In the modern scientific world, some companies do more than create products—they help shape entire scientific disciplines. Park Systems is one such story.
Originating from the Birth of Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM)
The history of Park Systems is deeply intertwined with the history of Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), one of the most important inventions in twentieth-century nanoscience.
The company’s founder, Dr. Sang-il Park, was a Ph.D. student at Stanford University under the supervision of Professor Calvin Quate. Between 1985 and 1986, he was a key member of the research team that successfully developed the world’s first Atomic Force Microscope. Following his graduation, he founded Park Scientific Instruments (PSI) in Silicon Valley in 1988, making it one of the pioneering companies to commercialize AFM technology worldwide.
In 1997, after PSI was acquired, Dr. Park returned to Korea and founded Park Systems with an ambitious vision: to build the next generation of AFM systems with the highest measurement accuracy in the world.
Development Philosophy: Precision as the Foundation of Innovation
Unlike many technology companies that focus primarily on product volume, Park Systems has consistently pursued a clear philosophy:
“Precision Drives Innovation.”
From its earliest days, the company concentrated on overcoming the fundamental limitations of conventional AFM systems:
- Eliminating image bowing artifacts
- Minimizing cross-talk between measurement channels
- Developing True Non-Contact™ AFM technology
- Enhancing measurement accuracy at the nanometer and atomic scales
- Achieving full automation for industrial manufacturing environments
This philosophy enabled Park Systems not only to serve fundamental scientific research but also to bring AFM technology into the most demanding industrial production settings.
AFM: The Technological Pillar Behind Park Systems
AFM is far more than a microscope.
It is a technological platform that enables researchers and engineers to:
- Visualize surface structures at atomic resolution
- Measure surface roughness with sub-nanometer precision
- Quantify intermolecular interaction forces
- Monitor biological dynamics in real time
- Characterize mechanical, electrical, magnetic, and chemical properties of materials
Thanks to its ultra-high spatial resolution and ability to operate in air, liquid, and vacuum environments, AFM has become one of the most powerful tools in modern nanoscience.
From Life Sciences to the Semiconductor Industry
One of Park Systems’ greatest strengths is its ability to extend AFM applications across nearly every area of scientific research and industrial production.
Life Sciences
AFM is widely used for:
- Single-molecule protein imaging
- DNA and RNA studies
- Enzyme dynamics investigations
- Cell membrane characterization
- Drug–receptor interaction analysis
- Development of High-Speed AFM technologies
Today, AFM has become an indispensable tool in structural biology, biophysics, and biomedical research.
Materials Science
AFM enables the investigation of:
- Nanomaterials
- Graphene
- Two-dimensional materials
- Polymers
- Battery and energy materials
- MEMS/NEMS devices
- Magnetic and optical materials
Researchers can simultaneously visualize surface morphology and measure local mechanical, electrical, and magnetic properties at nanometer-scale resolution.
Semiconductor Industry
This is the sector that has established Park Systems as a global leader.
Park Systems’ AFM solutions are widely used for:
- Silicon wafer inspection
- Critical Dimension (CD) metrology
- Surface roughness control
- FinFET and Gate-All-Around (GAA) structure characterization
- Advanced packaging inspection
- High-Bandwidth Memory (HBM) manufacturing
- Next-generation AI chips
Through strategic collaboration with imec, Park Systems has developed automated AFM platforms integrated directly into semiconductor production lines and deployed hundreds of systems in leading semiconductor fabrication facilities worldwide.
Beyond AFM: Building a Comprehensive Nanometrology Ecosystem
Park Systems’ vision extends far beyond AFM alone.
Through strategic acquisitions, including:
- Accurion GmbH (2022)
- Lyncée Tec SA (2025)
the company has successfully expanded into multiple advanced nanometrology technologies.
Its current technology portfolio includes:
AFM (Atomic Force Microscopy)
The gold standard for nanoscale metrology.
AFM-IR
Combines AFM with infrared spectroscopy to identify chemical compositions at nanoscale spatial resolution.
ISE (Imaging Spectroscopic Ellipsometry)
Measures thin-film and optical coating properties across large areas.
WLI (White Light Interferometry)
Provides rapid three-dimensional surface topography measurements.
DHM (Digital Holographic Microscopy)
Enables label-free, non-contact, real-time 3D imaging for life science and materials applications.
AVI (Active Vibration Isolation)
Advanced active vibration control technology for ultra-precision measurements.
The Future of Park Systems: From AFM to the Metrology Platform of the AI and Nano Era
Today, Park Systems has become the world’s leading AFM company, serving customers in more than 70 countries through a global network of offices and a team of highly skilled scientists and engineers. The company continues to experience remarkable growth, driven by a combination of fundamental research, technological innovation, and rapidly expanding demand from the semiconductor, advanced materials, energy, and life science sectors.
From a research laboratory at Stanford University to a global leader in nanometrology, the story of Park Systems demonstrates the power of fundamental science when combined with long-term vision, relentless innovation, and a commitment to transforming scientific discoveries into technologies that benefit society.
AFM is not merely a tool for observing matter at the atomic scale.
For Park Systems, AFM has become a foundational platform that enables humanity to better understand life, materials, and the technologies that will shape our world for decades to come.
Reference: https://www.parksystems.com/en/company
