Tag Archives: Clean Rooms

March 20, 2008 — /ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, IL/ — Several new seminar topics will be offered to contamination control professionals at ESTECH 2008, the Institute of Environmental Sciences and Technology (IEST) 54th annual technical meeting and exposition. The meeting will take place May 4-7, 2008, at the Hilton Chicago/Indian Lakes Resort in Bloomingdale (Northwest Suburban Chicago), IL. The goal of ESTECH 2008 is to provide a base of understanding that will allow participants to enhance their skills while at the same time allowing for exposure to real-world experience and expertise.

Cleaning and analysis topics ranging from a study of the effectiveness of surface vacuum cleaning on a large range of particle sizes to the possible dissolving of filters by liquid CO2 in an automated CO2 cleaning system will be discussed in the seminar “Surface Cleaning and Contamination Analysis.” Additional topics include wiper performance and plasma surface preparation for cleaning prior to a bonding process.

The Microbiology seminar will cover microbial monitoring methods for testing and qualifying controlled environments for medical product manufacturing. Recommendations for types, frequency, and levels of testing will be reviewed. In addition, the methods for microbial identification commonly employed will be discussed and compared with recommendations as to which methods are more appropriate in different situations.

Another new seminar offered to attendees this year is “Cleanroom Flame Resistant Garment Testing and Validation.” This seminar will discuss the development of flame resistant fiber and fabric for cleanroom FR garments and the manufacture and testing of cleanroom FR garments.

Successful design and operation of cleanrooms can sometimes be impaired or improved by simple, but overlooked, issues or concepts. The seminar “Cleanroom Design Secrets Revealed” will feature industry-leading speakers discussing basic to advanced techniques, case studies, and practical solutions being used in successful, high-performance cleanrooms. Their experience covers a number of industries including healthcare, pharmaceutical, biotech, aerospace, academic and research, nanotechnology, and semiconductor manufacturing. Attendees at all levels will gain exceptional exposure to practical concepts, techniques, and know-how from these cleanroom professionals.

A number of other contamination topics will be discussed by industry experts. Additional seminar topics include filters, electrostatic discharge, USP <797>, time dependent haze, and nanotechnology.

Visit: www.iest.org

March 24 — /WASHINGTON/ — Investigators have moved closer to understanding how a widely used blood thinner killed as many as 19 Americans, identifying the chemical that tainted the heparin products. Meanwhile, the American companies that made heparin and its main ingredient blamed suppliers from China for the contamination.

The Food and Drug Administration states that the chemical was a kind of souped-up version of a compound commonly used to treat arthritic joints. The chemical — over-sulfated chondroitin sulfate — is not approved for use in prescription drugs sold in the United States, and it doesn’t normally figure in the production of heparin, FDA officials say.

“It should not be in heparin and, obviously, it should not be in the form that it is in,” Dr. Janet Woodcock, director of FDA’s drug division said in a conference call with reporters.

Now that they’ve identified the substance, investigators are trying to determine whether it caused the more than 700 reports of serious side effects in heparin users, and whether it was introduced deliberately into heparin products.

As much as half of the main ingredient in suspect heparin supplies was found to be the contaminant. That chemical looks like the main ingredient in heparin and acts like it during routine quality testing. It was made by chemically treating the compound normally used to treat joint pain, FDA officials say.

That compound — chondroitin sulfate — is structurally similar to heparin and shares some of the same blood-thinning properties, but is not used for that purpose, says Stuart T. Haines, a professor at the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy who specializes in the proper use of drugs. The chemical is often made from shark, squid, and other fish, Haines says.

Heparin’s main ingredient usually comes from pig intestines that are crushed and then purified. China is the world’s leading supplier. The ingredient is shipped to the United States for processing into finished heparin products.

Although they won’t go so far as to place blame on heparin suppliers in China, FDA officials say they’re working with Chinese authorities on determining how the contaminant got into shipments. They said additional supplies from the Changzhou, China, plant that supplied the main ingredient to the recalled heparin products were found to have the contaminant.

