History

The pioneering days
Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen surprises the world with the first X-ray picture of his wife's hand. Only a few months later in Hamburg, Germany, Carl Müller starts the production of X-ray tubes. Max von Laue experimentally discovers the principle of X-ray diffraction. The Nobel prize winner’s father and son Bragg develop its theoretical explanation. Henry Moseley establishes the relation between atomic number and the specific X-ray wavelength of elements which is the fundament of X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy. In Eindhoven, The Netherlands, Philips, a leading manufacturer of incandescent lamps, sets the first step towards turning X-ray research into functional applications.

Metalix, towards a safe technology
Philips patents the safe Metalix tube, takes over Müller and concentrates tube manufacturing in Eindhoven and Hamburg. Philips develops the safe Metalix apparatus for medical and industrial X-ray analysis applications. The system is accepted in the USA, the first country to have regulations for materials testing.

Norelco, a success story
In cooperation with the US Naval Research Laboratories, North American Philips develops the world's first commercial X-ray diffractometer, which is branded Norelco, soon to be followed by the well-known Philips PW1050 diffractometer. Success follows fast, also for the Philips XRF spectrometer. By 1960 Philips is well established as the world's number one supplier of analytical X-ray instrumentation.

Two supply centers
Moving the marketing, design and engineering specialists as well as the system manufacturing to Almelo, The Netherlands, and the development and manufacturing of tubes and optical components to a new location near Eindhoven, The Netherlands, marks the transformation of a rather scientifically oriented activity towards a more independent commercially focused enterprise. This period sees the launch of the PW1400 family of XRF spectrometers, rapidly becoming the standard in the industry.

The birth of next generation product families
Philips Analytical launches the X'Pert XRD product line and the next generation XRF spectrometers with the PW2400, PW2600 and the PW2800 X-ray metrology tool introducing X-ray analysis to an ever-growing number of very specific markets, such as semiconductor, pharmacy, polymers and environment. Unique PreFIX concept of modular components that can be swapped without the need for realignment invented.

Cutting-edge technology. Ultimate commitment.

With the introduction of the X’Celerator detector, the world’s first solid state 1D detector that turns hours into minutes, X-ray diffraction moves into process control. Operating as a Spectris company under a new name, PANalytical continues to deliver new systems for X-ray diffraction and X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy to the industrial and scientific communities. Cooperation with CERN results in the development of the PIXcel^3D; the detector that opens new possibilities for non-destructive analysis of solid objects.