The 84th annual Water Environment Federation’s Annual Technical Exhibition and Conferences, more commonly known as WEFTEC, was held in Los Angeles, California, on October 15–19. Attendance declined 4.7% to 16,691 from last year’s show, which was held in New Orleans, Louisiana.

The number of exhibiting companies also declined, falling 6.2% to 923. The exhibition was held October 17–19 and showcased many new products. Thermo Fisher Scientific launched new versions of its Thermo Scientific Orion Star line. The single-parameter A100 series includes the A110 benchtop and A120 portable models for pH, conductivity and dissolved oxygen (DO). The single-parameter A220 series is available for pH, conductivity or DO measurements. The DO model features auto recognition of probe type. Designed for field use, the A320 series is available in single or multiple parameter versions for pH, conductivity, pH/ ion selective electrode (ISE) and DO. Each of the new Orion Star products has a minimum battery life of 2,000 hours. The A-Series starts at under $500. The company’s existing Orion Star Plus meters will be available until the end of this year.

Completely new to Thermo’s water meter product line is the Thermo Scientific VERSA STAR meters. One to four channels are available for any combination of five swappable modules, enabling future upgrades. The modules are for pH, pH/ISE, conductivity, DO and temperature-compensated pH. Temperature measurement is standard. For DO, either polarographic or optical/luminescence probes can be used and either type of probe is automatically recognized. Pricing starts at under $1,200.

Austrian firm S::can previewed its optical sensor systems for homeland security water monitoring in small towns. The products include sensors priced at less than $5,000, a reduced footprint for sensor housing and browser-based software for event detection. The company told IBO that its systems are already used in several major US cities for homeland security water monitoring, as recommended by the EPA.

Hach launched the plug-and-play AN-ISEsc probe, which combines nitrate and ammonia detection into one probe. Also on display at Hach’s booth was the DR 3900 VIS spectrometer, which has RFID technology for sample tracking and provides calibration updates via the TNTplus chemistry packaging. Ten readings of the sample are averaged together to produce the final measurement, reducing single-read variations. Hach also displayed the benchtop HQD 440d meter, which was introduced earlier this year and is designed to have the same look and feel as the portable HQD 40 meter. It has two channels for measurements.

ITT Analytics was part of the ITT’s expansive booth, which highlighted the company’s many brand names as well as the Xylem name, which is the new name of ITT’s water business, following its spin-off at the end of this month as an independent company. Although now part of ITT Analytics, YSI was not part of ITT’s booth due to the timing of the acquisition (see IBO 7/15/11) but had its own booth close by. YSI showed the new Pro Series OBOD Optical Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) probes, whose unique features include guards on the optical sensor cap for greater durability. It is designed for use with the ProODO meter. YSI told IBO that its conversations with the EPA indicate that approval for an optical sensor method for BOD could come by year end. The company also introduced the pH1200 lab instrument for pH and mV measurements.

LaMotte introduced two handheld instruments at the show, the SMART3 colorimeter and 2020we/wi turbidimeter. Improvements include easier-read interfaces and USB connectivity. The SMART3 colorimeter includes more than 75 preprogrammed reagent calibrations and can be custom programmed with up to 25 more. Both instruments are available in EPA and ISO compliant versions and are priced around $950.

Two of Teledyne’s divisions showed new products at the show. Teledyne Tekmar introduced its Versa headspace autosampler for GC. The Versa offers static headspace only and is a more basic offering that is targeted primarily at environmental end-users. It has a starting price of under $15,000. On the industrial side, Teledyne Analytical Instruments displayed its new UV254 direct UV absorbance analyzer, which is intended for monitoring disinfection byproducts and is expected to begin shipping at the end of 2011 or early 2012.

LAR LLC, the US distributor for LAR Process Analyzers, introduced the Quick TOC (total organic carbon) Ultra, which adds a touchscreen interface and other refinements to a process system. The system continues to be priced starting in the low $50,000s. WEFTEC 2012 will be held in New Orleans from September 29 to October 3.