Scientific Protein Laboratories, which partly owns the Changzhou plant and sold the main ingredient used in the recalled heparin products, says contamination occurred somewhere along its chain of Chinese suppliers. The Waunakee, WI, company issued a press release saying its testing showed that the raw materials it received were tainted.

The company is recalling all of its heparin ingredients made from materials provided by Chinese suppliers whose goods tested positive for the contaminant.

Baxter International Inc. of Deerfield, IL, recalled most of its heparin products last month after some were linked to hundreds of reports of serious side effects, including quickening heartbeats, nausea, and dizziness. Baxter issued its own statement that also attributed the contamination to Chinese suppliers.

The recall has triggered a worldwide investigation and deepened concerns about the safety and quality of imports from China. Senator Edward M. Kennedy of Massachusetts called on FDA to get from drug companies the names of their suppliers now that the contaminant has been identified.

March 18, 2008 — /BUSINESS WIRE/ — LIVERMORE, CA — Adept Technology, Inc. (NASDAQ:ADEP), the leading provider of intelligent automation software for motion and vision-guided robotics systems and services, announces that its automation software, robotics, and system products have been selected by SLS Solar Line Saxony as standard products for their automation equipment for solar cell production. SLS was established as a joint venture between Roth & Rau AG (Hohenstein-Ernstthal, Germany) and USK Karl Utz Sondermaschinen (Limbach Oberfrohna, Germany) to accelerate the production of standard technology products for the manufacturer of solar cells.

Adept’s automation products, which include its motion control and machine vision software as well as its Quattro robotic systems, will enable SLS to standardize development and delivery of its solar production products and will be a crucial part of the assembly line for the manufacturing of crystalline silicon cells. These assembly lines will be shipped worldwide by Roth & Rau AG, a market leader in turnkey systems.

“We compared a variety of robot solutions and vetted them to our needs in the solar industry. We chose Adept and the Quattro robotic, as it enables our systems to achieve unprecedented performance,” says Karsten Barth, CEO of the newly founded SLS GmbH.

“It is clear from the overwhelming acceptance we’ve seen for the Adept Quattro robots that our close work with our clients during the product design phase and subsequent integration was right on track,” says John Dulchinos, president of Adept Technology, Inc. “The speed and reach advantages of the four arm Quattro design are obvious. The demand for the latest technology using vision guidance for fast, precise motion is key for manufacturers of solar wafers and solar cells, as they adopt new manufacturing equipment to maximize production throughput. This in turn allows our clients to also reduce costs of the photovoltaic components, increasing their competitiveness in the Solar marketplace. The Adept Quattro s650 robot is leading the way in the manufacturing of cost-effective solar cells and panels for the expanding global solar marketplace.”

The Adept Quattro s650 robot, first introduced by Adept in 2007 using a unique four arm Parallel kinematic, offers major advantages over the traditional three arm Delta style kinematic. As is the case with most other robots from Adept, the amplifiers are in the base of the robots. Since the official launch of the Adept Quattro, over 200 systems have been sold.

About Adept Technology, Inc.

Adept is a global, leading provider of intelligent automation software for motion and vision-guided robotics systems and services that enable customers to achieve precision, speed, quality, and productivity in their assembly, handling, packaging, testing, and other automated processes. With a comprehensive portfolio of high-performance motion controllers, application development software, vision-guidance technology, and high-reliability robot mechanisms, Adept provides specialized, cost-effective robotics systems and services to high-growth markets including packaged goods, life sciences, disk drive/electronics, and semiconductor/solar, as well as to traditional industrial markets including machine tool automation and automotive components.

Visit www.adept.com

March 17, 2008 — /FDA/ — Commissioner of Food and Drugs Dr. Andrew C. von Eschenbach announced March 10, after a national search, the appointment of Janet Woodcock, M.D., as director of the agency’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research.

This appointment is of significance because CDER is charged with assuring that safe and effective drugs, including prescription, over-the-counter, and generics, are available to Americans.

