News- Oxford Instruments plc Interim Management Statement
- Top Solar Cell Manufacturer Orders PV Systems
- Vinyl Compounds choose MQC Benchtop NMR system for quality control of their PVC-based products
- MercuryiTC cryogenic temperature controller combining several instruments in one
- Oxford Instruments releases White Paper on ion beam etching
- Oxford Instruments plc Announcement of Half Year Results for 2011/12
- New X-MET7000 handheld XRF analyser for professional materials analysis and screening
- MQC Benchtop NMR Analyzer at the Eastern Analytical Symposium & Exposition
- Launch of Educational Website www.ebsd.com
Oxford Instruments plc Interim Management Statement
Oxford Instruments plc, a leading provider of high technology tools and systems for industry and research, today issues an Interim Management Statement which covers the period from 1 October 2011 to date.
Orders within both our Research and Industrial markets remained robust with the exception that, as expected, orders for High Brightness LED related equipment within our Plasma Technology business unit have fallen as overcapacity in this industry takes effect. Despite this, orders, sales and profits for the Group for the year to date and for the third quarter are ahead of the corresponding period last year and consistent with our expectations.
On 20 October 2011 the Group disposed of a non-core Industrial product line that we produced for a single customer, to that customer. A consideration of £7.1 million was paid on completion, with a further £1.0 million receivable on the completion of a Transitional Services Agreement.
On 4 November 2011 the Group announced the acquisition of Platinum Medical Imaging LLC (Platinum) for an initial debt free, cash free consideration of US$18 million with a deferred element of up to US$37 million payable over three years dependent on its performance over that period. The combination of Platinum with our existing MRI Service business in North America significantly strengthens the Group’s Service Sector offering, and its integration is progressing to plan.
Save as described in this statement, there has been no significant change in the financial position of the Group in the period.
Our broad spread of geographies and technologies, and our strong pipeline of new products should help us to remain resilient in the event of a global economic downturn. The Board anticipates that Oxford Instruments will continue to make good progress in line with its expectations for the remainder of the financial year and consistent with its 14 cubed objectives.
Enquiries:
Oxford Instruments plc
Tel: 01865 393200
Jonathan Flint, Chief Executive
Kevin Boyd, Group Finance Director
MHP
Tel: 020 3128 8100
Rachel Hirst / Ian Payne Published Date: 19 January 2012 Oxford Instruments plc Interim Management Statement
Oxford Instruments plc, a leading provider of high technology tools and systems for industry and research, today issues an Interim Management Statement which covers the period from 1 October 2011 to date.
Orders within both our Research and Industrial markets remained robust with the exception that, as expected, orders for High Brightness LED related equipment within our Plasma Technology business unit have fallen as overcapacity in this industry takes effect. Despite this, orders, sales and profits for the Group for the year to date and for the third quarter are ahead of the corresponding period last year and consistent with our expectations.
On 20 October 2011 the Group disposed of a non-core Industrial product line that we produced for a single customer, to that customer. A consideration of £7.1 million was paid on completion, with a further £1.0 million receivable on the completion of a Transitional Services Agreement.
On 4 November 2011 the Group announced the acquisition of Platinum Medical Imaging LLC (Platinum) for an initial debt free, cash free consideration of US$18 million with a deferred element of up to US$37 million payable over three years dependent on its performance over that period. The combination of Platinum with our existing MRI Service business in North America significantly strengthens the Group’s Service Sector offering, and its integration is progressing to plan.
Save as described in this statement, there has been no significant change in the financial position of the Group in the period.
Our broad spread of geographies and technologies, and our strong pipeline of new products should help us to remain resilient in the event of a global economic downturn. The Board anticipates that Oxford Instruments will continue to make good progress in line with its expectations for the remainder of the financial year and consistent with its 14 cubed objectives.
Enquiries:
Oxford Instruments plc
Tel: 01865 393200
Jonathan Flint, Chief Executive
Kevin Boyd, Group Finance Director
MHP
Tel: 020 3128 8100
Rachel Hirst / Ian Payne Published Date: 19 January 2012 Top Solar Cell Manufacturer Orders PV SystemsHanwha Solar America – Santa Clara, CA, a US entity within Hanwha Group, has recently placed an order with leading plasma etch & deposition tool manufacturer Oxford Instruments Plasma Technology for a PlasmaPro System100 multi chamber tool, encompassing a combination of PECVD and sputter modules.
