IBO has compiled a summary of new products (introduced within the last six months) at Pittcon 2018. Part 1 of the survey appeared in the March 15 issue (see IBO 3/15/18). The list is not intended to be comprehensive.

Atomic Spectroscopy

Malvern PANalytical showed its Claisse Le Doser-12 sample preparation system, which weighs and dispenses flux for up to 12 samples for fusion preparations, providing time savings over the existing single-sample Le Doser. The Claisse Le Doser-12 is priced at about $35,000.

Introduced in November 2017, with the first shipments made before the end of the year, the 1080 TOC Analyzer from OI Analytical (Xylem) provides a low-cost combustion-only system for the measurement of total organic carbon. The system features a longer catalyst life and can test water samples with a dynamic range from 50 ppb to 2,000 ppm. The system is priced under $30,000.

Thermo Fisher Scientific unveiled a new application-specific version of its iCAP TQ triple quadrupole ICP-MS. The iCAP TQs is designed to handle applications from the semiconductor industry, such as detecting trace impurities in semiconductor-grade water and other ultrapure materials. The system can be run with both hot and cold plasma, and as either a single quadrupole or triple quadrupole with the collision cell, allowing great flexibility in applications. The first shipments are expected in about a month.

GC

Alpha MOS introduced a new addition to the Heracles product line with its Heracles NEO. The new system improves the sensitivity of electronic nose based on a flash GC and FID detector system. QC for the food and beverage industry is the main application. The first shipment will be this month with a price range of $90,000–$120,000.

APIX Analytics introduced the Chrompix 2, a miniaturized GC system with 4 modular inlets that allow the running of 4 different samples simultaneously with 4 different carrier gases. A typical application for this system is the high-throughput analysis of natural and industrial gases. The system will be ready for shipment in May.

Thermo Fisher introduced the TSQ 9000 Triple Quadrupole GC-MS/MS for routine high-throughput laboratory applications. It is designed to replace the TSQ 8000, intended to dramatically improve ease of use and is particularly suitable for food labs.

Thermo Fisher also presented the ISQ 7000 Single Quadrupole GC-MS system, designed for analysis in food, environmental and forensic labs. Both instruments utilize a vacuum probe interlock that can be inserted into the front of the instrument to extract the ExtractaBrite ion source, thus allowing routine maintenance without the need to vent the MS.

General Analytical Techniques

AMS Alliance showcased three new products: the iCinac Wireless, Smartchem 450 and Futura 3. The iCinac Wireless provides continuous real-time pH, temperature and redox measurements for the dairy industry. The system is useful for monitoring the acidification of lactic ferments in milk. Futura 3 is a new Continuous Flow Analyzer (CFA) that can run multiple parameters simultaneously on 16 parallel channels. This system is dedicated to the analysis of parameters for the environmental, water and beverage industries. The Smartchem 450 is a fully automated direct analyzer capable of running 450 tests per hour. This system is ready for shipment with a price range of $50,000–$60,000.

SE International introduced the Radiation Alert Monitor 1000, a handheld portable radiation monitoring device that can detect alpha, beta, gamma and X-rays with high sensitivity. The device is equipped with a Bluetooth connection, and is suitable for both lab settings and in-field industrial applications. The product is ready for shipment with a price range of $500–$700.

Informatics and Software

Eppendorf showcased VisioNize, its software solution to support laboratory workflow that will be launched during the summer. The system can remotely detect and monitor all instruments connected to the same internet network. Customized notifications of instruments’ status, errors, users schedules and calibrations are received in the user’s email account. VisioNize can be used on a computer or in its iOS App, allowing the user to check devices in real time.

LabVantage presented its packaged LIMS solutions, configured to specific industries such as pharmaceuticals, biobanking, food and beverage, oil and gas, and diagnostics to ensure a faster, lower-cost and modern technology cloud hosted for users. The prefigured solutions will enable quicker implementation times, which can result in lower costs. The platform comes in different languages, which is particularly well-suited for companies with branches around the world. The already-validated system ensures that it can be used within highly regulated industries straight away.

Realworld One, a spinoff of IKA, introduced its new virtual reality product that is to be launched at the ACHEMA trade fair in June. The company develops customized software for the chemical, pharmaceutical, cosmetic and food industries priced at €2,900/month ($3,570/month). The system allows users to interact with other people in their company remotely. It can be used for training sales representatives, interacting with customers, holding meetings with international teams and more. The 3D models include real live shapes and photorealistic texture of components and mechanical parts, and full interactivity.

