Company Announcements

Instron, an Illinois Tool Works company, announced in April that it acquired EMIC (Equipamentos e Sistemas de Ensaio), a Brazilian supplier of electromechanical load frames for quality control and static hydraulic systems for compression testing of concrete.

In May, TA Instruments, a Waters company, commenced direct local sales, service and support in Brazil and announced it will soon open an office in São Paulo.

In June, Zwick Roell acquired a 19% stake in publicly held Clemex Technologies for $1.0 million. Sales to Zwick Roell account for about 5% of Clemex revenues.

Spectro Inc. announced in June the establishment of a sales and support office in Beijing, China.

In July, Particulate Systems, a Micromeritics Instrument brand, announced that Otsuka Electronics granted its exclusive distribution rights for the NanoPlus DLS Nano Particle Size and Zeta Potential Analyzer.

Product Introductions

Fritsch launched the Analysette 28 ImageSizer, which analyzes the particle shape and size of powders and bulk solids for a particle-size range of 20 µm–20 mm, and the Analysette 28 ImageTec, which analyzes particle shape and size in suspensions and emulsions for a particle-size range of 1 µm–2 mm.

Quantachrome launched the iSorb family of high-pressure gas sorption analyzers, which consists of four models, including one- and two-sample models with an upper limit of either 100 bar or 200 bar.

Shimadzu introduced in May the EZ Test EZ-X Series of 29 compact tabletop tester models for small-capacity testing. Available in three software variations for R&D applications, quality control applications or stand-alone operation, they have a test-force range of 1/500–1/1 and specialized jigs for a wider range of applications.

In July, Shimadzu Scientific Instruments launched the UH-X/FX Series of hydraulic universal testing machines, featuring increased ease of use and semi-auto-tuning.

Randolph Research released the Randolph J47 and J47 Wide Range/High Performance temperature-correcting automatic refractometers, which are designed for high-throughput sugar and food applications.

In June, IKA launched the automated C 1 and C 6000 series calorimeters, which use the isoperibol static jacket process. The C 6000 replaces the C 5000 and C 2000.

In June, Wyatt Technology introduced the DynaPro Plate Reader II, featuring a new on-board camera for acquiring images of each well and an expanded temperature range of 4°–85° C.

Chandler Engineering, an AMETEK company, released the Model 8500 pressurized foam rheometer, a fully automated closed-loop system for measuring drilling foam properties for oil wells. Flow and shear rates are measured using a coriolis mass flow meter.