Trials and triumphs of superconductivity: the making of Oxford Instruments

Author

Wood, M.

Author_Institution

Oxford Instrum. plc., Oxford, UK

Volume

5

Issue

2

fYear

1995

fDate

6/1/1995 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

152

Lastpage

162

Abstract

In 1959 the author and his wife founded The Oxford Instrument Company to design, manufacture and supply equipment for generating high magnetic fields to a small scientific research community. Fundamental discoveries in the field of superconductivity soon introduced radical changes to the technological base and put the company on the road to rapid expansion in a number of different markets. Growth from a small private company into a diversified, science-based, international operation employing nearly 1500 people and with sales of over $170 million, has presented them with many interesting technical, business and human challenges. The author describes some of the landmarks along the way, and highlights elements from his experience which may be of interest to others embarking down the same track.<>

Keywords

electron device manufacture; history; manufacturing industries; superconducting coils; superconducting magnets; The Oxford Instrument Company; business challenges; high magnetic fields generation; human challenges; international company; superconducting coils; superconducting device manufacture; superconducting magnets; superconductivity; technical challenges; Business; Companies; Instruments; Magnetic fields; Manufacturing; Marketing and sales; Programmable control; Research and development; Superconducting magnets; Superconductivity;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Applied Superconductivity, IEEE Transactions on

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

1051-8223

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/77.402514

Filename

402514