Exhibit 99.3

[Letterhead of Needham & Company, LLC]

                        CONSENT OF NEEDHAM & COMPANY, LLC

      We hereby consent to the inclusion in the Registration Statement of Brooks
Automation, Inc. on Form S-4 and in the joint proxy statement/prospectus of
Brooks Automation, Inc. and Helix Technology Corporation, which is part of the
Registration Statement, of our opinion dated July 10, 2005 to the Board of
Directors of Brooks Automation, Inc. attached as Annex B to such joint proxy
statement/prospectus and to the references to our opinion and our name under the
captions "Summary -- Opinion of Brooks' Financial Advisor" and "PROPOSAL NUMBER
ONE: THE MERGER PROPOSALS -- Background of the Merger," " --Recommendations of
Brooks' Board of Directors; Brooks' Reasons for the Merger," and " --Opinion of
Brooks' Financial Advisor." In giving such consent, we do not admit that we come
within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the
Securities Act of 1933 or the rules and regulations of the Securities and
Exchange Commission promulgated thereunder, nor do we thereby admit that we are
experts with respect to any part of such Registration Statement within the
meaning of the term "experts" as used in the Securities Act of 1933 or the rules
and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission promulgated
thereunder.

                                                    NEEDHAM & COMPANY, LLC

                                                    /s/ Needham & Company, LLC

August 29, 2005