To meet requirements in the modern laboratory, a robotic system needs to be flexible, fast, accessible and easily integrated.

The tiamo software project from Metrohm, integrates titrinos and titrandos, meters, dosinos, sample changers, robotic sample processors, etc, to form a complete system for laboratory analysis.

TRIlites, from Mapa Advantech, designed in a tri-polymer blend of neoprene, nitrile and natural rubber provide the comfort of latex exam gloves with added strength, tear resistance and chemical splash protection.

USON manufactures a blister pack leak detector to help pharmaceutical packers save production time and money by eliminating the destructive blue dye test commonly used throughout the industry.

The drying of small substances is a widely used process step in the laboratory and can be performed in a variety of different instruments.

Bibby Sterilin has launched a new range of Iwaki glass-based tissue culture and assay plates, combining the convenience of standard multiwell plates with the optical clarity of an ultra thin and uniform glass base ­ the perfect solution for highly sensitive fluorescence and confocal microscopy applications.

At a time of increasing concern about the risks of cross-contamination, Labcaire has introduced a hard surface disinfectant wipe ideally suited to cleaning laboratory instruments and disinfecting work areas.

Perhaps the strongest commercial argument for recovering and reusing solvents is the direct cost savings. In some processes, with intensive solvent use, the cost of the solvent can be a significant proportion of the overall product cost.

Whether a dissolution method is performed manually or automatically, the filter must be challenged in three primary areas: efficiency, adsorption and leachability.

Countries who have recently joined the EU will have to review their existing equipment and purchase of new autoclave equipment in relation to current requirements. Tony Collins reports.

Purify histidine-tagged or GST fusion proteins rapidly, gently and conveniently with magnetic particle technology.

Following on from the success of the TTP LabTech 488nm Acumen Explorer, the company has now launched a new model with a single violet (405nm) laser excitation source.

Vacuubrand's DVR 2 for the measuring range 1080 - 1 mbar with simultaneous analogue and digital measurement readouts combines a quick trend indication, an overview and a precise readout.

Thermo Electron Corporation's Nicolet Antaris IGS FT-IR gas analyser is designed for exceptional multi-component gas analysis.

If western and eastern European countries are at either end of a geographic spectrum, then their approaches to food science and technology are also at different ends of a spectrum ­ that of education and research.

Within the food industry, Groupe Danone is widely recognised for the dynamism and strength of its brands. Through its three core businesses ­ fresh dairy products, beverages, and cereal biscuits and snacks ­ the company often leads the way in setting trends in consumer tastes.

While food processing equipment can often be used for a variety of products, the whelk presents a unique set of problems, principally through its shape, and this means dedicated machines and designers.

Due to the trend of eating more convenience food, the demand for shortening in the baking industry is increasing.

REA has carried out extensive research in the sector of pasteurising cooked meats such as ham, salami, hotdogs and sausages in general. The result has led to the creation of a new tunnel system for pasteurising food using saturated steam.

Carl Zeiss has two new systems for the tobacco industry. The Corona NIR for At-line measurements in the field or laboratory and the ARMOR with MCS500 for on-line measurements on conveyor belts.