Bluefors - A recognized brand in closed-cycle dilution refrigerator technology, pioneering the simplification of the process to create ultra-low temperature environments close to absolute zero. Currently, ADST partners with Bluefors in Vietnam, providing advanced cooling solutions with high reliability to optimally serve cutting-edge research in nanomaterials and quantum technology.
Introduction to BLUEFORS:
In 2005, Rob Blaauwgeers (PhD in 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 relocate and upgrade their entire dilution refrigerator system. One of the tasks was to create a fully automated, multifunctional gas handling system capable of operating in conjunction with all different dilution refrigerator systems. At the same time, Rob began developing the first dilution refrigerator system that did not use liquid cryogens for LTL.
In the summer of 2006, the newly developed gas handling system underwent its first testing combined with the first prototype of the dilution refrigerator system that did not use liquid cryogens ("dry"). Immediately, it became clear how simple and easy it was to operate the fully automated dilution refrigerator system without liquid cryogens compared to the traditional "wet" dilution refrigerator systems. The significant interest that followed led to the business idea of commercializing these systems.
Rob contacted his classmate and also low-temperature engineering expert Pieter Vorselman (Master of Physics, Leiden University). Together, they optimized the automatic dilution refrigerator system that does not use liquid cryogen to achieve reliability, ease of use, and high performance. In 2007, the first system was put into operation by the NANO group of LTL, and shortly thereafter, in 2008, BlueFors Cryogenics was founded. The company is now simply known as Bluefors — a name that reflects the names of the founders, Blaauwgeers and Vorselman.
Ultra-low temperature made simple
Before Bluefors, creating a stable environment with temperatures close to absolute zero was cumbersome and complex. Frequent transfer of liquid helium was mandatory, and maintaining the systems was both time-consuming and tedious.
With Bluefors's dilution refrigerator that does not use liquid cryogen, all these issues disappear. The systems use a closed-loop design that recycles helium within the system, making them more compact, more reliable, easier to operate, and significantly more cost-effective, with simplicity at the push of a button and a lifecycle that requires almost no maintenance.
With a strong emphasis on Research and Development (R&D), the team at Bluefors has continued to develop new technologies that have become industry standards. For example, their integrated side-loading solutions have introduced the ability to easily exchange wiring, further reducing the complexity of setting up experiments.
Through its advanced systems, Bluefors has become the globally recognized leader in dilution refrigerators, with the largest number of systems installed worldwide.
Bluefors is extremely proud that its systems are trusted by scientists around the world to conduct their advanced research, and considers it an honor to support their work.
Current Bluefors
Currently, Bluefors has over 700 employees and experts in low-temperature engineering working in Finland, Germany, the Netherlands, Japan, and the United States.
The systems of Bluefors have become synonymous with quantum computing infrastructure worldwide. Typically, whenever a quantum computer is visualized in the media, it is Bluefors' system that is displayed. Our dilution refrigerators have even appeared on the cover of TIME magazine. They have delivered over 1,700 systems and 15,000 cryogenic coolers to a customer base that includes some of the largest research organizations and technology corporations in the world.
They take pride in the groundbreaking role their systems have played in bringing about the quantum future, and the contributions their team has made to advanced research as well as progress in this field.
As a company, Bluefors aims to continuously push the boundaries and innovate new solutions to make their advanced cooling systems more accessible, cost-effective, and even more reliable.