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Automated sample preparation: H-P award
IV
Automated sample preparation: award
trends in analytical chemistry,
Top instrument companies H-P
The Hewlett-Packard award for adsample vances in automated preparation has been presented to Jonathan S. Lindsey, Associate Professor of Chemistry at Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA. The award, comprising a commemorative plaque and a cheque for US$ 3000, was presented in Montreux, Switzerland during the Second International Symposium on Automation, Robotics and Artificial Intelligence Applied to Analytical Chemistry (23-26 February). Presenting the award, Brian D. Holden, a product manager for HewlettPackard’s Automated Chemical Systems Division, noted Dr. Lindsey’s outstanding work in developing elegant automation strategies for the study of synthetic chemistry. “His interest in the photochemical processes that occur in living systems has led him to develop chemical reactions for synthesising model systems where specific light-driven processes can be added,” said Holden. “The work in automation was motivated by a drive to investigate more fully and more rapidly chemical reactions that depend on a large number of reaction parameters, and also require the preparation and analysis of large numbers of samples.” The complexity of these reactions and the demands of preparing model systems prompted Dr. Lindsey to begin desystems for automated veloping synthetic chemistry. He started this work when he first joined the faculty at Carnegie Mellon in 1984; and although his motivation in developing automated workstations was originally quite specific, he now believes they will have a general application to a broad range of scientific problems. Dr. Lindsey was supported in his work by L. Andrew Corkan, also of Carnegie Mellon University, with whom he intends to share the prize.
PITTCON ‘93 hosts over 1,000 exhibitors, yet less than 50 have annual sales in excess of $100 million, according to Dr. Gordon Wilkinson of the intemational industry newsletter, Analytical Instrument Industry Report. Indeed, the seven leading equipment makers accounted for 40% to 45% of the $8 billion to $8.5 billion world analytical instrument market in 1992. Based on his analysis of 1992 revenues for over 450 analytical instrument and laboratory equipment firms world-wide, Wilkinson’s “Top Ten” is as follows: Top ten suppliers $ million . 750-800 Perkin-Elmer (US) . 650-700 Hewlett-Packard (US); Fisher Scientific (US) . 550-600 Shimadzu (J) . 450-500 Fisons Instruments (UK); Baxter (US); VWR (US) . 400-450 Beckman (US); Thermo Instrument (US) . 300-400 Hitachi (J) The “Top Ten” includes the world’s three largest lab equipment distributors - US-based Fisher, Baxter and VWR four US manufacturers (Perkin-Elmer, Hewlett-Packard, Beckman and Thermo Instrument Systems), the two leading suppliers to the Japanese market (Shimadzu and Hitachi) and only one European company, Fisons Istruments. On the day that Wilkinson’s “Industry Scoreboard - 1993” appeared, 18th February, industry leader Perkin-Elmer completed its acquisition of Applied Biosystems, a move which pushed its annualised revenues to well over $1 billion. One newcomer to the “Top Ten” this year is the most acquisitive company in the industry, Therm0 Instrument Systems. The firm bought FTIR leader Nicolet in 1992 and has just acquired Spectra-Physics Analytical and merged it with LDC Analytical to create a $90 million HPLC business. Commenting on 1992, Wilkinson ob-
vol. 12, no. 3, 1993
serves that, “for most companies, sales slowed as the global recession continued to affect capital spending. Large and small companies suffered most, with a number of small businesses being forced to close. Medium-sized firms, with international distribution and the ability to respond quickly to market changes, generally achieved better profitability”. Companies selling lab supplies and consumables, “on average, fared better than equipment makers”. For more information, call (+44) 342-323382, fax (+44)342-315939.
Chemicals of environmental relevance The “Advisory Committee on Existing Chemicals of Environmental Relevfur (Beratergremium ance” umweltrelevante Altstoffe, BUA) was established by the German Chemical Society (GDCh) in 1982 in collaboration with the scientific community, chemical industry and the federal government. Under the leadership of BUA chairman Professor Dr. Ernst Bayer (University of Ttibingen), this committee assumed the task of elaborating a scientific basis for tackling the problems of environmental relevance evoked by existing chemicals. Chemical, physical, ecological, toxicological and ecotoxicological data of more than 130 chemicals have now been compiled and evaluated, and BUA may claim considerable success in the area of substance evaluation and assessment as well as in the development of usable strategies for setting priorities. A new brochure published by the GDCh explains the work of BUA and will aid all those concerned with solving the difficult and extensive problems involving chemicals which affect the environment. For more information in English or German, contact the GDCh, Dr. Heinz Behret, Phone -t-69/79 17 363, or fax +69/19 11 322.
