Oct 8 2008
Microfluidics, a division of Microfluidics International Corporation, announces the availability of several new services designed to enhance customer success and assist in customer innovation. These new services build on the deep technology, process and applications expertise that Microfluidics has developed through its 25 years of experience with thousands of customer applications, including the company's hands-on work with formulations at the Microfluidics Technology Center.
The new services include process consulting, customized in-house seminars and training, and preventive maintenance contracts. Process consulting and customized seminars/training are delivered by Microfluidics’ Chief Technology Officer, Mimi Panagiotou, and the company’s technical staff members. Preventive maintenance is provided by highly-skilled field service engineers.
“Because our customers’ challenges and opportunities continue to evolve, we’re expanding the ways in which we support their technical innovations and subsequent commercial success,” noted Mary Anne North, Microfluidics’ Vice President of Customer Success. “Through these new services, we are helping our customers to understand and capitalize on new technologies, and to optimize their development and production processes.”
These new services further expand Microfluidics’ portfolio of customer services and support. Prior to purchase, Microfluidics provides qualified prospects with complimentary processing of a lab sample at its Microfluidics Technology Center. It also offers on-site demonstrations, regional seminars and rental options. After its customers invest in a Microfluidizer® processor, Microfluidics ensures their successful ongoing use via pharmaceutical-specific acceptance testing, startup and installation training, technical services and a full range of parts.
Process consulting
Through its process consulting services, Microfluidics helps its customers to develop processes for nanomaterial production and then optimize those processes while scaling up from lab to pilots and full-scale production. Its highly-trained technical staff members have advised many customers and provide consulting services ranging from proof of concept to optimization and scale-up.
Examples of topics for process consulting include:
- Assistance with formulation development and material characterization
- Proof of concept for single formulations addressing a variety of process parameters (shear rate, temperature, etc.) This may include hands-on lab work.
- Product optimization for multiple formulations. This may include hardware optimization and lab work.
- Scale-up, including hardware optimization on a large scale
- Process intensification
Customized in-house seminars and training
Microfluidics’ technical staff members stay current on nanotechnology developments and a wide range of other promising technologies and applications, and use that expertise to deliver customized in-house seminars and training.
Examples of topics for seminars and training include:
- Seminars tailored for each customer covering all aspects of the Microfluidizer technology and discussing its use in relation to the customer’s unique needs. This may include hands-on training if requested.
- Briefings on specific applications or new technologies, tailored for each customer on topics such as bio-pharma, energy chemicals, digital inks, etc.
- Overview seminars on nanotechnology (synthesis, processing, applications), possibly including outside speakers
Preventive maintenance contracts
Microfluidics’ preventive maintenance contracts provide customers with the ease of pre-arranging their annual preventive maintenance, through single- or multiple-year contracts, in order to ensure the longevity and optimal performance of their Microfluidizer processors. A Microfluidics preventive maintenance visit to a customer site by a skilled field service engineer includes processor inspection, replacement of designated parts, a performance test, a written report of processor condition and recommendations, and brief training in various processor procedures.