European Pharmaceutical Manufacturer - Latest News

GEA Niro to Demonstrate Drying Technologies at POWTECH

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT

GEA Niro will exhibit a number of technologies, generally recognised as state-of-the-art in the field of spray and fluid bed drying for the pharmaceutical, food and beverage and chemical industries, at POWTECH — 27th-29th April, Nuremberg, Germany — Hall 1, Stand 1-115. The company will display one of its smallest spray dryers, SDMICRO on the stand. The lab-scale spray dryer is equipped with a two-fluid nozzle for atomization and can be applied for both water and organic solvent based formulations. The SDMICRO is designed with the smallest possible spray drying chamber that allows for retaining the same air flow pattern as a large-scale spray dryer. This makes it possible to conduct realistic tests at a very small scale and produce small quantities of powder for product and concept evaluations. Additionally, the company will exhibit its ground-breaking method DRYNETICS that allows drying parameters to be established based on the study of one droplet of a given substance. The technique allows real-world measurements (e.g. drying time and stickiness of a given feed) to be incorporated into CFD simulations. This makes it possible to establish the spray dryer performance by precisely analysing the results of one-droplet experiment. The DRYNETICS analysis is used to investigate product formulations and to optimise spray drying plant designs — for new or existing plants. All week, the company's process technologists and sales managers will be available to discuss how GEA Niro's range of drying systems can be applied for production of a wide range of chemical, food and pharmaceutical products.

Rotary Evaporator Wins iF Product Design Award

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT

IKA-Werke GmbH & Co. KG has received the iF product design award for its RV 10 rotary evaporator. The evaporator, which is used for distilling a wide range of liquids, impressed the jury in a total of ten criteria: degree of innovativeness, safety, functionality, ergonomics, branding, design quality, universal design, choice of material, environmental compatibility and visualisation of use. The iF product design awards are presented on an annual basis to products that succeed especially well in combining functionality with convenience and aesthetics, as well as in satisfying the requirements for innovation. For decades now, the iF product design awards have represented a kind of 'seal of quality' for design excellence. According to IKA, it currently manufactures the most innovative rotary evaporator in the world. The award shows that advanced technology can be visually attractive too. The advanced design also underlines the international pre-eminence of IKA in the field of laboratory equipment. Products manufactured by the German company also look very different from those of their competitors in the market. The attractive appearance is backed-up by exceptional features in the areas of safety, functionality and ergonomics. For instance, the evaporator automatically lifts the receiving flask out of the heating bath if the power cuts out. This means that the ongoing test and any distillate already produced are unaffected by the stoppage. It is clear that IKA-Werke has caused quite a stir in the market with its new rotary evaporator. Now the accolade of the iF Award confirms that sophisticated technology can be visually attractive too.

Online Demo on How to Concentrate or Dry Samples

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT

For laboratories tasked with concentrating or drying samples in wide ranging sample formats, Genevac has presented a new online movie that demonstrates the ease of use and excellent consistent results achievable using its EZ-2 Personal Solvent Evaporator. Using advanced evaporation science, the EZ-2 Personal Solvent Evaporator has been designed specifically for productive, sample-safe solvent removal, be that concentration of samples or complete drying. Genevac's long experience in vacuum engineering has resulted in the creation of a compact sample evaporator combining great performance, ease of use and compatibility with all commonly used solvents and acids. Easily viewable via the internet at www.genevac.org/movie/ez2, the new movie provides an informative introduction to the science behind solvent evaporation technology. Following this, the viewer is shown how the EZ-2 works — from the wide range of compatible sample holders for concentration and drying, loading samples, ease of operation and stored method programming, through to proprietary Genevac innovations that ensure sample integrity. To enable all users to achieve excellent results every time, the compact EZ-2 has been made easier to use than a conventional rotary evaporator. Capability to input up to 10 stored methods allows users to benefit from Genevac's wealth of experience in developing optimised protocols for a wealth of applications. In addition to accommodating a wide range of sample formats (round-bottom flasks, tubes, vials, custom reaction blocks and shallow or deep-well microplates), it can operate entirely unattended. Simply set the temperature, select the solvent type, and press Start.

CO2 Incubators Offer Performance and Value

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT

The new INB-203 CO² incubators from IKS offer an exceptional price/performance ratio and are ideal for applications in IVF, cell culture, haematology, cell biology and pharmaceutical laboratories. The INB-203 model is a direct-heat incubator with a capacity of 42 l and a temperature range from ambient +5°C to 60°C. For those needing lower temperatures, the INB-203C has the added facility of peltier cooling down to ambient -5°C. This will be particularly useful for laboratories without adequate air conditioning, providing unprecedented security against loss of temperature-sensitive material. The larger INB-203 XL is a direct-heat incubator with a generous capacity of 179 l and a temperature range from ambient +5°C to 60°C. The design of the INB-203 range shows careful attention to detail. The combination of heating from all six internal surfaces with fan-assisted circulation means that temperature and CO² levels stabilise quickly and that good temperature accuracy (± 0.25°C at 37°C) is achieved. As an option, the inner glass door can be subdivided into six sections (eight in the case of the INB-203XL), to minimise the environmental impact on sensitive samples when the door is opened. Temperature and CO² levels are monitored by reliable PID and infra-red sensors and there is optional battery backup in case of power failure. These incubators are fully compatible with IKS' exceptional XiltriX laboratory monitoring system. The inner chamber has rounded corners to facilitate cleaning and is condensation-free, helping to reduce the risk of contamination. Units can be stacked to conserve valuable laboratory space.

