GFS has moved into the world of submicron polymer technology by acquiring the calibration standards line developed and marketed by APS Analytical Standards, Inc. (Redwood City, CA) over the last twenty years. The value of these standards lies in their potential utility in almost every type of optical or visual calibration process. Key applications involve instruments that operate on the principles of light scattering, transmittance or absorbance, including turbidimeters, nephelometers, colorimeters, spectrophotometers, and clinical analyzers. To date, the largest application is as a calibration standard for turbidity analysis in water treatment plants as required by the 1976 Safe Drinking Water Act. The GFS AMCO Clear® standards have several advantages over formazin-based standards. The mean particle diameter of 0.2 µm and particle size distribution of 0.1- 0.3 µm ensures consistent light scattering characteristics and provides the advantage of a permanent suspension. The new GFS APS standards are significantly more stable and, unlike formazin-based standards, can be used for consistent calibration check of less than one NTU (nephelometric turbidity unit). This is important because the EPA requires turbidity values not to exceed 0.3 NTU for surface source drinking water. GFS maintains the strictest standards of ISO-9000 conformance. Generated in an ultra-pure aqueous medium, these permanent suspensions provide the analyst with several significant benefits: • Long-term stability • Ease of use, storage • Non-toxic character • Accuracy to +/- 1% of stated value from lot-to-lot • Uniformity of particle size, shape and distribution from lot-to-lot GFS now provides the most comprehensive line of standards, analytical reagents and instrumentation for water treatment facilities worldwide. By bringing together the 20 years of turbidity experience from APS Analytical Standards with over 75 years of GFS chemical manufacturing experience, customers can rely on GFS for the highest quality, freshest, most stable and reliable products on the market. As an ISO-9000 certified organization, GFS can give you the assurance of consistent product every time. AMCO Clear® standards are certified for use in turbidimeters and haze meters by the following regulatory bodies: • EPA Federal Registry, Vol. 47, #42, March 3, 1982 to present • Standard Methods of Water & Wastewater, APHA-AWWAWPOCF, 16th-20th Edition to present • ASTM, D1889-00, D6698-01, D6855-03 • ASBC - American Society of Brewing Chemists 1986 to present • Analytica - EBC, 4th Edition, 1987 to present AMCO Clear® / AMCO AEPA® is an EPA-approved turbidity primary standard that is safe, non-toxic and disposable. It is easy-to-use with no dilution or prep work required, and is available in a wide range of values. It is NIST Traceable, and its inherent stability means it does not settle out of suspension. It has a guaranteed one year shelf life. The convenient submicron polymer suspensions are the most reliable and reproducible primary calibration standards currently approved by the EPA for water testing, and preferred by instrument manufacturers and the U.S.G.S. for their intrinsic uniform optical properties. APS Analytical Standards are Certified Reference Standards (CRS) for use as primary standards for the calibration of: Turbidimeters – measuring turbidity (NTU units) Haze meters (ISO) – measuring haze (EBC units) Haze meters (ASBC) – measuring haze (FTU units) Suspended Solids Analyzer – measuring total suspended solids (PPM) Biomedical Instrumentation – measuring bacterial colony counts/protein/blood composition Visual Process Monitoring – visually measuring fermentation/ distillation Spectrophotometers – measuring percent absorbed and transmitted light or optical density The GFS AMCO Clear® standards program will continue to develop new products for the turbidity, spectrophotometric, consumer products,life-science, and materials science markets. Please contact us regarding opportunities that we might develop together for your benefit. Services To improve quality and delivery time further, GFS constructed a state-of-the-art lab complete with sophisticated air locks and filtration system, new tanks, new instruments and a new DI water system. GFS collaborates with and supports all major instrument manufacturers of online, benchtop, portable and in-situ turbidimeters. Our ability to custom produce calibration standards for individuals or companies sets us apart. We work with customers to quickly formulate products that address their specific needs. The solution may be as simple as replacing existing calibration standards with more precise, easier to use standards or as complex as developing standards for a new instrument. We make calibration standards for any analyzing instrument that operates under the principles of light scatter, absorbance, or attenuation. Our attention to detail allows you to standardize process control for multiple site manufacturing. GFS creates the instrument calibration standards and the SOP for quality control. Dedicated sales representatives, chemists and other technical staff are easily accessible to respond to your needs. GFS Chemicals' products for water treatment facilities include EPA approved polymer based calibration standards for turbidimeters, NIST Traceable calibration verification standards for spectrophotometers and colorimeters, meters, AA and ICP Standards, Environmental Grade Acids, reagents for chlorine analyzers. We also offer benchtop, online and portable turbidimeters, spectrophotometers, colorimeters, residual chlorine, and pH meters.These products and more are highlighted in the GFS Turbidity and Water Products catalog now available. Private Sector GFS services markets ranging from biomedical and pharmaceutical to beer, paper and pulp manufacturers. GFS products include NIST Traceable calibration verification standards for spectrophotometers and colorimeters,buffer solutions for pH meters McFarland equivalent standards both for visual and machine testing, ASBC and EBC approved standards for beer brewers, visual colored standards for direct processing analysis, EPA approved turbidity standards for water quality monitoring for surface and ground waters, electrical power plants and mining operations. Learn more about AMCO Clear® (previously AMCO AEPA®-1) products at www.AmcoClear.com Turbidimeters...and more We can help you to select the right turbidimeter and testing equipment for your application. We carry a complete line of portable, benchtop and online instruments from the following manufacturers: McVan Instruments Pty Ltd (in-situ or in-line monitoring) HF Scientific Inc.(turbidity and chlorine monitoring; streaming current) Lamotte (portable/hand-held meters for turbidity and chlorine) Hanna Instruments (laboratory and on-line instrumentation) Sutron Inc. (data loggers) Rosemount Products division of Emerson Process Management (on-line turbidity, pH, dissolved oxygen & more) Learn more about turbidimeters at www.AmcoClear.com

