Thermo Highlights Modernizations to Leading LIMS for Process Industries at ACHEMA 2006

Thermo Electron Corporation, the leading provider of analytical instruments and informatics worldwide, will demonstrate modernizations made to the user interface and architecture of its leading laboratory information management system (LIMS), SampleManager™, at ACHEMA 2006, the world forum for the process industries.

Thermo will also exhibit its Atlas CDS™ chromatography data system, which features numerous enhancements in its version 8 release. Thermo’s exhibit can be found on booth B1-C12, Hall 6.1, at ACHEMA, May 15-19 2006 in Frankfurt, Germany.

In line with Thermo’s strategy to build informatics solutions that meet open industry standards, SampleManager LIMS has adopted the Microsoft® .NET framework while continuing to support existing customers’ custom code written in the VGL language.

With version 9.0 scheduled for release in Q2 2006, SampleManager users will find a modernized user interface that is modeled on the familiar and easy-to-use Microsoft template with drag-and-drop and menu/tree functionality. When users select data sets, the new, “inductive” interface simplifies work by presenting only certain, pre-defined tasks or steps that can be followed – greatly reducing errors and saving time. Offering Microsoft .NET architecture, Thermo’s plans for SampleManager include building application-specific functionality for industrial labs so that users in the petrochemical, chemical and other process industries will find more of the functionality they require in the base system, and not have to customize the LIMS to meet their needs. This commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) approach significantly reduces the risks and costs associated with customized implementations, maintenance and upgrades, and, for regulated industries, the cost of validating the system.

“Our commitment is to bring our customers along with our enhancements, so whether they continue to use VGL or modernize with .NET, we will be able to service and support our extensive SampleManager customer base,” says David Leitham, director of product development for Thermo.

For Atlas, major improvements were made to the instrument control architecture to enhance network resilience. A key focus of the release was to ensure secure, robust communication between the instrument and Atlas software. Atlas now has the ability to import Beckman PeakPro™ and Target™ data files natively. Enhancements have also been made to the instrument control and spectral functionality in the system.

Atlas is built for enterprise applications, providing a single solution that not only integrates data streams from multiple instruments manufactured by multiple vendors, but also tightly integrates with LIMS that typically store summary results for each analysis. This enables users to access critical data when faced with a decision where the QA/QC source data is needed immediately. The robust enhancements and interoperability with Thermo’s LIMS are designed for consistent reporting and shared data that increases productivity.

Thermo is a pioneer in the application of COTS to laboratory software, offering dedicated solutions for pharmaceutical applications ranging from bioanalysis to manufacturing QA/QC.

In addition to its informatics solutions, Thermo will be exhibiting a wide range of industry leading analytical instrumentation, software and services at Booth B1-C12, Hall 6.1, at ACHEMA, May 15-19 2006 in Frankfurt, Germany