Portable and handheld NIR have rapidly developed into a major analytical instrument market alongside other portable spectroscopy techniques, all of which have benefited from similar technological improvements. The portable NIR market has transitioned into a much more mature market in recent years with the acquisition of smaller start-ups that pioneered the market by major diversified scientific instrument vendors. Demand for portable NIR comes from a fairly wide range of industries, which should support moderate but stable growth.

Portable NIR uses the spectrum from 800 nm to 2,500 nm. Like other molecular spectroscopy techniques, NIR is advantageous in that it provides very rapid analysis and requires little or no sample preparation. In contrast to other molecular spectroscopy techniques, NIR does not provide as much specific information on the individual chemicals or compounds present in sample; however, with methods development, NIR can provide verification of lot-to-lot consistency and is useful in quality analysis applications.

The development of effective portable and handheld NIR have only come about within the last decade, and has been helped by technological advances. Smaller and more powerful batteries and improved electronics were major enablers. MEMS technology has been the biggest technological leap, and is expected to contribute to even smaller portable NIR instruments in the near future.

Thermo Fisher Scientific is the market leader, having acquired Polychromix in 2010 (see IBO 9/15/10). Since then, Thermo has expanded the microPHAZIR product line, which was originally focused on the plastics and polymers sector, but now includes products for the pharmaceutical as well as human health and safety markets. Analytical Spectral Devices (ASD) is strongly focused on VIS-NIR technology for the agriculture, food, environmental and mining markets, and has developed into a strong number two competitor in the portable NIR market. Spectris acquired ASD at the end of 2012 (see IBO 11/30/12). Axsun, which is owned by Volcano Corporation, has been successful with its Anavo handheld NIR analyzer, which is specifically targeted at carpet and plastics recycling applications.

Among the numerous smaller competitors in the market, Zeltex specializes in handheld NIR-based analyzers for octane and fuels analysis, and various agriculture and food applications. Physical Sciences offers a portable NIR analyzer based on tunable diode laser absorption spectroscopy specifically designed for detecting methane and other hazardous gases.

The annual market for portable and handheld NIR spectroscopy is over $30 million, and should average mid-single digit growth over the next several years. The analysis of polymers and plastics, primarily for recycling, was the first major application for these instruments, but environmental analysis, and agriculture and food have now become important areas of use as well.

Handheld and Portable NIR

at a Glance:

Leading Suppliers

• Thermo Fisher Scientific

• ASD (Spectris)

• Axsun (Volcano)

Largest Markets

• Polymers

• Environmental Testing

• Agriculture and Food

Instrument Cost

• $15,000–$35,000