All news and events

This week we had a visit from Deborah Müller and Julien Bonnaud from Space Exchange Switzerland (SXS). After the presentation of ANAXAM and an intensive exchange on the possible applications of Neutron and Synchrotron Analytics in space travel, we went on a tour of the large-scale research facilities at PSI. As delegates (THAG - Technology Harmonisation Advisory Group) of the ESA for Switzerland, both have an extensive space network from which ANAXAM can benefit. After getting to know each other for the first time, we are now looking forward to continuing our good collaboration.

Last week Guangli Hu, Wail Rasheed and Fady Khalla from Merck were visiting us. After a project exchange we went on a tour through the large-scale research facilities at the PSI. We used the chance to stop at each beamline we used for our common projects so far. Due to the upgrade activities of SLS, our guests got an exclusive insight.

A tailor-made vacuum and climate chamber for conditioning pre-filled syringes was developed as part of a customer project for testing pre-filled syringes.

In preparation for the upcoming beam time in December, a test installation took place this week at the neutron beam line Neutra at PSI. Since our burnout furnace does not fit through the regular entrance to the beamline, the massive concrete ceiling had to be opened. Afterwards, our infrastructure could be lifted through the ceiling into the beamline.
During the test installation, the exact positioning in the chamber was determined and various connection points for exhaust air and electricity were checked.

Last week we were happy to have Jorge Martinez Garcia from Hochschule Luzern visiting us to exploit the possibility of measuring nano-porosity in porous materials for building applications, manufactured by the company de Cavis AG. This measurement was performed at the SANS-1 beamline at Paul Scherrer Institut PSI.

Within the framework of a joint development project between the Norwegian University of Technology and Natural Sciences (NTNU), the industrial partner Equinor and ANAXAM, a customised test rig in the form of a cryochamber was realised, which allows sea ice and spray ice samples to be tomographed in different temperature ranges.

Last week we had the team of Alexander Zürn Global, Device & Packaging Development, from Novartis visiting us. After the presentation of ANAXAM and a first technical exchange about the possibilities of Neutron and Synchrotron Analytics, we went on a tour through the large-scale research facilities at the PSI. During the subsequent lunch, there was a lively exchange about joint project opportunities. We are looking forward to further cooperation.

Last week we had Tobias Füeg, Viktoria Wiedmeyer, Johannes Mayrhofer and Mohsen Meshkian from SpectraFlow Analytics AG visiting us. In the collaboration, muons were successfully used for the first time to obtain a detailed elemental analysis of rock samples using the so-called "Muon Induced X-ray Emission (MIXE)" technique.
These results together with Synchrotron Diffraction measurements help SpectraFlow Analytics AG to open up new possibilities in the analytical performance of their online analyzers.

Last week we performed measurements at the TOMCAT beamline of the PSI together with Arnaud Houriet and Francois Guelat, from the Watch division of the company MPS Micro Precision Systems AG. Using in-operando radiography at the Synchrotron, the function of a watch gear component was investigated in real time. In collaboration with MPS, a tailor-made test rig was developed for the investigation, which allows the gear component to be scanned and investigated in real time. The results of the measurements support MPS in improving their products even further.