Corporate Retrospective 2007: Quadrex

Quadrex Corporation was founded in 1976 by Dr. S.R. Lipsky who recognized the need for commercially available reproducible GC capillary columns at a time when most columns were individually made by scientists in their own labs.

Our early GC columns were "state of the art" for the time, being produced of borosilicate glass which was drawn in-house on home made drawing machines. These early glass columns were similar to a "Slinky" in appearance and were very fragile, unlike today's flexible fused silica capillary columns. While fully attempting to exploit this early GC column market, we often thought we were doing as much business with UPS, as shipping these fragile "Slinkys" proved to be as much a challenge as making them and often claims had to be placed for damaged goods received by the customers.

In 1979, the landmark paper by Dr. Ray Dandeneau of Hewlett-Packard shifted the entire market to a new state of the art which lasts to this day: GC capillary columns produced of inert and highly flexible and durable fused silica tubing. Accordingly, a quick retooling of our entire manufacturing line was required in order to produce GC columns of this new and advantageous material. Being a small company, Quadrex was successful in turning this around within only a few months, enabling us to be the first company to introduce commercially available fused silica columns in 1980.

Our early advantage did not last long as other manufacturers quickly followed suit leading to a very competitive GC column market which remains to this day.

Since our inception we have stayed small, specializing in GC column manufacturing and providing personalized customer service. Scientific curiosity and discovery drives us. Failure is always an option in any research program but only persistence leads to success and unique products. Our high temperature aluminum-clad fused silica columns introduced in 1986 and unique line of very thick film capillary columns introduced nine years later are some examples of our drive.

Despite fluctuations in the GC market where others have merged and/or been acquired and many popular brand names are now lost to the history books, Quadrex remains privately owned and our longevity in the competitive GC market is a testament to our continuing quality and service to the GC community. In fact, as this is being written, our own 31st anniversary is next week.

Quadrex wishes to take this opportunity to wish LCGC North America a happy 25th Anniversary and thanks them for providing such an excellent and concise publication.

Quadrex Corp.

Woodbridge, Connecticut