“Dr. Woodcock’s outstanding scientific credentials and historical knowledge of the complexities involved in drug safety and regulation make her uniquely qualified to oversee, as well as modernize, the techniques, tools, and methods used for evaluating the safety and effectiveness of drugs throughout the product life-cycle,” says Dr. von Eschenbach.

A prominent FDA scientist and executive, Dr. Woodcock has received numerous awards, including a Presidential Rank Meritorious Executive Award, the American Medical Association’s Nathan Davis Award, the American Association for Cancer Research Public Service Award, the National Organization for Rare Disorders Public Health Leadership Award, the Personalized Medicine Coalition’s Award for Leadership in Personalized Medicine, the National Alliance for Hispanic Health’s VIDA Award, and six special citations from FDA commissioners.

Dr. Woodcock received her doctorate from Northwestern Medical School and completed further training and held teaching appointments at the Pennsylvania State University and the University of California in San Francisco.

Throughout her career at the FDA, Dr. Woodcock has played an integral role in advancing the health of the American public. Under her strong leadership, FDA launched the Critical Path Initiative designed to bridge the gap between basic scientific research and the medical product development process. This initiative called for a collaborative cross-sector effort to modernize the drug development process and has resulted in several prominent partnerships looking at a wide variety of scientific issues. Dr. Woodcock will continue to be involved in this initiative, as well as the emerging post-market surveillance collaborations with the private sector.

While serving as the agency’s deputy commissioner and chief medical officer, where she oversaw scientific and regulatory operations, Dr. Woodcock agreed to assume the role of acting director of CDER in October 2007. The recently announced Safety First program is one of the initiatives she has led since assuming the center director role in an acting capacity.

“Dr. Woodcock’s exemplary service since October was confirmation of her being ideally suited to lead the center during this crucial period following the passage of the Food and Drug Administration Amendments Act of 2007,” notes Dr. von Eschenbach. “The agency is fully committed to implementing the drug safety programs laid out by this act and meeting the goals set under the Prescription Drug User Fee program, which will help ensure that CDER has the additional resources that are needed to conduct these very complex and comprehensive reviews.”

An internist and rheumatologist, Dr. Woodcock has previously held several other leadership positions in the agency, including director, Office of Therapeutics Research and Review, and acting deputy director, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, as well as director of CDER.

“The FDA is truly blessed to have extraordinary public servants like Janet who are willing to use their skills and talents to guide the centers in achieving the agency’s mission of protecting and promoting the public health,” notes Dr. von Eschenbach.

Visit www.fda.gov

March 12, 2008 — /PRNewswire/ — PHILADELPHIA, PA — Isogen announced it will introduce new solutions to address the pharmaceutical industry’s long-standing process, facility, and capacity problems associated with the low-volume clinical and early-stage commercial sterile filling market at INTERPHEX 2008. Isogen participates in the parenteral dose contract manufacturing sector, which comprises a $2 billion segment of the overall $40 billion pharmaceutical industry outsourcing market. Pharmaceutical companies are confronted with fundamental constraints that directly impact issues of time-to-market and patient access to life saving drugs. The existing paradigm of spending tens or hundreds of millions of dollars and waiting years to build additional sterile filling capacity to address the clinical and early commercial capacity needs of large pipelines, including many orphan drugs, is exacerbated by the need to cope with the potential instantaneous skyrocketing capacity demand for drugs and vaccines associated with future pandemic or bioterrorism events.

Pharmaceutical firms have few viable options to address these issues, and each “solution” presents significant drawbacks. Building new commercial sterile filling lines for clinical fills in-house is cost prohibitive. Large contract fillers have no financial incentive to service clinical volume size projects, while small specialist clinical fillers lack the necessary expertise and equipment to adequately deliver against a pharmaceutical company’s complex needs.

