Oxford Instruments
{{Short description|United Kingdom manufacturing and research company}}
{{EngvarB|date=September 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2017}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Oxford Instruments plc
| image = Oxford Instruments Logo 2025.png
| type = Public limited company
| traded_as = {{ubl|{{lse|OXIG}}|FTSE 250 component}}
| foundation = 1959
| location = Abingdon, Oxfordshire
| key_people = Neil Carson (Chairman)
Richard Tyson (CEO)
Paul Fry (CFO)
Alison Wood (Senior Independent Director)
| industry = Top level markets include materials analysis, semiconductors, and healthcare and life science
| products = {{Plainlist|
- Analysers
- Atomic force microscopes
- Cryogenic systems
- CT & MRI systems, maintenance & parts
- Electron spectroscopes
- Microanalysis systems
- Nanoindentation systems
- Nanomanipulation & nanofabrication
- Plasma, ALD & ion beam
- Raman microscopes
- Scanning probe microscopes
- Scientific cameras
- Spectrometers
- Superconducting magnets
- X-ray tubes and integrated sources}}
| revenue = {{increase}} £470.4 million (2024){{cite web |url=https://www.oxinst.com/assets/uploads/Oxford_Instruments_plc_Annual_Report_2024.pdf|title=Annual Report 2023/24 |publisher=Oxford Instruments |access-date=4 February 2025}}
| operating_income = {{decrease}} £80.3 million (2024)
| net_income = {{decrease}} £50.7 million (2024)
| num_employees = 2,244 (2024)
| homepage = {{URL|https://www.oxinst.com}}
}}
Oxford Instruments plc is a United Kingdom manufacturing and research company that designs and manufactures tools and systems for industry and research. The company is headquartered in Abingdon, Oxfordshire, England, with sites in the United Kingdom, United States, Europe, and Asia.{{Cite web|url=https://www.oxinst.com/offices|title=Offices – Oxford Instruments|publisher=oxinst.com|access-date=26 May 2017|archive-date=23 May 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220523094953/https://www.oxinst.com/offices|url-status=dead}} It is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a constituent of the FTSE 250 Index.{{Cite web|url=http://www.londonstockexchange.com/exchange/prices-and-markets/stocks/summary/company-summary/GB0006650450GBGBXSSMM.html|title=OXFORD INSTRMNT share price (OXIG) – London Stock Exchange|publisher=londonstockexchange.com|access-date=26 May 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180720022507/https://www.londonstockexchange.com/exchange/prices-and-markets/stocks/summary/company-summary/GB0006650450GBGBXSSMM.html|archive-date=20 July 2018|url-status=dead}}
History
File:Oxford Instruments - geograph.org.uk - 1102990.jpg building of Oxford Instruments in west Oxford, now used as a church.]]
The company was founded by Sir Martin Wood in 1959, with help from his wife Audrey Wood (Lady Wood){{cite web|url=https://www.sbs.oxford.edu/sites/default/files/Entrepreneurship_Centre/Docs/audrey-wood.pdf|title=Audrey, Lady Wood (Oxford Instruments, The Oxford Trust, Oxford Innovation)|website=sbs.oxford.edu|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170731130842/https://www.sbs.oxford.edu/sites/default/files/Entrepreneurship_Centre/Docs/audrey-wood.pdf|archive-date=31 July 2017}}Audrey Wood, Magnetic Venture: The Story of Oxford Instruments (Oxford University Press, 2001). {{ISBN|0-19-924108-2}} to manufacture superconducting magnets for use in scientific research, starting in his garden shed in Northmoor Road, Oxford, England.{{cite web|url=http://www.sbs.ox.ac.uk/centres/entrepreneurship/Documents/Martin_Wood.pdf|title=Sir Martin Wood and Oxford Instruments|publisher=Oxford University|access-date=17 September 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120404033634/http://www.sbs.ox.ac.uk/centres/entrepreneurship/Documents/Martin_Wood.pdf|archive-date=4 April 2012|df=dmy-all}} It was the first substantial commercial spin-out company from the University of Oxford{{cite web|url=http://sciencecampaign.org.uk/?p=5673|title=High-tech UK industry; Oxford Instruments|publisher=CASE|date=4 July 2011|access-date=17 September 2011|archive-date=19 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180719233335/http://www.sciencecampaign.org.uk/?p=5673|url-status=dead}} and was first listed on the London Stock Exchange in 1983.
