JPK Instruments, a world-leading manufacturer of nanoanalytic instrumentation for research in life sciences and soft matter is pleased to announce the appointment of Thomas Neicke and Dr. Elmar Hartmann as new members of the sales team.

JPK welcomes Thomas Neicke, who takes on responsibility for managing JPK´s sales activities in Eastern and Southern Europe, and Dr. Elmar Hartmann, who is now responsible for the South of Germany and Austria.

Dr. Elmar Hartmann received his PhD in Physics at the Technical University of Munich. After that, he worked for several years as a research associate at the TU of Munich focusing on Scanning Probe Microscopy. After spending more than a year in the Nanostructure Consortium of Lund University (Sweden) he received the postdoctoral lecture qualification of the Technical University of Munich. In 1999, Dr. Hartmann left academia to start a career in instrument sales. The companies he worked for include Digital Instruments, SOPRA, Atomic Force/Asylum Research, and Veeco Instruments/Bruker Nano GmbH. Periodically, Dr. Hartmann works as an associate lecturer at the Munich University of Applied Sciences in the master program of Micro- and Nanotechnology. Welcoming Dr. Hartmann, JPK´s Regional Sales Manager Sebastian Roth said, "Elmar brings a wealth of knowledge through working in high-tech companies and I know that he will bring his experience to the German and Austrian market."

To further strengthen the distribution network in Europe, JPK welcomes Thomas Neicke. As sales manager, Mr. Neicke takes over responsibility for managing JPKs distribution activities in Southern and Eastern Europe. "We are very pleased to welcome Thomas to JPK´s team. His extensive knowledge and experience in the nanotechnology field will certainly benefit our aim to provide the best instruments and best services for our customers in Europe" said Gerd Behme, General Sales Manager at JPK.

Mr. Neicke said, "I am enthusiastic about JPKs sophisticated nanotechnology tools and life science applications, and look forward to giving my share to enhance JPKs position in providing the best instruments for scientists". Mr Neicke has many years of experience in customer service, project management and sales having most recently worked for SPECS Surface Nano Analysis GmbH. Studying in Wildau, Germany and Linköping, Sweden, he gained his Engineer degree in Physics Technology from the University of Applied Sciences in Wildau.

JPK develops, engineers and manufactures instrumentation in Germany to the world-recognized standards of German precision engineering, quality and functionality. For details of the JPK family of nanoscale characterization instrumentation, please visit the JPK web site (www.jpk.com) or Facebook (www.jpk.com/facebook).