“Isogen was founded to specifically address the process, facility, and capacity problems commonly associated with the highly niched, low volume clinical and early stage commercial sterile filling market segment,” says Isogen CEO and co-founder Les Edwards. “Companies can easily spend upwards of $100 million and expect to take at least 4 years to develop sterile manufacturing capacity, but they are highly reluctant to do this until they are certain the candidate drug will receive regulatory approval. Isogen will accommodate vial, syringe, or lyophilized vial fills ranging from a few hundred to tens or hundreds of thousands on the same equipment, with common validation and document packages, while setting new industry standards for sterility and containment assurance,” says Edwards. “As a result, Isogen enables customers to plan clinical and market launches of single or multiple therapeutics at the same time while dramatically reducing costs and risks that are inherently associated with other in-house and outsourced alternatives,” adds COO and co-founder Austin McDonald.

“With significant help from Delaware and New Castle County government leaders, Isogen’s new facility will be functional in 2009 and be fully operational early in 2010,” says McDonald. “Isogen’s outsourced processes and infrastructure will provide rapid, reliable sterile filling solutions for small clinical through early commercial batches using proprietary formulation, validation, and filling equipment standards and practices in dedicated advanced barrier isolation environments.”

Isogen leverages proprietary state-of-the-art barrier isolation technology to provide best-in-class sterile processing for potent and non-potent compounds. Isogen facilities feature multiple standalone filling suites for liquids and lyophilized products in batch sizes from a few hundred to 30,000 vials or 100,000 syringes. Isogen’s world-class technical team provides support services for sterile fill operations including formulation, technology transfer, validation studies, and regulatory submissions.

About Isogen

Isogen is the leader in advanced sterile manufacturing for potent and non-potent therapeutics for the critical clinical/commercial scale manufacturing transition. Isogen provides a fully integrated suite of services including formulation, technology transfer and validation services for the contract filling of liquids, and lyophilized formulations for vaccines, mAbs, and other synthetic and biologically derived therapeutics. Isogen delivers critical full service resources to pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical manufacturers seeking solutions in advanced sterile filling including clinical and transitional contract filling, formulation/validation based analytical laboratory services, and advanced sterile fill line/equipment design and GMP project management.

March 12, 2008 — /PRWEB/ — ROCHESTER, NY — PKG Equipment, Inc. has just received exclusive authorization to use HY-PRO flame retardant clad polypropylene to manufacture process equipment. PKG Equipment has been fabricating process equipment from various thermoplastics for over 30 years, but this new capability allows PKG to offer plastic fabrications that require some flame retardant provisions without the expense associated with solid flame retardant sheet.

HY-PRO was developed by Allegheny Plastics, but Siemens Corp. currently owns the trademark and rights to HY-PRO. It is co-extruded polypropylene sheet with an impact resistant copolymer polypropylene core and two outer protective layers of .090-inch thick flame retardant copolymer polypropylene. HY-PRO offers the superior weld ability, toughness, and strength of the copolymer polypropylene core with flame retardant skins on the outside faces. Butt welds are made by machine hot blade fusion welds or by using full penetration welds with natural copolymer polypropylene welding rod. The only non flame retardant areas in fabricated parts are the exposed edges and weld seams which are a very small percentage of the total surface area.

While this material has flame retardant outer protective layers, it is not represented as having the equivalent burning characteristics as solid flame retardant sheet. It is an economical alternative with superior physical properties. The flame retardant skins protect the copolymer core from ignition from weld splatter, burning droplets, electrical arching, and more. Typical applications for HY-PRO polypropylene include, but are not limited to, fume exhaust hoods, duct work, tank covers, and scrubber bodies.

About PKG Equipment

PKG Equipment is a family owned manufacturer and service provider of wet and dry process equipment typically used in the plating, chemical manufacturing, steel manufacturing, pharmaceutical manufacturing, and glass manufacturing industries. Established in 1969, the company offers complete turn-key service from design to installation and start-up. PKG is a unique manufacturing company with the ability to fabricate equipment from various metals and thermoplastics.

