Digestion is a widely used sample preparation method and a primary dissolution method for several industries. Digesters typically feature a standard hotplate design or microwave technology, which heats a sample, breaking it down into its constituents. Standard hotplate/block digesters use conventional acids like hydrochloric and nitric acids, usually in open flasks or other glass containers. […]

Wetzlar, Germany; Liechtenstein; Vienna, Austria 2/21/08—Leica Microsystems, a Danaher company, has acquired Bal-Tec AG, a provider of sample preparation equipment for scanning electron microscopy (EM). Leica will manage the new business from its Ultramicrotomy facility in Vienna, Austria. “Leica Microsystems was already a leader in key segments of the EM sample preparation market and now, […]

Grant Instruments is manufacturing the OVG-4 vapor generator for Owlstone Nanotech. Twenty-two units have been sold as of October 2007. In December 2007, Binder GmbH announced the establishment of an independent subsidiary in Asia, based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, with eight employees. Binder aims to grow its Asian business to 35% of sales by 2013. […]

Metrohm introduced the 815 Robotic Titration Soliprep, 815 Robotic Filtration Soliprep and the 815 Robotic Flexible Soliprep for sample preparation of solid samples. Mettler-Toledo released Titration Excellence 2.0 software, the Rondo 30 sample changer and the DS800-TowPhase sensor for potentiometric surfactant titrations. Mettler-Toledo introduced the IPac and EQ-Pac lab qualification services. Sartorius AG introduced the […]

Luminex launched the FlexmiR Select miRNA Select assay for the creation of customized RNA panels. Genetix released CloneMedia-HEK and CloneMedia-CHOK1. Millipore announced the “Stem Cell Tested” Initiative to ensure that many of its filter products are validated for use on stem cells, starting with the Stericup with Express PLUS membrane. Millipore launched its Tyrosine Kinases […]

Invitrogen and HUPO (the Human Proteome Organization) launched the HUPO Gold Mass Spectrometry Protein Standard sampling program for development of what Invitrogen calls “the first commercially available all-recombinant human protein standard for mass spectrometry.” Applied Biosystems introduced the Cliquid Drug Screen and Quant Software for Routine Forensic Toxicology, a new software application for its LC/MS/MS […]

Following two weeks of speculation and a bidding process involving at least four companies, on February 4, GE Healthcare announced that it would acquire Whatman for $713 million in cash (see page 2, IBO 1/15/08). The 268-year-old company with forecasted 2007 revenues of £116 million ($232 million), Whatman is a name long associated with laboratory […]

Chalfont, St. Giles and Maidstone, England 2/4/08—GE Healthcare has agreed to purchase Whatman for approximately $713 million, or 270 pence per share, in cash (see IBO 1/15/08), a 12% premium over the stock’s February 1 closing price. Whatman supplies laboratory filtration and other sample preparation products for life science and medical applications, including membranes, chromatography […]

Although the previous categories discussed cover a large portion of the techniques provided by the analytical and life science industry, there are a number of techniques that do not easily aggregate into a single category. These include lab balances, pH meters and electrodes. Likewise, instruments used for specimen preparation, such as centrifuges and extraction and […]

The field of microscopy was truly revolutionized by the development of electron microscopy in the 1930s, resulting in the first commercial products at the end of that decade. Prior to this revolution, optical microscopy had developed to the point that instruments were running into theoretical limitations of spatial resolution. Features smaller than the wavelengths of […]