Sercon Limited

Service & Installation Engineer Henry Connell Cooke recently installed a new Sercon HTEA instrument at the University of Ghent, Belgium. Our client, Katja Van Nieuland, from the Isotope Bioscience Laboratory, Department of Green Chemistry, is engaged on a research project testing tree samples from the Congo rainforest to determine isotopic ratios of Oxygen, and how these ratios vary in different parts of the tree. Henry plumbed the new HTEA into their existing Sercon 20-20 mass spectrometer, to be used alongside their old Europa GSL. Henry enjoys the opportunities his work gives him to experience the locations he works in as fully as time allows, and on this trip he managed to explore the beautiful cities of Ghent and Brugges, visiting churches, castles, restaurants and bars. Jean-Yves HENRY, Frank Dörries, Eric Mossel, Leonardo Alvarez, Christopher Goh, Revia Chen, MUHAMMAD Baseer Anwar, Tacettin Öztürk, Ahmed Saied Mustafa June Yoo J. Israel Bolaños Gutiérrez Gutierrez Praveen K.Sharma, PhD, MBA, HA SHAH Jon Cocca Seweryn Felis, Denilson Antonio Marques, Fernando Iñón Iñon, João Fiori, Alina Radzin, Roberto Bizzo, Vangelis Adam, Robert Douesnard 

The US Customs Border Protection (CBP) last week released updated guidance on isotopic testing, as it looks for more efficient mechanisms for determining the origin of cotton within U.S. textile imports. The guidance states: “… CBP is enhancing its isotopic testing capabilities at three of its laboratories. As a result of these efforts, CBP will not only be able to conduct more tests, but also obtain results more rapidly. However, even with these additional investments, CBP will have limited testing resources and does not have the capacity to test all U.S imports. This is why CBP continues to encourage the inclusion of private sector testing in importer due diligence programs to help identify and manage risk.” CBP’s guidance advises importers to choose testing providers that adhere to best practices, such as those outlined by the Forensic Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometry (FIRMS) Network. Recommended criteria include ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation, a robust geographic reference library, and proven proficiency in isotopic analysis. Laboratories should also ensure traceability through a detailed chain of custody for tested samples. Sercon Instruments supply mass spectrometry equipment and consumables for just this kind of purpose, to private, academic and state testing facilities around the world. There are a number of application notes available to demonstrate capability here, and our team is always available to discuss your needs – just email sales@sercongroup.com. https://lnkd.in/eSEeZH2c Find the guidance in full here: https://lnkd.in/eTapi2QG #isotopictesting Jean-Yves HENRY, Frank Dörries, Eric Mossel, Leonardo Alvarez, Christopher Goh, Revia Chen, MUHAMMAD Baseer Anwar, Tacettin Öztürk, Ahmed Moustafa June Yoo J. Israel Bolaños Gutiérrez Praveen K.Sharma, PhD, MBA, HA SHAH Jon Cocca Seweryn Felis, Denilson Antonio Marques, Fernando Iñón, João Fiori, Alina Radzin, Roberto Bizzo, Vangelis Adam, Robert Douesnard 

All Sercon equipment is upgradable, and on a recent visit to the University of California, Davis (UC Davis) Stable Isotope Facility, Engineer James Hanson ran two electronics upgrades on some Hydra 20-20 systems, including a software upgrade and a new PC to improve speed performance. The older control boards are removed from the system to join up with the new system controller for readbacks and control. As the customer site was close to San Francisco, James was able to use his down time on the trip to explore the city for the weekend, taking in Alcatraz and Bubba Gump Shrimp Co as well as driving over the famous bridges. Find out more about Sercon’s approach to upgrades here: https://lnkd.in/eH9_Txup Jean-Yves HENRY, Frank Dörries, Eric Mossel, Leonardo Alvarez, Christopher Goh, Revia Chen, MUHAMMAD Baseer Anwar, Tacettin Öztürk, Ahmed Moustafa June Yoo J. Israel Bolaños Gutiérrez Praveen K.Sharma, PhD, MBA, HA SHAH Jon Cocca Seweryn Felis, Denilson Antonio Marques, Fernando Iñón, João Fiori, Alina Radzin, Roberto Bizzo, Vangelis Adam, Robert Douesnard 

Successful Audit - Physically moving a business is about much more than packing up desks and making sure broadband is working at a new office. For a high tech manufacturer like Sercon Instruments, supplies of gases as well as appropriate manufacturing and laboratory space to support the design, build and testing of our range of mass spectrometers and preparation systems were also a key part of our planning process. Today came one of the last pieces of the puzzle that can be a business move - we have been notified that, following a successful audit both our ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 13485:2016 Certificates of Approval have transitioned over to Europa House, the company’s new home in Crewe. Jean-Yves HENRY, Frank Dörries, Eric Mossel, Leonardo Alvarez, Christopher Goh, Revia Chen, MUHAMMAD Baseer Anwar, Tacettin Öztürk, Ahmed Moustafa June Yoo J. Israel Bolaños Gutiérrez Praveen K.Sharma, PhD, MBA, HA SHAH Jon Cocca Seweryn Felis, Denilson Antonio Marques, Fernando Iñón, João Fiori, Alina Radzin, Roberto Bizzo, Vangelis Adam, Robert Douesnard 