Visit www.pkgequipment.com

March 11, 2008 — /PRNewswire/ — ST. FLORIAN, AUSTRIA — EV Group (EVG), a leading supplier of wafer bonding and lithography equipment for the MEMS, nanotechnology, and semiconductor markets, announces that Austrian technology research company NanoTecCenter Weiz Forschungsgesellschaft mbH (NTC Weiz) has purchased an EVG620 precision alignment system for installation in its new R&D facility focused on organic/plastic electronics. NTC Weiz will use the EVG620 system to align and expose coated organic substrates for advanced applications. This purchase, NTC Weiz’s first from EV Group, gives EVG further access to the latest developments in the semiconductor and broader electronics markets while strengthening the company’s ties with the European research community.

According to Professor Emil List, scientific managing director at NTC Weiz, “Our new R&D cleanroom will be focused on next-generation organic semiconductor technology, one of the fastest growing areas of the electronics industry, and one with the greatest potential for yielding paradigm-shifting products. To ensure the highest quality results, we need state-of-the-art equipment for this new line. Our competitive evaluation, together with EVG’s reputation for innovative yet reliable systems and solutions, convinced us that they are the ideal partner for our latest research venture.”

Its high throughput, tool flexibility, and modular design have made the EVG620 one of EV Group’s most popular mask aligners, with a significant number of installations at customer sites around the world. The precision alignment system also allows for imprint processes with stamps and substrates from small, chip-size pieces to 6-inch (150-mm) wafers. EVG’s proprietary chuck design, which supports both soft and hard stamps, provides uniform contact force for high-yield, large-area printing. Configurations for nanotechnology applications can include release mechanisms for stamps, in addition to programmable high and low contact force, as well as in-situ fine alignment.

“As a leading R&D organization chartered with driving research efforts in the nanotechnology arena, NTC Weiz is well positioned to utilize our EVG620 mask aligner to maximum benefit,” says Alois Malzer, product manager for mask aligners at EVG. “The system’s flexibility and extendibility enable its use for a variety of applications, and we look forward to playing an enabling role in NTC Weiz’s organic semiconductor technology research and development efforts.”

About NanoTecCenter Weiz

Founded in 2006, the NTC Weiz is a nonprofit research company located in Weiz, Austria, funded 50 percent each by the Graz University of Technology and JOANNEUM RESEARCH Forschungsgesellschaft mbH. NTC Weiz conducts research and development work in the area of nanoscience and nanotechnology. In its main R&D focus are the development and application of nanostructured materials, as well as the development of processes and devices in the fields of optoelectronics, sensorics, and nanoanalytics.

The activities range from mission oriented research, scientific services, process, and product development in cooperation with national and international partners to technological coaching for large, medium, and small enterprises.

The NTC Weiz operates a cleanroom with an area of 150-square meters and a gray room of 145-square meters, the latter also being easily expandable to a cleanroom. The facilities integrate a modular pilot and demonstration fabrication line including an inert glove box cluster for thin-film deposition both by evaporation and by solution-processing, state-of-the-art, industrial inkjet printers, a most-modern e-beam lithography, a photolithography cluster, including the EVG620 precision alignment system, an integrated wet bench for solution-based processing, an atomic force microscopy, various optical microscopes, a well-equipped chemistry laboratory, as well as state-of-the-art lab equipment for the electrical characterization of various devices under different conditions.

The NTC Weiz develops sensor and device concepts by combining profound solid-state physics and advanced materials scientific know-how with industrial scalable processing, characterization and device fabrication experience.

Visit www.ntc-weiz.at

About EV Group

EV Group is a world leader in wafer processing solutions for semiconductor, MEMS, and nanotechnology applications. Through close collaboration with its global customers, the company implements its flexible manufacturing model to develop reliable, high-quality, low-cost-of-ownership systems that are easily integrated into customers’ fab lines. Key products include wafer bonding, lithography/nanoimprint lithography, and metrology equipment, as well as photoresist coaters, cleaners, and inspection systems.

In addition to its dominant share of the market for wafer bonders, EVG holds a leading position in NIL and lithography for advanced packaging and MEMS. Along these lines, the company co-founded the EMC-3D consortium in 2006 to create and help drive implementation of a cost-effective through-silicon via (TSV) process for chip packaging and MEMS/sensors. Other target semiconductor-related markets include silicon-on-insulator, compound semiconductor, and silicon-based power-device solutions.

