"This is an exciting development for us," said Gillian Davis, Commercial Director of Dolomite. "This appointment reflects the increasing level of interest we are experiencing around the world from customers interested in working with us to bring their microfluidic concepts to market. Appointing a technical company as experienced and capable as Hansen & Co will be instrumental in helping to secure business and manage customer relations in this territory."

Microfluidics, also known as 'lab on a chip', is an exciting new field of science and engineering that enables very small-scale fluid control and analysis, allowing instrument manufacturers to develop smaller, more cost-effective and more powerful systems. 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.

"At Hansen & Co we recognise the growing level of demand from customers for a partner they can work with closely to help bring their concepts for microfluidic products to market," said Mr.Hideki Kono, Managing Director of Hansen & Co. "We have, therefore, teamed up with Dolomite to provide potential customers with effective local support, assisting Dolomite to meet the ever increasing demand for their services in the field of microfluidics."

An example of this technology is Dolomite's Micro Mixer chip. It is a glass device that enables the rapid and realtime analysis of fluids. Originally developed for dilution of samples prior to UV analysis, it has also been supplied to customers for nanoparticle synthesis where rapid mixing is important to achieve uniform size or surface properties of the nanoparticles.

Key to the development of the Micro Mixer is the use of microfabrication techniques capable of creating microchannels and complex structures in the glass. The main fabrication processes are photolithography, wet etching of microchannel structures, micro-drilling of fluid ports, thermal bonding and surface modification. Dolomite's capability to undertake traditional precision glass processing techniques such as mechanical and optical polishing, grinding, cutting and dicing also enables them to extend the range of geometries that are possible.

Being able to provide local, technically competent, support to their customers is particularly important to a company, such as Dolomite, whose success lies in working closely with customers from problem conceptualisation and feasibility testing through to full instrument design and development.

About Dolomite
Established in 2005 as the world's first microfluidic application centre, Dolomite is focussed on working with customers to turn their concepts for microfluidic applications into reality. With an in-depth understanding of chemistry and the life sciences, expertise in microfabrication and microfluidics, together with instrument design and development capabilities, Dolomite is enabling some of the world's top providers in fields as diverse as environmental monitoring, drug discovery and forensic science to deliver microfluidic systems to the market place. To find out more about Dolomite, please visit – www.dolomite-microfluidics.com.

About Hansen & Co
Kobe - the biggest international port city in Japan - has a long history going back to the 8th century. It was in this historic port town, that a young German businessman, Ernst Hansen, started his firm specializing in precision instruments in October, 1949, a time when Japan was still going through the difficult process of rebuilding a country heavily damaged during World War II.

Since its foundation over fifty years ago, the Company has served the Japanese R & D and medical market by introducing and distributing the latest laboratory instruments and hospital equipment from advanced nations such as the U. S. A. and Europe. The products the Company supplies have been widely adopted by users all over Japan. Staffed with teams of specialists, Hansen & Co., Ltd., with its nationwide sales network, is strategically positioned to serve its customers and help foreign manufacturers seeking entry into this significant Japanese market.

Contacts:

Dolomite Contact: Dr Gillian Davis, Commercial Director
Tel: +44 1763 242491
e-mail: sales@dolomite-microfluidics.com

Hansen & Co Contact: Mr.Hideki Kono, Managing Director
Tel: +81 6 6460 1960
e-mail: kono@hansen.co.jp

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