It was 20 years ago today (Aug 18) that X-Ray Optical Systems (XOS) was incorporated and David officially spread his entrepreneurial wings.David had been approached by his father, who was head of the Physics Dept at University at Albany, and a Russian Scientist with a technology to focus x-rays. After an evaluation of the technology and market, David set to work funding and establishing the beginnings of XOS.
They began their work in an office in the basement of the Physics building at University at Albany. This was the first "incubator" company to come out of U Albany. Much of their time was spend developing the manufacturing for the optics and convincing physicists worldwide that it was possible to focus x-rays.
They soon began to hire a couple of employees and needed to expand, so they rented a small building on Railroad Avenue in Albany. While at this facility, in 1995, they sold their first optic.
After being there several years, they again had a need to expand and moved into part of a building in an industrial area on Corporate Circle, Albany.
As the x-ray optics market started to really grow in the area where people were doing analytical material science, the company began to prosper. Optics were now being designed into analysis machines all over the world. But David and his management team saw opportunities in many other areas where x-ray analysis had yet to be employed. Since there was no room available to expand in their current building, they searched for another location and were the first tenants in a new Tech Park in East Greenbush, NY.
Once the building was complete, they moved in and aggressively started developing their new line of products. Without competing directly with current customers, they started a project to take x-ray analysis to Oil Refineries everywhere as the EPA announced that they would be passing laws to regulate the amount of sulfur allowed in diesel fuels. XOS was now committing to branching out beyond making x-ray optics just for other instrument (analyzer) manufacturers and becoming an analyzer manufacturer themselves.
This was a bold move that paid off and since the initial launch of SINDIE (Sulfur IN DIEsel), they have sold more than 500 SINDIE's worldwide. With this success and the lessons learned, they have since launched several more analyzer lines within the petroleum market as well as other markets. They now have their sights set on revolutionizing the analysis of toxins in consumer products (does lead in toys cause you any concern?). With 80+ employees, the company continues to grow stronger despite the tough economic times.
The picture below shows David with his Management Team Jay and Berry (minus David's Dad, Walt, who had joined the company as a full time employee as the Chief Technology Officer and Head of Research).
In celebration of the 20th Anniversary, last Thursday XOS chartered a dinner cruise on the Hudson River for all the employees and their families. Somehow David's Mom, Alice, snuck by without getting her picture taken with us, but here's the rest of our gang. Left to right, Emma (Ben's girl friend, Ben, David, Bryson, Chris (me), McKay, John (Dorothy's husband), Dorothy, and Parker.
As always, when David is handing out a free dinner, there was a price to pay. That price is usually listening to David give a presentation of one form or another. This was no exception, but the subject of the company's early beginnings and growth were especially interesting and David did an exceptional job entertaining as he went through the presentation. In the picture below there is a glimpse of Alice sitting on the upper deck listening to David's presentation.
It's a big milestone for the company and for David as well. We are very proud of what he and his Dad have accomplished with this company.
