Laser Cooling of Semiconductors

January 31, 2012
Researchers at the Niels Bohr Institute have combined two worlds – quantum physics and nano physics, and this has led to the discovery of a new method for laser cooling semiconductor membranes. Semiconductors are vital components in solar cells, LEDs and many other electronics, and the efficient cooling of components is important for future quantum computers and ultrasensitive sensors. The new cooling method works quite paradoxically by heating the material! Using lasers, researchers cooled membrane fluctuations to minus 269oC.

Microtest Laboratories Will Manufacture Vaccine for Expected Clinical Trial

January 17, 2012
ImmusanT, Inc. will use Microtest Laboratories’ pharmaceutical manufacturing and testing services to prepare its Nexvax2® immunotherapeutic vaccine for expected upcoming clinical trials. In addition to aseptic fill/finish services, Microtest will provide a full range of testing services to ImmusanT supporting its drug product manufacture, including method transfer activities, complete final product release testing, storage, and stability.

Apple Acquires Israeli Semiconductor Company Anobit

January 17, 2012
Apple, Inc. confirmed that it has acquired Israeli semiconductor company Anobit technologies, providing it with significant technological boost in the mobile devices market. Apple uses flash memories in most of its products, including from cameras and music players to iPads, iPhones, iPods and MacBook Airs.

Advantage Business Media Purchases Vicon Publishing, Inc.

January 09, 2012
The new subsidiary, Vicon Business Media, consists of six brands in three distinct niche markets: ALN® Magazine and ALN World™, Controlled Environments Magazine®, and Forensic Magazine® and DFI News Digital Forensic Investigator®. In addition, Vicon hosts the annual TurnKey Conference, which focuses on Laboratory Animal Facility sectors and Laboratory Animal Medicine.

ISPE Announces New CEO and President

January 03, 2012
ISPE, the International Society for Pharmaceutical Engineering, announced the appointment of Nancy S. Berg as president and CEO, effective 1 January 2012. Berg brings 30 years of experience in strategic leadership, organizational growth and relationship-building, having served as executive director/CEO of the Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME) and, most recently, as the founder and owner of three small businesses and consultant to both non-profits and for-profits.

Garment System Considerations for Cleanrooms

January 03, 2012
IEST-RP-CC003: Garment System Considerations for Cleanrooms and Other Controlled Environments This Recommended Practice (RP), IEST-RP-CC003.4, addresses the gowning of personnel as a critical aspect of cleanroom contamination control. Specification and use of an appropriate gowning system is essential in limiting human-generated contamination from reaching and affecting product or processes in the cleanroom.

Mars Curiosity Off-Course

December 20, 2011
NASA’s multibillion-dollar Mars Science Laboratory is purposely hurtling through deep space on a course that would miss the red planet by tens of thousands of miles. The Centaur upper stage of the Atlas V rocket that launched the lab was not put through super-stringent sterilization processes to ensure no Earthly microbes would be hitching a ride through interplanetary space. So NASA wants to ensure it doesn’t crash land on Mars, spreading microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi, algae, plankton or planarian.

Jerry Percifield, AIA, joins HDR Architecture

December 20, 2011
Jerry Percifield, AIA, a well-renowned national leader in design for Science + Technology for the past four decades, has joined HDR Architecture as project principal. Formerly Principal for Lord, Aeck & Sargent’s Science Studio, he has extensive experience with research facilities for both public and private sector organizations. Percifield’s move to HDR will give him the opportunity to expand his unrivalled expertise in the design of research facilities, particularly those utilizing innovative non-invasive imaging modalities.

Cleanroom Leasing Program from Biologics Modular

December 06, 2011
Biologics Modular announced that they have entered into an agreement with MEI Healthcare Capital to provide a leasing program for cleanrooms and manufacturing facilities. This new program will allow both small and large companies to lease the facilities needed to produce FDA regulated material.

Hoover Precision Adding Cleanroom

December 06, 2011
Hoover Precision Products LLC plans to start construction next spring on an expansion to its manufacturing plant in Sault St. Marie, Michigan that will boost its cleanroom manufacturing for the medical industry. That 13,000 square foot expansion, which will include an 8,000 square foot cleanroom, will boost the overall size of the plant to 60,000 square feet when it is completed in late 2012. Current plans are to add three injection molding machines for the new cleanroom. The company currently has a 2,000 square foot Class 8 cleanroom for medical.

Taiwanese University Unveils Semiconductor Lab

November 28, 2011
National Tsing Hua University unveiled a new compound semiconductor laboratory that it hopes will contribute to the development of new chip components that will support alternative green energy sources.