Successful Audit - Physically moving a business is about much more than packing up desks and making sure broadband is working at a new office. For a high tech manufacturer like Sercon Instruments, supplies of gases as well as appropriate manufacturing and laboratory space to support the design, build and testing of our range of mass spectrometers and preparation systems were also a key part of our planning process. Today came one of the last pieces of the puzzle that can be a business move - we have been notified that, following a successful audit both our ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 13485:2016 Certificates of Approval have transitioned over to Europa House, the company’s new home in Crewe. Jean-Yves HENRY, Frank Dörries, Eric Mossel, Leonardo Alvarez, Christopher Goh, Revia Chen, MUHAMMAD Baseer Anwar, Tacettin Öztürk, Ahmed Moustafa June Yoo J. Israel Bolaños Gutiérrez Praveen K.Sharma, PhD, MBA, HA SHAH Jon Cocca Seweryn Felis, Denilson Antonio Marques, Fernando Iñón, João Fiori, Alina Radzin, Roberto Bizzo, Vangelis Adam, Robert Douesnard 

Garry Armstrong and Mark Gibson are looking forward to catching up with Sercon’s US based clients and other delegates from around the world at AGU24 in Washington D.C. this December. AGU is always an exciting and energising experience, where scientists come together to share, inspire, collaborate and engage – it’s the self-proclaimed “Largest gathering of Earth and Space Scientists”! We are more than happy to pre-book appointments to meet with members of the scientific community also planning to go to the East Coast in December. Our booth number is 132. Garry Armstrong, Director, commented “AGU is always a great opportunity to see many of our international contacts face to face as well as to meet new contacts interested in isotopic analysis and Sercon instruments”. This year, as they convene more than 25,000 attendees from 100+ countries in Washington D.C. for AGU24, the theme is: What’s Next For Science? We hope we will see you there between 9th – 13th December! To pre-book an appointment to meet with Garry and Mark at this year’s AGU, just email sales@sercongroup.co.uk. American Geophysical Union Jean-Yves HENRY, Frank Dörries, Eric Mossel, Leonardo Alvarez, Christopher Goh, Revia Chen, MUHAMMAD Baseer Anwar, Tacettin Öztürk, Ahmed Moustafa June Yoo J. Israel Bolaños Gutiérrez Praveen K.Sharma, PhD, MBA, HA SHAH Jon Cocca Seweryn Felis, Denilson Antonio Marques, Fernando Iñón, João Fiori, Alina Radzin, Roberto Bizzo, Vangelis Adam, Robert Douesnard 

Sercon Director Garry Armstrong doesn't exactly take it easy in his spare time - last weekend he entered and won a Log and Deadlift competition at a local gym in the North East with a log lift of 135kg and a dead lift of 300kg!

Supporting Young People - This one is for our local contacts in and around Cheshire and the North East of England. Sercon has long supported the development of young people, with training and apprenticeships, and most recently our engagement with Crewe Engineering & Design UTC T-level students. This month, one of our long serving staff has put out an appeal to the team to help his son’s Explorer Scout Unit (the Aardvark Explorer Scout Unit) raise some much-needed funds to buy more equipment and pay for a wider range of activities – they’re really keen to get stuck into some real adventures. They have challenged themselves to walk the whole of the Sandstone Trail in one go (which is about 33.5 miles or 54km in new money). To add to the challenge, they’ll be undertaking the adventure overnight! So from 8pm on Friday 22nd November, the unit will start their epic hike from Whitchurch across to Frodsham (hopefully it won’t be raining too much!) The Aardvarks are aiming to raise £500 – if anyone would like to sponsor their awfully big adventure, please use this link: https://lnkd.in/e_rTHm-w

Systems Engineer James Hanson recently worked with JENCK SA Instrumental, Sercon’s agent in Argentina, to complete an installation at Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata in Argentina. Once the installations – an HTEA, a CryoPrep, an HS2022, a uCarbs and an isoEArth + were complete, James provided training for the local lab staff at the University and for the Jenck team, who are based out of Buenos Aires. The combination of installations and comprehensive training required a good length stay, and James was there for 2 weeks, arriving just as the summer holidays ended - about a 5 hour drive South of Buenos Aires, Mar del Plata is a coastal city, and is the summer holiday destination for locals - 3 million people in summer and 1 million in winter! There is a mass exodus from Buenos Aires to go there for summer every year. #elementalanalysis Jean-Yves HENRY, Frank Dörries, Eric Mossel, Leonardo Alvarez, Christopher Goh, Revia Chen, MUHAMMAD Baseer Anwar, Tacettin Öztürk, Ahmed Moustafa June Yoo J. Israel Bolaños Gutiérrez Praveen K.Sharma, PhD, MBA, HA SHAH Jon Cocca Seweryn Felis, Denilson Antonio Marques, Fernando Iñón, João Fiori, Alina Radzin, Roberto Bizzo, Vangelis Adam, Robert Douesnard 

As part of the relationship we are building with Crewe Engineering & Design UTC (University Technical College), Sercon hosted a visit by Steve Fergusson, Assistant Principal and SLE and 23 T-Level students from Crewe UTC last week, and is planning to repeat the exercise for the remaining students in the same cohort shortly. We are planning to offer T-Level placements to two of the UTC’s students, so the open day visit was designed both as a taster for any of them interested in applying as well as to provide a demonstration of what careers in science and engineering can look like. We hope you enjoy the video of the event below. #irms #isotopes #youngengineers #tlevels Jean-Yves HENRY, Frank Dörries, Eric Mossel, Leonardo Alvarez, Christopher Goh, Revia Chen, MUHAMMAD Baseer Anwar, Tacettin Öztürk, Ahmed Moustafa June Yoo J. Israel Bolaños Gutiérrez Praveen K.Sharma, PhD, MBA, HA SHAH Seweryn Felis, Jon Cocca Denilson Antonio Marques, Fernando Iñón, João Fiori, Alina Radzin, Roberto Bizzo, Vangelis Adam, Robert Douesnard