Spectrometers in miniature 
Hamamatsu Photonics of Welwyn Garden City, UK, has launched the miniature C10082CAH and C10083CAH spectrometer modules utilising a transmission grating and high sensitivity back thinned CCDs (charge-coupled devices). The C10082CA is optimised for UV-Vis operation and works in the 200nm to 800nm waveband, while the C10083CA operates from 320nm to 1000nm. Each module consist of a palm-top size polychromator, which is integrated with optical elements, and includes both sample software and an integrated USB interface. PC connection and data acquisition is quick and easy as the user can set measurement conditions, acquire and save data and can generate graphical displays. The new miniature spectrometer modules are ideal for applications such as UV-Vis spectrometry, luminescence and fluorescence measurements, life science, DNA analysis, medical diagnostics and in-line product inspection. 
info@hamamatsu.co.uk 

X-ray two-in-one 
Thermo Fisher Scientific of Waltham, Massachusetts, US, has launched the ARL 9900 series x-ray workstation combining full x-ray diffraction and x-ray fluorescence into a single instrument, making it possible to perform with the same instrument a complete elemental analysis and determine the mineral or structural composition of the sample under vacuum. The workstation can be integrated into automated process control and analysis systems. 
analyze@thermofisher.com 

Magnetic nano-tags for molecules 
TurboBeads of Zurich, Switzerland, have launched covalently functionalised metallic cobalt nano-magnets to which organic and biological molecules can be linked with high ligand loading (up to 0.2mmol/g). These nano-beads with particle size below 50nm permit separation of tagged molecules or reagents after synthesis within seconds using low-cost commercial magnets. The beads are thermostable up to 190 ° C and are chemically inert in solvents and water at a wide rang of pHs.The beads can be applied in organic chemistry, biotechnology and medical diagnostics as an alternative to chromatography or crystallisation, and can be combined with automated sample handling. 
info@turbobeads.com 

Flexible GC 
PerkinElmer of Waltham, Massachusetts, US, has launched the Clarus 400 gas chromatograph (GC) for use in the environmental, food and beverage, forensics, petrochemical, materials testing and academic markets. The instrument has single-channel and dual-channel capability with choice of injectors and detectors, together with an optional autosampler. The Clarus 400 GC can be coupled with PerkinElmer's TurboMatrix headspace samplers and thermal desorbers. 

Fluorimetry 
Gilden Photonics of Clydebank, UK, has introduced the fluoroSENS, a single photon counting fluorimeter. Its optical design gives a signal-to-noise ratio of 3000:1 and its 150W xenon lamp does not photobleach bio samples. The fluoroSENS is combined with a reference detector for corrected excitation and corrected emission spectra as standard, and, as an option, has a transmission detector to check samplestability. 
kevin.lynch@gildenphotonics.com   

Benchtop crystallography  
Bruker AXS of Billerica, Massachusetts, US, has launched the SMART X2S, a bench-top x-ray crystallography system for fully automated organic, inorganic and orgnometallic three-dimensional chemical structure determination. It is designed for use by chemists who have no special training in crystallography. The SMART X2S automates the previously difficult aspects of x-ray structure determination, from sample loading and alignment, through data collection to the mathematical structure solution. The instrument weighs less than 70kg and requires only 0.5kW of standard single-phase AC power. 
michael.willett@bruker.com 

X-ray diffraction 
Rigaku Americas of Woodlands, Texas, US, have introduced the Ultima IV x-ray diffractometer (XRD) for materials science, semiconductor and nanotechnology research and development, as well as for quality assurance in the manufacture. The Ultima IV has a high-speed detector for fast measurements and a small footprint design. It is equipped with cross beam optics which allows the user selectable switching between either a focusing or parallel incident x-ray beam without resetting or realigning the optical system. 
tom.mcnulty@rigaku.com 

Particles fully described 
Malvern Instruments from Malvern, UK, have launched the Morphologi G3 automated particle characterisation system, which provides microscope quality images and delivers statistically significant data through the rapid analysis of hundreds of thousands of particles with little or no user intervention - for every particle measured there is a choice of 20 different parameters to describe size and shape. The Morphologi G3 has a novel fully integrated dry powder dispersion system. 
salesinfo@malvern.com