Kore Technology

Kore Technology Ltd is a British scientific-instrument company that designs and builds high-performance analytical instruments based on Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry (TOF-MS). According to its own materials, the company has been creating such instruments since 1991 and has delivered over 350 analytical instruments to researchers around the world. Its product range spans PTR-MS (proton-transfer-reaction mass spectrometry) for real-time VOC analysis, TOF-SIMS (secondary ion mass spectrometry) for surface analysis, and EI-TOF-MS (electron-impact ionisation) instruments, including the portable, battery-powered MS-200 mass spectrometer. The company positions itself as a centre of excellence in TOF-MS technology with a strong R&D capability. It designs, builds and tests its TOF-MS instruments and components in-house, and it specialises in customised mass spectrometers, related components and other vacuum-based equipment. Kore states that it often works with research organisations to develop application-specific research tools and with companies to develop new products optimised for their chosen markets. Its stated aim is to provide the highest-quality instruments at an affordable cost, an approach it says is particularly suited to universities and research institutes that typically have limited funds. Kore's applications cover environmental analysis, industrial analysis, forensics and materials science. Its instruments are used for real-time VOC analysis using PTR-MS, surface analysis using its TOF-SIMS range, and on-site research using its portable mass spectrometers. The company also acts as a distributor for Photonis and APTech products and as a licensed reseller of NIST and GRAMS/AI software. Kore Technology is a private UK business. Its history can be traced back to 1978, when one of its founders, then at Cambridge Consultants Ltd., designed the world's first laser microprobe with a reflectron time-of-flight mass analyser for bulk sample analysis. The company itself was formed as an independent, largely staff-owned and staff-funded company in 1992, when the core engineering team at Cambridge Mass Spectrometry chose not to transfer with CMS products to Kratos in Manchester. Today Kore continues to operate from the Cambridge area, serving industry and academia with TOF-MS instruments, custom systems and components.

The history of Kore Technology can be traced back to 1978, when one of its founders, then working at Cambridge Consultants Ltd. (CCL), designed the world's first laser microprobe with a reflectron time-of-flight mass analyser for bulk sample analysis. In 1982, Cambridge Mass Spectrometry (CMS) was spun off from CCL to develop and sell a laser microprobe mass analyser. In 1987, CMS became a wholly owned subsidiary of Kratos Analytical. Kore was formed as an independent company in 1992, owned and funded mostly by its staff, when the "core" of engineers at CMS decided that they did not wish to transfer with CMS products to Kratos in Manchester as part of a cost-cutting exercise. The company has been creating high-performance scientific instruments based on Time-of-Flight mass spectrometers since 1991, according to its own account, and has delivered over 350 analytical instruments to researchers around the world. Government innovation funding played a role in its early development. In 1993, the UK Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) awarded Kore a SMART award for a feasibility study concerning the use of Kore's time-of-flight mass spectrometer technology in a portable pollution monitor, a legacy now carried by its MS-200. One year later, in 1994, Kore was awarded further SMART funding to produce a production prototype portable mass spectrometer. In 1995, the DTI awarded Kore a SPUR award to develop a novel table-top secondary ion mass spectrometer as an inexpensive surface contamination analyser for solid samples, to be used in product research and development, quality control and fault diagnosis. This eventually birthed the SurfaceSeer range. Over the following decades, Kore built a product portfolio around TOF-MS, including PTR-MS instruments for real-time VOC analysis, TOF-SIMS instruments for surface analysis, and EI-TOF-MS instruments including the portable MS-200. The company also became a distributor of Photonis and APTech products and a licensed reseller of NIST and GRAMS/AI software. It describes itself as a centre of excellence in time-of-flight mass spectrometer technology with a strong R&D capability, designing, building and testing its instruments and components in-house.

• 1995

  The DTI awarded Kore a SPUR award to develop a novel table-top secondary ion mass spectrometer, which eventually birthed the SurfaceSeer range.

• 1994

  Kore was awarded further SMART funding to produce a production prototype portable mass spectrometer.

• 1993

  The UK Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) awarded Kore a SMART award for a feasibility study on using its TOF-MS technology in a portable pollution monitor, a legacy now carried by the MS-200.

• 1992

  Kore was formed as an independent company, owned and funded mostly by its staff, when the core engineers at CMS decided not to transfer with CMS products to Kratos in Manchester.

• 1987

  CMS became a wholly owned subsidiary of Kratos Analytical.

• 1982

  Cambridge Mass Spectrometry (CMS) was spun off from CCL to develop and sell a laser microprobe mass analyser.

• 1978

  One of Kore's founders, then at Cambridge Consultants Ltd., designed the world's first laser microprobe with a reflectron time-of-flight mass analyser for bulk sample analysis.

High-performance analytical instruments based on Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry, offered at affordable prices with a focus on customisation for research and industry.

• PTR 3c

  Compact PTR-ToF-MS for sensitive analysis of VOCs in ambient air, with soft chemical ionisation, parallel mass monitoring, transportability and full computer control.

• PTR 2e

  High-resolution PTR-MS with sensitivity over 200 cps/ppb benzene, resolution over 5000 FWHM and 10 ppt detection limit.

• MS-200

  Truly portable, battery-powered EI-TOF-MS mass spectrometer for analysis in the field.

• Compact EI-TOF-MS

  Fast, benchtop, versatile electron impact ionisation mass spectrometer with parallel mass detection, available with capillary or membrane inlet for VOC and inorganic gas analysis.

• SurfaceSeer S

  Affordable 'work horse' TOF-SIMS instrument for spectroscopy in both positive and negative modes, with mass resolution better than 2500.

1. 1TOF-MS analytical instruments | Kore Technologykore.co.uk
2. 2History - TOF-MS | Kore Technologykore.co.uk
3. 3TOF-MS - Products | Kore Technologykore.co.uk
4. 4About Kore - TOF-MS | Kore Technologykore.co.uk
5. 5Kore Technology Ltd - Wikidatawikidata.org