Rigaku Wins Innovation Award

The importance of accurate, durable and on the spot identification of metals and alloys is paramount for reliability, quality of product and profitability for many metal applications. The KT-100™ Katana™, a laser induced breakdown spectroscopic (LIBS) handheld analyzer, was selected in the analytical/test category as one of the top 100 innovative products by R&D Magazine that was introduced to the marketplace during 2016. The analyzer was developed and manufactured by Rigaku Analytical Devices (Wilmington, MA), a leading pioneer of handheld and portable spectroscopic analyzers.

The KT-100 Katana is the only handheld LIBS analyzer certified rugged to U.S. Military Standard MIL-STD-810G and provides a new and improved way to identify elemental composition for both heavy and light alloying elements in metals. Primary uses include scrap metal sorting, quality assurance in metal fabrication, and positive material identification in petrochemical operations. The winners, chosen by both an independent judging panel and the editors of the magazine, were announced at the Gaylord National Harbor & Resort (Oxon Hill, MD).

Following the win of their handheld Raman analyzer, Progeny™ ResQ™, in last year’s R&D 100 Awards, the recognition for the KT-100 Katana reinforces the Rigaku’s mission to deliver advanced handheld and portable spectroscopic analyzers that enable customers to achieve rapid lab-quality results at any time, any place.

“The ability to accurately classify metals and alloys is of paramount importance for a number of applications to ensure profitability and product quality. We developed this to directly address the needs of the metal analyst, regardless of location or environment,” said Bree Allen, the president at Rigaku. “We identified the weaknesses in existing technologies as well as the unmet needs of the end user and utilized the information to design and manufacture a device which performs efficiently and reliably, withstanding harsh environments. We have been developing both laboratory and field equipment for many years and the combination of our expertise and quality of our instruments is well known within the analytical instrumentation space. We are delighted to have won this award, which confirms that it is one of the most advanced and robust handheld analyzers on the market, identifying a wide range of metals.”

This analyzer has powerful analytical capabilities, with QuickID™ software allowing identification of even the most difficult alloys in less than two seconds – at the pull of the trigger. Its MIL-STD-810G and IP 54 certification means the device can withstand the harsh work environments encountered in scrap recycling yards and other industrial facilities. The tests that it passed included rigorous vibration, shock and drop testing to evaluate its durability and reliability when exposed to environmental stress.

Integrating proprietary Breakthrough Laser Ablation & Detection Engine (BLADE™) technology means this analyzer is the smallest and lightest handheld LIBS unit currently available on the market. Its “Drill Down” feature rapidly prepares samples by removing contaminants that can affect positive metal identification. With an extended battery life, it is also less susceptible to fatigue and downtime, which is critical for on and off-site operations. The GPS and macro-camera allow for instrument and sample tracking. Furthermore, it reduces regulatory headaches and annual licensing fees required by other handheld metal analyzer technologies.

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www.rigakuanalytical.com