PhorTech International conducts research regarding market size, market share, purchase plans and supplier assessment (MSPPSA) for scientific vendors providing analytical instruments to the scientific community worldwide. Excerpts from these reports describe unit placements per year, market size, growth rates and customer satisfaction levels among users in the life science industry.

The 1994/95 MSPPSA report on HPLC in the U.S. Life Science market was based on the responses to over 3,000 surveys which were sent to a cross-section of life science researchers. After examining the installed base, it was noted that the market is distributed among several companies but "the top two (HP and Waters) appear to be strengthening their hold away from the rest."

The 1995/96 MSPPSA report on HPLC and FPLC in the European Life Science market was based on the responses to over 2,000 surveys which were forwarded to a cross-section of life science researchers. Vendors supplying HPLC instruments were rated in the following areas of customer satisfaction: 1) reliable quality, 2) innovation, 3) price worthiness, 4) field service, and 5) commitment to chromatography. Hewlett Packard (HP) took three of these five customer satisfaction categories. The report noted that Waters took a very close second place.... Shimadzu was a distant fledgling follower!

According to the 1995/96 MSPPSA report on Low Pressure Chromatography and FPLC in the U.S. Life Science arena, Shimadzu is NOT a leader in these markets either! Pharmacia with its "groundbreaking" FPLC was the leader in four of six performance areas (ease of use, versatility, quality, innovation, value and commitment to chromatography) but Bio-Rad was close behind. Rainin, followed by Isco and Gilson received the highest ratings in customer satisfaction.

We noted in November 1997 that Shimadzu is more of a follower than a leader in the field of analytical instrumentation.... now you have the proof! One should also note that Shimadzu's overall rate of sales and net income has declined in 4 of the last 5 years compared to 1992 levels.... clearly, all is not well in this corporation! Why entrust your important analyses to just any vendor when you can select one of the major recognized leaders, namely Hewlett Packard, Waters Corporation and Amersham Pharmacia Biotech. In fact, if you want to trade up to higher productivity today, several trustworthy vendors regularly offer trade-in discounts to any customer replacing antiquated equipment in the lab. HPLCs, GCs, UV-Vis, GC/MS and CE are usually included. Now you know about some great programs which can rid your lab of that Shimadzu logo for good!

n.b. If you still have doubts, read what a FDA researcher wrote with regards to Shimadzu HPLC software.... remember to tell the Shimadzu sales rep that only the name has changed - the chromatography software is still written by the same software company!

n.b. Choose one of the recognized leaders for your HPLC and FPLC needs. Just tell you know who that you don't want to alpha test or beta test their inferior products! Save yourself a headache and some heartache.... buy from a respected vendor!

n.b. PhorTech is scheduled to release another HPLC report in mid 1998. We will gladly reports those results right here in this forum.... stayed tuned!