In order to keep up with the increasing requests from our clients for E-Fate testing, we have finalized the first phase of the capacity expansion of our E-Fate labs and climatized rooms. In lab space this expansion results in a 50% capacity growth, and concerns an instrument lab, offices, a climate room and a cold sample store (-20 °C).
E-Fate testing within the REACH programme  and a growing interest for Environmental Risk Assessment of pharmaceuticals has led to this expansion. “These new client groups match perfectly well to our long years’ experience in E-Fate testing for the Agrochemical industry”, dr. Carline Brands, senior scientist in the E-Fate group, says. “Several of the tests we perform for agrochemicals are now required in REACH for higher production chemicals and in ERA for pharmaceuticals, like adsorption studies on soil, sediment and sludges and degradation studies in aquatic sediment systems”, Carline states, “according to the same OECD guidelines, instrumentation and GLP and with very similar requirements”.
“Last year we were also successful in hiring new, enthusiastic technicians who are now fully trained on all our E-Fate studies. The next phase will be an expansion of equipment like extra LSC, oxidizers and an update of our TLC instrumentation”, dr. Nico Tan, Carline’s colleague, adds. “This is foreseen for early 2010”.