IONICS Mass Spectrometry Group
IONICS Mass Spectrometry Group is a private corporation producing Triple quadrupole mass spectrometers, and upgrade components. It is headquartered in Bolton, Ontario. The company currently offers products and services in several countries within the North America, European and Asian markets.
IONICS produces its mass spectrometers at its Bolton facility, making it one of the few North American manufacturers and only Canadian manufacturer of triple quadrupole mass spectrometers.
The company has been recognized for its innovative practices, receiving awards from both government and private sector organizations and holds over 15 patents in regards to triple quadrupole mass spectrometer technologies.
History
From its establishment in 2001, the company has rapidly expanded, increasing its product offering and areas of service. Its customers include large, multinational firms such as Astra Zeneca, Pfizer, and GlaxoSmithKline. Below is a brief outline of some of the milestones in the company's history.
2001: Founded by a group of scientists, IONICS Mass Spectrometry Group was initially located in the Toronto suburb of Concord, Ontario. The initial product offering of the company consisted of upgrade components aimed at improving the performance of AB-Sciex's API line of Triple quadrupole mass spectrometers. These upgrades were purchased by major pharmaceutical and research laboratories such as: GlaxoSmithKline, Biovail, Pfizer and Astra Zeneca; as well as many academic and government institutions.
2008: As the company expanded, it moved its corporate headquarters from its original location in Concord, Ontario to a larger facility in the town of Bolton, Ontario.
Awards
The company has received several awards and grants for its technological developments, from organizations including: the National Research Council of Canada, the Research, Innovation and Commercialization Centre and the Government of Ontario's Ministry of Economic Development.
This support has been critical in enabling the company to develop intellectual property and produce INSTRUMENTS such as the 3Q Molecular analyzer, while expanding internationally.
In 2007, IONICS was awarded a National Research Council of Canada (NRC) grant to continue development of its new triple quadrupole mass spectrometer (which eventually turned into the 3Q Molecular Analyzer)
In March 2010, the company won an Innovation and Technology Award from the Research, Innovation and Commercialization Centre (RIC Center) for its in-house development of technologies related to the 3Q Molecular Analyzer Triple quadrupole mass spectrometer
In June 2010, the company received received the support of the Advanced Manufacturing Investment Strategy program run by the Government of Ontario's Ministry of Economic Development and Trade. This supported included a large financial contribution aimed at allowing the company to further develop and promote its 3Q Molecular Analyzer.
Products
3Q Molecular Analyzer
The 3Q Molecular Analyzer is IONICS next generation triple quadrupole mass spectrometer.
The technology behind the 3Q Molecular Analyzer was developed in house, and has earned the company multiple awards for innovation. IONICS has developed a strong intellectual property portfolio related to the 3Q Molecular Analyzer, with over 15 patents issued and pending regarding its features, such as the company's HSID interface.
The 3Q Molecular Analyzer is unique in terms of layout as it is the only vertically standing triple quad mass spectrometer currently commercially available.
Upgrades
Additionally, IONICS produces upgrades, aimed at improving the performance of several AB-Sciex mass spectrometers such as: the QSTAR, API 3000, API 2000, API 300 and API 365 models.
The company currently offers four types of upgrades:
Hot Source-Induced Desolvation (HSID) Interface
The HSID Atmospheric-pressure chemical ionization interface, utilizes heated, laminar flow in order to reduce sample contamination, providing enhanced sensitivity compared to traditional types of interfaces. The HSID can be installed on several older AB/Sciex API mass spectrometers, including the API models 2000, 3000, 4000, and the QSTAR. The HSID system has been purchased by companies such as Pfizer.
The company utilizes the HSID system as the interface for its own 3Q Molecular Analyzer triple quadrupole mass spectrometer.
EP10+
The EP10+ is a sensitivity upgrade for API 300 and 365 systems. It has been purchased by organizations such as GlaxoSmithKline.
EPQ+
The EPQ+ is a collision cell upgrade for the API 2000 model of mass spectrometer. It has been utilized by companies such as Astra Zeneca, in their MoIndal, Sweden research facility.
EPXT+
The EPXT+ is a collision cell upgrade that can be installed on a wider variety of mass spectrometers than the EPQ+. It was designed to reduce issues such as crosstalk, and to enable a more efficient fragmentation process. It has been utilized in the past by companies such as Biovail Contract Research in their Toronto, Ontario facility.
Corporate Structure
The company has operations on 3 continents, both directly (in the North American market), with sales and support staff located at IONICS headquarters in Bolton, Ontario and through the company's network of distributors in the Middle East, Europe and East Asia.
From its Bolton, Ontario headquarters, IONICS conducts the majority of its research, development and production of products for the global market.
See also
IONICS Mass Spectrometry Group Corporate Website
Mass spectrometry
Triple quadrupole mass spectrometer
National Research Council (Canada)
List of mass spectrometry acronyms
Tandem Mass Spectrometry