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Polypore reports strong net sales
NEWS Director of Applications, followed this with a presentation that covered process optimization protocols for the TFF of insect cells and baculovirus. The conference attracted leading scientists involved in the development and processing of baculovirus expression products from insect cells. Contact: NCSRT Inc, 1000 Goodworth Drive, Apex, NC 27539, USA. Tel: +1 919 387 8460, www.ncsrt.com
Patients protected from contaminated medical equipment In Europe, Pall is introducing its Aquasafe AQF1C, which is the latest addition to its line of pointof-use water filters for hospitals and other healthcare facilities. The new filter is specifically designed to prevent microbial contamination of heat-sensitive medical devices as well as machines that dispense ice and water. The disposable filter, which is installed in the water supply line, is a CE-marked medical device for the European market place. It contains a 0.2 µm bacterial retention membrane that is validated to produce bacteria-free water. Before being used on patients, gastroscopes, colonoscopes, bronchoscopes and other heat-sensitive flexible endoscopes, are disinfected and manually rinsed with water to ensure that all residual liquid chemical germicide is removed. However, according to Pall, the use of tap water for this critical rinsing step in the reprocessing protocol can increase the risk of nosocomial infection if it is contaminated with bacteria, such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Legionella pneumophila and other pathogens that can be passed to patients. The World Health Organization recommends that microbiologically clean, sterile or bacteriological controlled water should be used when rinsing medical equipment. ‘Water should eliminate the last traces of disinfectant on reprocessed medical devices without introducing a new problem by
Membrane Technology April 2005
depositing microbial contaminants onto their surfaces and into their working channels,’ says Allan Ross, President of Pall Medical. He says that the simple, quick connection of the new Pall-Aquasafe in-line filter provides an instant barrier that protects patients and medical equipment from the transmission of water-borne pathogens. In addition to medical device reprocessing, the in-line filters can be inserted into the feed lines of other common water sources where microbial contamination can be a problem, such as ice machines and drinking water dispensers. The filter’s universal quick connectors on both inlet and outlet ports make it easy to install, disconnect and replace. Each filter is individually tested, has a service life of up to 14 days, and does not require re-sterilization and validation. Contact: Pall Corporation, 2200 Northern Boulevard, East Hills, NY 11548, USA. Tel: +1 516 484 5400, www.pall.com
Water recovery plant officially dedicated San Juan Capistrano in southern California officially dedicated its new $25m groundwater recovery plant at a recent ceremony. The event marked the completion of a two-year construction project that Southwest Water Co managed through its subsidiary ECO Resources Inc. The facility uses reverse osmosis technology to treat about 19 300 m3 (5.1 million gallons) of highly mineralized, local groundwater a day. The water is drawn from six newly drilled wells, and pumped through a 9 km (5.5 mile) pipeline, which were also constructed as part of the project. The treatment plant will provide half of San Juan Capistrano’s water needs in the summer and almost all in the winter, without the city having to purchase further supplies from outside agencies. In addition, the facility has enabled the city to take advantage of financial incentives offered by the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California through its Groundwater Replenishment
Program, which is designed to reduce municipal water agencies’ dependence on water from sources such as the Colorado River. Contact: Southwest Water Co, One Wilshire Building, 624 S. Grand Avenue, Suite 2900, Los Angeles, CA 90017, USA. Tel: +1 213 929 1800, www.swwc.com
Polypore reports strong net sales US-based Polypore Inc has reported strong pro forma net sales for its 2004 fiscal year. The company posted pro forma net sales of $490.4 million, which represents an 11% increase compared with actual sales of $441.1 million recorded for its 2003 fiscal year. Polypore says that this increase of $49.3 million is attributed to a $37.6 million increase in its energy storage segment, and a $11.7 million increase in its separations media segment. The latter was driven primarily by $14.4 million in positive effects associated with the dollar/euro exchange rate, plus growth in speciality and industrial products, offset by a $6.9m decline in sales of healthcare products. The drop in healthcare sales was caused primarily by the loss of a haemodialysis customer, which made the