Articles Archive for February 2011

In an earlier blog I looked at some of the drivers for changing from one particle size measurement technique to another, as well as some of the challenges that it brings. A more detailed look at switching from sieving to laser diffraction followed, and today I want to focus on a topic of particular interest to the cement industry – the move from Blaine measurement towards laser diffraction analysis.
One of the most important characteristics of an analytical technique is its ability to differentiate between samples that perform differently within an …

In the UK and US we recognize the idiom; ‘What goes around, comes around’, while the Russian equivalent is; ‘As the call, so the echo,’ and in this instance the Russian’s have the poetic edge in my opinion. However, the point that I am trying to raise is the idea that what has happened in the past can be reflected in the present and , if you happen to be working in the Earth sciences, you have the entire history of the planet, across geological time, to reference!
The cyclical nature …

I was reminded a few days ago of the inspirational story of Jasper Kane and John McKeen who completed a scale-up of penicillin production in just six months to meet the demand created by the second world war ( www.tcetoday.com/changedtheworld ). Kane and McKeen must surely have taken enormous pride in the fact that of the 150,000 soldiers treated at the D-day landings alone, 90% were dosed with penicillin produced in their plant.
The difficulties of scale-up
“The mould is as temperamental as an opera singer, the yields are low, the isolation …

As Product Marketing Manager at Malvern Instruments my responsibilities cover both laser diffraction and analytical imaging systems, so I am delighted to have been asked to contribute this  blog post, the third in our series on ‘Linking Technologies’. The subject for today is the complementary application of automated image analysis combined with Raman Spectroscopy, and  laser diffraction particle size analysis. In my opinion, a combination of techniques that has the potential to create significant advantage in pharmaceutical analysis.
Know your techniques, fit them to your needs
Laser diffraction and automated imaging have …

Why are we willing to pay such premium prices for our Valentine’s Day treats? Is it because we think our partners deserve it or is it because we know we’ll get into trouble if we skimp and buy a cheap alternative? Whatever the real reason, we can be pretty sure of one thing: if we did go for the cheap option we’d be found out!
Good quality in chocolate, caramel and other suitable sweet nothings we may bring home on Valentine’s Day is easily distinguished. That melt-in-the-mouth smoothness, the delicious stringiness …

Whether you live within walking distance of our head office in Worcestershire, England, or in a small mining town in the heart of China, we understand that you need to feel confident you are investing in the most appropriate analytical instrumentation to suit your needs. As Applications Services Manager at Malvern Instruments I perhaps hear more than most about the importance our customers place on ensuring their results will remain accurate and reliable far into the future, with as little effort or additional outlay as possible.
To help, Malvern Instruments has …

There is no doubt that your choice of particle characterization tool is going to have a great deal to do with the overall task at hand. Horses for courses, as they say!
Manufacturers, tasked with the quality assurance of a product line, are likely to wish for an easy to use, easy to maintain workhorse to produce consistent and reliable results over and over again, every day, as quickly and efficiently as possible. Sieving is a traditional choice for particle size measurement, one that has the attraction of mechanical and operational …

Having started my career flying fast-jets, I am always a little apprehensive these days at parties when people ask me what I do now and I say; “I’m a customer support helpdesk manager for a scientific instrumentation company”.  To which the response is nearly always; “don’t you miss the excitement?”
As a customer focused organisation Malvern Instruments recognises that our customers, who see ‘Malvern’ as a premium brand, expect a high level of service.
Malvern’s Helpdesk team
The Helpdesk team consists of a mix of mainly graduate/ post grad scientists and engineers with …