Basis of Presentation	6 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2020
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Basis of Presentation	1. Basis of Presentation The unaudited consolidated financial statements of Brooks Automation, Inc. and its subsidiaries (“Brooks”, or the “Company”) included herein have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”). All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. In the opinion of management, all material adjustments, which are of a normal and recurring nature and necessary for a fair statement of the financial position and results of operations and cash flows for the periods presented, have been reflected in the accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements. The results of operations for the interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the results of operations to be expected for the full fiscal year. Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in the Company’s annual consolidated financial statements have been condensed or omitted and, accordingly, the accompanying financial information should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto contained in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2019 (the "2019 Annual Report on Form 10-K"). The accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheet as of September 30, 2019 was derived from the audited annual consolidated financial statements as of the period then ended. Discontinued Operations In the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2018, the Company entered into a definitive agreement to sell its semiconductor cryogenics business (the “Disposition”) to Edwards Vacuum LLC (a member of the Atlas Copco Group) (“Edwards”). The Company determined that the semiconductor cryogenics business met the “held for sale” criteria and the “discontinued operations” criteria in accordance with Financial Accounting Standard Boards (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 205, Presentation of Financial Statements, (“FASB ASC 205”) as of September 30, 2018. The Consolidated Balance Sheets and Consolidated Statements of Operations, and the notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements were restated for all periods presented to reflect the discontinuation of the semiconductor cryogenics business, in accordance with FASB ASC 205. The discussion in the notes to these Consolidated Financial Statements, unless otherwise noted, relate solely to the Company's continuing operations. Please refer to Note 3, “Discontinued Operations” for further information. On July 1, 2019, the Company completed the sale of the semiconductor cryogenics business for $661.1 million, which excludes $6.3 million retained by Edwards at closing as a result of the initial net working capital adjustments. Net cash proceeds from the sale were $553.1 million, after deducting estimated taxes payable and closing costs, which remains subject to adjustment for the final determination of working capital and other items. Risks and Uncertainties The Company is subject to risks common to companies in the markets we serve, including, but not limited to, global economic and financial market conditions, fluctuations in customer demand, acceptance of new products, development by its competitors of new technological innovations, risk of disruption in its supply chain, the implementation of tariffs and export controls, dependence on key personnel, protection of proprietary technology, and compliance with domestic and foreign regulatory authorities and agencies. During the COVID 19 pandemic, the Company’s facilities have remained operational with only required personnel on site, and the balance of employees working from home. Both business segments fall within the classification of an “Essential Critical Infrastructure Sector” as defined by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and have continued operations during the COVID-19 pandemic. We have followed government guidance in each region and have implemented Center for Disease Control social distancing guidelines and other best practices to protect the health and safety of the Company’s employees. The Company’s year-to-date financial results have only been modestly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and a portion of this impact has been mitigated by realignment of resources and by addressing the incremental orders related to virus research. The future impacts on the Company’s financial results will depend on multiple variables which are not fully determinable as the full impact of the pandemic will depend on the depth of the effects which the pandemic has on the economy and markets which we serve. The variables are many, but fundamentally include the negative effect on demand from the Company’s customers, the degree if any that the supply chain may be constrained to support the Company’s delivery of product, as well as the amount of incremental demand caused by research and treatments in the areas of COVID-19 or related threats.

Basis of Presentation

6 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2020

Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]

1. Basis of Presentation

The unaudited consolidated financial statements of Brooks Automation, Inc. and its subsidiaries (“Brooks”, or the “Company”) included herein have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”). All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. In the opinion of management, all material adjustments, which are of a normal and recurring nature and necessary for a fair statement of the financial position and results of operations and cash flows for the periods presented, have been reflected in the accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements. The results of operations for the interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the results of operations to be expected for the full fiscal year.

Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in the Company’s annual consolidated financial statements have been condensed or omitted and, accordingly, the accompanying financial information should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto contained in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2019 (the "2019 Annual Report on Form 10-K"). The accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheet as of September 30, 2019 was derived from the audited annual consolidated financial statements as of the period then ended.

Discontinued Operations

In the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2018, the Company entered into a definitive agreement to sell its semiconductor cryogenics business (the “Disposition”) to Edwards Vacuum LLC (a member of the Atlas Copco Group) (“Edwards”). The Company determined that the semiconductor cryogenics business met the “held for sale” criteria and the “discontinued operations” criteria in accordance with Financial Accounting Standard Boards (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 205, Presentation of Financial Statements, (“FASB ASC 205”) as of September 30, 2018. The Consolidated Balance Sheets and Consolidated Statements of Operations, and the notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements were restated for all periods presented to reflect the discontinuation of the semiconductor cryogenics business, in accordance with FASB ASC 205. The discussion in the notes to these Consolidated Financial Statements, unless otherwise noted, relate solely to the Company's continuing operations. Please refer to Note 3, “Discontinued Operations” for further information.

On July 1, 2019, the Company completed the sale of the semiconductor cryogenics business for $661.1 million, which excludes $6.3 million retained by Edwards at closing as a result of the initial net working capital adjustments. Net cash proceeds from the sale were $553.1 million, after deducting estimated taxes payable and closing costs, which remains subject to adjustment for the final determination of working capital and other items.

Risks and Uncertainties

The Company is subject to risks common to companies in the markets we serve, including, but not limited to, global economic and financial market conditions, fluctuations in customer demand, acceptance of new products, development by its competitors of new technological innovations, risk of disruption in its supply chain, the implementation of tariffs and export controls, dependence on key personnel, protection of proprietary technology, and compliance with domestic and foreign regulatory authorities and agencies.

During the COVID 19 pandemic, the Company’s facilities have remained operational with only required personnel on site, and the balance of employees working from home. Both business segments fall within the classification of an “Essential Critical Infrastructure Sector” as defined by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and have continued operations during the COVID-19 pandemic. We have followed government guidance in each region and have implemented Center for Disease Control social distancing guidelines and other best practices to protect the health and

safety of the Company’s employees. The Company’s year-to-date financial results have only been modestly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and a portion of this impact has been mitigated by realignment of resources and by addressing the incremental orders related to virus research. The future impacts on the Company’s financial results will depend on multiple variables which are not fully determinable as the full impact of the pandemic will depend on the depth of the effects which the pandemic has on the economy and markets which we serve. The variables are many, but fundamentally include the negative effect on demand from the Company’s customers, the degree if any that the supply chain may be constrained to support the Company’s delivery of product, as well as the amount of incremental demand caused by research and treatments in the areas of COVID-19 or related threats.