title: ADInstruments
text: # ADInstruments
  
  ADInstruments is an international company that produces data acquisition and analysis systems for the life sciences industry. It is headquartered in Dunedin, New Zealand and has more than 170 staff worldwide. Voted a finalist in Kenexa/JRA Top 10 Best Place to work in 2009, 2010., 2011 and 2012, and voted number one place to work in the life sciences industry in 2012 by The Scientist Magazine. ADInstruments partners with several producers of life sciences equipment, including Transonic Systems Inc., Radnoti Glass Technologies Inc., Panlab s.I. and Millar Instruments Ltd. ADInstruments is also an Applied Science industry partner with the University of Otago (New Zealand)
  
  ## History
  
  In 1985, the Physiology Department at New Zealand's University of Otago encouraged the development of a computer-based data acquisition system to replace their paper-based systems. In 1985, as part of his Computer Science Masters at the university, Michael Macknight built the MacLab, one of the first analog-to-digital converters that connected to a Macintosh computer.
  
  Michael and his father, Tony Macknight, created a company initially known as Analog Digital Instruments. Very soon, they formed a partnership with Boris Schlensky who bought in skills around manufacturing, marketing and distribution.
  
  Two software packages were initially developed: Chart (chart-recorder software, now LabChart) and Scope (digital oscilloscope software), which provided software control of the recording unit as well as a range of display and analysis features:
  
  * In 1988, business name was registered and the company began manufacturing Macintosh computer-based data acquisition systems for the life sciences research market.
  * In 1996 the company's first Windows compatible data acquisition system was released. The Windows compatible MacLab data acquisition systems were branded as PowerLab.
  * In 2005 the LabTutor software for education was released.
  * In 2015 the kuraCloud cloud based learning platform was released.
  
  ## Sponsorship
  
  The company provides grants, awards and sponsorship to students, researchers and educators in the life sciences industry:
  
  ### Undergraduate
  
  * The Faculty for Undergraduate Neuroscience (FUN) presents awards to undergraduate neuroscience students.
  * Prize for Human Structure and Function, for the highest aggregate mark in human structure and function subjects at the University of Newcastle (Australia).
  * Zoology Prize, awarded annually to a student of La Trobe University (Australia) with the highest aggregate mark in the animal physiology stream of Zoology Honours
  
  ### Educator
  
  * The National Association of Biology Teachers (NABT) Technology Innovation Grant
  * Progressive Educator Award
  * CRAWFLY Educator Scholarship Program
  
  ## Award nomination
  
  In 2008 the company was nominated for two Life Science Industry Awards:
  
  * Best Sales Representative
  * Most Knowledgeable Technical Support
  