Despite being operational for over a decade, an EPSRC-funded synchrotron beamline, sited at ESRF and designed primarily for studies of magnetic materials by UK scientists remains thoroughly competitive and widely useful.

XMaS stands for X-ray Magnetic Scattering - its original remit. However, it has been developed to facilitate many other studies. The novel instrumental developments which have kept it 'state-of-the-art' and enhanced its appeal to a wide range of materials scientists will be described, together with a broad range of examples of its use.