Editing 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 Index|FTSE 250]] component}}
| foundation = 1959
| location = [[Abingdon, Oxfordshire|Abingdon]], Oxfordshire
| key_people = Neil Carson (Chairman)<br/>Richard Tyson (CEO)<br/>Paul Fry (CFO)<br/>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}} [[Pound sterling|£]]470.4&nbsp;million (2024)<ref name=results>{{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}}</ref>
| operating_income = {{decrease}} [[Pound sterling|£]]80.3&nbsp;million (2024)<ref name=results/>
| net_income = {{decrease}} £50.7&nbsp;million (2024)<ref name=results/>
| num_employees = 2,244 (2024)<ref name=results/>
| 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|Abingdon]], Oxfordshire, England, with sites in the United Kingdom, United States, Europe, and Asia.<ref>{{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}}</ref> It is listed on the [[London Stock Exchange]] and is a constituent of the [[FTSE 250 Index]].<ref>{{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}}</ref>

==History==
The company was founded by Sir [[Martin Wood (engineer)|Martin Wood]] in 1959, with help from his wife Audrey Wood (Lady Wood)<ref>{{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}}</ref><ref>Audrey Wood, ''Magnetic Venture: The Story of Oxford Instruments'' ([[Oxford University Press]], 2001). {{ISBN|0-19-924108-2}}</ref> to manufacture superconducting magnets for use in scientific research, starting in his garden shed in [[Northmoor Road]], [[Oxford]], England.<ref name=wood>{{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}}</ref> It was the first substantial commercial spin-out company from the [[University of Oxford]]<ref>{{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}}</ref> and was first listed on the [[London Stock Exchange]] in 1983.<ref name=wood/>  [[Peter Williams (physicist)|Peter Williams]] took over as CEO at the time of the flotation.<ref name=wood/>

It had a pioneering role in the development of [[magnetic resonance imaging]], providing the first [[superconducting magnet]]s for this application. The first commercial MRI [[Whole body imaging|whole body scanner]] was manufactured at its [[Osney Mead]] factory in Oxford in 1980 for installation at [[Hammersmith Hospital]], London.<ref>{{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}}</ref> Further innovations included the development of active shielding, whereby fringe fields hazardous to pacemaker wearers, causing difficulty and expense in siting, were virtually eliminated.<ref>{{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}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{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}}</ref>

Andrew Mackintosh was appointed CEO in 1998.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://raeng.org.uk/about-us/fellowship/new-fellows-2023/dr-andrew-mackintosh-cbe-freng|title=Dr Andrew Mackintosh CBE FREng|publisher=Royal Academy of Engineering|access-date=27 April 2025}}</ref> He was replaced as CEO by Jonathan Flint, who later became president of the [[Institute of Physics]], in 2005.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://physicsworld.com/a/sir-martin-wood-the-supercool-thinker-who-founded-oxford-instruments/|title=Sir Martin Wood: the supercool thinker who founded Oxford Instruments|date=19 April 2022|newspaper=Physics World|access-date=27 April 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://innovation.ox.ac.uk/about/people/flint-jonathan/|title=Jonathan Flint|publisher=University of Oxford|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180315113408/https://innovation.ox.ac.uk/about/people/flint-jonathan/|archive-date=15 March 2018}}</ref> Ian Barkshire, who had spent much of his career with the company, took over as CEO in 2016.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://boardagenda.com/2024/09/03/ian-barkshire-joins-melrose-as-a-non-executive-director/|title=Ian Barkshire joins Melrose as a non-executive director|newspaper=Board Agenda|date=3 September 2024| access-date=27 April 2025}}</ref>

In November 2019, the [[History of Science Museum, Oxford|History of Science Museum]] in [[Broad Street, Oxford|Broad Street]] established a section on instruments made by the company.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://theoxfordtrust.co.uk/celebrating-sixty-years-of-oxford-instruments/|title=Celebrating Sixty Years of Oxford Instruments|date=14 November 2019|publisher=The Oxford Trust|access-date=27 April 2025}}</ref>

