Rapid analysis GPC/SEC system allows Centre for Advanced Polymers (CAP) to become the first facility to provide rapid polymer screening and analysis services in the UK
The Centre for Advanced Polymers (CAP) has become the latest organisation in the UK to take delivery of Polymer Laboratories's PL-XT 220 rapid analysis GPC/SEC system.
The PL-XT 220 system allows CAP to become the first facility to provide rapid polymer screening and analysis services in the UK.
CAP is the latest collaboration between the University of Wales, Bangor and Optic, St Asaph.
Tony Johnson, visiting professor at the University of Wales, Bangor and consultant to Optic, specified the PL-XT 220 plus other polymer characterisation equipment from Polymer Laboratories in order to establish CAP as one of the country's premier characterisation facilities.
The purchase was funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) made available to the University of Wales, Bangor by the Welsh Development Agency (WDA) through its Knowledge Exploitation Fund (KEF).
Polymer Laboratories (PL) says it has been the leader in the development of GPC/SEC systems for many years, expanding usability, capabilities and safety features.
In addition to fully customised systems featuring, for example, gradient HPLC or high throughput, PL can supply regular integrated GPC systems with RI detection and multi through triple detector systems incorporating viscosity and/or light scattering.
Technium Optic is a £15.7 million project backed with over £6.3m of European Objective 1 funding provided through the Welsh European Funding Office (Wefo), part of the Welsh Assembly government.
The outstanding facility at Optic has been designed as a 'smart building', incorporating local materials and skills with the 'ultimate' in building design for operation and security.
The facility currently occupies 7700m2 of floor space, split between an incubation centre (fully serviced operation units for start-up companies), a technology centre with clean room facilities for the development of innovative new products and processes within the optoelectronics sector, and a business support unit.
Privately managed by Optropreneurs, it was initiated by the Welsh Optronics Forum (WOF) and is part of the Technium Wales network - a pan-Wales initiative supported by the Welsh Assembly, Welsh Development Agency, European Union funding, the private sector, and the higher education institutes of Wales.
Optic is designed to create over 300 high-quality jobs in north Wales and safeguard hundreds more throughout Wales.
Developed by the WDA, it is the first of its kind in the UK and will help build up cutting-edge skills and expertise in Wales.
The Technium will also capitalise on the expertise of the chemistry department of the University of Wales, Bangor.
Critical to the success of Optic is its collaboration with the University of Wales.
In the early stages of the development of a Technium such as Optic, the WDA works closely with local academia to identify a fit between its key research departments and the needs of local industry.
Once established, the Technium facilitates technology transfer from the university.
University of Wales, Bangor has a strong track record of industrial collaboration both locally and internationally.
Its WDA-accredited centres of excellence IBMM and Icon provide world-class research, microfabrication and analytical services in support of Welsh, UK and international R and D communities in the opto- and bio-electronic sectors.