Founded in 1980, EVG is headquartered in St. Florian, Austria and operates via a global customer support network, with subsidiaries in Tempe, AZ; Albany, NY; Yokohama and Fukuoka, Japan; and Chung-Li, Taiwan. The company’s vertical infrastructure allows EVG to respond quickly to new technology developments, apply the technology to manufacturing challenges, and expedite device manufacturing in high volume.

Visit www.evgroup.com

March 11, 2008 — /PRNewswire/ — GOLDEN, CO — The U.S. Patent Office has awarded Dr. George Radziszewski a U.S. Patent (No. 7,342,664) for his revolutionary ChemiD Mini Lab, a miniature device that will identify chemical compounds on demand.

The ChemiD Mini Lab is designed to meet the critical need for an inexpensive, miniaturized analytical tool capable of rapidly and accurately detecting, identifying, and monitoring the concentration of chemical substances.

The ChemiD Mini Lab is a novel configuration of a fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometer for spectrochemical analysis. FTIR is an instrument that can detect and decipher the molecular “fingerprint” of any chemical compound. Current FTIR technology is large, cumbersome, and expensive.

“The ongoing hostilities in the Middle East and threats to homeland security underscore the need for an improved means of identifying explosives and toxic chemicals, so the market for such a device is enormous,” according to Dr. Radziszewski, founder and CEO of ChemiD Research, LLC. He goes on to state, “our device could also contribute to improvements in energy efficiency, indoor/outdoor air quality, and heighten the safety and security in millions of buildings worldwide.” Similarly, the medical community “will benefit from a greatly enhanced potential for conducting non-invasive blood and bodily fluids sampling.”

“Imagine every first responder and combat soldier with a handheld, chemical detecting, portable, and automatic lab costing less than $500,” says Dr. Radziszewski. The patent culminates years of extensive research. The ChemiD Mini Lab will be the smallest, least expensive, and most powerful device yet to be introduced. Capable of real-time detection and identification of explosives, chemicals, narcotics, and other airborne contaminants, Dr. Radziszewski’s patent could prove to be a commercial success.

Prototype testing will take several months, followed by the development of commercial packaging before units will be available.

With his device, Dr. Radziszewski envisions contribution to an improved quality of life, as consumers are able to determine potentially hazardous chemicals in their food and environment or perform non-invasive blood lab work as easily as they use a watch to tell time or read a thermometer to determine the temperature.

Visit www.chemid.com

March 11, 2008 — /PRNewswire/ — RONKONKOMA, NY — CVD Equipment Corporation (NASDAQ:CVV) completed the acquisition of a new 13,000-square foot building to facilitate the scale-up and commercialization of new products for the nano, solar, energy, and semiconductor fields.

“We have completed the acquisition of the new facility where we will be relocating and expanding our First Nano laboratory” states Leonard Rosenbaum, president of CVD. “The expansion and relocation will allow us to expand our installed equipment options to serve more customers, as well as to install and operate a range of pilot production equipment to accelerate the commercialization of novel nano and solar technologies. We see an increased need for commercialization help in the nano, solar, energy, and semiconductor fields from university/research, startup, and established companies. The relocation of our First Nano laboratory into larger quarters enables us to perform on multiple projects and to expand the capabilities of our current in-house process and equipment research.”

“As part of this expansion, we have also expanded our growing marketing and OEM supply relationship with Airgas Specialty Gases, a division of Airgas, Inc. (NYSE:ARG). We welcome the technical support and commitment of Airgas to help First Nano and our customers reach the commercialization stage faster. This is in line with our mission of enabling tomorrow’s technologies today.”

“Early involvement in the pilot production stage of a new commercialization effort helps to identify cost-saving opportunities and lower the risk to commercialization,” states Todd Morris, business manager for analytical markets and specialty gas equipment for Airgas, Inc. “We will help ensure that key gas supply sources and custom-developed process equipment are qualified and optimized together. The collaboration with First Nano is a further expansion of the successful ongoing marketing and OEM supplier-distributor relationship between Stainless Design Concepts, another division of CVD, and Airgas. The combined SDC/Airgas experience in designing and installing custom-engineered specialty gas distribution systems will be used to support emerging technology market segments.”

