Company Announcements

Alpha MOS exclusively licensed its micro-sensor patent portfolio for consumer goods applications, such as mobile phones and home appliances, to France Brevets, an investment fund specializing in commercializing patents.

INFICON Emergency Response & Security sales declined 26.2% in the second quarter to $4.8 million, or 7% of total sales. In the third quarter, segment revenue grew 5.2% to $6.1 million, or 9% of sales, due to North American shipments and an ongoing replacement business for first generation HAPSITE systems.

In September, Markes International opened a technical center in Neulsenburg, Germany.

Product Introductions

Shimadzu released in August its GC/MS Metabolite Database v2, which supports metabolomics analysis using a Shimadzu triple quadrupole GC/MS or quadrupole GC/MS. It increases the number of registered compound types to 511 and now includes biological samples derived from blood and cells, in addition to urine. Shimadzu called it the first commercial product to contain a metabolite multiple reaction monitoring database to support GC/MS/MS.

In November, Shimadzu Scientific Instruments launched the HS-20 Series of headspace samplers for any application analyzing volatile components in a difficult matrix. The Series consists of the Loop model for traditional static headspace methods and the Trap model, which adds the dynamic headspace technique. The tray holds up to 90 sample vials.

In September, PAC released the AC Analytical Controls Reformulyzer M4, which provides fast group-type analysis of gasoline and gasoline blend streams using multidimensional GC. It combines the analyses of paraffins, olefins, naphthenes, oxygenates and aromatics. The Reformulyzer Class was introduced in 1992, and there are over 500 Reformulyzer installations.

Agilent Technologies introduced the 7000C triple quadrupole GC/MS, which replaces the 7000B system. It features a new ion source, which was introduced earlier this year on the 5977 Series GC/MSD, and has an instrument detection limit of 4 fg octafluoronapthalene.

In October, Agilent launched new Agilent J&W GC columns designed for energy and chemical exploration, processing and distribution applications. The columns include extensions of the PLOT PT product line with aluminum oxide and molecular sieve stationary phases, as well as DB-sulfur sulfur chemiluminescence detection columns. The new PLOT PT GC columns are available in 36 configurations.

Aviv Analytical introduced the Pulsed Flow Modulation GC x GC/MS with Cold Electrospray Ionization, an add-on for its Aviv Analytical 5975-SMB or 5977-SMB GC/MS systems. It enables easier separation and identification, features a simple GC x GC modulator, and does not require cryogen.