Andor Technology
ActiveOverview
Andor Technology develops and manufactures scientific cameras, microscopy systems, and spectrographs for academic, government, and industrial applications in life sciences, physical sciences, and photonics.16 As part of Oxford Instruments, it provides high-performance imaging solutions capable of single-photon detection and capturing events in one billionth of a second, serving over 10,000 customers in 55 countries.36 The company maintains a global presence with offices in Belfast, Japan, China, Switzerland, and the US.1
History
Andor Technology was established in 1989 as a spin-out from the Physics Department at Queen’s University Belfast.46 It floated on the London Stock Exchange in 2004 before being acquired by Oxford Instruments in 2013 for £176 million.15 Key milestones include launching the Sona and Marana camera platforms in 2018, Marana-X in 2020, ZL41 Wave sCMOS in 2023, and Imaris 10.0 software in 2023.1
Product Lines
| Product Line | Positioning | Price Range |
|---|---|---|
| Newton CCD (spectroscopy) | high-performance spectroscopy platform | $20,000 - $60,000 |
| iDus CCD/InGaAs (spectroscopy) | general spectroscopy applications | $15,000 - $50,000 |
| iStar ICCD (gated imaging) | ns gated spectroscopy | $30,000 - $80,000 |
| Shamrock (spectrographs) | versatile spectrograph platform | $10,000 - $40,000 |
| Sona sCMOS (fluorescence microscopy) | ultrasensitive back-illuminated cameras | $40,000 - $100,000 |
| Marana sCMOS (physical sciences) | back-illuminated for low-light imaging | $40,000 - $100,000 |
| Dragonfly (microscopy systems) | spinning disk confocal | $100,000 - $250,000 |
Manufacturing
Manufacturing occurs at a purpose-built 50,000 sq. ft. facility in Belfast, Northern Ireland, featuring optical, electronic, and mechanical workshops, a 3,000 sq. ft. clean room, and vacuum/electronic processing.6 Products are developed and produced in-house for scientific cameras, spectrographs, and microscopy systems.14
Notable Products
- Marana-X - High-sensitivity sCMOS camera for high-energy physics, soft X-ray, and EUV imaging.
- Sona - Back-illuminated sCMOS platform for fluorescence microscopy.
- ZL41 Wave - sCMOS camera platform for physical sciences.
- Dragonfly - Benchtop confocal microscopy system; R&D 100 Award winner in 2018.
- Imaris - 3D/4D microscopy image analysis software; version 11 released recently.
- Newton - CCD platform for spectroscopy applications.
Reputation
Andor is regarded by researchers for reliable high-performance cameras enabling single-photon detection and fast imaging in fields like biology, astronomy, and materials science.23 Professionals value its innovations such as sCMOS and EMCCD technologies, with awards for products like Dragonfly.1 Some note high costs as a barrier for smaller labs, though quality justifies investment for demanding applications.12
Sources (7)
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andor_Technology
- https://www.spectroscopyonline.com/view/andor-technology-ltd
- https://www.azom.com/suppliers.aspx?SupplierID=11267
- https://rocketreach.co/andor-technology-profile_b5c6cd46f42e0cc9
- https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/NI022466
- https://andor.oxinst.com/about-us
- https://andor.oxinst.com