About First Nano, SDC, and CVD

First Nano and Stainless Design Concepts are both divisions of CVD Equipment Corporation. First Nano manufactures the Easy Tube equipment product line used by many researchers around the world for developing and growing a wide variety of next generation nanowire, nanotube, and thin film materials. Stainless Design Concepts manufactures ultra high purity gas and chemical delivery systems for state-of-the-art semiconductor fabrication processes. It offers complete gas and chemical delivery product lines ranging from cutting-edge to budget basic. CVD is a designer and manufacturer of standard and custom state-of-the-art equipment used in the development, design, and manufacture of advanced electronic components, materials, and coatings for research and industrial applications. CVD offers a broad range of chemical vapor deposition, gas control, quartzware, and other equipment that is used by its customers to research, design, and manufacture semiconductors, solar cells, carbon nanotubes, nanowires, LEDs, MEMS, industrial coatings, and equipment for surface mounting of components onto printed circuit boards.

Visit www.cvdequipment.com
www.firstnano.com
www.stainlessdesign.com

About Airgas, Inc. and Airgas Specialty Gases

Airgas, Inc., through its subsidiaries, is the largest U.S. distributor of industrial, medical, and specialty gases and related supplies. More than 14,000 employees work in over 1,100 locations, including branches, retail stores, gas fill plants, specialty gas labs, production facilities, and distribution centers. Airgas also distributes its products and services through eBusiness, catalog, and telesales channels. Its national scale and strong local presence offer a competitive edge to its diversified customer base.

The Airgas Specialty Gases infrastructure includes more than 65 national and regional specialty gas facilities that package pure gases and mixtures. More than two-thirds of the laboratories have been certified to the ISO 9001:2000 standard for quality management systems. Three facilities are accredited for the ISO 17025 standard for analytical laboratories. Airgas also assembles specialty gas equipment at its Engineering Solutions Centers and staffs a research and development center that designs unique solutions, such as 22 AcuGravTM computerized gas-mixing stations that automate the production of specialty gas mixtures, including calibration gases and EPA protocol gases.

Visit www.airgas.com

March 11, 2008 — /FDA/ — The Hartz Mountain Corporation is voluntarily recalling a second specific lot of Hartz Vitamin Care for Cats due to concerns that bottles within the lot may have been potentially contaminated with Salmonella. Hartz is fully cooperating with the US Food and Drug Administration in this voluntary recall. Hartz recalled a specific lot code of Hartz Vitamin Care for Cats last November due to similar concerns. Both lot codes were manufactured for Hartz by UFAC (USA) Inc. in 2007, and were removed from distribution last November. However, bottles from the second lot had been shipped to customers prior to their having been removed from distribution.

Salmonella is an organism which can cause serious infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems, all of whom are at particular risk from exposure and should avoid handling these products.

Salmonella symptoms may include fever, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and nausea in both cats and humans. Anyone experiencing the symptoms of Salmonella infection should seek immediate medical attention. Owners of cats exhibiting these symptoms should also seek veterinary assistance.

The product involved is 739 bottles of Hartz Vitamin Care for Cats, lot code SZ 22771, UPC number 32700-97701. While normal testing conducted by Hartz and UFAC has not revealed the presence of Salmonella in any Hartz products, recent sampling conducted by the FDA did detect the presence of Salmonella.

Although the company has not received any reports of animals or humans becoming ill as a result of coming into contact with this product, Hartz is taking immediate steps to recover this product from consumers. Cat owners should check the lot code on their bottles, and, if the code is not visible, or if the bottle has lot code SZ 22771 or lot code SZ-16371 imprinted thereon, they should immediately discontinue use of the product and discard it in a proper manner.

Consumers can contact Hartz at 1-800-275-1414 with any questions they may have and to obtain reimbursement for purchased product.

Visit www.fda.gov