The PlasmaPro System100 cluster tool will facilitate research into new materials, cell concepts, and process characterisation applicable to crystalline silicon cell development. The system will be installed at Hanwha Solar America’s Advanced PV Research Laboratory based in Santa Clara, California, USA.
Dr. Paul Basore, the Lab Director for Hanwha Solar America, commented, “We have recently established a cutting-edge advanced R&D centre in the U.S. for break-through technological studies in photovoltaics as part of our global research & development network. Oxford Instruments was chosen for their innovative and flexible products, technological expertise and global customer support”.
Stuart Mitchell, VP at Oxford Instruments America said, “This order from Hanwha Solar cements our position as a leading provider of research and development equipment to leading corporate as well as academic organisations globally. Through our advanced technology and service we are working towards improving and creating a sustainable world”.
Published Date: 04 January 2012 Vinyl Compounds choose MQC Benchtop NMR system
With 35 years in the PVC compound industry, Vinyl Compounds produce an extensive range of rigid, flexible and specialty grades of PVC. These products range from standard industry formulations to highly technical and customer bespoke formulations. Materials will be formulated to meet the chemical, mechanical and physical properties required of the final product. Through the company’s continual investment programme, they have established a modern manufacturing facility capable of producing in excess of 60,000 tonnes of PVC compound and dry blend per annum.
The standard industry test to measure softness requires a 24 hour conditioning period. While this is still performed, Vinyl Compounds have developed their own in-house procedure whereby they can predict the softness level of the product in a matter of minutes using their MQC benchtop NMR system. Having built up a library of data, they have shown a linear correlation between plasticiser content as measured by NMR with the 24 hour test. This means they can rapidly test materials for the customers to ensure a rapid turnaround, a responsiveness that keeps them in the forefront of PVC suppliers.
Vinyl Compounds’ Commercial Director, Richard Loynes, commented on the company’s latest investment: “Having been users of Oxford instruments’ robust and reliable NMR technology for over thirty years, it was natural for us to purchase a new MQC system. It reflects the company commitment to our customers where we aim to continually provide improved support through investment in the latest technology available to us.”
Oxford Instruments’ latest benchtop NMR analyser offers fast, reliable Quality Control measurements in a compact, up-to-the-minute package, ideally suited to the needs of Vinyl Compounds.. The MQC features a compact magnet for minimum benchtop footprint; modular design for easy serviceability; upgradeable firmware, and software self-diagnostics to aid servicing. The MQC uses Oxford Instruments’ acclaimed MultiQuant and EasyCal software packages, allowing simple calibration and measurement of up to four constituents in samples. Every MQC system is supplied complete with application specific software and hardware.
For further details of Oxford Instruments’ benchtop NMR products, please visit www.oxford-instruments.com/mqc Published Date: 12 December 2011 MercuryiTC Temperature Controller
Oxford Instruments Nanoscience (OINS), World’s leading supplier of cryogenic systems for nanocharacterisation and measurements at low temperatures and high magnetic fields, announces the launch of MercuryiTC cryogenic temperature controller. This controller is used to control the temperature of a sample whose properties are being investigated.
Building on over 50 years experience in cryogenics and following the results of extensive customer feedback analysis, the MercuryiTC has evolved a unique and flexible design. Customers configure the system they need now and can adapt it to their extended experimental needs by adding additional plug and play expansion cards. The controller allows up to nine sensor inputs and four 80W heater outputs. The same instrument can also control a motorised valve in a continuous-flow cryostat or even monitor and control the level of cryogen in a reservoir. In addition, the constant voltage excitation provides for extremely accurate measurement which we believe to be the best on the market.
Keith Read, Software and Instrumentation Business manager of Oxford Instruments NanoScience, said: “We are excited about this new product and it represents a major advance in cryogenic instrumentation. We have created a new software and instrumentation business unit recently to focus on the development of this product and are delighted with the results. OINS aims to use innovation to turn smart science into world class products that delight our customers. The initial customer feedback suggests that MercuryiTC achieved just that! ”
Further information on this product can be found on www.oxinst.com/mercury.
