New regional X-ray user facility opened in Cambridge, MA
The Woodlands, TX — April 21, 2006. Rigaku today announced the opening of a new multi-disciplinary analytical X-ray user facility in Cambridge, MA. The laboratory is equipped with the complete suite of Rigaku MiniLab™ X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray fluorescence (XRF) products, and is available to prospective users at no cost. Researchers in academia and industry who wish to explore the capabilities of modern analytical X-ray methods and instrumentation can reserve laboratory time for instrument training, experimental methods development, and open access instrument usage. The MiniLab consists of a Rigaku ZSXmini II wavelength dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometer, a Rigaku MiniFlex™ X-ray powder diffractometer, and the new Rigaku SCXmini™ single crystal diffractometer system. Researchers are invited to book laboratory sessions by filling out an on-line form.
A general usage, open access laboratory facility of this type is made possible by the Rigaku MiniLab suite of benchtop instruments. High performance X-ray instrumentation has historically been associated with physically large and complicated equipment. Substantial power and cooling requirements were a given, and routine operation generally required a substantial degree of specialized knowledge. Rigaku is committed to changing this entrenched paradigm by developing advanced benchtop X-ray instrumentation controlled by powerful, intuitive and intelligent software. In addition to analytical performance and small footprint, other critical metrics, from affordability, to reliability, ease-to-use, and low cost-of-ownership, are the fundamental design benchmarks.
The MiniLab's ZSXmini II WDXRF spectrometer allows quantitative elemental analysis of F through U, from parts-per-million levels to percent concentration in almost any solid or liquid matrix, and with or without standards. Identification and quantification of crystalline phases in powders, and bulk materials are provided by the MiniFlex diffractometer system. Finally, the SCXmini provides researchers with the capability to directly determine the crystal structure of small molecule compounds. This ability will be especially useful to inorganic and organometallic chemists interested in validating NMR-based structure assignments or for producing a publication quality X-ray structure.
Rigaku—Leading With Innovation
Since its inception in Japan in 1951, Rigaku has been at the forefront of analytical and industrial instrumentation technology. Rigaku and its subsidiaries form a global group focused on life sciences and general purpose analytical instrumentation. With hundreds of major innovations to their credit, Rigaku companies are world leaders in the fields of small molecule and protein crystallography, X-ray spectrometry and diffraction, X-ray optics, as well as semiconductor metrology. Rigaku employs over 1,100 people in the manufacture and support of its analytical equipment. Its products are in use in more than 70 countries—supporting research, development, and quality assurance activities. Throughout the world, Rigaku continuously promotes partnerships, dialog, and innovation within the global scientific and industrial community.
For further information, contact:
George Stone
Rigaku Americas Corporation
tel: 978-474-4660
eMail: George.Stone@Rigaku.com