Company Announcements

In October, Avantor Performance Materials, a provider of laboratory chemicals, and NuSil Technology, both majority owned by New Mountain Capital, completed a merger agreement. The combined company is named Avantor and has annual revenues of more than $700 million, with 14% organic growth.

In November, Honeywell announced the launch of Honewell Research Chemicals, which includes several brands, as well as solvent and inorganic chemical products acquired from Sigma-Aldrich last year (see IBO 10/31/15). The business consists of four product portfolios: Honeywell Fluka, Honeywell Riedel-de Haën, Honeywell Burdick & Jackson, and Honeywell-branded products. A purchasing website has also been launched.

In November, Honeywell named Scientific Laboratory Suppliers a National Distribution Partner for the UK for its Honeywell Research Chemicals business.

Quartzy.com, an online lab management platform, announced in October the addition of Rainin, a Mettler-Toledo business, as a supplier.

In November, Mitsui & Co. announced that it will purchase a 22% stake in Panasonic Healthcare, a provider of medical devices, health care products and laboratory equipment, from KKR for $510 million. The investment will add to Mitsui’s diabetes and medical device businesses.

Product Introductions

In September, INTEGRA launched a new plate holder enabling 1536-well pipetting on its VIAFLO 384 electronic handheld pipette. The plate holder is adjustable in the y-direction. The company also announced a new 12.5 µL SHORT GripTip pipette tip.

Mettler-Toledo introduced in September the SevenCompact Duo dual-channel benchtop meter, which combines pH/mV and conductivity measurements.

YSI, a Xylem brand, introduced in September the affordable Pro20i handheld DO meter for wastewater facilities.

In September, AirClean Systems released the Endeavour Ductless Fume Hoods, featuring a multi-language and multi-unit capability.

Distek introduced in September the Opt-Diss 410 next generation in situ UV fiber optic system for dissolution testing, which measures directly from the vessel. Two components can be quantified at once without the need for separation. A single software system controls the entire platform.

In September, Mettler-Toledo released the Thermotrode sensor, which is designed for challenging industrial environments, and an ASTM D8045 thermometric acid number standard for its Titration Excellence line platform.

In October, Panasonic launched the MDF-DU900V VIP -86°C Upright Freezer for long-term preservation of laboratory samples. It has a volume of 845 L. Up to 672 2-in. boxes can be stored within 1 m².

In October, Xcell Biosciences named Cambridge Bioscience as its exclusive UK distributor and BioStream as a Japanese distributor.

Syrris introduced in October the floor standing Orb Pilot jacketed reactor for pilot-scale batch chemistry. It offers a choice of vessel sizes from 10 L to 50 L.

In October, for its dissolution testing systems, Pion released FLUX technology for real-time, in vitro–in vivo correlation absorption testing for predicting the absorption potential of finished dosage products prior to clinical trials. It consists of a stirred dissolution chamber, stirred receiver vessel and the Pion Pampa GIT artificial membrane, which mimics the behavior of the gastrointestinal wall.

Thermo Fisher Scientific launched in October the Thermo Scientific TSX Series refrigerators and freezers for lab and clinical settings, including refrigerators for blood banks and pharmacies, and lab freezers.

In October, Artel released its new PCS software, a fully integrated software solution that allows testing of all elements important to pipetting. Built-in operator assessment tools allow lab managers to standardize pipetting techniques across an entire organization.

In November, exclusive to the US, Qorpak released a new 250 cc straight-sided, wide-mouth borosilicate glass jar, manufactured from Type 1 borosilicate glass.

Restek released in November the new Resprep VM-96 vacuum manifold, which is compatible with 96-well plates from any manufacturer.

In November, Panasonic Healthcare of North America introduced the large capacity VIP Series MDF-DU900VC-PA -86°C freezer. Capacity is 672 2-in. boxes or 448 3-in. boxes in a 10.79 ft² footprint. The VIP Series now includes six product sizes.

Hanson Research launched in November the Phase One disintegration tester, a two-beaker system, featuring easy assembly, installation and operator training.

Earlier this year, Indian lab glassware maker Borosil Glass Works launched the Labquest brand of laboratory products and equipment.

Sales/Orders of Note

In September, Kewaunee Scientific announced an $18.5 million contract, through its dealer ATC, for the new College of Science complex at Kuwait University’s Sabah Al-Salem University City.