Edinburgh Instruments Ltd.

Since its establishment in 1971, Edinburgh Instruments Ltd (EI) has become recognised as a leading light in the photonics and electro-optics industries. Formed as a spin-off from Heriot-Watt University, it was the first private company on Britain's first "Research Park"

It is now located in purpose built 12,800 sqft facilities just outside Edinburgh, where it employs over 60 people. The company is involved in the development, manufacture and sale of a wide range of high technology products for the scientific research and industrial markets. Product ranges include lasers, analytical spectrometers supplied by the Photonics Division (Edinburgh Photonics) and gas detection and monitoring products supplied by the Sensors Division (Edinburgh Sensors).

Following rapid expansion, by the 1980's a full range of infra-red gas lasers, both sealed and flowing, cw and pulsed CO2, CO and FIR lasers were brought to the market. Pioneers of Time Correlated Single Photon Counting (TCSPC), in 1978 the company developed a Fluorescence Lifetime Spectrometer system based around the successful nanosecond flashlamp. This product range has culminated in the development of the latest computer controlled, combined Steady State and Fluorescence Lifetime Spectrometers hitting the market: the FLS920 is truly a world beating, state of the art fluorescence laboratory in a single instrument.

Product diversification continued with the development of CO, CO2 and CH4 gas sensors. Based on non-dispersive infra-red (NDIR) technology these devices are available as OEM cards or complete monitoring and detection packages, supplied through the Sensors Division.

EI products are used in an extensive range of markets and applications these include:

Sample analysis for photochemistry, protein studies, interferometry, plasma diagnostics, biochemistry, protein studies, ablation, atmospheric studies, biophysics, solid state physics and material science

EI EPLs and EPLEDs are used as an ideal excitation source for spectroscopy

CO, CO2, CH4, Refrigerant, SF6 detection

Over the years EI has continually sought to diversify and develop new and innovative products, winning many international design, technology and export achievement awards.