Revenue recognition - Disaggregated revenue (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2022	Mar. 31, 2021
Revenue recognition
Total revenue	$ 29,552	$ 27,209
Product revenue
Revenue recognition
Total revenue	20,656	18,248
Product revenue | NA
Revenue recognition
Total revenue	10,998	10,667
Product revenue | EMEA
Revenue recognition
Total revenue	6,472	6,326
Product revenue | Asia Pacific
Revenue recognition
Total revenue	3,186	1,255
Instruments
Revenue recognition
Total revenue	6,222	6,961
Instruments | NA
Revenue recognition
Total revenue	2,165	3,756
Instruments | EMEA
Revenue recognition
Total revenue	2,046	2,833
Instruments | Asia Pacific
Revenue recognition
Total revenue	2,011	372
Consumable and other products
Revenue recognition
Total revenue	14,434	11,287
Consumable and other products | NA
Revenue recognition
Total revenue	8,833	6,911
Consumable and other products | EMEA
Revenue recognition
Total revenue	4,426	3,493
Consumable and other products | Asia Pacific
Revenue recognition
Total revenue	1,175	883
Service and other revenue
Revenue recognition
Total revenue	8,810	6,409
Service and other revenue | NA
Revenue recognition
Total revenue	7,663	4,985
Service and other revenue | EMEA
Revenue recognition
Total revenue	1,001	1,350
Service and other revenue | Asia Pacific
Revenue recognition
Total revenue	146	74
Service-type warranties
Revenue recognition
Total revenue	2,034	1,471
Service-type warranties | NA
Revenue recognition
Total revenue	1,283	971
Service-type warranties | EMEA
Revenue recognition
Total revenue	659	438
Service-type warranties | Asia Pacific
Revenue recognition
Total revenue	92	62
Research services
Revenue recognition
Total revenue	6,240	4,298
Research services | NA
Revenue recognition
Total revenue	6,096	3,558
Research services | EMEA
Revenue recognition
Total revenue	131	728
Research services | Asia Pacific
Revenue recognition
Total revenue	13	12
Other services
Revenue recognition
Total revenue	536	640
Other services | NA
Revenue recognition
Total revenue	284	456
Other services | EMEA
Revenue recognition
Total revenue	211	184
Other services | Asia Pacific
Revenue recognition
Total revenue	41
Collaboration and license revenue
Revenue recognition
Total revenue	86	261
Collaboration and license revenue | NA
Revenue recognition
Total revenue		187
Collaboration and license revenue | EMEA
Revenue recognition
Total revenue	34	$ 74
Collaboration and license revenue | Asia Pacific
Revenue recognition
Total revenue	$ 52