CDS Analytical, Inc.

CDS Analytical, Inc. has been a leader in the design and manufacture of laboratory instruments for sample preparation and analysis for over 30 years. While best known in the field of analytical pyrolysis, CDS has supplied instrumentation for a wide range of additional analyses, including catalyst screening, reaction optimization, organic headspace analysis and environmental testing for water and soil.

Incorporated as Chemical Data Systems, Inc. in 1969, CDS introduced its first product, the Pyroprobe for solids analysis by pyrolysis-gas chromatography. From 1970 to 1981, Chemical Data Systems operated in Nottingham, PA. During this time, instruments for organic elemental analysis, geochemical analysis and reactor studies were produced in addition to the Pyroprobe line of pyrolyzers.

In 1977, Chemical Data Systems produced the 310 Sample Concentrator, a manual purge and trap instrument for environmental analysis. Then in 1980, the first microprocessor controlled purge and trap instrument, the CDS Model 320, was introduced. This product won R&D Magazine's IR 100 Award as one of the top 100 new technical products, and Pollution Engineering Magazine's PE 5 Star Award for significant development in environmental control technology. CDS moved from Nottingham to a new facility in Oxford, PA in 1981.

In 1982, CDS developed a complete line of computer controlled bench-top reactor systems for the determination of intrinsic reaction data, capable of completely unattended long-term operation in a wide range of chemical and catalytic processes. Great interest in this product was shown by Autoclave Engineers, Inc., which lead to the purchase of CDS by Autoclave in 1983. Chemical Data Systems became a division of Autoclave Engineers named CDS Instruments.

In 1989, CDS produced the first computer controlled resistive filament pyrolyzer, the Pyroprobe 1000, followed by the Pyroprobe 2000, which remains the most versatile pyrolysis instrument available. Autoclave Engineers moved the reactor product line to Erie, PA and sold the new Pyroprobe and the microprocessor controlled purge and trap concentrators, which became the core products for CDS Analytical, Inc., formed in 1991. Product development has continued at the Oxford facility, resulting in the Model 6000 Purge and Trap Concentrator, the Brill Cell for Pyrolysis FT-IR and, in 1996, the Model 2500 Pyrolysis Autosampler.