Luigs & Neumann Profile

Luigs & Neumann was founded as a family business in 1960 and started with the planning, development and manufacturing of switch service units, distance/time measurements and individual micromechanical components. The first company achievements were honoured in 1974 when awarded the ‘Staatspreis der Bayerischen Staatsregierung’.

In 1983 first collaborations with research scientists from Garching were established, leading to the development of further electromechanical devices, many associated with electro-physiological experimental techniques. One main product was the Invitro - perfusion - system. In co-operation with Garching, Luigs & Neumann were asked to continue to develop and produce an advancement of the Patch Clamp - Towers according to E. Neher and J. Fernandez.

The first Tower was structured with simple manual setting systems. It soon turned out however, that the accuracy, steadiness and the reproducibility became more and more essential for the scientists, leading to the first designs and development of the precision combi 25 manipulator. The new innovations, designs and manufacturing methods eliminated the weak points of past manipulators. This manipulator was however, still operated manually and used only for pre-positioning, whereby the actual 'patching' was done with a 3D Piezo. Nevertheless, this was the first step in the correct direction.

Luigs & Neumann were very honoured that Erwin Neher used and still uses Luigs & Neumann components and the newly developed Patch-Clamp Tower for his experiments and discoveries. Erwin Neher was awarded the Nobel Prize in ‘Physiology or Medicine’ in 1991 together with Bert Sakmann for their ‘discoveries concerning the function of single ion channels in cells’.

The continuos, constant contact with scientists, their information feedback and demanding requirements led to the development of the first motorised controls. Due to the more complex setups, it was important to make the scientist’s work as easy and efficient as possible. The development of a reliable, high precision step motor became the primary target in 1989/90 and required a new concept. The manipulator was changed completely and the new development produced the first manipulator with a reciprocally led spindle, as well as an active nut/mother. The new developed stand alone system permitted very high resolutions within the 100 Nm range. Hence the ’91 Mini 25 manipulator was born. This manipulator made the Piezo control system unnecessary and permitted Home-functionality, the option of saving exact positions and easy to use guidewheels. Furthermore the aim of creating an ergonomic system had been achieved.

The next step was to further develop the mini 25, which permitted a multiplicity of new combination options. Because of the miniaturization of the combi 25 the accuracy was further increased and the total mass reduced. The mini 25 range started a new era of unlimited application possibilities for Luigs & Neumann’s customers. Combined with the flexibility of a small company Luigs & Neumann could and today still can manufacture different setups to meet individual needs.

Luigs & Neumann and so also the customers have benefited from the proximity to the scientists and the implementation of their ideas into the product portfolio we find accumulated here today. A beautiful example for this is the development of a setup on request for the MPI Munich and H.-U. Dodt. The request was for a system that enabled to move the microscope separately from the Manipulators. This was achieved after having developed the shifting-table. Different setups were developed to meet many diverse requests. The possibility to regulate the CO2 concentration at the vital cut is just one of these developments, so as to keep at a moderate temperature control on the cut or the 'patching' with up to six motor manipulators mounted onto one setup. Based on this concept the extremely successful Infraredpatch Clamp setup was developed. Apart from the field of the electrophysiology and neurology we likewise develop complete system solutions for the IVF, as well as for the biological field.

In the past the customers’ requests have always driven Luigs & Neumann to new maximum performance leading to many various pending patents. Today, because of new investments and modern production methods Luigs & Neumann are more than ever in the position to follow and fulfill most customers’ requests and new ideas.