Watrex Praha is a leading Czech inventor, manufacturer, and distributor of liquid chroma-tography instruments and systems. The company was established in 1990 by Dr. Milan Minarik, who is regarded as one of the founding fathers of GPC and HPLC in the former Czechoslovakia. In the early years Watrex acted as a general distributor in Czech Republic and Slovakia for Waters, division of Millipore and, later, for Hewlett-Packard. In 1992 Watrex has assumed a distributorship for LDC Analytical (acquired by Thermo Separation Products (TSP).
At the same time, Watrex has also served as an exclusive distributor for a number of manufacturers of chromatography consumables and column technology.
A strong chromatography background of Watrex has been built on a team of HPLC specialists with expertise in method development and service for a wide range of HPLC instruments. During the 1990s and 2000s Watrex has transformed from sole distribution to manufacturing of own chromatography products inlcuding the DeltaChrom™ LC Pumps and detectors, fraction collectors, solvent savers etc. The manufacturing was complemented by a signature Polymer IEX™ ion exclusion chromatography and DeltaSil™ C18 phase columns and packings. Also during the 2000s Watrex has moved into the field of laboratory automation systems. The Caddy™ robotic system dedicated to automation of MegaBACE™ DNA sequencer was developed in a close collaboration with Amersham Biosciences (later GE Biosciences). Between 2001 and 2004 a total of 75 Caddy™ systems have been sold in Europe as well as other parts of the word (USA, Australia, Taiwan). Since 2015, ownership of the company has gradually transitioned from father to son, Dr. Marek Minarik, who received his Ph.D. in Bioanalytical chemistry in Boston working with Barry L. Karger – one of the most notable figures in chromatography, During the subsequent years Watrex has introduced a redesigned line of chromatography instrumentation to further serve analytical chemist’s needs for top quality products at reasonable cost. The new instrument line named Streamline™ covers a full range of traditional HPLC modules from robust double piston pumps (in isocratic and binary gradient formats), detectors (including variable wavelength, photodiode array, refractive-index and conductivity), column thermostats and fraction colectors.
Dr. Milan Minárik at the Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences (circa 1966)
Dr. Milan Minárik (center) and Dr. Marek Minárik (right) withprof. Berry L. Karger (left) during the HPLC 2017conference in Prague.
Watrex booth at the LABOREXPO
Since 2015, ownership of the company has gradually transitioned from father to son, Dr. Marek Minarik, who received his Ph.D. in Bioanalytical chemistry in Boston working with Barry L. Karger – one of the most notable figures in chromatography, During the subsequent years Watrex has introduced a redesigned line of chromatography instrumentation to further serve analytical chemist’s needs for top quality products at reasonable cost. The new instrument line named Streamline™ covers a full range of traditional HPLC modules from robust double piston pumps (in isocratic and binary gradient formats), detectors (including variable wavelength, photodiode array, refractive-index and conductivity), column thermostats and fraction colectors.
In 2022, following up on previous sucess with robotic instrumentation, Watrex has introduced a new product, xTROVERT™ a compact laboratory automation pipettor has been developed with the support of the government Czech rise-up initiative during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The development of new products at Watrex relies upon scientific collaborations with leading academic centers. Over the past 10 years Watrex has taken part in over a dozen of research projects supported by the Technology Agency of the Czech Republic or the Czech Ministry of Industry and Trade. Watrex holds several patents and utility models and has been awarded several prices at various tradeshows including Golden CHEMTEC award for Caddy™ automation system and LABOREXPO award for REPETTO™ recycling instrument.