Company Announcements

INFICON’s fourth quarter 2016 sales for Security & Energy rose 13.3% to $9.5 million, or 11% of sales, as shipping issues were resolved. For 2016, division sales rose 49.8% to $33.1 million, or 11% of sales. First quarter sales for INFICON Security & Energy declined 17.2% to $5.3 million.

In March, VUV Analytics announced the approval of its first ASTM International method, D8071 for the analysis of finished gasoline: “Standard Test Method for the Determination of Hydrocarbon Group Types and Select Hydrocarbon and Oxygenate Compounds in Automotive Spark-Ignition Engine Fuel using Gas Chromatography with Vacuum Ultraviolet Absorption Spectroscopy Detection (GC-VUV).”

Techcomp, owner of SCION Instruments, announced in March the transfer of SCION R&D from San Francisco, California, to Livingston, UK, where a Techcomp Research and Engineering Centre is being created.

In March SCION Instruments announced improved service contract structures and pricing for North America, under which labs with GC and GC/MS instruments from Bruker, Varian and SCION can all be serviced directly by SCION.

Alpha MOS’s 2016 sales declined 8.5% to €7.5 million ($8.3 million). In Europe, sales growth was impacted by the discontinuation of certain product lines. In early 2017, the company sold its Japanese subsidiary to management for €0.6 million ($0.7 million).

Product Introductions

SCION Instruments released in March its CompassCDS 4.0. New features include HPLC instrument support for Agilent Technologies’ 1100 and 1200 Series, and multilanguage support, with Chinese being the first supported language.

For its GC systems, SCION Instruments in March launched the SCION SPT (Sample Pre-concentration Trap) for low-level determinations, and a system for gas analysis for fast analysis with a large dynamic range.

In March, Phenomenex released three Zebron GC columns, specially developed for Fatty Acid Methyl Esters (FAME) in food: the ZB-FAME with selectivity targeting a 37-compound mix in a shorter column for faster run time; the Zebron ZB-88, an alternative to other 88-phase columns for the separation of cis/trans isomers; and the Zebron ZB-23, a cost effective alternative to existing 23-phase columns for the separation of cis/trans isomers in a group of products that includes omega-3 and fish oils.

For its MPSrobotic MultiPurpose Sampler, GERSTEL launched three new products in March: the ^mVAP six-position evaporation station, which concentrates samples at user-defined temperature and vacuum; the Filtration/DNPH Elution option, enabling automated clean-up of up to 98 samples or extracts using standard filter, or up to 20 DNPH cartridges; and the QuickMix for fast and efficient mixing and extraction of samples as part of the automated sample preparation process.

In May, Shimadzu launched the Nexis GC-2030, featuring improved ease of connectivity and ease of use with a full-color LCD touch panel. It allows up to three analytical lines, and a choice of four inlets and six detectors. It also features tool-free column installation.