Thermo Fisher ships 2000th iCAP 6000 Series ICP emission spectrometer

Bormioli Rocco, a producer of glass and plastic pharmaceutical packaging, glass containers for perfumery and foodstuffs and glass tableware, has purchased and deployed the 2000th Thermo Scientific iCAP 6000 Series inductively coupled plasma (ICP) emission spectrometer. The company relies on ICP emission spectrometry to ensure that alkaline metal concentrations in their glass materials conform to current European legislation. Since deployment, Bormioli Rocco has increased lab productivity while lowering its costs.

Bormioli Rocco selected the Thermo Scientific iCAP 6300 Duo ICP for its flexibility and exceptional performance capabilities, which ensure accurate, precise analytical results and higher productivity. Also important was the small footprint of the system, which makes it easier to transport and install, an important benefit for modern labs where bench space is increasingly limited.   

Gareth Jones, product group director, Trace Elemental Analysis, Thermo Fisher Scientific, comments: "Our iCAP 6000 Series delivers outstanding performance, ease-of-use and low cost-of-ownership, all in a uniquely compact instrument. These benefits are possible because of the expertise, hard work and commitment that goes into producing such a superior analytical solution. Achieving the 2000^th-order milestone clearly demonstrates that customer's value the instrument's quality and reliability."

The iCAP 6300 Duo ICP spectrometer features dedicated radial and duo plasma viewing options for enhanced application flexibility. The instrument's high-efficiency optical design facilitates simultaneous analysis of 66 elements, providing detection limits at less than 1ppb. In addition, the system offers powerful full-frame technology for fingerprinting and retrospective analysis, as well as unique EMT torch technology for routine maintenance operations without switching off the plasma. 

Laboratories use the iCAP 6000 Series ICP emission spectrometers to detect and measure low levels of toxic elements and a diverse range of pollutant elements in the global environmental, metallurgical, petrochemical, food and pharmaceutical industries. In spring 2009, the iCAP 6000 received a Queens Award for Enterprise as one of the year's most outstanding technical innovations and it was a finalist in the IMechE Business Innovation of the Year Category of the National Business Awards.

Bormioli Rocco selected the Thermo Scientific iCAP 6300 Duo ICP for its flexibility and exceptional performance capabilities, which ensure accurate, precise analytical results and higher productivity. Also important was the small footprint of the system.

For further information on the Thermo Scientific iCAP 6000 Series ICP emission spectrometers, email: analyze@thermofisher.com or view website: www.thermo.com/icap  Refer to next page

Market leaders in temperature controlled microscopy, Linkam Scientific Instruments, feature in BBC Horizon programme

Heating and freezing stages are being used in thousands of laboratories worldwide. Applications are found in just about all scientific disciplines from materials to foods, from chemistry to physics and biology.

Linkam users, Kathy Groves and her team at Leatherhead Food Research have been filming with the BBC as part of a documentary to be aired in March. The documentary discusses the role of diet in evolution. Along with many recent TV documentaries, it is comparing the diets of previous generations with the modern day's human diet. Our simian ancestors evolved a digestive tract to cope with a super high fibre diet of raw foods. These required a lot more energy to digest it thoroughly. Modern-day cooked food requires a lot less energy to digest and hence the changes in modern human beings.

Picture shows, Kathy Groves of Leatherhead Food Research demonstrating her Linkam THMS600 for this BBC cameraman, as part of the documentary.

The Linkam THMS600 stage is used at Leatherhead Food Research mounted on an Olympus microscope. The application on the programme was to show how the starch granules break down with increase in temperature. This human ability to breakdown starch has enabled us to eat and digest starchy foods that were otherwise unavailable as an energy source. For further information contact, Linkam Scientific Instruments Limited, view website: ian@linkam.co.uk  Refer to page 292

SphereOptics acquired by Halma p.i.c.
Acquisition to be merged with Halma photonics company Labsphere

Halma p.l.c., a leading safety, health and sensor technology group based in the United Kingdom, has acquired SphereOptics, a maker of custom light measurement technologies. SphereOptics will join Halma's global group of photonics businesses as it is merged with light metrology industry leader, Labsphere.

