Timeline

A Timeline of Infometrix Developments

 

 

 

Original IFMX Logo1978 — Infometrix was founded by University of Washington Professor Bruce Kowalski and Dr. Gerald Erickson to provide consulting service in the new field of chemometrics. The company’s primary software was ARTHUR, a system designed for DEC VAX minicomputers and mainframes. Arthur Logo1981 — A new commercial version of Arthur is released with formalized documentation. MCR-2 Ad1983 — Infometrix released its first microcomputer-based product, MCR-2, later named QuickRes, designed specifically for a single instrument system (Hewlett Packard’s 1040 diode array detector). By 1987, Infometrix had created six additional packages for HP; these software products spanned the HPLC, GC, GC/MS and UV/VIS lines.
Einsight man1985 — Infometrix introduced Ein*Sight, its first general pattern recognition software for microcomputers. This software has the largest installed base of any similar product in the field through the 1980s. Customer comments and suggestions triggered the market study and algorithm development, which culminated in the release of the first version of Pirouette. In the beginning Ad1986 — Journal of Chemometrics is launched and Infometrix is its first advertiser. Beckman/Infometrix Joint relations on American Laboratory1989 — Beckman Instruments and Infometrix begin a joint working relationship to develop multivariate tools for the photodiode array detector. The first product of that relationship is a development of QuickRes curve resolution software for the Beckman System Gold diode array detector
pirlady1990 — Pirouette 1.0 is released, bringing chemometrics into a friendly graphical user interface. MasterLink-HP1990 — MasterLink is launched to facilitate moving files out of the HP 9000 Series 300 computers and rapidly becomes the best selling Infometrix product. DiodeArrayFIEFA1990 — Beckman Instruments introduced the 168 diode array detector which includes Infometrix’ Real Time Purity. This is the first implementation of chemometrics on a chip (in this case FIEFA, fixed interval evolving factor analysis).
Otsuka-Infometrix1990 — Otsuka Electronics and Infometrix announce a strategic working relationship to develop multivariate tools for UV/VIS/NIR instruments. 1992 — Infometrix achieved FDA validation, the only chemometrics software company to date to do so. The release of Pirouette version 1.1 incorporates support for analytical instrument systems through direct file reads. ArrayView1993 — Array View, an interactive visualization package, is launched for the Beckman Diode Array detector
color Instep logo1993 — The release of InStep allowed true multivariate process control by coupling an expert system with Pirouette models. The combination of Pirouette and InStep is employed in dozens of applications ranging from tracking tuberculosis and 35 related bacterial infections, to assessing oil-oil correlations, to batch quality control in the pharmaceutical industry. PlantationPipelineLogo1995 — Infometrix returns somewhat to its origins in consulting by providing software customization services to end users so that they can take advantage of the technology without implementation risk or unnecessary delays. Pirouette dancer original version1996 — Infometrix released a Windows NT/95 version of Pirouette (version 2.0) that has been the basis for all product development since that time. The sum total of development time applied to Pirouette now exceeds 50 man-years. Key in this version is a suite of commonly used chemometric algorithms which can be run in batch mode.
FliteTrac1997 — Work is completed on Flite-Trac software for DelNorte, a visualization package for evaluation of aircraft trajectories during aerial surveillance maneuvers. Japanese Pirouette1997 — Automation of chemometric predictions via the internet was completed. Ein*Sight 4.0 was released. All Pirouette documentation (~500 pages) is translated into Japanese; Pirouette attains the largest installed base in Japan by the end of 1998. PirouetteReview1997 — Release of Pirouette 2.03, a maintenance upgrade. A review of Pirouette in Analytical Chemistry calls it the best software package around.
1998 — Agilent (formerly Hewlett Packard) and Infometrix introduced the first integrated chemometrics instrument for routine laboratory quality control use: the HP 4440 ChemSensor headspace analysis system. This system is in its 2nd release, with sales and marketing now managed by Gerstel (the largest Agilent reseller). Pirouette dancer1998 — The release of Pirouette 2.5 includes usability enhancements, including saving graphics as EMFs, new data transforms requested by spectroscopists, and dynamic interaction with prediction results. This is the first version with the entire user guide in a single PDF file. 1999 — Pirouette 2.7 is released as a family of products so that chemometrics solutions now exist spanning the $300 to $5,000 price range. It also includes several graphics and algorithm enhancements.
Pir in Portuguese2000 — Pirouette 3.0 is released supporting network versions of all software. PerkinElmer standardizes on Pirouette for image analysis in their IR microscopy line. Transfer of calibration has been added for most algorithms, and the user interface is now internationalized. Language support has since been extended to include Japanese, French, Spanish, German, Portuguese, and Italian. ActiveX_logo2001 — With the release of Pirouette 3.02, support for ActiveX clients is enabled so that standardized chemometric technology can be integrated seamlessly into any instrument or process software. InStep1ModelMethod2002 — InStep, now version 2.0, is totally rewritten as a Visual Basic client of Pirouette, exploiting its COM capabilities. With a watched folder approach, multivariate predictions can now be performed automatically and unattended.
Source apportionment2002 — Pirouette 3.1 adds the ability to apportion the sources for mixed sources in data. The system was proven using environmental and GC data, and the software can assess concentrations without knowing any end member. LineUp CD2003 — Infometrix launches the LineUp product, which automatically corrects for retention time shift in chromatographic instrumentation. This increases the reliability of unattended interpretation for routine QC analysis, and can be used on-line. FDA cfr Part 112003 — Pirouette 3.11 expands the options in mixture analysis with the inclusion of the alternating least squares algorithm which allows unlimited sources. Title 21 CFR Section 11 compliance is now in place for electronic record keeping.
