Agile and responsible, On-Line Instrument Systems, Inc. (Olis) produces optically superb spectrophotometers with designed-in upgradability instead of designed-in obsolescence.

By putting the muscle in the computer instead of hardwired circuitry, an Olis spectrophotometer is only as old as its computerization.

Because of the economic and ecological benefits of endless upgrading and repurposing, no Olis spectrophotometer needs ever go to a landfill. And because of their optical excellence, none should.

In this year’s annual newsletter, we focus on the Olis CLARiTY UV/Vis NIR, because of its enormous importance. Happily, virtually all Olis spectrophotometers can be upgraded to CLARiTY performance. Dr. Blake, quoted at left, upgraded his 18 year old RSM 1000 to become our first CLARiTY 1000. And, the extraordinary utility of the CLARiTY is bringing many new friends to our circle. (Seven CLARiTY systems have been purchased and only Blake and Pinkhassik were prior clients.

When we are not building or modernizing our own spectrophotometers or those we produce employing the classic optics of the Cary 14, SLM 8000, and PE 983, we are developing new ones.

Two new models of the CLARiTY were introduced in 2011, giving you a choice of three. One will be perfect for you. Living cells, organelles, nanoparticles, hydrogels – everything that
could tell an important story if only you could see through the scatter for the
actual absorbance – is a candidate for study on an Olis CLARiTY.

And, we will be delivering our first fluorescence variant of the CLARiTY soon, which we have named the Quantifier. The first two sites to take delivery will be (tiny) St. Bonaventure University and (not-tiny) ExxonMobil. The Quantifier functions like a diode array in that it captures full emission spectra. The excitation source is a cluster of LEDs which are controlled to flash in any sequence and for any duration, such that ‘scanning’ to 10,000 scans per second is possible. Focusing of the seven LEDs to a single point is achieved with a marvelous new design, developed this year.

The year 2011 at Olis included tremendous progress in new instruments and a tragic loss of life among our staff. Two beloved staff members with a combined 29 years of service live on in the Olis products they contributed to and the hearts of their colleagues. Denghui Chen and Caixia Geng were killed instantly in an auto accident as they made their way to work on June 15.

Because of this loss, we were delinquent in making timely deliveries to many clients, and for this we apologize.

Rebuilding has been difficult, but we were incredibly fortunate, too. Taking Denghui’s desk is Zhuofei Hou, who completed his doctorate in theoretical physics from the University of Georgia at precisely the moment we needed him. Now, “Trophey” has shifted to the world of the practical, earning the respect of everyone here as he assumes responsibility for the massively challenging software development.

A second brilliant young scientist who joined us in 2011 is Dmitry (Dima) Parul. Dima works closely with Dr. Richard DeSa (“Chief”) on product development and testing, being a steady hand with wet chemistry and a discriminating instrumentalist himself. Just as with long-time Olis staff scientist, Dr. Paul Boxrud, everyone benefits from the product knowledge, tact in technical support, and interest in research questions that Dima brings to the table.

Offering you the best of decades, past,
present & future

The Olis team, autumn of 2011: Successfully committed to producing products that serve you for life

Please see us and the latest Olis equipment at these 2012 meetings:

• Biophysical - February in San Diego
• ACS spring - March in San Diego
• Southeast Enzyme Conference - April in Atlanta
• Experimental Biology - April in San Diego
• Canadian Chemistry - June in Calgary
• ACS fall - August in Philadelphia
• Peptide Engineering - October in Atlanta
• SERMACS - November in Raleigh