Electronic Pipettor Provides Flexible Sample Handling

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Available with six, eight or twelve channels the new Voyager electronic pipettors from INTEGRA feature an exceptional mechanism that alters tip spacing at the press of a button. Voyager incorporates a small motor that moves the center-to-center tip spacing quickly and smoothly at any point in a protocol, all with one hand. Users can preset up to three distinct tip spacings to accommodate almost any labware vessels. Voyager Tip spacing is adjustable from 4.5 mm to 19.5 mm. All Voyager pipettors share the same easy-to-use Touch Wheel controller from the award winning Viaflo pipettors, with intuitive programming and the industry's first full-color display. Also, all Voyager pipettors are designed to utilise Viaflo Griptips. As a result, individuals can pipette without ever having a tip loosen and leak or fall off. A total of eight Voyager models are now available in volume ranges from 0.5 µl to 1250 µl. This reportedly unique product now allows users to easy work between 24, 48, 96, 384 cell culture and assay plates, tube racks, sample storage gel electrophoresis boxes and many additional labware formats.

One-Touch Portfolio For Single-Use Fluid Management Solutions

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Meissner Filtration Products has delivered its One-Touch single-use systems (SUS) portfolio to provide optimised mobile fluid management solutions for pharmaceutical and biomanufacturing applications. Reportedly offering unprecedented fluid integrity performance, TepoFlex biocontainers are available in 2D (end-ported and face-ported) and 3D configurations in volumes from 250 ml to 1000 l for R&D through to production requirements. One-Touch fluid path assemblies provide convenient, secure fluid transfer flexibility, and can include capsule filters for prefiltration or sterile filtration requirements. FlexStation rigid outer containers round out the One-Touch SUS portfolio, providing an integral fluid management option for shipping and storage needs. A newly published catalogue, featuring the entire One-Touch SUS portfolio, is available for download from the company website.

analytica Conference 2010 — Trendsetter in Analytical Chemistry and Bioanalysis

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT

More than 1,000 international exhibitors will gather in Munich this year for analytica, the world's largest trade fair for analysis and laboratory technology in chemistry, biochemistry, food chemistry, clinical chemistry and the life sciences. Besides an extensive exhibition showcasing all of the products and developments for analysis laboratories that are currently on the market, visitors can also look forward to the analytica Conference, which is the most important analysis congress in Europe. The conference, whose slogan is 'Talking Science - Today's Knowledge for Tomorrow's Applications', is held on the first three days of the fair (23rd-25th March) and will feature four plenary presentations and 23 symposia with renowned speakers from Germany and abroad. Conference topics range from measuring fine particles and toxicology of fine particles to the chemical analysis of art objects and how analysis techniques can help to treat diabetes. Three scientific associations, i.e. the German Chemical Society (GDCh), the Association for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (GBM) and the German Association for Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine (DGKL), are responsible for the programme of events.

Stirred Reactor for DURAN GL 45 Bottles Launched

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Following the successful introduction of the stirred reactor for DURAN GLS 80 laboratory glass bottles last year, this year at Analytica, the DURAN Group is introducing a new version for its GL 45 bottles. Both DURAN stirred reactors have a clear advantage in comparison with existing magnetic stir bars because their larger stirring blades ensure better through-mixing. Not only that, there is no rubbing between the bottom of the bottle and the stirring unit. The stirrer is securely mounted in the centre, the drive is provided by a conventional magnetic stirrer. Operation at different viscosities is possible. The new reactor is compatible with the proven DURAN GL 45 connection system. The insertion of hoses (diameter 1.6 mm to 6.0 mm) through the ports enables the supply and removal of media during the mixing process. Use of suitable accessories enables sterile pressure compensation (0.2 µm). Unused ports can be closed with a blind cap. The new stirred reactor is offered as a set with the 500 ml or 1,000 ml GL 45 laboratory glass bottle. Individual and spare parts can also be ordered separately. The entire system is autoclavable and all medium-contacting materials fulfil FDA directives. Due to their properties, DURAN stirred reactors offer high flexibility and can be used in a wide range of laboratory mixing processes. You can find out more about the expanding DURAN stirred reactor family at the Analytica trade fair Booth B1 203/304.

Positive Interim Results for ILMAC 2010

Mon, 08 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Staged by MCH Swiss Exhibition for the 18th time, the next ILMAC takes place on 21st-24th September 2010, at Messe Basel. Over four days, the entire range of products and services relating to R&D, production and environmental technology will be on display. ILMAC takes place every three years and, with 15,000 visitors and more than 550 exhibitors over an area of 36,000 m², is reportedly Switzerland's most important exhibition for all manufacturers and suppliers to the pharmaceutical and chemical industries. The interim results are looking positive, as around 300 exhibitors have already registered. With its high concentration of pharmaceutical and chemical companies and its proximity to rapidly developing biotech regions in Switzerland, Germany and France, Basel is the ideal location for ILMAC. Suppliers of equipment, apparatus and machinery for laboratories, analysis, biotechnology, IT, engineering, environmental and process technology will have direct access to customers from the pharmaceutical, chemical, biotechnology, food, drinks, cosmetics and environmental engineering industries. For the first time, manufacturers and suppliers that specialise in processing to produce dosage forms and pharmaceutical packaging for shipment have the opportunity to exhibit at ILMAC. Galenic formulation and pharmaceutical packaging form independent areas within the exhibition. These two areas represent the final processes in the production of pharmaceutical products. As a result of their inclusion in ILMAC, the exhibition covers the entire process chain from end to end. Endress+Hauser — one of the leading suppliers of industrial measurement equipment, providing services and solutions for industrial processes all over the world — is supporting ILMAC 2010 as its official presenting partner.