Richard Tyson joined the company from [[TT Electronics]] and was appointed CEO in April 2023.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.morningstar.co.uk/uk/news/AN_1681373918201846800/oxford-instruments-outlook-upbeat-hires-tt-electronics-tyson-as-ceo.aspx|title=NewsOxford Instruments outlook upbeat, hires TT Electronics' Tyson as CEO|date=13 April 2023|newspaper=Morning Star| access-date=27 April 2025}}</ref>

==Acquisitions and divestitures==

'''Divestitures'''

*2003 '''Oxford Magnet Technology Ltd''', minority shareholding sold to Siemens plc<ref>{{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}}</ref>
*2016 '''Superconducting Wire''' business sold to Bruker.<ref>{{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}}</ref>

'''Acquisitions'''

*2003  '''Thermo VC Semicon Ltd.''' Molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) equipment for semiconductor fabrication<ref>{{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}}</ref>
*2005  '''HKL Technology A/S.''' EBSD detector technology for electron microscopy<ref>{{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}}</ref>
*2008 '''Link Analytical AB.''' Sales channel for Oxford Instruments in Scandinavia<ref>{{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}}</ref>
*2012 '''Asylum Research Corp.''' Scanning probe microscopes for industry and research<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.advancedsciencenews.com/asylum-research-acquired-by-oxford-instruments/|title=Asylum Research acquired by Oxford Instruments|date=19 December 2012|website=Advanced Science News|access-date=27 April 2025}}</ref>
*2014 '''Andor Technology plc.''' Scientific cameras, spectrometers and high speed fluorescence microscopes<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.qubis.co.uk/about-us/success-stories/andor-technology|title=Andor Technology|website=Qubis}}</ref>
*2021 '''WITec Wissenschaftliche Instrumente & Technologie GmbH.''' Raman imaging microscopes<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://analyticalscience.wiley.com/content/news-do/oxford-instruments-buys-witec-€42m|title=Oxford Instruments buys WITec for €42m|website=Wiley Analytical Science|date=16 June 2021|access-date=27 April 2025}}</ref>
*2024 '''FemtoTools AG.''' [[MEMS]]-based nanoindenters <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://thebusinessmagazine.co.uk/corporate-finance/oxford-instruments-completes-acquisition-of-femtotools-ag/|date=2 July 2024|access-date=27 April 2025|website=The Business Magazine|author=Nicky Godding|title=Oxford Instruments completes acquisition of FemtoTools AG}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.femtotools.com/about-us|archive-date=27 April 2025|archive-url=https://archive.today/20250427134528/https://www.femtotools.com/about-us|title=About FemtoToolsAG|website=femtotools.com}}</ref>

==Activities==
The company designs and manufactures products to image, analyse and manipulate materials.<ref>{{cite news|url= https://compoundsemiconductor.net/article/118262/Oxford_Instruments_opens_Innovation_Centre  |title=Oxford Instruments opens Innovation Centre|date=12 December 2023|newspaper=Compound Semi-Conductor| access-date=27 April 2025}}</ref> It operates an innovation centre in [[High Wycombe]] where it carries out advanced material analysis.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.metal-powder.tech/oxford-instruments-launches-innovation-centre-for-advanced-material-analysis/|title=Oxford Instruments launches Innovation Centre for advanced material analysis|date=2 January 2024|newspaper=Metal Powder Technology| access-date=27 April 2025}}</ref>

== References ==
{{reflist|30em}}

{{FTSE 250 Index constituents}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Electronics companies of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Engineering companies of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:British brands]]
[[Category:Nanotechnology companies]]
[[Category:Companies based in Oxford]]
[[Category:Abingdon-on-Thames]]
[[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]]
[[Category:British companies established in 1959]]
[[Category:Equipment semiconductor companies]]