New spectroscopy center to improve analysis

A new center has been opened in Australia to help enhance food and beverage analysis capability and drive up quality standards in the industry.

Agilent Technologies has opened the $25 million Spectroscopy Technology Innovation Center in Mulgrave, Australia, which houses cutting-edge research and testing laboratories, in addition to customer demonstration and training facilities.

The state-of-the-art facility is based in the the Monash Technology Precinct and offers advanced communications technology to enhance collaboration between the company's various divisions, as well as key research partners and customers around the world.

As spectroscopy instruments remain essential measurement tools in a variety of applications, the centre was built to foster Agilent's atomic absorption spectrometer, which plays a major role in the food, environmental and pharmaceutical markets for measuring both quality and contaminants.

Mike McMullen, president of Agilent's Chemical Analysis Group, said the new facility represents the "next big leap" in the development of advanced spectroscopy products.

"The open-plan areas for project teams have been designed to foster interaction and to help improve customer and field linkages. Most importantly, our time-to-market for new products will be improved as we pursue our goal of clear leadership in our chosen markets," he added.

Agilent said a key aspect of the design of the new centre is that the working spaces provide the flexibility to "accommodate changes in science and project types", while project hubs are designed to be the "nerve centre" which help to foster future high-performance products and innovations.

Commenting on the facility to Food Quality News, Philip Binns, vice-president for spectroscopy products at Agilent, said that customers will be invited to the centre to see a demonstration of the analytical equipment on display or be trained in using it.

"We also use the advanced communications infrastructure we now have to work even more closely with our key partners around the world in developing new technologies for future analytical needs."