Web video highlights energy savings with
SANYO's new water-cooling system for ULT freezers

A three-minute video available on the SANYO website highlights an important new development available for all of the company's ULT freezers. An innovative water-cooling system offers significant advantages, including energy savings and increased sample security.

A three-minute video available on the SANYO website highlights an important new development available for all of the company's ULT freezers. An innovative water-cooling system offers significant advantages, including energy savings and increased sample security.

As the SANYO video graphically illustrates, a significant amount of heat is produced by a ULT freezer. Now, the introduction of targeted removal of heat from the condenser using circulating water means that much less heat is released into the air. So, a smaller air-conditioning unit will keep the freezer room at the ideal temperature of 20ºC. In addition, as water-cooling is so efficient at removing heat from the condenser, this reduces the power requirement of the freezer itself. The resulting overall reduction in energy costs means that the water-cooling system pays for itself in just a few years, and further energy savings are gained if the heat generated in the condenser is not regarded as waste. The warmed water may be transported to where heat is needed and used, for example, to heat water for hand-washing or other areas of the building.

Another compelling advantage of the new system is that a water-cooled SANYO freezer has a 30 per cent faster recovery time after door opening compared with a freezer with an air-cooled condenser, so that samples are better protected. And should the freezer room aircon unit fail, as less heat is expelled into the air by a water-cooled freezer, samples are kept at a safe temperature for longer.

Customers viewing the web video will see that the new water-cooling system is a small change with big consequences. A new water-cooled SANYO ULT freezer will deliver the best overall performance, and ensure even better sample security.

SANYO launches orbital shaker for use in high humidity CO2 incubators

SANYO's MIR-S100C is a compact orbital shaker designed specifically for use in high humidity and/or elevated CO2 concentration conditions. With the orbital shaker mounted inside the incubator and an independent controller placed externally, the MIR-S100C offers simple, secure operation suitable for cell culture applications within GMP environments.

The structural design of the MIR-S100C incorporates antibacterial copper alloy stainless steel for the shaker section, with a small window that can be used for spraying disinfectant inside. The controller is a separate unit, preventing humidity from affecting the electrical components and enabling operation to be monitored without opening the incubator.

Revolution speed is adjustable from 40 to 200 rpm and the timer can be set for up to 99.9 hours or continuous operation. A soft start function protects against spilling or foaming of samples inside flasks and test tubes by gradually accelerating at a user-selectable speed until the preset number of revolutions is reached.

Security of operation is assured by a range of features, such as the non-volatile memory facilitating automatic recovery after a power interruption, speed error alarm and motor overload protection circuit. A maintenance-required indicator is provided for timely replacement of belt and bearings, and therefore more secure continuous operation.

Optional accessories include a platform on which cultures may be placed and a wide variety of clamps and racks for various sizes of flasks and tubes. The humidity-protected MIR-S100C is ideally suited to optimising cell culture conditions in laboratories and biotechnology production facilities with even the most stringent GMP requirements.

SANYO Electric Co. Ltd. is a multibillion dollar global corporation developing advanced technologies and unique products for environmental, energy and lifestyle applications. SANYO E&E Europe BV is a Biomedical division dedicated to life science solutions based around user-driven innovations, such as dual-cooling freezers to ensure sample security. Headquartered in the Netherlands, SANYO E&E Europe BV has sales and service organisations in the UK, France and the Netherlands and manages sales, marketing, logistics and technical service for SANYO laboratory products throughout Europe.

SANYO Biomedical products include an array of laboratory equipment featuring industry-leading technology, controls, construction and performance. Product lines include V.I.P. ultra-low temperature freezers, cryogenic freezers, pharmaceutical and medical refrigerators, cell culture incubators, plant growth chambers, and portable autoclaves.

For further information, e-mail: sales.nl.seee@sanyo.com or view website: www.eu.sanyo.com/biomedical  Refer to page 246

Agilent Technologies releases new cytogenetics
software, providing complete solution for researchers

Agilent Technologies's Agilent CytoGenomics 1.5 software. gives researchers the ability to streamline their analysis by querying the in-house CytoGenomic database and external databases. The software is designed for easy data interpretation and simple report generation.

Agilent provides the most accepted microarray platform for cytogenetics, and the new software highlights Agilent's commitment to providing complete solutions for cytogenetic research. These solutions include CGH+SNP microarrays for determining copy number changes and copy neutral aberrations on the same chip, DNA labeling kits, microarray scanners and automation platforms. Agilent CytoGenomics 1.5 was developed to help customers exploit the performance of the arrays, maximize throughput, and complete their CGH and CGH + SNP workflows.

"Cytogeneticists need to quickly and confidently gain insight into the biology of their samples," said Robert Schueren, Agilent vice president, Genomics. "We developed this new software to make the process faster and easier, complementing a complete set of solutions for cytogenetic researchers."

For more information, view website: www.agilent.com/genomics/cyto_software

Further technology, corporate citizenship and executive news is available at: http://www.agilent.com/go/news  Refer to page 248   

Jumbo size sample preparation for new E.coli testing protocols

Seward Limited, manufacturer and developer of the world leading, patented Stomacher® Paddle Blender range, announces a highly successful year for sales of its Stomacher® 3500 large volume sample preparation systems. This follows recent changes to USDA Escherichia coli 0157:H7 testing protocols, where an expanded description of how its Food Safety & Inspection Service (FSIS) confirms and reports on this virulent food pathogen was published¹.

All meat products consumed (whether locally produced or exported) within the US must have undergone the recently renewed FSIS E.coli 0157:H7 testing protocols. Within these, the volume of sample and diluents has been increased to 125 g of food sample in 1.25 L broth to maximise the opportunity for pathogen detection. Detailed within the revised Laboratory Guidebook chapter on 'Detection, Isolation and Identification of Escherichia coli O157:H7 from Meat Products', a Stomacher 3500 is used for the sample preparation of varying quantities and types of meat sample.

The Stomacher 3500 range, including Stomacher bags, is available specifically for large volume (400 ml to 3.5 L) blending and extraction, where all the washing solution or solvent is required to be retained for microbiological analysis.

"The Stomacher 3500 is unrivalled in the market of large volume sample blending and extraction, making it ideal for routine sample preparation of a variety of products for microbiological testing," said Stuart Ray, Technical Director, Seward. "This is due to its quality, robust components which make it extremely durable, even when processing the largest and toughest of samples. In fact we have examples of these large systems still going strong after 20 years of hard service in many industrial settings!"

For further information on Seward's Stomacher® 3500 and other sample preparation products, view website: www.seward.co.uk   Refer to page 249