Lovibond ^® General Catalogue 2003 in English.

The English-language version of our general catalogue is now available.
Following the excellent response to the German-language catalogue, we have revised and optimised the English version and made it even more reader-friendly. The new catalogue features an index to help you find the products you are interested in easily and quickly.
The introductory section contains an overview of our products and production operations. This overview briefly outlines the production of tablet reagents, vial tests, Vario Powder Packs and liquid reagents.
The catalogue is available through our sales department (sales@tintometer.de) free of charge as a print version or CD-ROM;
it can also be downloaded at www.tintometer.de.
We look forward to hearing your comments and suggestions!
Lovibond ^® General Catalogue 2003 in English

Tintometer at the ACHEMA from May 19 to 24, 2003!

The 27th ACHEMA fair will be taking place at the trade fair centre in Frankfurt/Main from May 19 to 24, 2003. The ACHEMA is the world’s leading forum for chemical technology, environmental protection and biotechnology and provides all exhibitors with an ideal platform for the presentation of their product innovations.
Tintometer will of course be presenting its products and services to the trade public at its own booth, where we will be showing the latest generation of Lovibond^® meters and reagents, such as:
- PC MultiDirect photometer;
- OxiDirect ^® BOD meter;
- Handheld meter range:
•SensoDirect 200,
•SensoDirect 100,
•CHECKIT ^® micro WP;
- Vario Powder Pack programme, suitable also for use with Hach-Photo-meterSystems.
Whether you are a first time visitor or a new or regular customer, our trade fair team looks forward to meeting you and getting to know you better.
We hope to see you there! Hall 6.1, Booth F29-G30

Quick-Action Precise Thermometer Lovibond ^® CHECKIT ^® micro WP Temperature.

Description of the unit:
The Lovibond ^® CHECKIT ^® micro WP temperature precise thermometer is ideal
for quick, uncomplicated core temperature checks in all industries i.e.
swimming pool, caterers, hotels, canteens, supermarkets etc.
The compact, practical thermometer is handy, fits inside a pocket and has a thin,
robust measuring tip for improved response.

Advantages:
- Quick check using a thin, robust measuring tip;
- Monitors limit values;
- Wide range with high measuring accuracy
Scope of delivery
Included: TopSafe, robust, waterproof, hygienic and dishwasher-safe protection
case (IP 67) and wall/belt holder Lovibond ^® CHECKIT ^® micro WP Temperature,
precise thermometer with probe protection cap and battery.

Technical data:
Range: -50...+230°C/-58...+446°F;
Operating Temperature: +20...+50°C/-4...+122°F;
Storage Temperature: -40...+70°C/-40...+158°F;
Battery type: Lithium battery (2032);
Material/Housing: ABS;
Display: LCD 1-line;
Battery life: 250h.

Special offer:
List price: 89,50 EUR
Special price: 44,75 EUR*
* Minimum order quantity, 3 pieces
Order code: 19 47 20

"Twin-X": New EDXRF benchtop spectrometer

"Twin-X" is the result of combining two proven detector technologies to give unprecedented versatility and performance in one compact instrument.
Each detector is highly tuned for a specific group of elements on the periodic table. The patented "Focus 5+" detection system is the proven technology first introduced in the "Lab-X3000".
"Focus 5+" outperforms pin diode detectors on low atomic number elements such as Na, Mg, Al, P, S, Cl, K, Ca...
The PIN detector focuses on the analysis of complex metal matrices. The PIN detector delivers high sensitivity and resolution for higher atomic number elements such as Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn...
"Twin-X" can be configured with one or both of these detectors. Any combination of "Focus 5+" and PIN detector gives the unique advantage of tailoring the "Twin-X" to exactly suit your needs.
Oxford Instruments has 35 years of benchtop experience:
1968 The first benchtop XRF is introduced
1980s-1990s "Lab-X" series is released
1999 - present "Lab-X3500" evolves
2003 - A new concept in benchtop XRF
High lights:
- Solids, liquids, powders, pastes;
- ppm to 100%, element range Na-U;
- Easy to use;
- High precision analysis;
- Rugged, robust design.
Flexible and compact
Associated applications:
General XRF, Cement, Ceramics, Glass, Plastics, Chemicals, Cosmetics and Toiletries, Environmental, Food and Drink, Metals, Minerals, Paper and Packaging, Petroleum, Educational.
Our source reveals that the price will be around 35 – 40 K$US
and that the system is direct excitation but that polarization is a future development.