Published Date: 21 November 2011 White Paper on ion beam etching
As leaders in Ion Beam technology and system manufacture, Oxford Instruments Plasma Technology's Applications and Technology teams regularly produce technical White Papers, and the latest, on Ion Beam Etching, is now available.
Authored by Dr Sebastien Pochon and Dr Dave Pearson, Senior Ion Beam Application and Technology Specialists at the company, the White Paper presents a review of Ion Beam Etch Technology. It considers the main applications and advantages of using this technology for etching processes when compared to technology such as plasma etching. An overview of how an ion beam is generated is first described, and is then followed by a presentation and discussion of process applications of ion beam technology. The white paper is available by contacting Oxford Instruments, at process.news@oxinst.com
Comments Robert Gunn, Applications Team Manager at Oxford Instruments Plasma Technology, “In order to offer the very best in ion beam and plasma systems, our experienced teams of applications engineers and technologists continue to develop and research into their areas of expertise, and as a result we offer our customers many technical papers, such as this White Paper, in addition to a process library of over 6000 recipes.”
As global leaders in Ion Beam technology and system manufacture, Oxford Instruments’ range of ion beam tools includes the Ionfab300Plus offering the flexibility to perform etch and/or deposition while maximising system utilisation, the Ionfab500Plus designed for ultra high quality optical thin films, and the Optofab3000, specifically developed for high quality optical applications. Published Date: 16 November 2011 Announcement of Half Year Results for 2011/12Oxford Instruments plc, a leading provider of high technology tools and systems for industry and research, today announces its Half Year Results for the six months to 30 September 2011.
Highlights:
- Order intake up 24% to £175 million (2010: £141 million)
- Continued growth in China with orders up 53%
- Revenue up 41% to £159 million (2010: £113 million) with organic growth of 30%
- Adjusted profit before tax* up 76% to £18.7 million (2010: £10.6 million)
- Adjusted operating margin* increased to 11.9% (2010: 10.5%)
- Adjusted EPS* up 62% to 28.2 pence (2010: 17.4 pence)
- Interim dividend increased by 10% to 2.77 pence (2010: 2.52 pence)
- Acquisitions of Omicron NanoTechnology GmbH and Omniprobe, Inc. made in June are integrating well and performing to plan
- Following the period end, acquisition of Platinum Medical Imaging LLC for a total consideration of up to US$55 million
- 7 months into our 14 Cubed growth plan, progress is in line to reach our objectives
* Adjusting items comprise pension scheme curtailment gains, shareholder earn-out no longer required, impairments, amortisation of acquired intangibles, unwinding of acquisition related fair value adjustments to inventory, acquisition costs and mark to market gains or losses in respect of certain derivatives and the related amounts of taxation. They also include the utilisation of the one-off recognition of a deferred tax asset in 2011. See note 2.
Nigel Keen, Chairman of Oxford Instruments plc, said:
”We have delivered a strong result in the first half in line with our 14 Cubed objectives. Our broad spread of geographies and technologies, and our strong pipeline of new products should help us to remain resilient in the event of a global economic downturn. We are continuing our active pursuit of acquisitions that have the potential to enhance shareholder value and add to our range of technical capabilities.
Trading since the period end has remained strong and the Board believes that performance in the second half of the year is likely to exceed that of the first half.
The Board remains confident in the continued growth prospects of Oxford Instruments and the Group’s ability to deliver sustained shareholder value.”
Enquiries:
Oxford Instruments plc
Jonathan Flint, Chief Executive
Kevin Boyd, Group Finance Director
Tel: 01865 393200
MHP Communications
Rachel Hirst
Ian Payne
Tel: 020 3128 8100  Click here to read the full announcement
Published Date: 15 November 2011 New X-MET7000 handheld XRF analyser
- Faster, Lighter, Smaller
- Largest colour touch-screen display and longest battery life available on the market
- Fastest time to first measurement
- Great performance and reliability built in as standard
Oxford Instruments is proud to launch a new faster, lighter and smaller handheld XRF analyser - the X MET7000. With one pull of the trigger, the X MET7000 delivers faster than ever results for materials analysis, verification and screening. This new look and feel now has a totally new fast user interface, new reporting power and simply unbeatable battery life for all day materials analysis.
X-MET7000 is designed for professionals requiring the ultimate in analytical accuracy across a number of industrial markets, including PMI, metals and alloys, scrap sorting and precious metals analysis. The X-MET7000 is offered with a choice of calibration packages tailored for a wide range of materials screening applications.
