WOODLEY EQUIPMENT CAME INTO EXISTENCE on 9th October 1989 when owner and founder Mike Wickham decided to apply his knowledge of laboratory procedures to the veterinary world.
With 36 years’ experience under his belt specialising in haematology, blood transfusion and point of care devices, Mike established Woodley from his home office with just two products – the mushroom centrifuge and a microscope.
Fast forward 27 years and Woodley Equipment now employs more than 50 people across five divisions: Woodley UK Veterinary, Quantum Vet Diagnostics, Woodley Veterinary Diagnostics, Woodley Laboratory Diagnostics and Clinical Trials.
Quantum leap
The newest division, Quantum, was established in 2009 after stepping in to manage the sites left behind from the closure of Synermed Europe; then, on 1st June 2015, its of ces were relocated from Pulborough to Woodley’s Horwich site. This move served to strengthen the working relationship between the divisions and brought the wet chemistry solution provider under the same banner.
This means product development, service and technical support are now combined on one site, the in-house laboratory has grown four-fold, there is a biomedical scientist on-site at all times and Quantum can now complete all delivery and invoicing procedures.
So what next for the company? Having expanded its product development team recently with the arrival of Sara Miller as New Product Development and International Sales Biomedical Scientist, it is full steam ahead in continuing to grow the portfolio, which already includes biochemistry, centrifuges, diagnostic tests, endocrinology, endoscopes, haematology, immunology, microbiology, microscopes (with accessories for upgrading), parasitology and urinalysis. On top of that is Woodley’s service department for all centrifuges, analysers and microscopes.
Continually working with leading manufacturers to bring new devices and tests to the veterinary market, Woodley is looking to specifically develop new analysers and rapid tests to expand the popular InSight range.
The newest product, the InSight Evolution, is an analyser launched this year which offers a low-cost package for small to medium practices or for multi-site placement. Described as an easy-to-use, fully-automatic wet chemistry analyser, it features a colour touch screen, fast and accurate results and gives the opportunity to carry out both single and profile testing.
Another recent addition to the range is the g-Pet Plus, a species-specific veterinary glucometer which is also suitable for use by owners of diabetic pets, following training from their local vet. This handheld device can be used in-practice or in the field as a portable meter of blood glucose levels in cats, dogs and horses.
Referral lab kitted out
In 2015, Wear Referrals approached Woodley to help in kitting out its new veterinary hospital laboratory. Having listened to the requirements, an impressive range of products was then supplied, including an Optika 35 Microscope with Moticam digital microscope camera, a Skyla VB1 Clinical Chemistry Analyser, an i-Smart 30 Vet Electrolyte Analyser, a Clinispin Horizon 842Vet, the most compact of the Performance Series centrifuges, a TOSOH AIA 360 Endocrinology Analyser, an Eclipse Clinical Wet Chemistry Analyser, a Mythic 18 Vet Haematology Analyser, and a QuickVet Coagulation, Fibrinogen and Blood Typing Analyser.
With Quantum’s proven track record for outstanding service and support, as well as state-of-the-art wet chemistry solutions, plus each practice being allocated a dedicated account manager to work with them and ensure requirements are met, Woodley truly offers a one-stop shop for all laboratory diagnostics and equipment needs.
When asked what the future holds for his company, Mike is very clear – more of the same: “Woodley Equipment invests heavily in new product development to expand our range of in-practice veterinary laboratory analysers and diagnostic test kits. The products that we source and develop are of the highest standard so they allow veterinary practices to offer patients quick, easy, timely assessment and results, while bene ting from cost-effective solutions.”
