PerkinElmer’s pioneering technologies are the gold standard in heavy metals analysis

Its ICP-OES instruments detect dangerous pollutants and keep the global supply chain safe.

Heavy metals and other pollutants can have toxic effects on the human body. This is why it is crucial to detect and eradicate these elements before they contaminate food and water sources or find their way into everyday products. 

Inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES) is an accurate elemental analysis technique used to reveal the presence of any harmful heavy metals. In Singapore, leading multinational group, PerkinElmer, manufactures the Avio® range of ICP-OES instruments, which are used to detect dangerous pollutants and contaminants in drinking water and to quantify concentrations of heavy metals and toxic elements in various materials.

The Avio ICP-OES platform was first launched in 2016 (Avio 200) and 2017 (Avio 500). Since their introduction, PerkinElmer has sold several thousands of instruments to customers in a range of different industries, such as food manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, semiconductors, biofuels, lubricants, and petrochemicals. 

The current Avio ICP-OES platform includes three distinct models: Avio 220 Max, Avio 550 Max, and Avio 560 Max. These different models address the diverse needs of the market, from low-to-mid throughput to high throughput labs. For instance, the Avio 220 Max is ideal for labs with varying sample loads due to its unique plug-and-play capability and low cost of operation. It is able to go from cold start to sample analysis in 10 minutes, allowing users to turn off the instrument as many times as needed throughout the day to save argon, since there is virtually no startup time.

Meanwhile, the Avio 550 Max is a fully simultaneous instrument for testing labs that depend on fast turnaround at the lowest possible cost, while still needing to meet regulatory requirements with uncompromised accuracy. For labs with even greater speed requirements, the Avio 560 Max steps up performance, going from fast to fastest, with a built-in High Throughput System (HTS), reducing 1.5-minute runtimes to about 30 seconds.

The three different Avio Max models all share first-to-market proprietary technologies, many of which require little to no maintenance. For instance, PlasmaShear™ provides a maintenance-free option for removing the cool end of the plasma, where other systems will use a cone or orifice that requires regular maintenance. On the other hand, Flat Plate™ plasma technology generates a robust plasma at a low argon flow (only 8 L/min for most applications) and requires no cooling and maintenance, delivering substantial cost savings over traditional systems.

All three Avio Max models are also equipped with Syngistix™ software, which offers a host of smart features designed to optimize the performance of these ICP-OES instruments. As a result of the Avio platform’s flexibility and robustness, PerkinElmer’s ICP business has outperformed the market growth rate of 5% year over year, increasing PerkinElmer’s market share while also helping the company exceed performance expectations. 

PerkinElmer’s dedication to research and design enables scientists, researchers and clinicians to address their most critical challenges across science and healthcare, offering a unique portfolio of innovative solutions across the world. For its commitment to providing reliable and flexible testing solutions, PerkinElmer and the Avio Max platform were recognized at the Made in Singapore awards in the Appliances category. 

Watch the interview below to know more about their winning project: