Analytik, leading suppliers of innovative analytical instrumentation, report on their two successful workshops on portable molecular spectroscopy run in partnership with Agilent Technologies.

Molecular spectroscopy techniques are extremely well suited to be applied as portable or handheld instruments. Their simplicity, speed, selectivity, and ability to operate without sample preparation make them ideal to be used outside of the laboratory in more challenging environments. By bringing the analyser to the sample and making measurements when and where they are required, the full benefits of molecular spectroscopy can be realised.

Since partnering with leading instrument manufacturer, Agilent Technologies, and incorporating Agilent's unique handheld and portable FTIR products into their spectroscopy portfolio, Analytik now supplies three core vibrational spectroscopy techniques, FTIR (Mid-IR), NIR and Raman, as portable solutions to markets in the UK & Ireland.

At two recent workshops held at Analytik's facilities in Swavesey near Cambridge, product specialists from Agilent and Analytik led a mix of presentations and product demonstrations which gave delegates the opportunity for practical hands-on sessions using the various instruments.

The informality of the programme encouraged interaction between delegates and presenters. After introductory presentations on the different practical solutions available, attendees spent time seeing demonstrations of portable FTIR solutions from Agilent, portable NIR from ASD Inc. and handheld Raman from DeltaNu. A post-lunch Q&A session was followed by two hours where delegates could test their own samples on the various pieces of instrumentation.

The reaction from attendees was extremely positive. Here is a selection of the comments received.

"The day was very well organised and very useful. I considered it time well spent." (John Warrack, Senior Scientific Investigator, GSK)

"Excellent day. The three presenters were excellent; very knowledgeable, friendly and honest. Demonstrations were excellent - seeing spectra recorded in a live demo is very useful." (Imran Khan, Spectroscopy Development Scientist, AWE Plc.)

"Very well organised and interesting." (Paul Mahon, Senior Chemist, Authentix)

"Very good event. It was particularly useful to see the various instruments being demonstrated". (Mark Seymour, Analytical Sciences, Syngenta)

Agilent Technologies Channel Partner Manager, Alain Vervaecke, was also in attendance. He echoed these comments, "These well-attended workshops demonstrated great initiative from our new partner, Analytik. We are pleased with this early success in the collaboration."

These were the first in a series of workshops to be run by Analytik. With the two days well over-subscribed, further events will be announced for the Autumn. Speaking about his company's efforts, Managing Director Ian Laidlaw said that "Judging by the feedback, the workshops have certainly delivered. We tried to make them informative, but also enjoyable, with plenty of hands on time with the different portable systems. Being oversubscribed for both days is an indication of where the interest in spectroscopy is heading - out of the lab."

To learn more about the event and to get on the list for the next workshops, please visit www.analytik.co.uk. Analytik looks forward to hearing from you and to meeting at Swavesey in the coming weeks.