Traceable® Conductivity Calibration Standards

Traceable to NIST for accuracy
Standards calibrate all conductivity meters and probes for maximum accuracy. Traceable® Conductivity Calibration Standards are the most accurate available. Accuracy at 25°C is ±0.25 micromhos for 1, 5, and 10 micromho solutions and ±0.25% for other solutions or the uncertainty shown on the certificate, whichever is greater. Standards are 100% compatible with all makes of equipment.

Traceable® Bottles
To assure accuracy an individually serial-numbered Traceable® Certificate is supplied to indicate traceability to standards provided by NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology). Each bottle is labeled for calibrating conductivity (micromhos), resistivity (ohms), and dissolved solids (parts per million). Individually tested bottles are available from our ISO 17025 calibration laboratory accredited by A2LA. Supplied complete, each bottle comes with step-by-step calibration instructions, traceability information, individual temperature compensation chart, and Traceable® Certificate. Supplied in a 16-ounce glass bottle.

Traceable® One-Shot™
Single-use standards calibrate all conductivity meters and probes for maximum accuracy. One-Shots™ eliminate concern about external container contamination. Calibration is made in the standard's vial. Fits all probes. Extra-large opening (1-3/4-inches diameter) and extra-large, 3-1/2-inches depth allow probe calibration to take place in the standard's polyethylene container. One-Shot™ Traceable® standards accommodate virtually all conductivity probes and are ideal for lab or field conditions. Standards are 100 percent compatible with all makes of equipment. Each container is labeled for calibrating conductivity (micromhos/millisiemens), resistivity (ohms), and dissolved solids (parts per million). ). Supplied with temperature compensation chart. Supplied as a pack of six One-Shot™ Traceable® calibration standards. Each standard contains 100 milliliters.