Oxford Diffraction Limited Announce Collaboration with York Structural Biology Laboratory to Evaluate New Protein Crystallography X-ray Diffractometer
The York Structural Biology Laboratory (YSBL) and Oxford Diffraction Limited have today signed a heads of agreement to evaluate a new X-ray diffractometer, "Xcalibur PX Ultra", intended for protein crystallography.

The "Xcalibur PX Ultra" will be launched at the British Crystallographic Association meeting to be held at York in April 2003. The new product will represent a major advance in Protein Crystallography in the home laboratory due its high performance, coupled with a low capital cost, a negligible cost of ownership and low maintenance down-time. Xcalibur-PX Ultra is a complete system that combines the recently launched ONYX large area charge-coupled-device (CCD) detector with the brand new "Enhance Ultra" X-ray source. The Xcalibur platform comprises the well-proven four-circle kappa diffractometer, which allows greater flexibility in data collection leading to greater data completeness.

Information just in is that Oxford have just made upto 16 people redundant. There seems to be sacking of some staff in Germany over some kind of scandle. This include Thomas Marks the once Oxford XRF manager. I will forward any further info once I know more.

Interim results for 2002/03

Oxford Instruments plc, the advanced instrumentation group, today announced consolidated interim results for the half year to September 2002.
- Orders from the wholly owned businesses improved to GBP 95m in challenging markets (2001: GBP 94m);
- Group turnover of GBP 95m (2001: GBP 104m) reflecting success in reducing order lead-times;
- Net borrowings reduced to GBP 10.3m (2001: GBP 11.3m);
- Operating profit before exceptional items for wholly owned businesses of GBP 1.8m (2001: GBP 2.4m);
- Pre-tax profit before exceptional items of GBP 2.3m (2001: GBP 4.3m);
- Interim dividend of 2.4p unchanged from last year.
Andrew Mackintosh, Chief Executive said: "Our businesses have performed well in challenging markets on the back of recent restructuring. The superconductivity business is now well placed for further growth, while tight cost control and additional operational improvements are being applied to the analytical and medical businesses. Our technical strength combined with our investment in improved operational capability means we are well positioned in challenging markets to drive profits and shareholder value forward."

We have a new website which will include the facility for purchasing sieves and paying for them by Visa on line or placing an account order.

We will also display to you your NETT purchasing prices. In order to do this you will need to enter a user name, usually your Christian name, and a password of your own choosing (up to 8 characters).

Your company may have as many user names and passwords as you require. Will you please e-mail me back with your selection of

user names
passwords

You will find the new site will be very beneficial to you.

Oxford results for the Analytical business:
The Analytical business broke even 2001 GBP 4.1 million operating profit) on turnover for the period down GBP 10.2 million (23%) to GBP 33.3 million. Demand for the semiconductor and telecommunications markets continues to be weak, particularly in the USA. However, markets in Asia remain strong across a range of industrial segments.
Continued investment in new products, including software additions to our market-leading INCA product, together with ongoing procurement savings have enabled gross margins to be maintained despite significant pricing pressure.
Staff numbers have been reduced by 60(10%) since March 2002 to reflect the reduced order level and we are currently reviewing our cost base in response to a further recent deterioration of the prospects for our products in the semiconductor industry.
In October 2002, the operation and net assets of the Process systems product line was sold to the management for a consideration primarily based on future performance. Losses on this product line were GBP 0.4 million in the first half and the disposal will result in a post-tax write-down of goodwill of approximately GBP 1.1 million in the second half. The CMI International business acquired in October 2001 is trading profitably.

Rumours go that Oxford will introduce a new spectrometer. It will be named "Twin-X" and it will most probably have both a prop and a pin detector. It is not clear whether it will have both or just a choice of one or the other.