Phenomenex, is a researcher, manufacturer and supplier of analytical technologies for the separation sciences. Headquartered in Torrance, California, Phenomenex manufactures in 3 USA plants and serves customers through subsidiaries to 44 different countries around the world, along with distribution partners in 54 other countries.

History

The company was founded in 1982 as a distributor of high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) columns in the USA. Phenomenex began manufacturing columns in 1985, and global distribution following two years later. In 1989, Phenomenex introduced their first HPLC columns packed with a proprietary surface chemistry, marking the company’s transition to offering products researched and developed internally. Ten years later, the product portfolio expanded with the addition of gas chromatography and solid phase extraction products. The company’s history is characterized by rapid growth and expansion, as recognized by its 2006 inclusion in Deloitte & Touche’s Technology Fast 50 for the Los Angeles area . Recent events include the development and commercialization of a core-shell particle technology suitable for HPLC and UHPLC, and the opening of Phenomenex’s Asia headquarters in Hyderabad, India.

Techniques/Product Lines

• High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC)
• Size Exclusion Chromatography (SEC)
• Ion Exchange
  Ion exchange
  Ion exchange is an exchange of ions between two electrolytes or between an electrolyte solution and a complex. In most cases the term is used to denote the processes of purification, separation, and decontamination of aqueous and other ion-containing solutions with solid polymeric or mineralic 'ion...
  
  
• Gas Chromatography (GC)
• Chiral Chromatography
• Monolithic HPLC
• Solid Phase Extraction (SPE)
• Sample preparation
• Chromatographic accessories and equipment
• Proficiency Testing Standards
• Preparative and Pilot Scale Chromatography
• Amino Acid Analysis
• Method Development Services

Industries

Phenomenex supplies to a wide range of industries that require the ability to separate mixtures at the chemical level in order to learn what compounds (qualitative analysis) or how much of certain compounds (quantitative analysis) are present.

Industry	Application
Pharmaceutical	Evaluation of new drug candidates; Metabolism and efficacy studies; Purification of target compounds; Quality control of manufactured drugs
Environmental	Pollution/contamination testing and monitoring for water and soil; wastewater treatment monitoring
Food Safety Food safety Food safety is a scientific discipline describing handling, preparation, and storage of food in ways that prevent foodborne illness. This includes a number of routines that should be followed to avoid potentially severe health hazards....	Screening for allergens; Detection of toxins and contaminants
Flavors and Fragrances	Quality control of flavors/fragrances; Fermentation monitoring for beer/wine/spirits
Clinical Toxicology Clinical Toxicology Clinical Toxicology is a journal of primary interest to practicing clinical toxicologists, whether based in hospitals, poison control centers, academia, government or industry...	Biomarker testing; Newborn health screening; hormone

Chromatography Innovations

Phenomenex has been awarded multiple R&D 100 Awards. The award, “widely recognized as the ‘Oscars of Innovation’, identifies and celebrates the top high technology products of the year.

• Axia™ Preparative Column Packing Technology (2004)
• Zebron™ Inferno™ High-Temperature Stable GC Columns (2007)
• Clarity® QSP™ Synthetic DNA/RNA Purification Cartridge (2008)
• Zebron ZB-Bioethanol GC Columns (2009)
• Zebron ZB-Drug-1 GC Columns (2009)
• Clarity OTX™ Extraction Kit for RNA- and DNA-based Therapeutics (2010)
• Kinetex Core-Shell Technology HPLC/UHPLC Columns (2010)
• In 2009, Kinetex received a Scientist’s Choice Award for the Best New Separations Product of the year

Corporate Culture

Phenomenex attributes its success to its distinctive culture. Upon being named a finalist for Ernst and Young’s Entrepreneur of the Year award company CEO and President Fasha Mahjoor said, "At Phenomenex, we are not only building a business, but a culture -- a vibrant culture based on swift initiative, perseverance and responsibility to each other and to the community. This culture enables our remarkable team in 98 different countries to see and seize opportunities, in good times and in adversity, through clear and well-defined strategies

According to the International Center for Spirit at Work, which honored Phenomenex in 2004 with their International Spirit at Work Award
“There are some exemplary organizations that are deeply committed to nurturing the human spirit.
This award is a way to recognize and reward those organizations. It is a way to give energy to what
is working in business, and to what is inspiring. It provides an opportunity for these leading edge organizations
to tell their stories and to be a model for other organizations that may want to emulate their practices."

In 2008, Phenomenex was named a Top Small Workplace by the Wall Street Journal and Winning Workplaces award in 2008. Winning Workplaces explained that, “their ability to attract, retain and develop talent stems not from a hip product line, but a distinctive culture. And it's not just scientists, but associates in packaging, marketing, management and operations that stay for years.

Upon being awarded the Torrance Advantage People to People Award by the City of Torrance in 2008,

the selection committee said that the company “creates a unique environment where employees can thrive, collaborate and grow through rather unique methods where water balloons from the CEO, managers on golf carts, red clown noses and marching bands aren't unheard of activities. Combined with career development programs tailored to each employee, these efforts motivate, inspire and encourage individual employees to always grow.,