Some of our team took the opportunity to show their all-round skills in finding missing cats, robbing banks, escaping from stricken submarines and ghost hunting in the remains of an abandoned prison yesterday. We visited Gatwick Escape Rooms to demonstrate our teamwork, problem solving abilities and to have some fun! We’re pleased to report we all emerged safe and well from our challenges and are back in the office today.
Biscuit Friday Tests: White Chocolate Biscuit
It’s time for this week’s thrilling Biscuit Friday challenge 🍪, our weekly evaluation of biscuit strength using a 3-point bending test in the Linkam Modular Force Stage (MFS).
This week, the white chocolate biscuit is up for the challenge. But will it dunk under the pressure?
Peter Grocutt celebrates 40 years at Linkam!
Our R&D Director Peter Grocutt recently celebrated 40 years with the company. Peter was Linkam’s first employee in 1984 when the company was based in Arnold’s, our founder’s, converted garage. He was recruited to develop the electronics in our instruments, and soon designed our first microprocessor driven units. Since then, Peter has had to demonstrate his ‘all round’ skills as the company, and technology, has evolved. A key to Peter’s longevity has been enjoying his work and always being open to new projects; he has played a fundamental role in developing our products, something that has helped the company to grow to over 50 employees, and with offices in the UK and Holland. As a mark of our appreciation, the company will be sending Peter on a break to Portugal where he can enjoy two of his passions, golf and fine dining.
Biscuit Friday Tests: Milk Chocolate Finger
It's Friday and you know what that means - it's time for another exciting biscuit test 🍪! Every week, we’re assessing the durability of a particular biscuit with the 3-point bending feature of the Linkam Modular Force Stage (MFS)!
This week, we're putting the spotlight on the milk chocolate finger. Will it hold its shape or melt in the heat?
Biscuit Friday Tests: Chocolate Oat Biscuit
Welcome to the week 1 of our Biscuit Friday Test Series 🍪. Each week we’re testing the strength of a different biscuit using the 3-point bending functionality in the Linkam Modular Force Stage (MFS).
This week, we're putting a tasty chocolate oat biscuit to the ultimate test. Will it crumble under pressure or prove to be a true tough cookie?
Join us on this thrilling journey as we dive into the world of biscuit strength testing.
Linkam's Year in Review: 2023
January: Our Australian partner, Trevor Hinwood, from Hin Sci, participated in ACMM27 where he presented several Linkam stages, including the CMS196.
February: We celebrated Chinese New Year with a tasty buffet.
March: We attended TAC23 at the University of Huddersfield.
April: We attended the FOM 2023 conference in Portugal at the start of the month. At the end of the month we also held our own karting Grand Prix.
May: We welcomed Kelly and Bill from ProSpect Scientific, our Canadian partners, to our UK offices in Salfords, Surrey. We had a productive couple of days discussing the shape of the market in Canada and conducting hands-on training on Linkam’s full product range.
June: We welcomed AD Creative, our Chinese partners, to the UK. The same month some of our staff built two picnic tables to enjoy the pleasant surroundings outside our UK offices.
July: We attended the Microscopy and Microanalysis 2023 conference in Minneapolis, USA where we ran three very popular exhibitor tutorials on our latest prototype, the CryoGenium.
August: We announced the appointment of Clara Ko to the position of Sales and Marketing Director. Clara joined Linkam in 2022 as the Sales Manager.
September: A busy month with two separate visits from our Chinese and American partners, AD Creative and McCrone, to our UK headquarters. Some of our staff also volunteered with the I Choose Freedom charity. The charity provides shelter, support, and counselling for women and children who have escaped from abusive situations. Our team spent the day doing various gardening tasks at their centre. We also participated in the 20th Optics of Liquid Crystals Conference.
October: We attended the Advanced Materials Show USA 2023 in Columbus, Ohio and visited McCrone at their offices in Chicago. We also participated in the All Things Cryo Workshop at the University of Nottingham from October 9-13.
November: We attended the Annual Cryo-Microscopy Group Meeting in Birmingham on November 15 and held our annual staff get together at Fairgame in Canary Wharf, where we enjoyed catching up with our colleagues from Holland.
Happy Christmas from Linkam
Best wishes for a Happy Christmas and a prosperous New Year from all at Linkam.
Christmas Jumper Day
Our team get together for jumper judging.
Linkam staff took the opportunity to show off their festive fashion flair (?!) by wearing their favourite Christmas jumpers and raise money for charity last week. Valuable funds were raised for I Choose Freedom, who provide shelter, support and counselling for women and children who have escaped from abusive situations.
Linkam Fundraise for Moustache November
Several members of our team grew some splendid moustaches throughout November to raise funds for two charities ‘I Choose Freedom’, and ‘Movember’. As well as raising a few giggles from work colleagues and family members, our fantastic fundraisers increased awareness and raised valuable funds for the two charities.
