Addressing Industry Challenges in Handheld XRF Instrumentation

In an exclusive interview with Spectroscopy, John Margeson, a Product Manager at Thermo Fisher Scientific in the company’s Tewksbury headquarters, discusses the current state of handheld X-ray fluorescence (XRF) instrumentation, highlighting the feedback that customers are providing instrument manufacturers on what improvements future portable XRF devices should make (1,2).

Margeson highlights three main areas that customer feedback is commenting on: performance, ergonomics, and price-to-value considerations. Across markets, customers are consistently emphasizing performance as a top priority. This includes not only advances in internal software, such as improved algorithms and analytical codes, but also tangible hardware upgrades. More powerful X-ray tubes and larger, faster detectors directly translate into better analytical results and faster workflows for users in the field.

Margeson also discussed how customers are increasingly favoring smaller, more compact designs, which improve comfort and usability during long workdays. Operators often use handheld XRF analyzers for up to eight hours at a time, making weight and form factor critical. Even modest reductions in size and weight can significantly reduce fatigue over a full shift. The conversation contrasts earlier models, such as the XL2, with newer designs like the XL5e and XL5 Plus, noting that although earlier instruments remain strong performers, the newer compact designs offer meaningful improvements in ease of use and operator comfort.

Margeson also discussed that a top priority for Thermo Fisher Scientific, as well as for other instrument manufacturers, is making sure that their instruments offer the customers the best return on investment and that any analyzer’s cost aligns with their actual needs. Margeson explained that the development of the XL5e was to serve as a streamlined version of the XL5 Plus. Although the XL5e retains the same core performance, leveraging an advanced tube and detector, it removes certain premium features, such as integrated GPS and an adjustable display. Although these features are valued by some users, others do not require them and prefer not to pay for unnecessary add-ons.

Overall, Margeson stated that the customer feedback reflects a demand for high-performance, lightweight, and ergonomically designed analyzers that deliver strong ROI, and these factors were considered heavily when designing the XL5e to make sure it addresses the specific needs of the customer.

References

1. Wetzel, W. Thermo Fisher Expands Handheld XRF Line with New High-End Analyzer for Field Use. Thermo Fisher Scientific. Available at: https://www.spectroscopyonline.com/view/thermo-fisher-expands-handheld-xrf-line-with-new-high-end-analyzer-for-field-use (accessed 2026-01-27).
2. Thermo Fisher Scientific, Niton XL5 Plus Handheld XRF Analyzer. Thermo Fisher Scientific. Available at: https://www.thermofisher.com/us/en/home/industrial/spectroscopy-elemental-isotope-analysis/portable-analysis-material-id/portable-metal-manufacturing-inspection-recycling-solutions/niton-xl5-handheld-analyzer.html?erpType=Global_E1 (accessed 2026-01-27).