Our History
The inventors of the world's first multi-angle laser light scattering (MALS)
instrument share a moment to celebrate their achievement.
The Wyatt Technology Corporation (WTC) is involved in the research, development,
and commercialization of absolute macromolecular characterization techniques and
their instrumentation. Founded in March 1982 by
Dr. Philip Wyatt,
the company was formed around his patents, ideas and inventions in
industrial, military, and medical domains. To date, WTC has developed instruments
capable of measuring the multi-angle light scattering characteristics of
macromolecules (and particles) in solution, refractometers, as well as
instruments for airborne aerosol monitoring and
biodefense.
To a great extent, much of WTC's business began with the Small Business
Innovation Research (SBIR) contracts awarded to the firm for its outstanding
technological prowess and potential. The SBIR contracts are administered by
certain agencies of the U.S. Government who have set aside a fraction of their
authorized R&D funding for exclusive award to small businesses (a "small
business" has fewer than 500 employees). The purpose of these highly competitive
programs is to encourage scientific and technical innovation in areas deemed to
be of national importance. The successful commercialization of products
developed under these programs is one of the most important objectives of SBIR
funding.
WTC has been awarded contracts from the U.S. Army Bioengineering Medical
Research & Development Laboratory to establish the feasibility of
instrumentation for the detection of toxicants in drinking water within sixty
minutes. Another contract from the U.S. Army Armament, Munitions and Chemical
Command to build an aerosol monitoring device for sub-micron particles. The
potential applications for this instrument include real time identification of
aerosol particles such as asbestos fibers and biological agents.
Another major contract was awarded by the Office of Naval Research, to develop
an in situ particle monitoring device for characterizing undersea environments
and their particulate constituents.
But by far, the company's commercial instruments, known by the trade name DAWNŽ,
have been the driving force of the company in the 1990's. With extensive
emphasis placed on intellectual property and new, patentable developments, the
DAWN and miniDAWN systems have been sold in increasing numbers for more than a
decade. Instruments have been placed in literally thousands of laboratories
throughout the world, making them the most widely-recognized light scattering
products on earth. The utility of the instruments is underscored by the
burgeoning bibliography of publications, most of which have appeared in refereed
journals. The DAWN systems provide unique and powerful tools for many different
areas of analytical chemistry, including quality control, process control,
molecular weight and size determinations, and a host of other applications, which
are all possible with these multi-angle light scattering instruments.
The DAWN detectors are used by the world's most prestigious universities and
some of the largest corporations in the world including DuPont, Dow, IBM, Glaxo,
Unilever, Wyeth, Bayer and Merck. The company's applications have also involved
sales to companies at the forefront of the biotechnology arena including Amgen,
Genentech, Chiron, Genzyme, and Biogen.
Overseas sales provide an important component of the company's growth. Wyatt
Technology actively sells its products throughout Europe, South America and
Asia, thereby ensuring the greatest possible visibility and strongest sales
potential for these systems. In 1993 Wyatt Technology formed Wyatt Technology
Deutschland, a partially-owned subsidiary, to exploit the enormous sales in
Germany and prepare for future sales into Eastern Europe. In March 2002, WTD
began a new phase of its existence as Wyatt
Technology Europe an entity capable of providing even higher levels of
support and applications assistance throughout Europe.
A powerful distribution network ensures excellent service and support worldwide,
while strategic partnerships with Agilent (as a member of their prestigious
"Channel Partner" Program) and Waters Corporation, ensure Wyatt's compatibility
with the industry-leading HPLC hardware.
Increasing marketing activities by WTC, both in the U.S. and abroad as well, has
heightened universal awareness of the need for better analytical instruments,
bode well for the Company's future. A Scientific Advisory Board comprised of two
members of the National Academy of Science and several of the world's leading
scholars in polymer chemistry, underscores the company's commitment to
scientific excellence, as well as to world-wide acceptance of its products.
With direct sales and service facilities in Europe and the Eastern U. S., its Santa Barbara area home office contains over 30,000 square feet of modern electronics, optical prototype, machine shop, and laboratory facilities.