Malvern Instruments and Kaiser Optical Systems Collaborate to Develop an Advanced Range of Raman Microscopes


26 October 2009: Malvern, UK: Materials characterization company Malvern Instruments (Malvern, Worcs, UK) and Kaiser Optical Systems (Ann Arbor, MI, USA), a leading supplier of Raman analyzers and components for spectroscopy, announce a development collaboration that will enhance the product portfolios of both companies. As part of the process of bringing the resulting new products to market, both companies will be seeking the involvement of potential customers at the final stages of product development and for beta evaluations later this year.

Malvern Instruments, a world-class supplier of systems for characterizing particulate materials, will integrate Kaiser RamanRxn System(TM) analyzers and probes into its Morphologi® platform. The Morphologi's high-performance automated image analysis will then intelligently target and guide the collection of Raman data on a range of particulate and solid materials. Used in conjunction with ISys®, Malvern's powerful chemical imaging software, this approach has many and varied applications. The initial focus will be on pharmaceutical, life science and forensic applications. Here sophisticated sample and particle handling, automated image recognition, and chemical characterization combine to move Raman spectroscopy to a new level of intelligence and automation.

These patent pending combinations will, for the first time, enable this intelligent, targeted and statistically robust approach to performing Raman microscopy on a variety of spatially and chemically complex samples.

Paul Walker, Managing Director of Malvern Instruments said: "We are very excited by the prospects for this collaboration which builds on the strengths of both organizations. It will significantly enhance Malvern's capabilities to solve the material characterization problems of its customers in the chemical and pharmaceutical industries."

Kaiser Optical Systems is a world leader in the manufacture and supply of holographic optics and Raman spectroscopy platforms for a variety of laboratory and industrial process applications. As a direct result of this collaboration, the company will distribute an exclusive version of Malvern's ISys data processing and analysis software, and a new system control software platform specifically developed for its Raman Microprobe and PhAT-enabled Raman WorkStation(TM) range.

Harry Owen, Director of Business Development at Kaiser said: "The addition of Malvern's software to our Raman WorkStation(TM) offers our customers significantly improved performance. Raman spectroscopy applications such as chemical mapping, wellplate analysis, and tablet analysis will benefit from the combination of our PhAT technology and the powerful imaging capability offered by Malvern's ISys data processing and analysis software."

For further information about the Malvern and Kaiser Optical Systems ranges please visit
http://www.malvern.com/LabEng/products/morphologi/raman.htm and www.kosi.com

About Malvern Instruments

Malvern Instruments is a global company that develops, manufactures and markets advanced analytical systems used in characterizing a wide variety of materials, from bulk powders to the latest nanomaterials and delicate macromolecules. Innovative technologies and powerful software produce systems that deliver industrially relevant data enabling customers to make the connection between micro (eg particle size) and macro (bulk) material properties (rheology) and chemical composition (chemical imaging). Malvern laboratory, on-line and in-line solutions are proven in sectors from cement to pharmaceuticals and support the understanding, improvement and optimization of many industrial processes.

Headquartered in Malvern, UK, the company has subsidiary organizations in all major European markets, North America, China, Korea and Japan, key partnerships in India, a global distributor network and a number of applications laboratories around the world. www.malvern.com

Malvern Instruments is a subsidiary of Spectris plc, the precision instrumentation and controls company.

About Kaiser Optical Systems

Kaiser Optical Systems, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Rockwell Collins (NYSE: COL), is a leader in the design and production of holographic optical elements, Raman analyzers and components for spectroscopy. The company was formed in 1979 and has over 18 years of experience in Raman spectroscopy with customers located around the world. Additional company and product information is available at www.kosi.com .

Rockwell Collins (NYSE: COL) is a worldwide leader in the design, production, and support of communication and aviation electronics for commercial and government customers. The company's 17,000 employees in 27 countries deliver industry-leading communication, navigation, surveillance, display, flight control, in-flight entertainment, information management, and maintenance, training and simulation solutions. Additional information is available at www.rockwellcollins.com

For press information, please contact;

Trish Appleton,

Kapler Communications

Knowledge Centre,

Wyboston Lakes, Great North Road,

Wyboston, Bedfordshire, MK44 3BY, UK

Tel: +44 (0)1480 479280;

Fax: +44 (0)1480 470343

trish@kapleronline.com

Lisa Butts,

Kaiser Optical Systems, Inc.,

371 Parkland Plaza,

Ann Arbor, MI 48103, USA

Tel: 1.734 214 3621;

Fax: 1 734 665 8199

lmbutts@kosi.com

Company details

Malvern Instruments Ltd

Enigma Business Park,

Grovewood Road,

Malvern,

Worcestershire WR14 1XZ UK

Tel: +44 (0)1684 892456;

Fax: +44 (0)1684 892789

Kaiser Optical Systems Inc.

371 Parkland Plaza,

Ann Arbor MI 48103 USA

Tel: +1 (734) 665-8083

Fax: +1 (734) 665-8199

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