{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2019}} {{EngvarB|date=September 2019}} {{Infobox company | name = Markes International | logo = Markes_international_logo.jpg | logo_upright = <!-- default: 1 --> | logo_alt = The logo of Markes International Limited. | type = Private | industry = Scientific Instruments Manufacturing | founded = {{Start date and age|1997}} | founders = {{Unbulleted list|Elizabeth Woolfenden|Alun Cole}} | hq_location = Bridgend, Wales | hq_location_country = United Kingdom | num_locations = 5 | num_locations_year = <!-- Year of num_locations data (if known) --> | area_served = <!-- or: areas_served = --> | key_people = {{Unbulleted list|Nigel Fry (CEO)}} | products = {{unbulleted list |Thermal Desorbers|Centri|Sampling Devices|Consumables}} | parent = Velaris | website = {{URL|markes.com}} }}
'''Markes International''' is a manufacturer and supplier of specialist analytical instrumentation that enhances the sensitivity and application scope of GC–MS. They also manufacture and supply complementary sampling devices, accessories, and consumables.<ref>{{cite web |title=About Us - Markes International |url=https://markes.com/company-information/about-us |access-date=19 April 2024}}</ref>
Markes International was founded in 1997. Their first thermal desorption instrument, the UNITY, was released shortly thereafter. The company has since updated and expanded their instrument portfolio, including a wider range of thermal desorbers, and Centri, a range of automated sample preparation and pre-concentration platforms.
Markes’ factory, technical centre and headquarters is in Bridgend, Wales, UK. In 2011, they expanded this and their US operations (Markes International, Inc.) - adding extra laboratory and demonstration facilities. In 2017 their US operations transferred from Cincinnati, Ohio, to a new office in Gold River, Sacramento, California.
In 2013, Markes became a company of the Schauenburg International Group,<ref>[http://www.walesonline.co.uk/business/appointments/german-firm-buys-majority-stake-2497841/ German firm buys majority stake in specialist producer, Wales Online, January 2013<!-- Bot generated title -->] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160322140345/http://www.walesonline.co.uk/business/appointments/german-firm-buys-majority-stake-2497841 |date=22 March 2016 }}</ref> and opened a technical centre near Frankfurt as part of their German operations (Markes International GmbH).
The company has arrangements for distribution and market development with Agilent Technologies,<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.agilent.com/about/newsroom/presrel/2009/27feb-ca09013.html |title=Agilent | Agilent Technologies, Markes Form Global Thermal Desorption GC, GC/MS Collaboration |access-date=8 May 2018 |archive-date=9 May 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180509013629/https://www.agilent.com/about/newsroom/presrel/2009/27feb-ca09013.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> ThermoFisher Scientific,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newswiretoday.com/news/60474/|title= Thermo Fisher Scientific and Markes International Announce Global Distribution Agreement|location=Austin, TX|date=11 November 2009 |website=newswiretoday.com|access-date=22 April 2024}}</ref> and a number of other distributors.
Markes International holds patents for a number of technological innovations, including diffusion-locking caps and inserts for sorbent tubes,<ref>{{cite web |title=GB2337513 - Sample tube caps |url=https://www.ipo.gov.uk/p-ipsum/Case/PublicationNumber/GB2337513 |website=Online Patent Information and Document Inspection Service |access-date=19 April 2024}}</ref><ref>E.A. Woolfenden and A. Cole, ‘Sampling device’, UK patent no. GB2359070, 4 December 2002 (http://worldwide.espacenet.com/publicationDetails/originalDocument?FT=D&date=20021204&DB=EPODOC&locale=en_EP&CC=GB&NR=2359070B&KC=B&ND=4)</ref><ref>E.A. Woolfenden and A. Cole, ‘Sample tube caps’, UK patent no. GB2374866, 11 December 2002 (http://worldwide.espacenet.com/publicationDetails/originalDocument?FT=D&date=20021211&DB=&locale=en_EP&CC=GB&NR=2374866B&KC=B&ND=1)</ref> RFID tags for sorbent tubes,<ref>E.A. Woolfenden and A. Cole, ‘Sampling device’, US patent no. US 6,446,515, 10 September 2002 (http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&d=PALL&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsrchnum.htm&r=1&f=G&l=50&s1=6,446,515.PN.&OS=PN/6,446,515&RS=PN/6,446,515)</ref> and a soft electron ionisation source.<ref>[https://patents.google.com/patent/WO2014128462A2/en/ An analytical apparatus utilising electron impact ionisation, Patent WO 2014128462 A2<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
The company received the Queen's Award for Enterprise in the 'International Trade' category in 2015<ref>{{cite web |title=Queen's Awards for Enterprise 2015 winners |url=https://www.ft.com/content/68193b9c-e74c-11e4-8e3f-00144feab7de |website=Financial Times |access-date=19 April 2024}}</ref> and 2019, and was also honoured in the 'Innovation' category in 2019.<ref>{{cite web |title=Winners - The King's Awards for Enterprise |url=https://kingsawardsmagazine.com/winners/page/7/?award-year=2019&award-category=International%20Trade |website=The King's Awards for Enterprise |access-date=19 April 2024}}</ref>
==References == {{Reflist}}
==See also == *Thermal desorption *Gas chromatography
Category:Companies of Wales Category:1997 establishments in Wales Category:Companies based in Rhondda Cynon Taf Category:Instrument-making corporations Category:Manufacturing companies established in 1997 Category:Welsh brands