decision to outsource the manufacturing of its dialyzers to another company that does not currently source its membranes from Polypore. The increase in sales from the energy storage segment was driven primarily by $14.6 million in the growth of lithium battery separator sales, $10.6 million in lead-acid battery separator and other sales, and a contribution of $12.4 million from the dollar/euro exchange rate. Polypore, a wholly owned subsidiary of Polypore International, is a growing worldwide developer, manufacturer and marketer of highly specialized polymer-based membranes used in separation and filtration processes. Contact: Polypore International Inc, 13800 S. Lakes Drive, Charlotte, NC 28273, USA. Tel: +1 704 588 5310, www.polypore.net
In Brief Hawaii professor wins funding The US National Science Foundation has awarded University of Hawaii civil engineering professor Albert Kim $400 000 for a faculty early development program. The grant covers work in membrane filtration to improve water quality over the next five years, involving interdisciplinary work in engineering, physics and chemistry. An education component, beginning in the second year of the grant, will involve undergraduate courses and a high school program. Cantel Medical reports 51% increase in net income US-based healthcare firm Cantel Medical Corporation has reported net income of $3.9m for its second quarter ended 31 January 2005. This represents a 51% increase on net income of $2.6m posted for the three months to 31 January 2004. It recorded net sales of $49.5m — 21% higher than the year-ago $41.1m. The company provides infection prevention and control products, including specialized medical device reprocessing systems for renal dialysis and endoscopy, water treatment systems, and hollow-fiber membrane filtration and separation technologies for medical and non-medical applications. HTC Hydrogen Technologies and CO2CRC sign agreement Canadian-based HTC Hydrogen Technologies Corporation has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Cooperative Research Centre for Greenhouse Gas Technologies (CO2CRC) in Canberra, Australia. HTC says that its alignment with the CO2CRC will provide it with invaluable information on the Australian and Asia-Pacific commercial markets, as well as additional research capabilities that will enhance its position in sectors covering hydrogen production and CO2 capture. CO2CRC researches the logistical, technical, financial and environmental issues of storing industrial carbon dioxide emissions in deep geological formations. HTC specializes in CO2 capture and hydrogen production using natural gas and bio-fuels as a feedstock.
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Patients protected from contaminated medical equipment In Europe, Pall is introducing its Aquasafe AQF1C, which is the latest addition to its line of pointof-use water filters for hospitals and other healthcare facilities. The new filter is specifically designed to prevent microbial contamination of heat-sensitive medical devices as well as machines that dispense ice and water. The disposable filter, which is installed in the water supply line, is a CE-marked medical device for the European market place. It contains a 0.2 µm bacterial retention membrane that is validated to produce bacteria-free water. Before being used on patients, gastroscopes, colonoscopes, bronchoscopes and other heat-sensitive flexible endoscopes, are disinfected and manually rinsed with water to ensure that all residual liquid chemical germicide is removed. However, according to Pall, the use of tap water for this critical rinsing step in the reprocessing protocol can increase the risk of nosocomial infection if it is contaminated with bacteria, such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Legionella pneumophila and other pathogens that can be passed to patients. The World Health Organization recommends that microbiologically clean, sterile or bacteriological controlled water should be used when rinsing medical equipment. ‘Water should eliminate the last traces of disinfectant on reprocessed medical devices without introducing a new problem by
Membrane Technology April 2005
depositing microbial contaminants onto their surfaces and into their working channels,’ says Allan Ross, President of Pall Medical. He says that the simple, quick connection of the new Pall-Aquasafe in-line filter provides an instant barrier that protects patients and medical equipment from the transmission of water-borne pathogens. In addition to medical device reprocessing, the in-line filters can be inserted into the feed lines of other common water sources where microbial contamination can be a problem, such as ice machines and drinking water dispensers. The filter’s universal quick connectors on both inlet and outlet ports make it easy to install, disconnect and replace. Each filter is individually tested, has a service life of up to 14 days, and does not require re-sterilization and validation. Contact: Pall Corporation, 2200 Northern Boulevard, East Hills, NY 11548, USA. Tel: +1 516 484 5400, www.pall.com