TRACEABLE® CALIBRATION STANDARDS

Cat. No. NIST CERT / Cat. No. NIST-17025 A2LA CERT / Micromhos-Microsiemens / Megohms / TDS-PPM

4274 / 4574 / 1 / 1 / .66

4270 / 4570 / 5 / 0.2 / 3.3

4065 / 4565 / 10 / 0.1 / 6.6

4066 / 4566 / 100 / 0.01 / 66

4067 / 4567 / 1000 / 0.001 / 666

4173 / 4573 / 1413 / 0.00071 / 933

4068 / 4568 / 10000 / 0.0001 / 6666

4069 / 4569 / 100000 / 0.00001 / 66666

4161 / 4561 / 150000 / 0.000006 / 100000

4162 / 4562 / 200000 / 0.000005 / 133333

TRACEABLE® ONE-SHOT™ CALIBRATION STANDARDS

Cat. No. / QTY / Micromhos-Microsiemens / Megohms / TDS-PPM

4271 / 6/Pk / 5 / 0.2 / 3.3

4175 / 6/Pk / 10 / 0.1 / 6.6

4176 / 6/Pk / 100 / 0.01 / 66

4177 / 6/Pk / 1000 / 0.001 / 666

4174 / 6/Pk / 1413 / 0.00071 / 933

4178 / 6/Pk / 10000 / 0.0001 / 6666

4179 / 6/Pk / 100000 / 0.00001 / 66666

4172 / 6/Pk / Assortment (one each of the above, except 4271)

Problem: Having to verify that an instrument is performing properly and is in calibration is becoming increasingly common for regulatory committees and internal QC procedures. This is particularly true when using UV/Vis spectrophotometers. These instruments can slowly drift out of spec as the lamp ages. In order to know that the data you are collecting is accurate it is vital to verify the instrument's performance.

Solution: By using a NIST-traceable standard you can verify that an instrument is in fact performing as it should. This provides validity to the data that is collected with the instrument.

Many of the solutions that are available are either very costly, toxic, or not flexible and can't meet your exact specifications. GFS Chemicals however has the ability with its In-Spec Standards to find a solution that will better fit your requirements.

GFS Chemical's In-Spec product line has a broad range of solutions. For photometric accuracy there are the In-Spec standards which can be used from 200-900nm. These standards are very easy to use since they are non-toxic, come completely pre-made with no dilutions or mixing required and do not require special disposal procedures when you are finished using them. GFS Chemicals offers a broad range of absorbance values to match your tests or custom values are available.

To use the In-Spec standards you would first baseline the instrument with the supplied Background Solution then you would run the standard. You would compare the values that are obtained on your instrument to the values listed on the Certificate of Analysis. If the values are within the greater of 5% or +/- 0.004 added to your instruments state accuracy then your instrument is performing well.

GFS Chemicals also offers other standards that can be utilized to validate other aspects of an instrument's performance. Wavelength, stray light, and resolution filters are available. When used together with the In-Spec photometric standards you can check the overall health of your spectrophotometer .

The In-Spec product line also offers a solution designed specifically for the increasingly popular short pathlength (1mm) instruments. These instruments utilize a very short pathlength of light and small sample usage. The In-Spec Nano-Kit consists of two standards to check the absorbance values at 260, 280, and 320nm. These wavelengths are the most common for DNA/RNA quantification tests. The kit comes with data for those wavelengths at a 1mm pathlength.

When properly used and documented, the use of a secondary, NIST-traceable standard can provide you the security and peace of mind in knowing that the data you collect with your instrument is in fact accurate.

For more information on the In-Spec product line please visit: www.in-spec.com or www.gfschemicals.com

Do your SOPS require a check standard to verify your instrument is reading properly?

