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Cantel reports strong rise in net income
NEWS tration gradients but instead by light. Their system consists of a bilayer lipid membrane containing what they refer to as ‘shuttle’ molecules which are soluble within the membrane, but not in the aqueous solution on either side. This molecule (through the addition and removal of electrons) binds calcium ions at the outer surface of the membrane. The molecule then takes the ions across the membrane and releases them at the inner surface of the membrane. The ions, which cannot remain in the lipid environment, then enter the aqueous solution inside the cell. The transport process is controlled by a special molecule in the membrane known as an ‘artificial reaction centre’. Based on molecules used in biological photosynthesis, the reaction centre molecule is placed across the membrane and donates and reabsorbs electrons at opposite ends in response to light.
EMLab receives CAL ELAP accreditation Environmental Microbiology Laboratory Inc (EMLab) of San Bruno, California, USA, has announced that it is now recognized by the California Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program (CAL ELAP). ELAP provides evaluation and accreditation of environmental testing laboratories to ensure the quality of analytical data used for regulatory purposes to meet the requirements of the state’s food, drinking water, wastewater, shellfish and hazardous waste programmes. State agencies, which monitor the environment, use the analytical data from these accredited laboratories. “In an aggressive effort to continually improve our standards, we have recently received our accreditation with ELAP for the total coliform and E. coli methods using the Colisure methodology for potable water,” said Mark Wallin, EMLab’s Laboratory Manager. He also indicated that the laboratory would also soon include the MPN methodology for total
Membrane Technology January 2003
coliforms and faecal coliforms, faecal streptococci and enterococci in potable water, surface water and wastewater, and that it is in the process of taking the proficiency testing for the membrane filtration for these colonies in potable water, surface water, and wastewater, along with the Heterotrophic Plate Count method. The California Environmental Laboratory Improvement Act took effect on 1 January 1989. It established within the Department of Health Services an accreditation programme for environmental health laboratories. For more information, contact: Environmental Microbiology Laboratory Inc, 1150 Bayhill Drive, Suite 100, San Bruno, CA 94066, USA. Tel: +1 650 829 5800, Fax: +1 650 829 5852.
Cantel reports strong rise in net income For its first quarter ended 31 October 2002, US-based healthcare company Cantel Medical Corp has reported net income of US$1.3 million, an increase of 65% compared with net income of US$0.8 million for the quarter ended 31 October 2001. The company posted sales of US$28.4 million for the threemonth period, compared with US$21.2 million for the quarter ended 31 October 2001. James Reilly, president and chief executive officer of Cantel, commented: “The improvement in first quarter results was partially driven by the inclusion of the Minntech operations for the entire quarter, compared with the previous year’s period, when these operations were included only from the date of the acquisition in September 2001.” Minntech develops, manufactures and markets medical devices, sterilants, and water purification products. Reilly says that the company is committed to continued growth through internal development and acquisitions. Furthermore, with the recent addition of Seth Segel as senior vice president, corporate development, Reilly is
optimistic about the possibility of further acquisitions. The first quarter was also favourably affected by improved results for Carsen, the company’s Canadian subsidiary. Cantel provides infection prevention and control products, specialized medical device reprocessing systems and sterilants, diagnostic imaging and therapeutic medical equipment that focuses mainly on endoscopy, hollow fibre membrane filtration and separation technologies for medical and non-medical applications, and scientific instrumentation. For more information, contact: Cantel Medical Corp, 150 Clove Road, Little Falls, NJ 07424, USA. Tel: +1 973 890 7220, Fax: +1 973 471 0054.
Californians approve ‘Proposition 50’ During the fourth quarter of 2002, voters in California, USA approved ‘Proposition 50’, which will reduce water pollution, protect drinking water quality, clean up beach pollution and ensure a stable, reliable, secure water supply for the state, according to reports published in the US press. ‘Proposition 50’ provides US$1.08 billion in funding to California water agencies. Orange County Water District (OCWD), which carries out wide-ranging work in water research, monitoring, treatment and production, has the opportunity to apply for grant funding in many areas of the water bond. Funding is available for facility security upgrades; water purification membranes research; land purchases for natural wetlands treatment facilities to improve Santa Ana River water quality; updating regional water management plans to better use Orange County’s groundwater basin; and the development of new sources of water, including water reclamation and desalination projects. For more information, contact: Orange County Water District, 10500 Ellis Avenue, Fountain Valley, CA 92708, USA. Tel: +1 714 378 3228, Web: www.ocwd.com.
In Brief Gradipore further strengthens board Australian biotechnology company Gradipore says that its board has been strengthened further with the appointment of Dr John Eady as non-executive director. Dr Eady brings to Gradipore a mix of skills and experience fundamental to the company’s current focus on deriving commercial benefit from its science and technology. Dr Eady is currently chairman of Ambri Ltd, a newly listed biotechnology company that is also in the process of commercializing its intellectual property. Membrane separates optical isomers A research group based at Seikei University in Japan has developed a way of separating optical isomers by passing them through a cellulose membrane covered with molecules of DNA, according to a report in The Nikkei Business Daily. The membrane itself is around 3 cm in diameter and 0.1 mm thick. The holes in the membrane can be formed with diameters ranging from 1.5 to 3 nm. When the holes are smaller than 2 nm in diameter, DNA molecules remain on the surfaces of the membrane, and D-type isomers pass through the membrane in amounts 60% greater than L-type isomers. When they are larger than 2 nm, DNA molecules line the passages in the membrane and encourage L-type isomers to pass in amounts 20% greater than Dtype isomers. Inge signs two distribution contracts During the ‘4th International Exhibition on Membrane and Water Treatment Technology & Equipment’, which was held in late 2003 in Beijing, China, German company Inge AG signed a distribution contract with Spring Membrane Technology in Nanjing, and Beijing Landi Technology Co Ltd of Beijing. Inge, a producer of membranes and modules for the treatment of drinking, process and wastewater, says that these partners will help it open up the Chinese market place.
