The Micro Imaging Story

 

Micro Imaging's success has been built on providing sound advice and excellent customer service.  This would not be possible without Richard Beddek's extensive knowledge of microscopy, his ability to "think outside the square" to solve those tricky microscopy and inspection problems and of course his enthusiasm for Micro Imaging.  Supported by his wife Jo, they have worked hard to bring Micro Imaging to where it is today.  It did, however, have more humble beginnings ...

 

The beginning ...

 

Micro Imaging officially began in August 1988 as a division of Trimtech NZ Ltd.  Richard Beddek headed the division, bringing with him a background in psychology but a keen interest in photography, optics and astronomy.

 

Richard had trained (while studying at university) in microscope sales and servicing under the guidance of David Bassett of Micro Instruments Ltd.  David's background in microscopy went back many years (his father owning the famous British microscope maker James Swift and Son Ltd).  

 

Richard left Micro Instruments in 1986 and together with Jo, went to England for two years of "OE". The pull of optics was strong however, and upon their return in 1988 Micro Imaging was born.

 

Carl Zeiss Jena and Meiji Techno

 

Micro Imaging needed products to sell.  A basic concept, but not particularly easy to overcome!  The microscope market was dominated by four big multi-national players ... Zeiss, Leitz, Olympus and Nikon and these companies were represented by local agents, who chose to sell directly to the end user.  There were a couple of manufacturers that had potential ... the East German "Kombinat" Carl Zeiss Jena and the Japanese maker Meiji Techno.  Both manufacturers' microscopes were excellent quality and reasonably priced.  Richard approached both organisations and in 1989, with Trimtech's Managing Director, Viv Cleary, visited Carl Zeiss Jena in East Germany.  Carl Zeiss Jena agreed to co-operate with Micro Imaging and an excellent (but short) relationship was formed.  A small number of Carl Zeiss Jena microscopes were imported into New Zealand and sold ... almost all of them still in use today!

 

It is well known that the late eighties and early nineties was a profound period of history for Germany.  The Carl Zeiss Jena brand was eventually incorporated into the Zeiss company in a now unified Germany.  So, with Carl Zeiss Jena now out of reach, Micro Imaging now had to rely on the relationship it had with Meiji Techno.

 

A new company formed ... 

 

Micro Imaging remained a division of Trimtech until 1996 when Richard and Jo Beddek formed a stand-alone company of the same name.  This venture was not without risk ... the company did not represent a major microscope player and had to rely on the servicing of microscopes and sales from a little known Japanese manufacturer!  The major microscope manuacturers dominated the market and certain segments remained out of reach.  However, with Micro Imaging's expertise and service and Meiji's instruments, a niche in the educational and industrial markets was forged.  Meiji's microscopes were of excellent quality, mechanically and optically and reasonably priced - people were starting to recognise this.

 

Micro Imaging and Meiji grow stronger ...

 

More recently, and with the introduction of Meiji's new laboratory and research quality range of compound and stereomicroscopes, Micro Imaging was able to enter the laboratory/research market.  Unlike the other two major Japanese competitors, Meiji still manufactures all of their microscopes in Japan.  Meiji Techno is now regarded as a top class manufacturer and certainly a worthy competitor.  Indeed, this is evidenced by the sales Micro Imaging has achieved in markets that were once deemed the exclusive domain of the other major brands.  University departments have outfitted student laboratories, animal health laboratories, pathologists and major New Zealand industrial companies have chosen Meiji Techno instruments with back up service from Micro Imaging.  The future for Meiji Techno in New Zealand looks bright.

 

A New Zealand microscope!

 

Micro Imaging has another string to its bow.  It can boast that it is New Zealand's only microscope maker!  Richard Beddek had always been interested in the quality and craftsmanship of the early English, German and Japanese microscope makers.  He lamented the demise of these industries and the movement of manufacturing to lower cost economies.  In 2000 he drew up the first plans for a unique videomicroscope to be made in New Zealand and used in public interactive environments.  It had to be robust ... very robust (like the microscopes of old) to withstand the use and abuse of a public interactive environment.  microEYE DISCOVERY was born; designed and built in New Zealand (with sub contractors in East Tamaki and Manukau City and assembled at Micro Imaging's premises).  The first instruments were sold to Te Papa Museum of New Zealand.  Word of mouth saw it being sold to museums and science centres in Canada and the USA, with excellent comments and reviews.  microEYE DISCOVERY is becoming the videomicroscope of choice for these organisations around the world!

 

New Premises 

 

In 2006 Micro Imaging moved into new premises in Newmarket, Auckland.  This included a demonstration area for Meiji Techno microscopes (all of Meiji's instruments are now available for demonstration and evaluation) and an assembly area for microEYE DISCOVERY.  This has made manufacture and assembly more streamined and efficient and has made sure DISCOVERY would continue to be manufactured in New Zealand. 

 

Twenty years young!

 

2008 sees us celebrating our 20th year in the microscope business! 

 

We look forward to many more years helping our customers with their microscopy needs.

 

We can help you too ....

 

 

 

 

Assembly of microEYE DISCOVERY