Pictured above are Jamie, Ben, Tom and Rob.
Christmas 2023 Opening Hours
Please note: Linkam will be closed from lunchtime on 22 December 2023 and will reopen on Tuesday 2 January 2024.
Linkam’s Annual Staff Event at Fairgame
We held our annual staff event at Fairgame in London’s Canary Wharf at the weekend. Our colleagues from Holland visited our UK Headquarters in Salfords, Surrey on Friday, then our team got together for a night out in London on Saturday to showcase (or not!) our skills at various fairground games and afterwards enjoyed a tasty buffet and drinks. Ryan, our Trainee Foundry Technician, emerged victorious after demonstrating his all-round skills though as everyone knows, it’s taking part that really matters…. It was great to get the team together to celebrate a busy year for the company!
Thank you for visiting us at AMS 2023!
We enjoyed meeting everyone at AMS in Columbus, USA this week. If you would like to find out more about our products, or where you can see us soon, please sign up for our newsletter or look at the events' page on our website. We look forward to hearing from you!
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Visit us at Advanced Materials Show USA 3-4 Oct
This week we’re at Advanced Materials Show USA 2023 in Columbus. If you’re attending the conference come and see us at Booth 610, to chat about how we can help you with your experimental requirements. We also have some adorable Linkam Teddies available to giveaway if you sign up to our newsletter, whilst stocks last!
Linkam Staff Volunteer at I Choose Freedom Centre to brighten up the garden
This week, a group of Linkam employees decided to give back to the community by volunteering with the I Choose Freedom charity. They provide shelter, support, and counselling for women and children who have escaped from abusive situations. The centre also has a garden where the residents can relax and enjoy nature. The Linkam volunteers spent the day doing various gardening tasks, such as painting the fence, planting some bulbs, and weeding.
McCrone Visit Linkam's UK Headquarters
This week we had the pleasure of welcoming David and Jeff from our US distributor McCrone to our UK headquarters in Salfords, Surrey.
During their visit, we had the opportunity to show them our latest product developments including the CryoGenium, the next generation cryogenic plunger for EM vitrified sample prep. We also discussed our future plans and strategies for expanding our product portfolio and reaching new markets in the US.
Pictured are: Managing Director, Ross, Technical Support, John, Sales Engineers Michelle and Ashley, Sales and Marketing Director, Clara, Office Administrator, Bernie, and Jeff and David from McCrone.
Linkam appoint Clara Ko as Sales and Marketing Director
Linkam Scientific Instruments are pleased to announce the appointment of Clara Ko to the position of Sales and Marketing Director. Clara joined Linkam in 2022 as the Sales Manager, bringing with her over 25 years of experience in the scientific instrumentation industry. During her time at Linkam she has successfully led several key projects and has driven an increase in year on year sales.
As Sales and Marketing Director, Clara will be responsible for leading Linkam’s Sales and Marketing Team, playing a key role in overseeing the company’s growth, and enhancing its brand reputation. She will also continue to work closely with Linkam’s customers, partners, and collaborators to provide them with the best solutions for their applications.
Linkam welcome AD Creative to the UK!
We were delighted to welcome Jerry and Diana from AD Creative to our UK Offices this week. As a preferred partner, AD Creative look after Linkam’s business in China, and have a number of offices to support their growing customer base. During the visit we discussed Linkam’s expanding product range and gave our visitors a tour of our UK headquarters. Jerry and Diana are pictured outside our offices with our MD Ross, Sales Manager Clara, and Sales Engineer Ashley.
Team Building: Picnic Tables
Last Friday the Linkam team had a fun and productive lunchbreak assembling some picnic tables for outside our office. Ben and Ashley from Sales, Leo from R&D, Dan from Production and Natalie from Purchasing worked together to build two sturdy and comfortable tables that will be perfect for enjoying lunch or taking a break in the fresh air.
We have been in our new home in Salfords for just over a year now, and are continuing to settle in and make it our own. The Linkam blue picnic tables are made from 100% recycled plastic and are a great addition to our outdoor space, and we are looking forward to using them as we enter the summer season.
Our new vertical machining centre arrives at Linkam!
We’re delighted to have taken possession of our new Haas VF-4SS; installation is underway, and our new machine has fitted seamlessly into our state-of-the-art production workshop. The new machine offers increased tooling capacity reducing setup times, faster machining, and allows improved cross over of the machining process.
Linkam welcome ProSpect Scientific to the UK
We recently welcomed Kelly and Bill from ProSpect Scientific, our Canadian distributors to our UK offices in Salfords, Surrey. We had a productive couple of days of discussion on the shape of the market in Canada, alongside hands-on training on Linkam’s full product range. Bill and Kelly are pictured outside our offices with our MD Ross, Sales Manager Clara, and Sales Engineer Ashley.