Company Announcements

SPECTRO Analytical Instruments GmbH formed a strategic marketing alliance with SII NanoTechnology in February to market its ICP-OES and ICP-MS systems in Japan. SPECTRO will continue to support its existing Japanese customers through its subsidiary.

In February, PANalytical acquired the XRF laboratories in Keyworth, UK, from the British Geological Survey (BGS). The labs will continue to deliver XRF analysis to BGS and will work with PANalytical on research projects in the field of geochemical analysis.

Xenemetrix appointed Opton Laser International as a distributor for France, Belgium and Switzerland and Eastern Applied Research as an exclusive distributor for North America.

Oxford Instruments and Verichek Technical Services formed a new distribution agreement for the sale of X-MET handheld XRF materials analyzers into the scrap and positive materials-identification markets. Verichek Technical Services already offers the company’s ICP-OES product range in the US.

Bloomberg BusinessWeek reported that Jiangsu Skyray Instruments’ 2010 revenues increased 45.3% to CNY 277.4 million ($41.0 million).

Product Introductions

Bruker launched the new G4 Icarus CS HR metal analyzer for assessing carbon and sulfur content. It is designed to address undesirable maintenance requirements.

Bruker introduced the new aurora M90 ICP-MS, featuring an updated CRI II collision reaction interface and the Nitrox 500 gas accessory.

GE Analytical Instruments introduced the Sievers 5310 C Portable TOC analyzer, which is designed specifically for municipal drinking–water applications.

Olympus Innov-X introduced the DELTA-50 handheld XRF analyzer, featuring a 4 W, 50 kV X-ray tube.

Thermo Fisher Scientific launched the enhanced Thermo Scientific iCAP 6200 ICP-OES, which now incorporates a wider wavelength range of 175–847 nm.

Xenemetrix released the 7600 SDD Light, an XRF system based on its EX-6600 platform, featuring a new silicon drift detector that eliminates the need for liquid nitrogen and has the ability to analyze lighter elements.

Rigaku launched the compact, low-cost NEX QC ED-XRF system for routine quality control applications.

Eastern Applied Research released the Element Xr line of ED-XRF systems for coating-thickness measurement and material analysis.

Sales/Orders of Note

In March, XOS announced the installation of its 1,000th SINDIE 7039 sulfur analyzer at Sinopec’s Yanshan refinery.