Pittcon is driving on bio-diesel

Many companies release their latest products at Pittcon. This year, as part of the swing away from biotechnology and towards environmental sustainability testing, there is an abundance of bio-diesel and bio-fuel analysers hitting the market.

Today's press conferences did mention life-sciences and clinical diagnostics but once again the word biotechnology was not uttered. However, Australia was mentioned by two different companies but no-one mentioned New Zealand even as they mentioned food safety.

As all the companies have given their press conferences they have claimed double-digit growth over the last twelve months, indicating that investment in scientific equipment is vibrant on a global scale.

As the US economy teeters on the brink of recession, floundering as it waits for the outcome of the US November elections, the scientific equipment companies are looking off-shore to maintain their growth. China and India are considered the nirvana and the saviour of growth for the scientific equipment industry.

The minerals boom in Australia is also raising expectations of scientific equipment sales. There are some nifty new products that are especially relevant to the minerals and mining sector which will be included in the next issue of What's New in LAB Technology.