• FFEI win Queen’s Awards for Enterprise: Innovation 2021

    Recognising FFEI’s Digital Micro Imaging System for Pathology

FFEI WINS 4th QUEEN’S AWARDS FOR ENTERPRISE: INNOVATION 

Hemel Hempstead based company FFEI, has been honoured with their 4th Queen’s Award for Enterprise recognising their Digital Micro Imaging System for Pathology. 

April 29th 2021 – FFEI Ltd, the global developer of award-winning digital imaging and inkjet solutions, today announces that they have been honoured with a Queen’s Award for Enterprise for its excellence in Innovation. Announced today (21st April 2021), the award recognises the innovation and success of their digital micro imaging technology, used in the field of Digital Pathology. Their whole slide imaging technology enables the generation of ultra-high resolution, colour calibrated digital images of tissue samples, which are used to diagnose and treat a broad range of ailments including cancer. FFEI is one of only 205 organisations nationally to be recognised with a prestigious Queen’s Award for Enterprise this year. This is the 4th time FFEI has received the award.

Andy Cook, CEO commented, “I am really proud of the success our team has achieved with this innovative technology and very honoured to have been recognised with a Queen’s Award for Enterprise.” Cook continues, “Applying our digital imaging technology in the field of digital pathology brings benefits to many people’s lives and with the application of new AI software, is helping to push the boundaries of what’s currently possible.” Cook concludes, “I’ve been inspired by how my team and our business partners have worked so well together during the recent challenging pandemic period and look forward to continued innovation in the years ahead.”

Following the success of FFEI’s multi-layer scanning device, launched in 2009, FFEI developed and integrated three new advanced technologies (focus tracking, colour profiling and resync to grid) into a new whole slide-imaging (WSI) device – Roche’s VENTANA DP 200 slide scanner. The objective was to increase the speed, quality and accuracy of digital images produced. Consequently the technology enables a wider adoption of digital pathology in clinical environments providing faster and more accurate diagnosis for cancer patients.

An inside look at FFEI’s digital imaging technology

FFEI’s scanning technology is part of its digital imaging heritage, which dates back to the establishment of Crosfield Electronics, in 1947. Launching its first CCD graphic arts slide scanner in 1994, FFEI later became an early entrant to the digital pathology market, with their very first ‘cell scanning’ product launched in 2004. Since then, the company has provided technology to some of the largest industry leaders in the world. This includes partnering with Roche Diagnostics in the development of the VENTANA DP 200 slide scanner, which was launched in March 2018 following a 2-year development – incorporating the described FFEI technology.

Since its launch the product has been successful in supporting the growth of artificial intelligence for cancer diagnosis and research. More recently FFEI has seen the launch of their patented, Sierra colour calibration product portfolio – which helps assess the colour fidelity and accuracy of existing WSI devices.

Previous Queen’s Awards won by FFEI, all in the Innovation category, were for its multi-layer scanning technology (2013), Zanite drum computer-to-plate system (2011); and its multi-beam laser imaging technology used within computer-to-film applications (2002).

Now in its 55th year, the Queen’s Awards for Enterprise are the most prestigious business awards in the country, with winning businesses able to use the esteemed Queen’s Awards Emblem for the next five years. Applications for Queen’s Awards for Enterprise 2022 open on the 1st May 2021. For more information, visit https://www.gov.uk/queens-awards-for-enterprise.

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