Cover Story | October 2011
Sections
Surveys
Laboratory Spending Trends
Laboratory Spending Trends
To better ascertain the spending trends among laboratories, the editors of Lab Manager and Frost & Sullivan conducted a survey of 146 Lab Manager readers
Lab Product
AA Spectrophotometers: Easily Identifying Metals With the Power of Heat
AA Spectrophotometers: Easily Identifying Metals With the Power of Heat
Atomic absorption (AA) has been known since the 19th century, but it was not until the 1950s, thanks to efforts by Alan Walsh at Australia’s CSIRO research center, that use of AA spectrometers became routine for metals analysis. AA measures
FTIR Spectrophotometers: Traditional Uses Giving Way to Portability
FTIR Spectrophotometers: Traditional Uses Giving Way to Portability
Although serious Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) research and core analysis facilities are still doing well, traditional applications are giving way to more dynamic uses such as controlling processes and field work. For research FT
GC Systems: Growing in Sensitivity
GC Systems: Growing in Sensitivity
GC was once commonly called “GLC,” where the “L” stands for liquid. Inside GC columns are particles of a ceramic or inert material coated with a viscous liquid stationary phase that interacts with the analyte. By contrast, HPL
Buck Scientific Chromatography Systems
Buck Scientific Chromatography Systems
Whether you are looking for an HPLC or a GC, Buck can design a custom system for your application that will be easy to use, and give you maximum ROI through low cost of ownership. Our Gas Chromatographs can accomdate 6 Detectors from a choice of 9 an
GC-MS: Adding A Second Dimension to GC
GC-MS: Adding A Second Dimension to GC
Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) is the fastestgrowing GC method. Mass detection, which can take a variety of forms based on the MS component, provides a dimension that conventional thermal conductivity or flame ionization detectors canno
HPLC Autosamplers: Sparing Analysts From Boring, Repetitive Work
HPLC Autosamplers: Sparing Analysts From Boring, Repetitive Work
Chromatographers who learned their craft twenty years ago may not have been familiar with autosamplers then, but today nearly every high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) instrument includes an autosampler as standard equipment. “Aut
HPLC Columns: Where the Action Is
HPLC Columns: Where the Action Is
Now that sub-2-micron columns have become the stationary phase technology of choice for research labs and have made substantial inroads in quality, food, and pharmaceutical settings, another breakthrough in column technology looms.
Analytical Balances -
Analytical Balances -
Analytical balances, which are accurate to at least 0.0001 g or 0.1 mg, represent the highest precision weighing standard for general use. Analytical balances also excel at quantifying changes in mass. Software built into balances is a huge time-
Biological Safety Cabinets - Balancing Safety with Environmental Concerns
Biological Safety Cabinets - Balancing Safety with Environmental Concerns
With most manufacturers providing solid biological safety cabinets (BSCs), total cost of ownership has become a hot-button issue with purchasers. Until around 2000, exhaust fans were driven by AC permanent split capacitor motors. Manufacturers gradua
Biological Shakers & Stirrers - "Choose Based on Sample Size and Viscosity"
Biological Shakers & Stirrers - "Choose Based on Sample Size and Viscosity"
Mixing is ubiquitous in industrial, academic, and industrial laboratories. The choice of overhead or magnetic stirring to achieve uniform mixing is based on the scale and viscosity of the medium being stirred. Commercial labs often “scale d
Centrifuges - "The Gravity of It All"
Centrifuges - "The Gravity of It All"
Centrifuges separate particles and structures suspended in liquid by applying thousands of gravitational force equivalents to the sample through spinning. Laboratories use centrifuges to clarify suspensions, separate liquids, isolate suspended partic
Note to Our Readers
Note to Our Readers
A clarification to our readers regarding an entry in the "Cleanroom Products" section of our November Product Resource Guide 2012.
Fume Hoods -
Fume Hoods -
Fume hoods are notorious for consuming expensive resources, particularly electricity and conditioned air that is vented to the environment along with volatile chemicals and other toxins.
Glove Boxes - "Isolation or Containment Without Classified Space"
Glove Boxes - "Isolation or Containment Without Classified Space"
Glove boxes are enclosed, controlled environment chambers that serve as isolation or containment spaces for laboratory work. Most glove boxes operate in isolation mode, under positive pressure, to protect samples or experiments from the environment.
Homogenizers - "Multitude of Methods for Extraction from Non-Liquid Samples"
Homogenizers - "Multitude of Methods for Extraction from Non-Liquid Samples"
Homogenization seeks to create samples in which analytes of interest are dispersed uniformly throughout. Numerous technologies can achieve this, including pressure, mechanical (rotorstator or blade-type), and bead-beating. Mechanical homogenizati
Pipettes -
Pipettes -
Best practices dictate that pipettes undergo preventive maintenance and calibration at least once per year. Calibration involves dispensing set volumes of a liquid, usually water, into the weighing pan of a calibrated balance.
Power Supplies - "Charging Up The Lab"
Power Supplies - "Charging Up The Lab"
Power supplies provide steady, precisely controlled electrical energy to electronic equipment. One type of supply, the uninterruptible power supply, powers electronics in the event of an emergency by keeping a battery constantly charged. When the
Washers - "To Centralize or Not To Centralize?"
