WILMINGTON, Mass. (October 5, 2009) – Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., the world leader in serving science, today announced a new multilayer blown film lay-flat measurement and control application for food and medical flexible packaging manufacturers. This solution combines the industry-proven web gauging capabilities of the Thermo Scientific 21Plus! Control Platform and Thermo Scientific FSIR Full Spectrum Infrared sensor, and it is ideal for flexible packaging manufacturers producing barrier layer films used to extend shelf life of meat and cheese products or protect medical instruments from contaminants. 

The new application provides manufacturers with critical thickness and uniformity measurements and offers unprecedented control of individual polymers in the film stack. This first-of-its-kind solution discriminates between various polymers and controls the amount of polymer exiting each extruder. This helps users significantly reduce resin and scrap and lowers operating costs. The system’s advanced software distinguishes between top and bottom lay-flat film, and it rapidly scans and processes data, bringing more accurate die or air ring mapping to the end user. Finally, the unique automatic twist angle compensation feature reduces downtime during changeovers or start-ups, saving hours of valuable time.

“The flexible packaging market is expanding, and our customers that manufacture expensive multilayer films with barrier layers demand technologies that increase efficiencies, improve control and save time,” said Doug Wright, senior product marketing manager at Thermo Fisher Scientific. “Alternatives may provide only limited information, run slower scans or be particularly vulnerable to costly errors. We were able to eliminate these common problems with this unique combination of our industry-proven technologies.”

“We wanted a faster system with greater control and improved analysis of the thickness and uniformity of films at the individual polymer level. The team at Thermo Fisher Scientific has decades of experience and knowledge to take on this challenge and design what we believe is an outstanding solution,” said Mirek Planeta, president of Macro Engineering and Technology, Inc. The company is a global supplier of systems, components and services to the plastic film and sheet industries, and it collaborated with Thermo Fisher Scientific on this application.

The Thermo Fisher Scientific measurement and control teams offer more than 40 years of web gauging experience, formerly sold under the EGS Gauging brand. All web gauging systems are backed by Thermo Fisher Scientific’s worldwide service and support network. For further information, please visit www.thermo.com/webgauging.

Thermo Scientific is part of Thermo Fisher Scientific, the world leader in serving science.

About Thermo Fisher Scientific
Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (NYSE: TMO) is the world leader in serving science, enabling our customers to make the world healthier, cleaner and safer. With 2008 revenues of $10.5 billion, we have approximately 34,000 employees and serve over 350,000 customers within pharmaceutical and biotech companies, hospitals and clinical diagnostic labs, universities, research institutions and government agencies, as well as environmental and industrial process control settings. Serving customers through two premier brands, Thermo Scientific and Fisher Scientific, we help solve analytical challenges from routine testing to complex research and discovery. The Thermo Scientific brand represents a complete range of high-end analytical instruments as well as laboratory equipment, software, services, consumables and reagents to enable integrated laboratory workflow solutions. Fisher Scientific provides a complete portfolio of laboratory equipment, chemicals, supplies and services used in healthcare, scientific research, safety and education. Together, we offer the most convenient purchasing options to customers and continuously advance our technologies to accelerate the pace of scientific discovery, enhance value for customers and fuel growth for shareholders and employees alike. Visit www.thermofisher.com.