News: XRF Systems, Applications, People

April, 2021 – Production Manager Xavier Rodriguez announces the expansion of Bowman production capacity with the addition of Manufacturing Technicians Brie Goodman and Sean Mann.

Brie Goodman holds an Associate’s Degree, and an Integrated Engineering Technology (InET) degree. She formerly worked for Wi-tronix and Allen Avionics, the latter as an electronics technician, where she specialized in assembly and testing. In her post at Bowman, her primary focus will be collimators, filters, motors, and complex soldering projects.

Sean Mann has a B.S. in Industrial Engineering and formerly worked as a mechanical technician for Rockwell Automation’s Research and Development for Motion department, where his most notable project was the I-Trak Intelligent Track, a linear motor system that allows for independent control of multiple movers, replacing rotary-driven chains, belts, and gears. In his new position, he will focus on production parts and the optimization of work instructions.

February, 2021 – Mumbai. Bowman and its India partner, Quantum Equipment Co. Pvt. Ltd., have debuted an important addition to their suite of benchtop XRF composition analysis systems.

The Q-series Karatmeter is a robust system, developed exclusively for the India market, that’s ideal for gold assay measurement and other precious metal analysis.

The two most distinctive features of the Q Series are “top-down” measurement using a manual Z-axis movement, and precision video imaging.

The standard Q-series Karatmeter includes a single fixed collimator, solid-state PIN detector, and long-life micro-focus x-ray tube. As with all Bowman models, the components can be upgraded to include multiple collimators, a variable focal camera, or an SDD detector.

Like others in the Quantum portfolio, Q-series Karatmeter XRFs simultaneously measure up to 30 elements in a single alloy. Element range is Al (13) through U (92.)

To quantify composition in the alloy from the detected photons, Q-series systems run advanced Xralizer software. Xralizer combines intuitive controls with time-saving shortcuts, extensive search capability, and “one-click” reporting. Equally important: Karatmeter XRFs are full-access instruments from the day of install: there are no dongles or lock-outs to complicate, delay, or add cost.

Bowman’s Q-series desktop XRF was developed for gold assay, quality labs and production environments. It is highly advantageous for users with limited benchtop space – or budget limitations. Q-series XRFs are ideal for both gold assay and alloy composition

September, 2020 – Bowman has successfully completed a full ISO assessment. The results: no “NC” (Non-conformity) and no “OFI” (opportunity for improvement).

It doesn’t get any better than this! Congratulations to the Bowman ISO Team: Ron Wochinski, Jeff Korpus, Vicky Huang, Brian Judge and Caryl Zulawinski.

September, 2020 – Bowman CTO Jun Choi announces the appointment of Frank Giuliani as Quality Assurance Engineer. Giuliani is an electrical engineer with core strengths in analytical instrumentation manufacturing, test and product engineering, and electromechanical systems design. He was previously a support engineer for Bruker, and for Oxford Instruments, where he enthusiastically provided technical support, troubleshooting, installations and training to customers and distributors internationally.

In his new post, Giuliani is responsible for developing and executing test plans to ensure the consistent high quality for which Bowman’s benchtop XRF instrumentation suite is known. Giuliani distinguished himself for this new role with research involving optical microscopy, photoluminescence spectroscopy, and atomic force microscopy, as well as photodetector design simulation.

Giuliani holds a BSE in electrical engineering, with specialties in analog and digital circuits, CMOS & MEMS, and digital signal processing. He will work closely with the development and sales teams, ensuring that Bowman continues to deliver as-designed, fully tested products to customers throughout North and South America, Europe and Asia.

August, 2020 – Bowman China Applied Scientific Instruments exhibits August 25-28 at the 29th International Electronics Circuit Exhibition (“CPCA”) at Shanghai’s National Exhibition and Convention Center. Bowman China will demonstrate the P Series XRF, a benchtop instrument distinctive in its ability to measure the widest range of sample sizes, shapes, and quantities. Collimators and focal distances can be customized to the applications, and a programmable X-Y stage offers significant convenience and ergonomic advantages compared with a fixed stage.

August, 2020 – Bowman CTO Jun Choi announces the appointment of Brian Judge as Applications/Support Engineer. In his new post, Judge is responsible for new standards certifications, recertification of existing standards, and both remote and on-site system support.

Regarding the latter, Judge is distinctly qualified: during his previous 3-year tenure as a Bowman Production Engineer, he built the line used to manufacture benchtop XRFs, and performed QC checks on equipment. As a result, his knowledge of the inner workings of XRF measurement instruments, as well as the advanced XRalizer software that runs all Bowman systems, is broad and deep.

Judge received an ME from Southern Illinois University.

July, 2020 – Bowman Mexico, and RAISA, its distributor, have announced they will supply a comprehensive line of Reference Standards for all benchtop and hand-held XRF plating measurement systems. Reference standards are a critical quality control tool for any manufacturer of products that are plated, and for contract plating shops that serve both manufacturers, and the printed circuit board / semiconductor industry.

Bowman Mexico will stock, for rapid availability, standards for ENIG and ENEPIG, as well as thin precious metals, percent phosphorus, electroless nickel, chrome, zinc-nickel, and other common alloys. The company will also provide custom standards.

June, 2020 – Bowman Iberica has greatly expanded Bowman’s reach and service capability in western Europe. From its headquarters in the Barcelona suburb of Mataro, it will serve new and existing XRF benchtop users throughout Spain and Portugal.

According to owner Domenec Mayoral, the region is ripe with potential for Bowman’s G series benchtop XRF, with its precision video imaging, and ‘bottom-up’ measurement using laser-based auto-focus. Mayoral has more than a quarter century of experience with German-made XRFs, and with Elcometer, a manufacturer of inspection equipment, and DataPhysics, a manufacturer of surface measurement instruments.