Washers - "To Centralize or Not To Centralize?"
Whether to employ central washing stations or point-of-use washers located under a lab bench is something that has to be addressed with regards to laboratory glassware washers. The former provide an economy of scale and are popular with lab workers w
Water Purification Systems - "Under-Recognized 'Utility' Essential For Laboratory Operations"
Water Purification Systems - "Under-Recognized 'Utility' Essential For Laboratory Operations"
Laboratory water purification systems get no respect. They’re used every day, but few lab workers realize— beyond opening the spigot— how they operate. “The level of knowledge in the average lab about lab water is not very
Uncategorized
BioTek’s new Epoch Multi-Volume Spectrophotometer System
BioTek’s new Epoch Multi-Volume Spectrophotometer System
BioTek’s new Epoch Multi-Volume Spectrophotometer System combines two innovative products into system designed for a wide range of applications, from nucleic acid and protein quantification on a micro scale to cell-based assays in microplates,
How tubes can affect your experiments
How tubes can affect your experiments
Introduction It has been known for several years that chemicals (e.g., BPA and phlalates) can leach out of the plastic, such as toys and baby bottles. The impact of these chemicals on human health is well known. Recent scientific reports have now
Adam Equipment’s PMB Moisture Analyzer
Adam Equipment’s PMB Moisture Analyzer
Designed with smart features and simple operation, Adam’s PMB takes the hassle out of moisture analysis for fast, dependable results. The PMB lets you store and retrieve unlimited test settings and results for any number of sample materials. Bu
Flow Cytometers - "Innovation at High, Low Ends of Instrument Spectrum"
Flow Cytometers - "Innovation at High, Low Ends of Instrument Spectrum"
In response to reduced reliance on core lab services, manufacturers of flow cytometers have been busily upgrading instrument capabilities for expert and casual users. We have seen this trend before, notably in high-priced instruments like nuclear mag
Freeze Dryers - "Advanced Control Tops Rich Feature Options"
Freeze Dryers - "Advanced Control Tops Rich Feature Options"
Demand for reliable methods of preparing and storing highvalue samples has rejuvenated the market for freeze-dryers, also known as lyophilizers. In response, vendors have transformed freezedryers from clunky, homemade agglomerations of pumps, flasks,
Refractometers - "Universal Concentration Meters"
Refractometers - "Universal Concentration Meters"
Refractometers are instruments that quantify and identify chemicals and materials based on their refractive index (RI). A unique property related to the speed of light as it passes through a substance, RI is defined as the ratio of the speed of light
i.C3™ from Helmer - Download · Acknowledge · Access Control
i.C3™ from Helmer - Download · Acknowledge · Access Control
The next generation of i.Series® monitoring features the i.C3 User Interface which offers constant temperature monitoring and control on all i.Series refrigerators and Freezers. The i.C3 is icon driven, featuring a 7” full-color touchsc
The Soil-XCell System from Environmental Express
The Soil-XCell System from Environmental Express
Revolutionizes Soil Extraction for Organics An Alternate Method of Soil Extraction for EPA Method 3546 Environmental Express, known for its innovative products, has developed the Soil-XCell system for the extraction of semi-volatile organic c
Maximizing UV light for Lab Water Systems
Maximizing UV light for Lab Water Systems
Abstract: Conventional lab water systems use UV light by flowing water in a chamber around the bulb in a protective quartz sleeve as part of the recirculation loop. Using innovative technologies, the UV light benefits are maximized but sterilizing th
Hamilton’s MICROLAB® REM e STARlet
Hamilton’s MICROLAB® REM e STARlet
Hamilton’s MICROLAB® REM e STARlet liquid handling workstation (Figure 1) provides a completely automated solution for emPCR enrichment and sequencing primer hybridization. Designed to support the Roche/454 Genome Sequencer FLX Titanium Ser
SPEX CertiPrep
SPEX CertiPrep
SPEX CertiPrep offers a line of Consumer Safety Compliance Standards designed for the testing of consumer goods. Recent regulations limit the quantities of toxic contaminants in consumer products, requiring manufactures to verify the levels of trace
Products in Action
The Baker Company’s FlexAIR® Saves Energy and Provides Safer BSC Performance
The Baker Company’s FlexAIR® Saves Energy and Provides Safer BSC Performance
The Baker Company’s FlexAIR offers significant energy and cost savings to the laboratory, without sacrificing safety and performance. The Baker FlexAIR technology combines the security of a traditional canopy (or thimble) exhaust connection wit
Innova ® Biological Shakers – the gold standard for research
Innova ® Biological Shakers – the gold standard for research
New Brunswick Scientific’s world renowned laboratory shakers are known for dependable operation and innovative design. New Brunswick offers the widest selection of biological shakers in the industry, with more than 30 models available to suit y
Awel Centrifuges through NuAire
Awel Centrifuges through NuAire
Coming soon to North and South America through NuAire, Inc. Awel International, based in France, has designed and developed a new line of innovative centrifuges based on a quarter of a century of experience in centrifugation. NuAire’s relations
Perfect Climates for the Lab
Perfect Climates for the Lab
BINDER Inc. offers a range of environmental simulation equipment that provides consistent performance – a quality that allows a focus on the research at hand and confidence in the equipment holding samples. CO2 Incubators, Environmental Chamber
AirClean® Systems’ Independence™ Ductless Fume Hood
AirClean® Systems’ Independence™ Ductless Fume Hood
As research and laboratories evolve, AirClean® Systems continues to innovate with sophisticated, efficient fume containment solutions. Independence™ is the culmination of two decades of research and development in airflow design, gas-phase
Captair® Flex™– Ductless Mobile Fume Hoods with Modular Filtration Column
Captair® Flex™– Ductless Mobile Fume Hoods with Modular Filtration Column
From the people who brought you the energy saving GreenFumeHood®, ERLAB, the one and only inventor of the ductless filtering fume hood and worldwide leader since 1968 innovates once again with the low cost Captair® Flex™ Technology, an all in one f
Thermo Scientific SampleManager LIMS 10
Thermo Scientific SampleManager LIMS 10
The most significant advances in QA/QC functionality in a decade are now available.