As you know, small changes to your instrument can affect your results

GFS Chemicals offers standards to check the overall health of your instrument

• Wavelength Standards
• Photometric Standards
• Stray Light Standards

Benefits:

• Customized to your assay, instrument, test method
• NIST Traceable
• Dedicated Chemist is available M-F 9-5:30 EST
• Inexpensive
• Easy to Use

Click on the weblink to the right or call today for your free sample or receive a a Full Line 2007 In-Spec catalog 800-858-9682

IN▲SPEC offers valuable Technical Help

Analytical / QC Chemists are readily available to answer your questions

-Are you using the correct technique? -Do you wipe the quartz cuvettes with alcohol?
-Do you position the cuvettes in the same direction each time i.e. indexing?
-When is the last time the lamps in your instrument were changed, did you allow them a 'burnout' period?
-Do you consistently use the same parameters?
-Do you let the lamp warm up for an hour before each use?

Materials Standards for Metal Injection Molded Parts

The Metal Powder Industries Federation (MPIF) new Standard 35, Materials Standards for Metal Injection Molded Parts – 2007 Edition is the most comprehensive standard to date encompassing all facets of the MIM industry. The 2007 Edition contains new and revised information on Controlled-Expansion Alloys; Coefficient of Thermal Expansion; Stainless Steel Data; Soft-Magnetic Alloy Data; and an Alphabetical Index - Listing & Guide to Material Systems & Designation Codes used in all MPIF Standard 35.

When a long-time company in the motion control industry makes a deliberate decision to turn away from its proprietary systems and move to open standards, there has to be a good reason behind the decision.

"We do motion control and drives – that's what we build," says Dennis L. Morrow, vice president of marketing and sales at ORMEC. While they also have motors, gearboxes, I/O and peripherals, their core business is the motion controller.

For over two decades, the company prospered by catering to industrial applications requiring the most difficult and specialized motion controllers. They list blue-ribbon firms like Johnson & Johnson, Owens-Illinois, B&H Labeling, and C.G. Breitling on their client roster.

"We were a supplier of big, complex machines," Morrow says. "And that can be a limited market."

The company was started by four engineers who worked for Kodak 25 years ago. They were controls engineers and they branched out into a consulting business for controllers. In the late 1980s, they got into hardware and developed their first controller.

Morrow notes that many companies are trying to climb up the pyramid from low-level motion applications to more sophisticated ones. But ORMEC's challenge is to move itself from proprietary, high-axis, high-count applications down to the world of single-, two- or three-axis operations.

"We were the first company in the world to use DSP in motion control," he says. "A lot of people beat a path to our door. We got off to a fast start." Their Gen-3 appliance had 32 axis platforms.

Eventually, they realized that they would have to serve a broader market if they were to grow and expand. They moved into the world of real motion with their SMLC (Soft Motion Logic Controller) platform offering.

Today, the company is committed to open standards at every level practical: they use Sony's and Apple's Firewire, CoDySys out of Europe, and the ONX operating system for their software. They use the PLC open motion control standard. Buried inside their motion control boxes are such every-day standards as Active-X, C and C++, and Visual Basic.

Morrow says CoDySys is quite easy to utilize. While many manufacturers have their PLC and motion card separate, ORMEC has all of its controls in one place.

"We do the motion, I/O and PLC in one program," Morrow says. "We get the high speed we need with 32-bit line-on-line gearing between the axes," he adds. The PLC runs at a regular loop rate.

Anyone who has spent time in the nuclear industry will recognize the ONX standard as the one used at nuclear stations and similar high-demand applications. It is prized for its stability and resistance to crashing.

Not all of their software judgments are that undisputed. Their decision to go with Firewire might raise some eyebrows. Morrow says they are quite pleased with Firewire, despite the bad rap that it had earlier from industrial users.

Morrow admits it had a bad reputation when it first came out, mainly due to the analog components that picked up noise in an industrial setting.

"Version b – IEEE 1394-b – is much more stable, much better than the old 1394," Morrow says. They use the IEEE 1394-b version in their drives and controllers.

"It gives us the highest data transfer rate in the industry," Morrow says. Right now, they attain 400 MB/s throughput. Morrow says that, by next year, he expects to see speeds of 800 MB/s and shortly thereafter, fiber speeds.

To learn how Ormec Systems can assist with your industrial automation and motion controls systems needs click on the Product Details weblink on the right, or e mail your inquiries