Water recovery plant officially dedicated San Juan Capistrano in southern California officially dedicated its new $25m groundwater recovery plant at a recent ceremony. The event marked the completion of a two-year construction project that Southwest Water Co managed through its subsidiary ECO Resources Inc. The facility uses reverse osmosis technology to treat about 19 300 m3 (5.1 million gallons) of highly mineralized, local groundwater a day. The water is drawn from six newly drilled wells, and pumped through a 9 km (5.5 mile) pipeline, which were also constructed as part of the project. The treatment plant will provide half of San Juan Capistrano’s water needs in the summer and almost all in the winter, without the city having to purchase further supplies from outside agencies. In addition, the facility has enabled the city to take advantage of financial incentives offered by the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California through its Groundwater Replenishment
Program, which is designed to reduce municipal water agencies’ dependence on water from sources such as the Colorado River. Contact: Southwest Water Co, One Wilshire Building, 624 S. Grand Avenue, Suite 2900, Los Angeles, CA 90017, USA. Tel: +1 213 929 1800, www.swwc.com
Polypore reports strong net sales US-based Polypore Inc has reported strong pro forma net sales for its 2004 fiscal year. The company posted pro forma net sales of $490.4 million, which represents an 11% increase compared with actual sales of $441.1 million recorded for its 2003 fiscal year. Polypore says that this increase of $49.3 million is attributed to a $37.6 million increase in its energy storage segment, and a $11.7 million increase in its separations media segment. The latter was driven primarily by $14.4 million in positive effects associated with the dollar/euro exchange rate, plus growth in speciality and industrial products, offset by a $6.9m decline in sales of healthcare products. The drop in healthcare sales was caused primarily by the loss of a haemodialysis customer, which made the decision to outsource the manufacturing of its dialyzers to another company that does not currently source its membranes from Polypore. The increase in sales from the energy storage segment was driven primarily by $14.6 million in the growth of lithium battery separator sales, $10.6 million in lead-acid battery separator and other sales, and a contribution of $12.4 million from the dollar/euro exchange rate. Polypore, a wholly owned subsidiary of Polypore International, is a growing worldwide developer, manufacturer and marketer of highly specialized polymer-based membranes used in separation and filtration processes. Contact: Polypore International Inc, 13800 S. Lakes Drive, Charlotte, NC 28273, USA. Tel: +1 704 588 5310, www.polypore.net
In Brief Hawaii professor wins funding The US National Science Foundation has awarded University of Hawaii civil engineering professor Albert Kim $400 000 for a faculty early development program. The grant covers work in membrane filtration to improve water quality over the next five years, involving interdisciplinary work in engineering, physics and chemistry. An education component, beginning in the second year of the grant, will involve undergraduate courses and a high school program. Cantel Medical reports 51% increase in net income US-based healthcare firm Cantel Medical Corporation has reported net income of $3.9m for its second quarter ended 31 January 2005. This represents a 51% increase on net income of $2.6m posted for the three months to 31 January 2004. It recorded net sales of $49.5m — 21% higher than the year-ago $41.1m. The company provides infection prevention and control products, including specialized medical device reprocessing systems for renal dialysis and endoscopy, water treatment systems, and hollow-fiber membrane filtration and separation technologies for medical and non-medical applications. HTC Hydrogen Technologies and CO2CRC sign agreement Canadian-based HTC Hydrogen Technologies Corporation has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Cooperative Research Centre for Greenhouse Gas Technologies (CO2CRC) in Canberra, Australia. HTC says that its alignment with the CO2CRC will provide it with invaluable information on the Australian and Asia-Pacific commercial markets, as well as additional research capabilities that will enhance its position in sectors covering hydrogen production and CO2 capture. CO2CRC researches the logistical, technical, financial and environmental issues of storing industrial carbon dioxide emissions in deep geological formations. HTC specializes in CO2 capture and hydrogen production using natural gas and bio-fuels as a feedstock.
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