Thriving Particle Sizing Company Celebrates 30 years in Business

In 1983, pre-internet and in a year that saw early public access to mobile phones and the first incarnation of Microsoft Word, Dr Graham Rideal set about applying his unique scientific experience and expertise to the development of glass microsphere standards whose hallmark is absolute reliability and traceability. Thirty years on, Whitehouse Scientific is a thriving global business with a product range that encompasses the best in calibration standards and is a world leader in fields that include particle size standards, sieve calibration and filter cut point testing - an achievement that the company is celebrating throughout this 30th year.

A far cry from the early days, Whitehouse Scientific now has a bang up to date website that allows customers the convenience of paying by credit card or through PayPal, or even using a smartphone. And the company’s latest YouTube video, on sieve calibration, is breaking previous Whitehouse Scientific records with over 1000 views to date.

Today Dr Rideal is CEO of Whitehouse Scientific, which operates from commercial and laboratory facilities in Chester, UK, where it was founded and from where it continues to grow. Privately owned and family run, the company remains true to its principles of quality products and excellence in customer service 

“Having participated in early and not entirely successful attempts by others to develop internationally accepted particle sizing standards, it was clear to me that there was a real need for a company that would specialise in the painstaking development and certification of reproducible, traceable standards,” said Dr Rideal. “Initially this meant we had to design and build our own 100-stage spinning riffler to accurately and reliably fractionate the glass microspheres, so I can honestly say that we were real pioneers.”

“We have a unique offering in filter testing and are very active within the filtration industry,” continued Dr Rideal. “Filtration is such an essential, and often critical, part of many industrial processes, and people turn to us increasingly to test and validate their filters. I have also been privileged to serve in various capacities with the Filtration Society and remain active in the organisation.”