Lab automation

TTP LabTech of Cambridge, UK, has designed and built a fully automated system for salt and polymorph screening of novel compounds for AstraZeneca. This has been successfully installed at AstraZeneca's research facility in Sodertalje, Sweden. 

The objective of this development was to increase throughput to explore experimental space efficiently and reliably and to automate the analysis of huge amounts of data. 
jason.mundin@ttplabtech.com 

Ionisation source 

Prosolia, of Indianapolis, US, has introduced its Omni Spray ion source in 2D format based on desorption electrospray ionisation (DESI) technology. This source has an automated surface platform which enables rapid sampling and surface imaging. It achieves a step resolution down to 50 microns. 

The source facilitates imaging of surfaces or analysis of 96 sample spots in less than 10 minutes. 
info@prosolia.com 

Explosives detection

Bruker Corporation of Billerica, MA, US, has launched a bench-top explosives and drug detection system, the DE-tector, based on its ion mobility spectrometry (IMS) technology. The DE-tector is specifically designed for airport and homeland security markets, and offers improved sensitivity and false-positive rejection capabilities. 

The DE-tector product introduction is accompanied by the renaming of the previous Bruker Daltonics NBC Detection division to Bruker Detection Division, responsible for developing, manufacturing and marketing specialised chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosives (CBRNE) detection systems for defence, as well as for safety and security applications. 

Surface science collaboration 

Krüss GmbH and the University of Bristol recently celebrated the opening of the Krüss Surface Science Centre in the School of Chemistry. 

The centre, equipped with a full suite of state-of-the-art Krüss instruments for surface science analysis, will provide support for University researchers and a local base for Krüssfrom which to serve its customers in the UK and Ireland. Customers will be able to make use of services provided by the centre including sample testing, training courses and instrument demonstrations.
robert.dyer@kruss.co.uk 

Ultrafast laser applications 

Newport Corporation, of Irvine, California, US, has launched new circular variable neutral density filters to attenuate the wide spectrum of low-energy laser light from UV to near-IR wavelength. Their optical density gradient varies from 0-1.0, 0-2.0 and 0-4.0 and fused silica substrate allows the transparency from 200-2000nm range. 
uk@newport.com 

Laboratory reactor 

Asynt of Isleham, UK, have launched the ReactoMate Super laboratory reactor system for larger-scale laboratory reactions. This reactor system offers precise control of reaction variables, a powerful direct drive stirrer, excellent visibility and the ability to operate under vacuum or inert atmospheres. 

Interchangeable support rings and quick-release clamps allows easy exchange of reaction vessels from 1L to 30L, and the compact dimensions permit installation in many standard fume cupboards.  

Asynt's PTFE reaction vessel lids, with several advantages over glass, are also available for ReactoMate, although screw-in PTFE taper joints allow chemists to still use their standard jointed glassware. 
sales@asynt.com 

Particle sizing analysis 

As part of a collaboration with AstraZeneca, HEL of Borehamwood, UK, has developed the SAS (Subsieve AutoSizer) solids particle analyzer. The SAS is the basis of a new generation of measurement of particle sizing by air permeability, offering easy-to-use automated functions together with electronically recorded data. It reports particle sizes in the range 0.2 to 75 m  m and calculates the resulting specific surface area (SSA). The machine's measurements are based on the pressure drop across a packed bed of powder.  
marketing@helgroup.com 

Thermo Fisher in India 

Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. has opened a new $17 million (£11.6 million) clinical services facility in Ahmedabad, India. The 150 000-square-foot facility will support growing demand for biopharma services in the region, serving as a hub for packaging, global distribution and logistics management of tightly regulated pharmaceutical samples to patients participating in clinical trials. It complements the company's existing clinical services operations in the U.S., Europe and Asia.  

Efficient evaporation 

Zinsser Analytic of Maidenhead, UK, has launched MicroDancer - a compact and efficient solution for the rapid evaporation of solvents. The device can be used for sample preparation in a variety of applications, such as solid phase extraction in the analytical laboratory, in combinatorial chemistry and in high throughput screening. 

The MicroDancer uses a combination of heating, vortexing, and vacuum to speed its operation. Vortexing has various advantages over centrifuging: it enlarges the evaporation surface and distributes the heat evenly in the sample, and ensures that balancing of samples is not required prior to use. 
info@zinsser-analytic.com