Applied Biosystems-Infometrix2005 — Press Release – Infometrix and Applied Biosystems/MDS SCIEX announce a reseller’s agreement. aligned2005 — LineUp 2.03 is enhanced to accommodate very early or late eluting peaks as well as very large peak shifts. Ipak cd2005 — Infometrix releases its IPAK server, opening up all of the imbedded Pirouette technology into an ActiveX server. Using this server, Infometrix integrates pattern recognition and alignment technology into an on-line GC system for monitoring volatile organic compounds and starts the NeSSI GC initiative with the Center for Process Analytical Chemistry.
Bio-Rad logo2006 — Press Release – Infometrix and Bio-Rad announce integration of Pirouette chemometrics technology for multivariate analysis into the KnowItAll Informatics System. Also announced are plans to release the KnowItAll Metabolomics Edition, integrating Infometrix’ Pirouette chemometrics application server with Bio-Rad’s KnowItAll platform, databases, and NMR tools. See video. WTC 2006 CPAC Release2006 — Press Release – A Washington Technology Center grant was awarded to support collaboration between the Center for Process Analytical Chemistry at the University of Washington and Infometrix for evaluation of software approaches in process gas chromatography. PIR Demo title bar2007 — Pirouette 4.0 is enhanced with new algorithms–PLS-DA, orthogonal signal correction for PCR, PLS and PLS-DA, plus sample and variable selection methods. Demo version enhanced to allow opening any supported data type, including Pirouette files with results.
WTC 2008 CPAC Release2008 — Press Release – A Washington Technology Center Phase II grant was awarded to support collaboration between the Center for Process Analytical Chemistry at the University of Washington and Infometrix for evaluation of software approaches in process gas chromatography. 2008 — InStep 3.0 is released. This new version runs as a client to IPAK, using Pirouette models. Pirouette itself is not necessary to perform unattended real-time multivariate predictions. 2009 — Pirouette 4.0 rev 2 was released, with new features for handling data (missing value find; random selection) and for process users (Q statistic; contribution plots).
InStepMultiModelMethod2009 — InStep 3.02 is released with support for more file types. Pirouette is used to make models for InStep but is not necessary to perform unattended real-time multivariate predictions. 2009 — LineUp 3.01 is enhanced to use the Infometrix algorithm widget. New support was added that allows LineUp to be called as part of an EZChrom Elite method and store results in an Elite file, automatically. EZChrom logo2009 — EZLineUp, an add-in to EZChrom Elite, was released. EZLineUp permits automatic alignment as part of an EZChrom method and fully integrates the aligned trace(s) into the EZChrom data file.
NWA_QA_mvspc2010 — Press Release – Northwest Analytical releases a multivariate version (6.2) of their Quality Analyst statistical process control system. The MSPC software employs the IPAK multivariate engine and relies on models built by Pirouette. Falcon Calidus logo2010 — Infometrix worked with Falcon Analytical to integrate the LineUp software into their newly-introduced, full line of ultrafast GC instruments. Our alignment software is shipped with every instrument, InStep is an option. 2011 — Pirouette 4.5 was released, with improved performance on the line plots, smarter retention of computed results and labeling of scores and loadings plots.
2011 — InStep 3.5 was released, with new several new report items for supporting the process industry, including Y min and max and confidence levels for outlier diagnostics. true or false header image2011 — LineUp 3.5 was released, which now offers a new graphical user interface for visualizing both raw and aligned chromatograms in a single window. unikey2011 — The suite of Infometrix products was enhanced to allow running on licenses embedded in a USB dongle. This permits users without internet access to license and run our products and to have the ability to carry the license to other computers without relicensing.
chromperfect logo2012 — LineUp and InStep were integrated into ChromPerfect and with the 6.0.10 release, the products can be used for lab-based chromatographic instruments. There is also a process implementation, so alignment and pattern recognition can be applied at any level. Agilent Technologies logo2012 — Enterprise users of EZChrom software (Agilent) can now employ LineUp in a fully-automated manner. Designed for quality control laboratories and process settings, a software utility called EZ2LineUp was created that embeds the software into the EZChrom system and is incorporated into the EZChrom user interface. Bruce Kowalski2012 — Bruce R. Kowalski, 7 Mar 1942 to 1 Dec 2012, Eulogy by Dave Duewer
Bothell map2013 — Infometrix moved into a new facility in Bothell, expanding the space and adding a laboratory. 2014 — QFS software version 1.0 is released, a new product targeted at quality control of complex biologics, particularly for biopharmaceuticals, neutraceuticals and natural products. 2014 — Pirouette 4.5 rev 1 was released, with new tools to assist in finding the optimal number of factors (regression methods) or sources (ALS), and an implementation of Locally Weighted Regression.
2015 — Deploying customized instanced of Microsoft SQL Server, Infometrix launched a database service designed to track spectroscopy instrumentation in the field and manage calibrations for chemical companies and petroleum exploration. 2016 — Infometrix was awarded the International Society of Automation’s highest technology award: The Excellence in Analytical Technical Innovation for advancing the use of chemometrics in gas chromatography. 2018 — Infometrix launched Ai-Metrix to automate the handling of spectroscopic calibrations. The initial focus was on petroleum refineries in the application of gasoline blending. Expansion to other applications where optical spectroscopy is in use for quality controls is ongoing.

2020 — Created an automated evaluation system to provide objective quality control for the world’s largest manufacturer of perfume. Based on GC analysis, the system replaces a manual, subjective analysis with a turnkey continuous process.

2023 — Pirouette was released featuring a simplification of the user interface, acceleration of the algorithms, and a scripting language for easy integration into custom systems. Pirouette remains one of the few chemometrics software packages that does not require a subscription.