Company Announcements

MTS Systems announced in December 2013 the early termination of its Administrative Agreement with the US Department of the Air Force (see IBO 11/30/11) due to its demonstrated efforts to establish and strengthen programs to promote compliance.

In February, MTS Systems named Dr. Michael Jost as senior vice president and general manager of its Test business. Previously, he served as vice president and general manager of Rudolph Technologies’ Inspection Business Unit.

In March, MTS Systems named Michael V. Schrock, former president and COO of Pentair, and Randy J. Martinez, group vice president of Aviation Services and president and CEO of AAR Airlift, to its Board.

In January, Buehler, an Illinois Tool Works company, opened an office in Tokyo, Japan, and, in March, opened a regional sales and service office in Kobe. The company’s former Japanese distributor, Sankei, will now serve as a distributor for Tokyo and six other prefectures.

Biolin Scientific revenues declined 0.1% in 2013 to SEK 233 million ($35.7 million). Drug Discovery, Analytical Instruments and Dental Diagnostics represented 46%, 39% and 15% of sales, respectively.

The Chinese Academy of Sciences’ Shanghai Advanced Research Institute and Micromeritics Instrument agreed in February to establish a 2,000 ft2 materials-characterization demonstration and service lab.

In February, Malvern Instruments announced an exclusive distribution agreement to sell RheoSense’s VROC product range for industrial applications.

In February, Izon Science completed a £1 million ($1.4 million) UK funding round and transferred its global headquarters from New Zealand to its UK subsidiary. The firm plans to list on the UK’s AIM stock exchange.

In March, Anton Paar changed the name of its CSM Instruments business to Anton Paar TriTec.

Product Introductions

Zwick/Roell launched the single-column zwickiLine testing machine for test loads from 500 N to 5 kN. Testing-machine speed is independent of test load.

Anton Paar released in the US the new ADU 5 automatic distillation unit, featuring a new user interface, for all standard fuel-distillation test measurements.

Polymer Char introduced in March the CRYSTEX QC for the automation of soluble fraction measurements at QC labs in polypropylene plants. It features a built-in IR detector and integrated viscometer.

Thermo Fisher Scientific released the Thermo Scientific HAAKE Viscotester iQ rheometer, featuring automatic detection of measuring geometry and temperature module.

Bowers launched in April the Nexus 3200 Brinell Hardness Tester, which is ideal for use on flat and cylindrical work pieces such as castings and forgings.