Company Announcements

Rigaku announced in February an expanded collaboration with the University of Tokyo School of Engineering for X-ray diffraction spectroscopy.

XRF Scientific agreed in April to enter into a fifty-fifty joint venture with Scott Technology’s Rocklabs subsidiary, which will be known as XRock Automation, to develop and promote automated system for mining. Rocklabs supplies crushing equipment for sample preparation.

Product Introductions

CETAC Technologies introduced the QuickTrace M-7600 Cold Vapor Atomic Absorption Mercury Analyzer, with a detection range of less than 0.5 ppt to more than 500 ppb, and the QuickTrace M-8000 Cold Vapor Atomic Fluorescence Mercury Analyzer, with a detection range of less than 0.5 ppt to more than 400 ppb.

In February, Thermo Fisher Scientific introduced the Thermo Scientific Mining Sample Collection and Preparation Tool kits for use with handheld X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectrometers in the field.

In May, Thermo Fisher Scientific introduced the Thermo Scientific Au/Gold Detection and Identification Technology software for the Niton XL2 XRF precious metal analyzer for identifying gold-plated items.

In March, Oxford Instruments launched the X-MET7500 handheld XRF analyzer for ppm to percent concentration levels and light element analysis.

Oxford Instruments released in March the new X-Strata920 XRF analyzer for coating thickness measurement and materials analysis, featuring a new design and improved long-term reliability.

In March, Bruker introduced the new MICROCalix and MICROPix systems, which integrate the ImS microfocus X-ray source with the VANTEC-I detector into the Kratky MICRO series of small angle X-ray–scattering cameras from its acquisition of Hecus X-ray Systems (see IBO 1/31/12).

In June, Olympus NDT released a feature for its portable counter-top GoldXpert XRF and DELTA Precious Metals handheld XRF for identifying gold-plated objects.

For its SPS3500 series inductively coupled plasma–optical emission spectrometers, in June, SII NanoTechnology introduced the ActiveFlow option, which reduces the consumption of argon gas from 16 L/min. to 8 L/min.

Resonetics announced the introduction of the RESOchron, developed in partnership with Australian Scientific Instruments, for uranium-thorium-lead-helium dating and trace element analysis.

Sales/Orders of Note

Bruker announced in January an order from ThyssenKrupp Stainless USA to supply nearly $1.3 million in elemental analysis systems and automation equipment systems for a new stainless steel melt shop.