Biscuit Friday Tests: Ginger Biscuit and Medal Ceremony

We've reached the final week of our Biscuit Friday Test Series 🍪! For the past four weeks we’ve been breaking biscuits in the Linkam Modular Force Stage (MFS) using a 3-point bending test.

Last week saw the shock relegation of the chocolate oat biscuit from the top spot, with the white chocolate finger now leading the pack. But will it beat this week’s contender: the ginger biscuit? Watch the final video where we'll reveal the ultimate biscuit champion and hold the medal ceremony! 🏅


Biscuit Friday Tests: White Chocolate Finger

Week 4 of our Biscuit Friday Test Series and we're bringing you the ultimate test of deliciousness with the White Chocolate Finger! Each week we’re conducting weekly tests on biscuit resilience using the 3-point bending experimental mode of the Linkam Modular Force Stage (MFS).

The oat chocolate biscuit has reigned supreme since week 1. This week the white chocolate finger steps up to challenge for top spot. Will it surpass all competition or snap under the strain?


Linkam escape from the office!

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.

  • 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. 

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’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! 

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.