Sciaps

Market position

SciAps describes itself as a Boston-based instrumentation company and a provider of handheld analytical instruments whose analyzers are used across major industrial sectors. Customer testimonials reference switching to SciAps from other handheld XRF manufacturers such as Niton and Viken [0][3][5].

The company positions the Z-Series as the only high-precision laser-based handheld analyzer line and the Z-902 Carbon as the only handheld capable of measuring carbon content in alloys; the Z-901 Li as the only handheld measuring lithium in rocks, ores, powders and brines; the X-555 as the only handheld XRF with a 55 kV tube; and the X-550 Pb as the first non-isotope handheld XRF with HUD-accepted performance characteristic sheets at three action levels. Shared software, batteries and chargers across LIBS and XRF products are cited as simplifying training and operation. Earlier company materials cite a wider elemental range extending to hydrogen, a 50 µm rastered laser for in-field micro-analysis, and the absence of X-ray radiation in LIBS devices as advantages over other handheld technologies [0][2][4][5].

Technology

Core technologies are handheld laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) and X-ray fluorescence (XRF), complemented by Vis-NIR/near-infrared spectroscopy and spectroradiometry. LIBS units feature an optional integrated argon gas purge for improved detection limits, an internal 3D stage that rasters the laser for micro-analysis of inclusions or veins, an integrated camera and laser targeting, and spectrometers spanning 190–950 nm. XRF units use miniature X-ray tubes at up to 55 kV (X-555) and 80 kV (PowerHouse X) to reach K-shell lines of rare-earth elements, and Detector Protector Technology is described as protecting XRF detectors without reducing analytical performance. Instrument software and analytical/operational applications are built on the Google Android operating system [0][2][4][5].

Go-to-market

SciAps sells through a global network of salespeople, application specialists and distributors specializing in analytical instrumentation, supported by direct sales contact, an online store, rentals, and worldwide sales and service alliances with installation and training available globally. Marketing includes published application notes, product specification downloads, customer testimonials and appearances at industry events such as the Society of Economic Geologists conference [0][2][3][5][6].

Industrial and scientific users requiring in-field elemental analysis, including oil and gas, metals and mining, aerospace, battery and strategic metals (lithium, rare-earth elements), scrap metal recycling, chemical and petrochemical, military, forensics and law enforcement, plus academic and government laboratories, environmental and lead-paint inspectors, NDT/PMI contractors, food and agriculture, catalytic converter recyclers, RoHS compliance testers and precious metals dealers [0][3][4].

Geography

Headquartered in Woburn, Massachusetts at the time of 2015 reporting, with an office listed at 6 Riverside Drive, Andover, Massachusetts, and manufacturing, service and customer support operated from an ISO-certified facility in Laramie, Wyoming. The company describes itself as Boston-based and maintains worldwide sales and service alliances; customer references include an exploration project in the Democratic Republic of Congo [3][4][5][6].

History

Founded in 2012 as an instrumentation company focused on handheld instruments for identifying compounds, minerals and elements on-site and in real time, with the LIBZ Z family of LIBS analyzers as its flagship mining product. In August/September 2015 it closed a $4.3 million Series B round led by Jolimont Global Mining Systems, after which Jolimont Chief Investment Officer Charles Gillies joined the board. The product line subsequently expanded from LIBS into XRF (X-Series, X-555, PowerHouse X) and into Vis-NIR instruments including the reveNIR and the ASD FieldSpec, TerraSpec and LabSpec lines [3][4][5][6].