Lab Automation

Scinomix showcased its new automated capper that will officially launch in the fourth quarter in the US. It can cap up to 48 vials in 6 minutes and uncap them in 4 minutes, and is particularly well-suited for working with cryovials. The system can be used standalone or integrated with a robotic arm.

Sirius Automation introduced its MiniTasker for everyday lab tasks such as analytical weighing, sample ID, sorting, dilutions, standard preparation and aliquoting. With times of 3 sec/sample for sorting and 6 sec/sample for weighing, this small footprint system can host up to 20 microplate racks. The system costs between $37,000 and $70,000 depending on the configuration.

Teledyne Cetac launched its SimPrep automated system for preparing samples, diluting standards and dispensing. It features a wide range of syringes from 20 µL to 50 mL to serve multiple applications. It is designed to serve environmental, mining, pharmaceutical and soil labs.

Lab Equipment

Gyrozen introduced its benchtop multi-purpose centrifuge 1696R last month. With a total capacity of 1000 mL, the system has a speed of up to 16,000 rpm. It can be used with a swing rotor that can bring the speed to 3,700 rpm. It is currently being sold in Europe for $15,000 and is projected to start selling in the US soon.

Orto Alresa launched in January its Dilitcen 22, a benchtop centrifuge with a capacity of 4 x 1,000 mL and a max speed of 14,300 rpm. It features an unbalance location system that stops the run if there is an unbalance and informs the users where the unbalance is occurring. The system also includes a touchscreen interface and is priced at €7,000 ($8,630).

Rephile showcased its Genie water system that will launch in June worldwide. A single water system can accomodate a large number of dispensers with wireless communication, so dispensers can be placed freely around the lab. A glove friendly touchscreen provides users total monitoring capabilities and control over water quality, operation parameters, the status of the system, dispensers, etc. The software can hold up to two years of data storage. The system design provides customer maximized versatility.

Scientific Industries introduced its US-manufactured Genie Temp-Shaker 100 and 300 orbital shaking incubators. The 100 model has a speed range of 20–100 rpm, and the 300 model’s speed goes from 35 rpm to 300 rpm. Both feature temperature control and a three-way access clear dome temperature chamber for easy sample access. These instruments not only retain the temperature throughout the unit due to a unique airflow technology, but are also lightweight with a small footprint to fit in any lab. The list price is $27,000 for the 100 model and $3,150 for the 300 model.

LC

Pharmafludics showcased its micro-chips technology with µPAC technology and trap columns. The trap columns remove possible contaminants, while the µPAC provides a higher peak capacity compared to a regular packed column. The new trap columns will be available for shipment in the next two months.

Shimadzu Scientific Instruments launched its new i-Series Plus Integrated HPLC that offers an automated sample pretreatment function. The new system seeks to improve throughput with around 140 samples analyzed overnight and an easy-to-use interface, which has become a current trend in many chromatography systems. The I-Series Plus Integrated HPLC is ready for shipment with a price range of $40,000–$50,000.

Sykam introduced its Amino Acids Analyzer S435, an improved version of the previous automatic Amino Acids Analyzer S433 model. Typical applications for this system are in the food, pharmaceutical and clinical sectors. The product will be ready for shipment in April.

Sykam also introduced the Ion Chromatography S153-A system, which enables simultaneous analysis of anion and cation with the same sample injection. This modular system is mainly applicable in water and waste water analysis. The product is ready for shipment.

In December 2017, Teledyne Tekmar launched the Atomx XYZ VOC system for purge and trap. The system incorporates an xy autosampling system derived from the Teledyne Cetac business. It offers dilutions, methanol rinsing and a unique methanol extraction technology. The system is priced in the mid-$30,000s.

Thermo Fisher launched an improved version of the highest end of its Dionex HPIC product line with the Dionex ICS-6000 HPIC. The new system is equipped with Unity Remote Service Software, which enables remote monitoring to reduce system downtime and early detection of errors and issues. It also has the Thermo Fisher Consumables Device Monitor which embeds memory tags into each IC consumable and notifies users when they need to change them.

Materials Characterization

Malvern Panalytical introduced Morphologi 4, a system improvement with 25% faster measurements and sharper image compared to its predecessors, according to the company. The new system is fully automated with Morphologically Directed Raman Spectroscopy technology that is able to characterize particles ranging from less than one micron to a millimeter in size. Morphologi 4’s applications include R&D and QC for the pharmaceutical sector, and also forensic analysis.