Chromeleon 7.1 Chromatography Data System Brings Operational Simplicity to the Enterprise
Chromeleon 7.1 Chromatography Data System Brings Operational Simplicity to the Enterprise
The Thermo Scientific Dionex Chromeleon 7.1, an enterprise-ready version of the innovative Chromeleon 7 chromatography data system launched in 2009, combines intelligent functionality with a new user interface based on Operational Simplicity™,
Freezerpro - Intuitive Sample Management
Freezerpro - Intuitive Sample Management
At RURO, we strive to develop software that combines user-friendly, web-based interfaces with documentation tools suited to even the most complex scientific information and processes.
METTLER TOLEDO is Pleased to Announce a New Line of Bench Meters
METTLER TOLEDO is Pleased to Announce a New Line of Bench Meters
METTLER TOLEDO is pleased to announce a new line of bench meters, the SevenCompact ™ series. The new mid-range meters are a great leap forward setting new standards for intuitive operation. The meters fulfill analytical requirements in any indu
Gilson PIPETMAN® L Pipette
Gilson PIPETMAN® L Pipette
Gilson is proud to announce the release of PIPETMAN® L, the latest innovation from Gilson PIPETMAN®, the pipetting standard for nearly 40 years. PIPETMAN L is an adjustable volume pipette that features a Gilson patented volume locking system.
Ovation Pipettes Take Stress and Fatigue out of Complex Liquid Handling Tasks
Ovation Pipettes Take Stress and Fatigue out of Complex Liquid Handling Tasks
Ovation® BioNatural pipettes are the ideal ergonomic solution for handling repetitive and complex liquid handling tasks that contribute to stress injuries in today’s laboratory. Ovation pipettes increase laboratory efficiency through automa
ErgoOne® Adjustable Volume Pipettes
ErgoOne® Adjustable Volume Pipettes
ErgoOne® pipettes combine researcher requested features with the latest ergonomic principles to provide optimum performance. Achieve accurate and precise delivery with maximum pipetting control and minimum forces. Reproducible Results Erg
Laboratory Refrigerators and Freezers
Laboratory Refrigerators and Freezers
Nor-Lake® Scientific Select™ laboratory Refrigerators and Freezers are designed for heavy-duty long term cold storage for a wide range of demanding laboratory, scientific, pharmacy and life science applications. Product selection includes f
Marvel Scientific: Refrigeration for Health, Science and Industry
Marvel Scientific: Refrigeration for Health, Science and Industry
Serious about Standards In laboratories worldwide, household refrigerators are pressed into duties they were not designed to fulfill. When these units operate inconsistently or fail, consequences can range from inconvenient to costly to dangerous
VACUUBRAND® VARIO® self-regulating vacuum systems
VACUUBRAND® VARIO® self-regulating vacuum systems
VACUUBRAND® VARIO® vacuum systems offer users unsurpassed control of critical vacuum applications. A low maintenance chemistry-design pump is integrated with a variable speed motor and a mercury-free, digital controller. The system automatica
The PG 8536: The Perfect Solution for Cleaning Petroleum Compounds
The PG 8536: The Perfect Solution for Cleaning Petroleum Compounds
Petroleum compounds, such as refined hydrocarbon distillates, are generally a difficult-to-clean, oily, molasses-like substance. Traditionally, these compounds are cleaned using hydrocarbon solvents such as diesel fuel; however, this process can be h
PURELAB flex- Innovating Water Purity
PURELAB flex- Innovating Water Purity
ELGA’s new innovative Type I ultrapure water purification system ensures accurate consistent results. The PURELAB flex 3 & 4 are the latest additions to the award winning PURELAB flex range of systems.
How EMD Millipore Water Systems Let Work Flow in the Laboratory
How EMD Millipore Water Systems Let Work Flow in the Laboratory
In today’s challenging economy where laboratories are being asked to “do more with less,” lab personnel are looking for ways to improve productivity. One often overlooked place to start is the water purification system found in almo