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EMLab receives CAL ELAP accreditation Environmental Microbiology Laboratory Inc (EMLab) of San Bruno, California, USA, has announced that it is now recognized by the California Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program (CAL ELAP). ELAP provides evaluation and accreditation of environmental testing laboratories to ensure the quality of analytical data used for regulatory purposes to meet the requirements of the state’s food, drinking water, wastewater, shellfish and hazardous waste programmes. State agencies, which monitor the environment, use the analytical data from these accredited laboratories. “In an aggressive effort to continually improve our standards, we have recently received our accreditation with ELAP for the total coliform and E. coli methods using the Colisure methodology for potable water,” said Mark Wallin, EMLab’s Laboratory Manager. He also indicated that the laboratory would also soon include the MPN methodology for total
Membrane Technology January 2003
coliforms and faecal coliforms, faecal streptococci and enterococci in potable water, surface water and wastewater, and that it is in the process of taking the proficiency testing for the membrane filtration for these colonies in potable water, surface water, and wastewater, along with the Heterotrophic Plate Count method. The California Environmental Laboratory Improvement Act took effect on 1 January 1989. It established within the Department of Health Services an accreditation programme for environmental health laboratories. For more information, contact: Environmental Microbiology Laboratory Inc, 1150 Bayhill Drive, Suite 100, San Bruno, CA 94066, USA. Tel: +1 650 829 5800, Fax: +1 650 829 5852.
Cantel reports strong rise in net income For its first quarter ended 31 October 2002, US-based healthcare company Cantel Medical Corp has reported net income of US$1.3 million, an increase of 65% compared with net income of US$0.8 million for the quarter ended 31 October 2001. The company posted sales of US$28.4 million for the threemonth period, compared with US$21.2 million for the quarter ended 31 October 2001. James Reilly, president and chief executive officer of Cantel, commented: “The improvement in first quarter results was partially driven by the inclusion of the Minntech operations for the entire quarter, compared with the previous year’s period, when these operations were included only from the date of the acquisition in September 2001.” Minntech develops, manufactures and markets medical devices, sterilants, and water purification products. Reilly says that the company is committed to continued growth through internal development and acquisitions. Furthermore, with the recent addition of Seth Segel as senior vice president, corporate development, Reilly is
optimistic about the possibility of further acquisitions. The first quarter was also favourably affected by improved results for Carsen, the company’s Canadian subsidiary. Cantel provides infection prevention and control products, specialized medical device reprocessing systems and sterilants, diagnostic imaging and therapeutic medical equipment that focuses mainly on endoscopy, hollow fibre membrane filtration and separation technologies for medical and non-medical applications, and scientific instrumentation. For more information, contact: Cantel Medical Corp, 150 Clove Road, Little Falls, NJ 07424, USA. Tel: +1 973 890 7220, Fax: +1 973 471 0054.
Californians approve ‘Proposition 50’ During the fourth quarter of 2002, voters in California, USA approved ‘Proposition 50’, which will reduce water pollution, protect drinking water quality, clean up beach pollution and ensure a stable, reliable, secure water supply for the state, according to reports published in the US press. ‘Proposition 50’ provides US$1.08 billion in funding to California water agencies. Orange County Water District (OCWD), which carries out wide-ranging work in water research, monitoring, treatment and production, has the opportunity to apply for grant funding in many areas of the water bond. Funding is available for facility security upgrades; water purification membranes research; land purchases for natural wetlands treatment facilities to improve Santa Ana River water quality; updating regional water management plans to better use Orange County’s groundwater basin; and the development of new sources of water, including water reclamation and desalination projects. For more information, contact: Orange County Water District, 10500 Ellis Avenue, Fountain Valley, CA 92708, USA. Tel: +1 714 378 3228, Web: www.ocwd.com.
In Brief Gradipore further strengthens board Australian biotechnology company Gradipore says that its board has been strengthened further with the appointment of Dr John Eady as non-executive director. Dr Eady brings to Gradipore a mix of skills and experience fundamental to the company’s current focus on deriving commercial benefit from its science and technology. Dr Eady is currently chairman of Ambri Ltd, a newly listed biotechnology company that is also in the process of commercializing its intellectual property. Membrane separates optical isomers A research group based at Seikei University in Japan has developed a way of separating optical isomers by passing them through a cellulose membrane covered with molecules of DNA, according to a report in The Nikkei Business Daily. The membrane itself is around 3 cm in diameter and 0.1 mm thick. The holes in the membrane can be formed with diameters ranging from 1.5 to 3 nm. When the holes are smaller than 2 nm in diameter, DNA molecules remain on the surfaces of the membrane, and D-type isomers pass through the membrane in amounts 60% greater than L-type isomers. When they are larger than 2 nm, DNA molecules line the passages in the membrane and encourage L-type isomers to pass in amounts 20% greater than Dtype isomers. Inge signs two distribution contracts During the ‘4th International Exhibition on Membrane and Water Treatment Technology & Equipment’, which was held in late 2003 in Beijing, China, German company Inge AG signed a distribution contract with Spring Membrane Technology in Nanjing, and Beijing Landi Technology Co Ltd of Beijing. Inge, a producer of membranes and modules for the treatment of drinking, process and wastewater, says that these partners will help it open up the Chinese market place.
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