Oxford Framestore Applications Ltd. began trading in 1985. Based on expertise in lasers and optics, electro-optics and software development, the original aim of the company was to exploit video image acquisition and processing techniques for scientific instrumentation. This has remained the primary strength of the company, which now has an expanding product range including systems for object tracking, particle analysis, laser systems monitoring, instrument read-out and opthalmological cell analysis software packages.
OFA was awarded a SMART award in 1997 for the development of an advanced measuring system to characterise laser beams. Named "Iso-mode", the prototype instrument uses two CCD cameras to measure laser intensity and phase distributions simultaneously. Much of the fringe analysis development work funded from this award is incorporated in Fringe-Master ä.
OFA was a collaborator in the DTI supported EU213 excimer laser project and more recently in EU643 "Safety in the Industrial Use of Lasers" project. OFA have also taken part in a LINK project with Imperial College and in a BRITE/EURAM project with AEA Technology.
Chris Reason receives OFA's SMART award from Ian Taylor, Minister for Science and Technology.
Chris Edwards, PhD, D.I.C. Managing Director of OFA Ltd.
CBE has over 20 years experience in laser technology, applications of lasers and scientific project management.
As co-founder of OFA in 1985, his original objective for the company was to bring the increasing processing power of personal computers to digital image acquisition for applications in instrumentation. This has remained a core activity for the company which is now well known for its interferometry packages, laser beam profilers and specialist systems for optical metrology.
Chris Reason, Grad.Inst.P. Technical Director of OFA Ltd.
Co-founder of OFA, CJR has 20 years experience in computing and scientific applications programming. Recently he has concentrated on the development of software applications written in the Delphi programming language running under Windows NT. He is responsible for the development and testing of the Fringe-Master ä fringe analysis products.
CJR is currently working on a new, high resolution 10-bit data acquisition platform for the OFA range.
Brooke Ward, BSc Phys (Hons)
BAW has 30 years experience in industrial laser applications and optics. Until 1992, he led the Optical Systems Engineering Section of the Laser Technology Centre at UKAEA, Culham Laboratory.
He is currently a co-opted expert on BSI CPM17 and ISO/TC 172 WG1, the committees responsible for the drafting of the harmonised ISO/CEN Laser Beam Measurement Standards. BAW is responsible for identifying opportunities in the laser processing market, supporting the emerging Laser Standards and providing optics and laser beam handling expertise to the company.
Sue Edwards
Sue makes everything at OFA run smoothly. She runs the office, handles customer enquiries, and generally makes sure that everyone is in the right place at the right time!
sde@ofa-ltd.com
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