About Bright Instrument
Bright Instrument Co. is a privately owned business established in 1937, specialising in the design and manufacture of precision labratory equipment.
Thier product range includes:
- Cryostats
- Microtomes
- Freezing units
- Laboratory accessories
These products support laboratories across:
- Pathology
- Histopathology
- Immunology
- Life sciences
- Industrial testing and quality control
With decades of engineering heritage, Bright Instrument has built a reputation for innovation, reliability, and technical excellence, supplying institutions worldwide.
The Challenge
Bright Instrument continually invests in developing new technologies to improve laboratory precision and reliability.
However, identifying which projects quailfy for R&D tax relief and documenting the required technical narrative can be complex and time-consuming.
The company needed expert guidance to:
- Identify eligible R&D activities
- Accurately capture qualifying expenditure
- Present technical developments in a format compliant with HMRC requirements
- Maximise their available claim without disrupting day-to-day operations
The Solution
SAS R&D worked closely with Bright Instrument’s technical team to review development work across the business.
Through detailed technical discussions, several qualifying projects were identified, including:
Brain Sectioning Machine
Development of a human brain sectioning machine capable of delivering levels of scale and cutting consistency previously unavailable in the market.
This innovation required overcoming significant technology challenges to ensure both precision and repeatability.
OTF 6000 Improvement
Enhancement of an existing system through the development of a retrofittable mechanism designed to address condensation and water droplet contamination.
The solution provided a commercially viable method for improving performance in earlier models without requiring full replacements.
The Results
Following the technical and financial review:
- £415,606 in qualifying R&D expenditure was identified
- Results in £138,613 in cash repayments
- Total R&D tax credits recovered to date reached £203,262
The funding enabled Bright Instrument to:
- Continue investing in advanced product development
- Accelerate innovation projects
- Support ongoing business growth
The successful claim has played a key role in sustaining Bright Instrument’s commitment to engineering innovation.
SAS R&D were able to explain the whole process, whilst also translating my innovation into a coherent technical narrative.
— Harry Nugent, Managing Director, Bright Instrument Co. Limited