The analyser can be loaded with a totally flexible and unique selection of analysis methods to meet even the strictest compliance regulations. Packed with top-of-the-range features combined with new user-friendly software that is quick to learn and easy to use, powerful reporting tools and the longest battery life on the market.
The X-MET7000 has been designed with flexibility, accuracy and value for money in mind, for a variety of customer requirements in different industries:
- Metal industries: Positive Material Identification
- Metal recycling; Scrap sorting
- Gold and Precious Metals verification
- Mining processes: Ore exploration, on-site excavation control
- Environmental screening: heavy metals in soils
- Lead and other hazardous substances in paint, toys and other consumer goods
- RoHS / WEEE compliance screening
- Treated wood recycling
- Drywall screening in home inspection
The new design is based on extensive customer research and offers an improved, intuitive and easy-to-read graphical user interface. New attractive functional icons make learning how to use the instrument quicker. Easy to operate, even with gloves on.
The bright and high contrast 4.3” Blanview® transmissive LCD touch-screen ensures optimal outdoor viewing, even in direct sunlight. The result screen can easily be user-customised for individual needs e.g. to show only the elements of interest or create informative pass/fail messages. The history view allows for easy browsing of old results and spectra.
The user interface is available in 13 languages: English, Traditional and Simplified Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Russian, Spanish, Finnish, Portuguese, Polish, German, Italian and French.
So with quality, flexibility and reliability built in, powerful analysis, all day battery, clear bright screen and range of additional new features designed with the customer in mind, why compromise? Take a closer look at the new X-MET7000 from Oxford Instruments.
Published Date: 14 November 2011 MQC Benchtop NMR Analyzer at EAS
Oxford Instruments Magnetic Resonance Division is attending EAS to talk to visitors about the use of their world-leading benchtop NMR systems. NMR is no longer a tool just for research use but is applied to solve real-life application challenges in quality control and quality assurance laboratories.
Oxford Instruments' MQC provides fast, easy, solvent-free measurement of oil, fat and moisture. Applications include determining the oil and fat content of foods including snacks, chocolate and general foodstuffs, and for measuring oil in animal feed and oilseeds. It is also used to measure spin finish coatings on fibers, and for various petrochemical and polymer applications.
Since NMR acquires a signal from the whole sample and not just from the surface, it provides better accuracy and precision than alternative secondary techniques. For some applications, for example when analyzing oilseeds, it is possible to measure water and oil concentrations simultaneously.
A compact size minimizes the footprint on critical laboratory benchtop workspace. The MQC family of instruments come with the latest MultiQuant 6.1 software which brings many enhancements that may be customised to fit the needs of the user. The new software addresses the specific needs of a quality control operative to ensure consistent data and performance of the instrument.
The MultiQuant 6.1 is fully compatible with the MQC Autosampler, speeding sample throughput, especially useful when samples require conditioning at a non-ambient temperature. The Autosampler also allows sample tubes to be automatically tared, moved from the conditioning block to the balance and finally into the magnet for measurement without further user intervention.
For further details of Oxford Instruments’ benchtop NMR products, please visit www.oxford-instruments.com/mqc.
Published Date: 13 November 2011 Launch of Educational Website www.ebsd.com
Oxford Instruments NanoAnalysis, a world leader in microanalysis systems, has launched an educational website www.ebsd.com. EBSD, or Electron BackScatter Diffraction, is an advanced technology used to perform quantitative microstructure analysis of a sample inside a Scanning Electron Microscope.
According to EBSD Business Manager, Dr. Jenny Goulden, “EBSD analysis is rapidly evolving from an academic research tool to a mainstream technique used throughout academia and industry. EBSD.com is packed with information for everyone interested in the application - from students and newcomers, through lab managers who need a quick overview, to experts striving to better understand and use the technology.”
EBSD.com covers the underlying physics and the various applications of the technology in great detail. It shows how to prepare samples, goes through a typical EBSD session, and then shows how the results are interpreted. Information is given in a step-by-step approach and the site is packed with interactive simulations, animations and video demonstrations. Users can even tailor their own training manual after bookmarking pages of interest. Visit www.ebsd.com Published Date: 09 November 2011
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