Happy New Year & 50 Years of service!

Happy New Year! 2018 is a special year as it marks the 50th Anniversary of Martek Instruments, Inc. Since our inception in 1968, we've come a long way. From our initial offering of a salinity meter for the environmental field to our current offerings in the ultra pure water market, Martek has always been a paragon of innovation and quality.  Our first 25 years were spent in Southern California while our second 25 years have been spent in Raleigh, North Carolina. Re-locating from one coast of ...

Introducing a new type of water quality analyzer

Today, Martek announces the release of the re-designed Mark 24 Four Channel Water Quality Analyzer. Featuring a menu-driven, multi-language color display, the Mark 24 offers up to four channels of conductivity and/or pH as well as a variety of calculated measurements and communication protocols.  Of course, the Mark 24 Four Channel Analyzer works with existing Martek sensors so field upgrades from existing Martek analyzers are easy and affordable. In addition, the Mark 24 Analyzer has been in...

Thoughts on the recent EPRI Conference on Cycle Chemistry

Last week, I attended the EPRI Steam and Water Cycle Chemistry Instrumentation, Monitoring and Control Conference in San Antonio, Texas and came away with some interesting insights which I am happy to share with those unable to attend this important forum consisting of the industry's leading chemists and manufacturers. 1. Several vendors featured new products to provide low-level detection on a variety of constituents to include chlorides, sulfates, and dissolved iron. In addition, one vendor...

2017 Conference Schedule

Martek's primary focus is on power plant chemistry. As such, there are regional and not-so-regional conferences we will be attending this year: May 2-4 EPRI Steam and Water Cycle Chemistry Instrumentation, Monitoring and Control Conference, San Antonio, Texas.  June 6-8 37th Annual Electric Utility Chemistry Workshop, Champaign, Illinois We will be displaying a variety of our products and would be happy to discuss your plant's particular water chemistry and how our analytical tools can assist...

Degassed Cation Conductivity

I just got back from the Electric Utility Chemistry Workshop held in Champaign, Illinois last week. There were quite a lot of topics...some of them even interesting!  Several papers focused on "new" technologies that were not really new at all. One paper in particular highlighted a method using capillary electrophoresis as a new way of determining chloride and sulfate in the parts-per-billion range. Unfortunately, the cost of the device was hinted at being "merely" 2/3 the cost of an Ion Chro...

2016 Electric Utility Chemistry Workshop June 7-9

Martek will be participating the 36th Annual Electric Utility Chemistry Workshop June 7-9 in Champaign-Urbana, IL. We've been attending this excellent conference since 1988 and heartily recommend it to both chemistry and instrumentation specialists. Its focus on the more practical aspects of power plant chemistry make this a valuable venue to learn about analytical instrumentation as well as connect with a variety of vendors and end-users. For more information, visit: www.conferences.illinois...

Value-added service

We often hear about "value-added service." But what exactly does it mean? Often times, its meaning differs from what the vendor believes it means from what the customer believes it should mean.  To me, value-added service means actions that go beyond the "standard" business transaction that occurs between seller and buyer. It means providing service and support to enable the end-user to successfully utilize the product to its maximum efficiency while improving the quality-of-life of the user...

2015 Conference Schedule

Happy New Year! At the end of every year, I re-evaluate where we, as a company, have been and the direction I would like Martek to go in the coming year. Most of the time, it's carrying on what has made us a successful company for nearly half a century, i.e. providing reliable products and services to the power generation market. People often ask me who designs our products and I always respond: "Our customers do, that's who!" Customer feedback is vital to the success of any commercial orga...

Continuity

It's been a while since I last posted an article as I've been helping customers all over the U.S. resolve issues regarding their water chemistry and analysis. Which brings me to my current topic: Continuity. But first, some history. I joined Martek in 1986 at the behest of its founder, Oscar, who happens to be my father. At the time, I was 18 months out of the Marine Corps working as an underwriter for an insurance company. My father, wishing to share the success of Martek with at least one ...

Will warm weather ever return?

It seems like it's never going to warm up. I've been traveling throughout the Northeast & Midwest these past several months and it's as cold as ever. So much for Global Warming…uh..."Climate Change" or whatever the heck they're calling it these days. I just want sunshine, warm weather, and short-sleeves to return!  By the way, Martek Instruments will be attending the 34th Annual Electric Utility Chemistry Workshop in Champaign-Urbana, Illinois June 3-5, 2014. If you're going to attend, st...