Company Announcements

In fall 2016, TA Instruments announced a partnership with the National Elastomer Center at Ferris State University.

NETZSCH announced in fall 2016 a collaborative sales partnership with Alpha Technologies to serve the rubber and polymer industry.

HORIBA announced in November 2016 the opening the 7,066 m² (76,058 ft²) HORIBA India Technical Center in Pune, India, which includes a showroom for materials analysis instruments. Housing 45 employees, the Center focuses on the country’s growing auto industry.

In its third quarter 2016 SEC filing, Waters disclosed a purchase price of $6 million in cash for Rubotherm (see IBO 9/15/16).

In December 2016, Elektron Technologies completed the sale of its Wallace Instruments business, a provider of rubber testing instruments, to C&M Projects, for £1.3 million ($1.4 million). Wallace recorded sales of £1.2 million ($1.8 million) for the year ending January 2016.

In January, MTS Systems appointed Maximiliane Straub to its Board. She is currently CFO and executive vice president, Finance, Controlling and Administration, at Robert Bosch.

Product Introductions

In fall 2016, NETZSCH introduced the GABO EPLEXOR modular instrument for thermal-mechanical characterization for testing of materials under real-life conditions in the ultra-high-force range. It features the MPAS automatic sample changer.

Thermo Fisher Scientific launched in fall 2016 the HAAKE Minilab micro-compounder, used to measure structural changes during compounding and assess rheological properties of test materials for R&D.

In fall 2016, Microtrac released the Nanotrac Wave II dynamic light scattering analyzer, which is ideal for colloids ranging in size from 0.3 nm to 10 µm. It features sample introduction flexibility and works with sample volumes of 50 µL microcuvettes to 3 mL cells.

BYK-Gardner introduced in December 2016 the byko-visc rotational viscometers, consisting of low-, medium- and high-viscosity system. They feature user calibration and a Quick Disconnect accessory. Also released was the byko-visc DS, a Stormer-type viscometer primarily designed for the paint and coating industries.

In December 2016, Proceq released Equotip Live, calling it the first full Internet of Things/Industry 4.0 portable hardness testing solution. No cables are required.

TA Instruments, a Waters company, introduced the new TAM Air Microcalorimeter for the characterization of the heat of hydration of cement and for emerging applications. It features new performance specifications.