LOWER OXFORD—CDS Analytical celebrated the company’s 50th anniversary along with the groundbreaking for their new building expansion on Monday, March 18. Located at 465 Limestone Rd., the new addition will add approximately 7,000 sq. ft. of space for manufacturing and research.

CDS Analytical has been a quiet member of the community, doing big things worldwide. In the last three years, the company has introduced 12 new products. The company designs and manufactures laboratory instruments for sample preparation and analysis. The scientific equipment created at the company has applications in a wide variety of fields including environmental, food and flavor, plastics, tobacco, automobile, energy, forensics, and homeland security.

According to General Manager Dr. Miao Wang, half of the new wing will be used in connection with a 3-M Company spin-off recently purchased by CDS Analytical, which makes ultra-high quality water filtration devices for scientific research applications.

Research and development will take up the other half of the new wing, leaving the current building for product manufacturing.

“Today is a special day for CDS. Good business is created by good people,” said LabTech President Dr. Ke Hu, recognizing the many employees who have been with the company more than 30 years.

It is anticipated that the expansion will support 30 new jobs at the Lower Oxford location, “They have been wonderful business owners and have been a true asset to the Lower Oxford community,” Lower Oxford Township Secretary Treasurer Debbie Kinney said. “This memorable 50th anniversary, along with the ground breaking to expand the facility to add another wing, indicates their progress and positive growth in our community. Growth like this only comes from perseverance and determination especially in a small rural community like ours.”

The new construction is being named for late engineer Woodie Bowe, who was with the company for over four decades.

Bowe’s wife Nancy attended the groundbreaking ceremony, “For 43 years, Woodie devoted his time, his energy, his creativity, his caring, to this company. From its beginning in 1974 in the little building in Nottingham, Woodie was always proud and happy to be a part of it,” she said. “He always believed, in his words, CDS was a little gold mine waiting to be discovered. I think if he were here today on this 50th anniversary, he would be so happy to share in the growth you are enjoying and very proud that the world has discovered CDS Analytical.”

Also speaking briefly at the groundbreaking was state Rep. John Lawrence, who presented Wang with a citation from the state House of Representatives.

“This is a world leader right here in our own back yard,” Lawrence said. “You hear it said the backbone of the economy is small business. The sad truth is many small businesses don’t make it to 50 years. That’s a remarkable accomplishment.”

Professor Yukui Zhang traveled from China to speak at the groundbreaking with assistance of a translator. “CDS instruments have made positive contributions in China.

“I’m glad to see that CDS has success with more than 10,000 customers from 18 countries,” he said. “We wish CDS Analytical a bright future.”