NETZSCH introduced the DSC 204 F1 phoenix, a versatile DSC for a wide variety of applications. It is equipped with two different sensor types to provide higher sensitivity and an automatic sample changer to enable higher throughput. DSC is mainly used in QC and method development in the polymers industry. The system is ready for shipment with a price tag of around $70,000.

Molecular Spectroscopy

PAC introduced the OptiFuel, an FT-IR analyzer for measuring the physical and chemical properties of gasoline, diesel and jet fuel. It uses an Attenuated Total Reflection (ATR) single flow cell in conjunction with FT-IR to analyze petroleum samples. The unit boasts an enormous library of finished fuels, to which the customer can add. It is expected to begin shipping in April for a price ranging from about $30,000 to the low $50,000s, depending on the configuration. 

Shimadzu Scientific Instruments showcased its IRSpirit FTIR Spectrophotometer, a small and lightweight analyzer for performing quick identification and quantitative sample analysis. Designed for all kinds of users, including those in pharmaceutical and teaching labs, the instrument is moisture resistant, boasts a strong signal-to-noise ratio comparable to that of larger units and features a very wide sample compartment. Released in February, it currently sells from about $18,000 to $20,000.

Singapore-based Tip Biosystems introduced the Photopette personal handheld photometer for on-the-spot analysis of liquid samples. Designed in the shape of an automatic pipette, the device can hold up to six wavelengths and is useful for applications such as cell density, Bradford protein assays, cell-viability assays, turbidity and more. Priced at $2,900, it was released in September 2017 in Southeast Asia, but its market reach is expected to expand to other regions, including China and Australia.

Vitl Life Science Solutions introduced the Lu-mini benchtop luminometer, optimized for the measurement of biological and chemical luminescence reactions. Accepting round or square cuvettes with which to measure samples, the instrument features a touchscreen interface, programmable testing parameters, a storage capacity of up to one thousand test results and USB connectivity for data transfer purposes. The instrument is planned to be launched officially at Analytica in April and will sell for $21,000.

Sample Preparation

The week before the show, Anton Paar began shipping its Multiwave 7000 microwave digestion system. The most novel aspect of the new system is the pressurized digestion cavity, allowing for different materials to be digested simultaneously, rather than in batches of similar samples. The system can achieve a maximum temperature of 300 °C and pressures up to 199 bar. The system is priced at about $70,000. 

Ohaus launched in March its HT lysing bead mill homogenizer. The system’s flexibility enables the use of multiple sample and tube configurations. High-speed linear motion helps quickly process samples. The homogenizer costs approximately $8,800, and is targeted primarily at government and academic labs. Color-coded tubes come with beads to process different sample types.

SPEX SamplePrep showcased its 2010 Geno/Grinder cell lyser and homogenizer for sample preparation. The system provides better insulation than older models and safety-latch protection. With a capacity of 96 x 6 titer plates, the system can also hold tubes from 2 mL to 50 mL that can be processed at room temperature with a speed between 500 rpm and 1,750 rpm. The programmable touchscreen control panel can save up to 500 protocols. The system can be purchased from $60,000.

Surface Science

HORIBA introduced a new model in its line of x-ray microscopes, the XGT-9000, featuring improved resolution and other advances. The system provides both XRF analysis/imaging and transmission x-ray imaging of samples. Full vacuum, partial vacuum and atmospheric modes are supported. The system is expected to begin shipping in the second quarter at a price comparable to the previous system, the XGT-7200.

JEOL debuted its JSM-IT200 SEM, expected to begin shipping soon. This is another entry in JEOL’s InTouchScope line of SEMs. Priced starting at $125,000, the compact microscope has a motorized stage and a larger EDS detector than the IT100.

JEOL also discussed a new version of its ARM200F with the addition of a dual Wien-filter monochromator, providing Electron Energy Loss Spectroscopy (EELS) with extremely high-energy resolution—as low as 14 meV. The Monochromated ARM200F allows atomic-scale imaging, as well as the ability to probe interesting energetic phenomena, such as phonons and surface plasmon resonance, with high-resolution EELS spectra.

For many years, Velab has manufactured microscopes under private label arrangements. At the end of last year, the company transformed itself, offering products to customers under its own name. The company offers several product lines of microscopes for education, industry and research, with prices ranging up to about $5,000.