It had a pioneering role in the development of magnetic resonance imaging, providing the first superconducting magnets for this application. The first commercial MRI whole body scanner was manufactured at its Osney Mead factory in Oxford in 1980 for installation at Hammersmith Hospital, London.{{cite web|title=MRI Scanner (1980)|url=http://oxonblueplaques.org.uk/plaques/mri.html|work=Oxfordshire Blue Plaques Scheme|publisher=Oxfordshire Blue Plaques Board|date=2 June 2011|access-date=6 January 2012}} Further innovations included the development of active shielding, whereby fringe fields hazardous to pacemaker wearers, causing difficulty and expense in siting, were virtually eliminated.{{cite web|url=http://www.ingenia.org.uk/ingenia/articles.aspx?Index=239|title=Superconducting magnets: The heart of NMR|publisher=Ingenia|date=February 2004|access-date=17 September 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120319155436/http://www.ingenia.org.uk/ingenia/articles.aspx?Index=239|archive-date=19 March 2012|url-status=dead}} Oxford Instruments was not able to capitalise on these inventions itself, granting royalty-free license to Philips and General Electric whilst developing a joint venture with Siemens in 1989: Oxford Instruments sold its 49% shareholding to Siemens in 2003.{{cite web |url=http://www.prnewswire.co.uk/cgi/news/release?id=111668|title=Siemens Acquires Oxford Instruments' Stake in Oxford Magnet Technology|agency=PR Newswire|year=2004|access-date=17 September 2011}}
Acquisitions and divestitures
Divestitures
- 2003 Oxford Magnet Technology Ltd, minority shareholding sold to Siemens plc{{Cite web|url=https://www.chemeurope.com/en/news/31184/oxford-instruments-plc-sells-its-stake-in-oxford-magnet-technology-limited-to-siemens-plc.html|title=Oxford Instruments plc sells its stake in Oxford Magnet Technology Limited to Siemens plc|website=www.chemeurope.com}}
- 2016 Superconducting Wire business sold to Bruker.{{Cite web|url=https://ir.bruker.com/press-releases/press-release-details/2016/Bruker-and-Oxford-Instruments-Announce-Acquisition-of-Oxford-Instruments-Superconducting-Wire-Business-by-Brukers-BEST-Segment/default.aspx|title=Bruker and Oxford Instruments Announce Acquisition of Oxford Instruments Superconducting Wire Business by Bruker's BEST Segment|website=ir.bruker.com}}
Acquisitions
- 2003 Thermo VC Semicon Ltd. Molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) equipment for semiconductor fabrication{{Cite web|url=https://www.laserfocusworld.com/test-measurement/research/article/16560506/oxford-instruments-acquires-thermo-vg-semicon|title=Oxford Instruments acquires Thermo VG Semicon|date=7 October 2003|website=Laser Focus World}}
- 2005 HKL Technology A/S. EBSD detector technology for electron microscopy{{Cite web|url=https://www.chemeurope.com/en/news/44945/oxford-instruments-acquires-hkl-technology-a-s.html|title=Oxford Instruments acquires HKL Technology A/S|website=www.chemeurope.com}}
- 2008 Link Analytical AB. Sales channel for Oxford Instruments in Scandinavia{{Cite web|url=https://www.chemeurope.com/en/news/82799/oxford-instruments-acquires-link-analytical.html|title=Oxford Instruments acquires Link Analytical|website=www.chemeurope.com}}
- 2014 Andor Technology plc. Scientific cameras, spectrometers and high speed fluorescence microscopes{{Cite web|url=https://www.qubis.co.uk/about-us/success-stories/andor-technology|title=Andor Technology|website=Qubis}}
References
{{reflist|30em}}
{{FTSE 250 Index constituents}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Electronics companies of the United Kingdom
Category:Engineering companies of the United Kingdom
Category:Nanotechnology companies
Category:Companies based in Oxford
Category:Electronics companies established in 1959
Category:Manufacturing companies established in 1959
Category:1959 establishments in England
Category:Companies listed on the London Stock Exchange
Category:Companies in the FTSE 250 Index