The PITTCON event is said to attract 20,000 to 30,000 attendees from industry, academia and government from 80 countries worldwide. It is an event where around 1200 companies exhibit and which boasts over 2000 technical papers and presentations.

"Microfluidics is a hot topic at the moment," said Dr Gillian Davis, Commercial Director of Dolomite. "This event will be a great place to showcase our most recent microfluidic designs and systems and to discuss how this technology is enabling smaller, more powerful lab equipment and accelerating drug discovery."

Lab-on-a-chip is an emerging technology based on microfluidics and MEMS ( Micro Electro Mechanical Systems). This exciting new field of science and engineering enables very small-scale fluid control and analysis, allowing instrument manufacturers to develop smaller, more cost-effective and more powerful systems.

Micro Mixer with phenolphthalien and base solution mixing in 5 millisecon

With lab-on-a-chip technology, entire complex chemical management and analysis systems are created in a microfluidic chip and interfaced with, for example, electronic and optical detection systems.

Microfluidic Edge Connector from Dolomite

"We'll be exhibiting devices such as our novel Edge Connector and T-junction chip," said Gillian. "The Edge Connector enables the rapid connection of up to 4 fluidic inputs and outputs in any combination with straight-in flow paths and will enable engineers and scientists to interface to microfluidic chips more easily. Another exciting device is the microfluidic flow reactor module, which enables the fast and efficient processing of chemicals for test and analysis."

Microfluidics is a technology that has the potential to massively impact such diverse areas as DNA testing, environmental control, clinical diagnostics and a broad range of biotech applications. In recent years Dolomite has become a leader in this field. So much so, that in 2005 they won funding from the UK Department of Trade and Industry's Micro and Nano Technology (MNT) Manufacturing Initiative.

It was this £2m funding that allowed Dolomite to establish excellent microfabrication facilities, with cleanrooms, precision glass processing facilities and applications laboratories. In addition to this, Dolomite has managed to attract top quality engineering and scientific staff with strong backgrounds across the broad range of disciplines required for success in bringing microfluidics applications to the market.

"We are extremely well equipped for both the design and supply of microfluidic devices systems and instruments," said Gillian. "We can model flow, thermal behaviour and the physical design of each device, as well as being able to provide high quality rapid prototypes and volume production. Since our engineering team comes from life science and biochemistry backgrounds, we understand the needs of our clients, and can work with them efficiently and effectively to enable them to deliver microfluidic systems to their market space."