At RHK Technology, we embody a culture of continuous improvement and customer collaboration — a mindset deeply woven into both our history and our product innovation. Founded by Adam Kollin in 1981 and still under family ownership and management, RHK maintains a hands-on leadership approach that keeps us closely in tune with the ever-evolving needs of the nanoscience research community.
Listening as a Design Principle
At RHK, innovation begins with listening. Our team built the company on symbiotic relationships with scientists, using direct feedback to refine and expand our scanning probe microscopy (SPM) systems. This customer-centric approach allowed us to evolve from a controller manufacturer into a full-spectrum provider of ambient, UHV, and cryogenic SPM platforms. Our responsiveness enables scientists to co-develop specialized instruments that might not otherwise exist commercially.
Turning Challenges into Progress
Even under adversity, such as the pandemic-era supply disruptions we’d all like to forget, we turned obstacles into progress. The company streamlined operations while enhancing system design and reliability. This adaptability reflects our long-game perspective: consistency, not complacency, drives improvement. Many RHK employees have been with the company for decades, helping us sustain deep technical expertise and preserve institutional knowledge. These assets reinforce reliability and continuity — qualities we believe are vital for our customers, who value knowing the people behind the instruments they depend on.
Product Innovation: From Controllers to Cryogen-Free Microscopes
Starting from well before the R9 to the R10 today, our controllers exemplify RHK’s forward-thinking design philosophy. The R9 refined signal integrity and speed for ultra-low-noise scanning, while the R10 introduced modular architecture and near-endless adaptability for next-generation experiments. These instruments illustrate our mission to “unleash your AFM/STM,” empowering users with flexible, precise control for nanoscale science research and discovery.
Meanwhile, our PanScan Freedom Lumin-SLT system stands as a showpiece of collaborative engineering. Co-developed with Professor Luiz Zagonel of UNICAMP in Brazil, the Lumin-SLT combines atomic-resolution surface imaging with up to 72% light-capture efficiency — an optical breakthrough in nanoscale light-matter studies. It is also cryogen-free, making ultralow-temperature microscopy accessible to labs unable to afford or maintain liquid helium systems.
Continuous Improvement as Identity
Our model of success rests on iterative refinement and accessibility. Our founder and president Adam Kollin continues to personally visit laboratories worldwide, encouraging candid feedback and critique to identify shortcomings, and these are the insights we use to spark the next phases of product improvements and innovations. By transforming user challenges into design opportunities, we maintain our reputation for consistently solid reliability, outstanding customer support, and world-wide technical excellence in design, adaptability, and functionality.
In essence, RHK Technology’s story is one of perseverance and partnership. Every instrument — from the precise R10 controller to the light-capturing Lumin-SLT — embodies our belief that innovation grows from collaboration, and that continuous improvement is not just a process, but a principle in advancing the vision of nanoscience.
We are always happy to talk shop. Reach out with your questions and let’s have a conversation about your needs that will help advance your research