South Africans quick to pick up Iatia technology

Iatia's QPe phase imaging technology proved popular at the recent International Congress on Electron Microscopy in Durban, South Africa, according to CEO Brian Powell.

The company signed up more than 40 delegates at the conference to trial the software, which was initially released in June.

QPe uses Iatia's proprietary Quantitative Phase Imaging (QPI) technology to analyse and quantify electron microscopy samples. The software will cost users about $US10,000.

The company believes the potential market for QPe is worth $500 million worldwide.

Powell said there was a good cross-section of microscopists at the conference, and the QPe technology attracted potential users with interests in virology, parasitology, metallurgy and geology.

Potential applications include 3D examination of the structures of proteins, viruses and parasites, as well as non-biological applications including identification of semiconductor defects and examination of metal structures.

"While we were delighted with the sheer number of delegates who signed up to evaluate QPe, the real bonus for us was that they came from all over the world and a number of different fields of science," Powell said. Presently, slightly more users were interested in the biological applications, he noted.

Powell said the company was very encouraged by the reception at the conference. To date, he said, sales were up in the dealer market, and end users were using the software on a trial basis. "We've had a very good uptake on the dealer side," he said.