Gifford-McMahon cryocooler. This innovation revolutionized low-temperature research by offering a reliable and accessible alternative to liquid cryogens and custom-built systems. Cryomech became a cornerstone in cryogenic technology, serving researchers and engineers across the globe with precision cooling solutions.
Cryocoolers are a vital component in many different types of applications, including Liquid Nitrogen Plants, Liquid Helium Plants, Helium Reliquefiers, Cryostats, and more. The company’s Pulse Tube Cryocoolers provide low-vibration options for a variety of applications, accelerating scientific research in many different fields, while it’s helium circulation line has established its position at the forefront of the helium conservation movement.
Today, Cryomech continues its mission as Bluefors Syracuse, integrating its rich heritage and product line with Bluefors’ global reach and advanced production capabilities.
Bluefors Today
Today, Bluefors has over 700 employees and cryogenics experts based in Finland, Germany, the Netherlands, Japan, and the USA.
Bluefors systems have become synonymous with quantum computing infrastructure around the world. Typically, whenever a quantum computer is pictured in the media, it’s a Bluefors system that is shown. Our dilution refrigerators have appeared on the cover of TIME magazine. We’ve delivered well over 1 500 systems and 15 000 cryocoolers to a customer base that includes some of the world’s largest tech and research institutions.
We’re proud of the groundbreaking role our systems have played in delivering the quantum future, and the contributions our team has made to the advancing research and progress in the field.
As a company, we aim to constantly push boundaries and innovate new solutions that make our advanced cooling systems more accessible, more cost effective, and even more reliable.
Where we are today sets the benchmark that we aim to exceed tomorrow.
Full Speed Innovation
At Bluefors, we push the boundaries of cryogenics. Our large-scale KIDE Cryogenic Platform is a great example. As the first commercially-available system to support 1 000 qubits and beyond, KIDE is an impressive engineering feat that represents the ultimate in cooling power for advanced quantum computing applications.
Big Bang Vision: Exploring the Cosmic Microwave Background at Simons Observatory
NMR Spectroscopy and Spiders – How Helium Recovery Supports Biochemistry Research
Exploring Quantum Materials with Scanning SQUID Microscopy
Utilizing Synthetic Quantum Materials to Study Many-Body Systems
Superconducting Qubit Research at the SQuID Lab
QTran Lab – Pushing the Boundaries of Quantum Device Technology
Quantum at Scale: Photonic’s Path to Networked Quantum Computing
Detecting Dark Matter: The HAYSTAC experiment at Yale University
Aalto University: The First Bluefors Systems Still Cooling