SphereOptics www.sphereoptics.com based in New Hampshire, USA, manufactures and distributes precision products for use in light metrology applications. The company's standard and custom radiometric and photometric products address the specific needs of the aerospace, automotive, electronic imaging, laser diode, LED, lighting, medical imaging and optics industries.

Also based in New Hampshire, Labsphere www.labsphere.com has a strong worldwide presence in light testing and measurement and optical coatings. The company's products include LED, laser and traditional light source light measurement systems; uniform light sources for imaging device calibration; spectroscopy accessories; and high diffuse reflectance materials and coatings for applications in backlit panel displays, computed radiography, and system calibration.

"The reunion of two industry leaders, Labsphere and SphereOptics, will provide our customers with innovative, high quality products, world class technical expertise and unequalled customer service," commented Labsphere President Kevin Chittim.

Halma www.halma.com is a holding company of almost 50 worldwide subsidiaries that develop and manufacture products to improve quality of life for people worldwide. The company's business groups focus on industrial safety, health and analysis and infrastructure sensors. SphereOptics joins Labsphere, Ocean Optics www.OceanOptics.com Ocean Thin Films www.Oceanthinfilms.com Fiberguide www.fiberguide.com and Mikropack GmbH www.mikropack.de in the photonics sector of the health and analysis business group.

Halma's photonics companies are established brands with market-leading technologies and products which generate light, condition light and analyze the interaction of light on substances. Their products range from spectrometers to complementary technologies such as chemical sensors, analytical instrumentation, optical fibres, thin films and optics. The scope of applications is vast, from cancer detection to specialized architectural and theatre lighting filters. The acquisition of SphereOptics and its complementary technologies will create opportunities for technical and marketing collaborations as Halma continues to grow this sector.

For further, email: labsphere@labsphere.com or view website: www.labsphere.com  Refer to page 261

New Ocean Optics light-measurement system
ideal for analysis of LEDs, lamps and more!

Now available from Ocean Optics is a light-measurement system for spectroradiometric analysis of LEDs, lamps, flat panel displays and other radiant sources, as well as solar radiation. With its small footprint, powerful microprocessor and low-power display, the new Jaz-ULM-200 is a convenient, versatile alternative to standard light meters and radiometers.

Jaz is family of stackable components that share common electronics and communications and are configurable for a variety of applications. Included in the Jaz-ULM-200 stack is a CCD-array spectrometer that can be optimized for a variety of radiometric measurements and a microprocessor with onboard display.

Jaz provides functionality not found in traditional light meters, allowing users to capture, process and store full spectra without the need for a PC. With only three pushes of a button, the system's irradiance-measurement software, which is stored on an SD card, collects full spectral irradiance information from the selected light source. This data can then be post-processed to give the intensity parameter of choice, including W/cm2, lumens, lux, PAR (photosynthetically active radiation) or any other light intensity parameter. The system's three-button wizard simplifies operation so that even non-spectroscopy experts are able to perform fast and accurate measurements.

In addition to the Jaz-ULM-200's spectrometer and microprocessor, it includes an Ethernet module to store data via an SD card slot and allows users to connect to the Jaz unit via the Internet. The internet capability enables remote measurements such as solar irradiance and the creation of networked sensing modules. Also included are a rechargeable lithium-ion battery module (with SD card slot) for portability and a special mounting fixture for orienting the Jaz stack horizontally to facilitate hands-free operation.

Additional system components include a direct-attach cosine corrector for collecting radiation within a 180-degree Field of View, a carrying case with shoulder strap and a rugged Pelican case for storing all related gear. Software includes the Jaz system software and JAZ-A-IRRAD, an irradiance-measurement application that comes on an SD card.

To learn more about the Jaz-ULM-200, and the company's full range of Jaz systems and components, visit: www.OceanOptics.eu e-mail: info@oceanoptics.eu.

Ocean Optics is a leading supplier of solutions for optical sensing - fundamental methods of measuring and interpreting the interaction of light with matter. With locations in the United States, Asia and Europe, the company has sold more than 130,000 spectrometers worldwide since 1989. Ocean Optics' extensive line of complementary technologies includes chemical sensors, analytical instrumentation, optical fibres, thin films and optics. The company is part of the Halma group of safety and detection companies.

For further information, e-mail: info@oceanoptics.eu or view website: www.OceanOptics.eu   Refer to page 253