Automated sample preparation: award
trends in analytical chemistry,
Top instrument companies H-P
The Hewlett-Packard award for adsample vances in automated preparation has been presented to Jonathan S. Lindsey, Associate Professor of Chemistry at Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA. The award, comprising a commemorative plaque and a cheque for US$ 3000, was presented in Montreux, Switzerland during the Second International Symposium on Automation, Robotics and Artificial Intelligence Applied to Analytical Chemistry (23-26 February). Presenting the award, Brian D. Holden, a product manager for HewlettPackard’s Automated Chemical Systems Division, noted Dr. Lindsey’s outstanding work in developing elegant automation strategies for the study of synthetic chemistry. “His interest in the photochemical processes that occur in living systems has led him to develop chemical reactions for synthesising model systems where specific light-driven processes can be added,” said Holden. “The work in automation was motivated by a drive to investigate more fully and more rapidly chemical reactions that depend on a large number of reaction parameters, and also require the preparation and analysis of large numbers of samples.” The complexity of these reactions and the demands of preparing model systems prompted Dr. Lindsey to begin desystems for automated veloping synthetic chemistry. He started this work when he first joined the faculty at Carnegie Mellon in 1984; and although his motivation in developing automated workstations was originally quite specific, he now believes they will have a general application to a broad range of scientific problems. Dr. Lindsey was supported in his work by L. Andrew Corkan, also of Carnegie Mellon University, with whom he intends to share the prize.
PITTCON ‘93 hosts over 1,000 exhibitors, yet less than 50 have annual sales in excess of $100 million, according to Dr. Gordon Wilkinson of the intemational industry newsletter, Analytical Instrument Industry Report. Indeed, the seven leading equipment makers accounted for 40% to 45% of the $8 billion to $8.5 billion world analytical instrument market in 1992. Based on his analysis of 1992 revenues for over 450 analytical instrument and laboratory equipment firms world-wide, Wilkinson’s “Top Ten” is as follows: Top ten suppliers $ million . 750-800 Perkin-Elmer (US) . 650-700 Hewlett-Packard (US); Fisher Scientific (US) . 550-600 Shimadzu (J) . 450-500 Fisons Instruments (UK); Baxter (US); VWR (US) . 400-450 Beckman (US); Thermo Instrument (US) . 300-400 Hitachi (J) The “Top Ten” includes the world’s three largest lab equipment distributors - US-based Fisher, Baxter and VWR four US manufacturers (Perkin-Elmer, Hewlett-Packard, Beckman and Thermo Instrument Systems), the two leading suppliers to the Japanese market (Shimadzu and Hitachi) and only one European company, Fisons Istruments. On the day that Wilkinson’s “Industry Scoreboard - 1993” appeared, 18th February, industry leader Perkin-Elmer completed its acquisition of Applied Biosystems, a move which pushed its annualised revenues to well over $1 billion. One newcomer to the “Top Ten” this year is the most acquisitive company in the industry, Therm0 Instrument Systems. The firm bought FTIR leader Nicolet in 1992 and has just acquired Spectra-Physics Analytical and merged it with LDC Analytical to create a $90 million HPLC business. Commenting on 1992, Wilkinson ob-
vol. 12, no. 3, 1993
serves that, “for most companies, sales slowed as the global recession continued to affect capital spending. Large and small companies suffered most, with a number of small businesses being forced to close. Medium-sized firms, with international distribution and the ability to respond quickly to market changes, generally achieved better profitability”. Companies selling lab supplies and consumables, “on average, fared better than equipment makers”. For more information, call (+44) 342-323382, fax (+44)342-315939.
Chemicals of environmental relevance The “Advisory Committee on Existing Chemicals of Environmental Relevfur (Beratergremium ance” umweltrelevante Altstoffe, BUA) was established by the German Chemical Society (GDCh) in 1982 in collaboration with the scientific community, chemical industry and the federal government. Under the leadership of BUA chairman Professor Dr. Ernst Bayer (University of Ttibingen), this committee assumed the task of elaborating a scientific basis for tackling the problems of environmental relevance evoked by existing chemicals. Chemical, physical, ecological, toxicological and ecotoxicological data of more than 130 chemicals have now been compiled and evaluated, and BUA may claim considerable success in the area of substance evaluation and assessment as well as in the development of usable strategies for setting priorities. A new brochure published by the GDCh explains the work of BUA and will aid all those concerned with solving the difficult and extensive problems involving chemicals which affect the environment. For more information in English or German, contact the GDCh, Dr. Heinz Behret, Phone -t-69/79 17 363, or fax +69/19 11 322.