Compiled by Steve Smith

Looks like lab-on-a-chip latching on

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz.-According to research conducted by In-Stat (www.in-stat.com), companies are increasingly developing lab-on-a-chip products despite increased competition and alternative technologies. In making inroads within the MEMS industry, In-Stat predicts that lab-on-a-chip revenues will increase at a compound annual growth rate of 31.2 percent through 2008, with unit shipments nearly quadrupling over the period. According to In-Stat analyst Marlene Bourne, “Key applications [for lab-on-a-chip] include life science research as well as point-of-care diagnostics. The real application to keep an eye on, however, is the emerging field of clinical diagnostics. Here, lab-on-a-chip will allow physicians to diagnose infectious diseases, or even certain cancers, much more rapidly than they’re able to now.”

Pilot and production-scale purchase

EAST HILLS, N.Y.-Pall Corp. (www.pall.com) has acquired Euroflow (Stroud, U.K.), one of the world’s leading manufacturers of pilot and production-scale chromatography columns for the biotechnology industry. Pall had held exclusive global marketing and distribution rights to Euroflow chromatography columns and associated technologies since 2002. Pall chairman and CEO Eric Karsnoff says, “We are responding to the industry’s request for integrated systems solutions for purification technologies, from development through large-scale production.” Pall claims that its Total Fluid Management approach will help customers meet productivity, quality and regulatory requirements at the lowest cost of ownership.

ESD education

ROME, N.Y.-Courses for the ESD Association’s (www.esda.org) Certified Professional-Program Manager and Certified Professional-Device/Design are now available. With more than 25 education opportunities this year, ESD says certification can be completed in two years or less. Courses include: Cleanroom Considerations; Air Ionization: Issues and Answers; ESD Basics; How To’s of In-Plant ESD Auditing and Evaluation Measurements; ESD Program Development and Assessment; ESD Standards; ESD Packaging Principles; ESD Device/Design Seminar; Device Technology and FA Overview; Electrostatic Calculations. A complete schedule can be found at the ESD Association’s Web site.

Worthwhile Web works

GAITHERSBURG, Md. and WATERTOWN, Mass.-The National Environmental Balancing Bureau (NEBB; www.nebb.org) sound and vibration committee has completed a new, suggested, long-form sound and vibration (S&V) specification that can be viewed and copied from the NEBB Web site. The new S&V specification, says NEBB, is consistent with such industry formats as the Construction Specifications Institute (CS) and MasterSpec. Sections on S&V measurement include step-by-step procedures to ensure clarity of tasks and uniformity of outcomes. Meanwhile, Ionics Inc. (www.ionics.com), a water purification and wastewater treatment company, has a redesigned Web site that it says allows for easier access to information on the company’s products, plus a selection of downloadable technical papers, case studies, feature articles, and data sheets. Among its offerings, Ionics supplies zero-liquid-discharge systems to provide ultrapure water for the power and microelectronics industries.