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Time: 12:30 - 13:30

The core technology of Greiner Bio-One’s Magnetic 3D Cell Culture is the magnetisation of cells using biocompatible NanoShuttle™-PL, a nanoparticle assembly. The reproducible formation of a single spheroid per well in an F-bottom plate with Cell-Repellent surface is forced by magnets either by levitation or bioprinting, to form structurally and biologically representative 3D models in-vitro.

Join Glauco Souza Ph.D. Greiner Bio-One's Director of Global Business Development & Innovation, Adjunct Assistant Professor at The University of Texas Health Science Centre and one of the developers of Magnetic 3D Cell Culture to learn more about this method and its applications.

Book your place using the form below:

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If multilayer devices such as the Greiner Bio-One CELLdisc™ are used, not only growth area and number of cells per device should be considered but also the effective usage of the given incubator space.

The innovative CELLdisc™ with its round and ergonomic design differs from existing rectangular devices. The latter, by their dimensions, seem to imply optimal usage of a cubic space like an incubator. However it has to be taken in account that length and width of such systems do not correlate with the corresponding dimensions of standard incubators leaving a lot of space unused. Additionally such devices cannot be positioned closely next to each other to assure equal thermal distribution.

Contrariwise based on its round design, thermal equilibration space for CELLdisc™ is given already even when the devices are in absolute close proximity. Due to this fact and the 40% higher surface/volume ratio than standard competitive systems, utilization of incubator space is much better for CELLdisc™ than for rectangular devices.

Read the full Technical Note here

Discover our full range of CELLdisc™ prducts here

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In addition to promoting quality assurance in the blood donor service, the goal of the Swiss Red Cross is to increase the stock of blood through regular donations. Because safe blood saves lives!

Giving blood is not (yet) necessarily the norm everywhere

In some regions of the world, people often only donate blood for family members so there is therefore not enough available or it needs to be paid for. There is a need to raise awareness here and encourage people to donate blood for others outside their own families. “If somebody needs my blood, I’m there for them,” says Said Mrad, a voluntary Lebanese blood donor. The 26-year-old is giving blood for the fourth time. Thanks to the work of the SRK in cooperation with the Lebanese Red Cross, he now sees it as completely natural to give his blood for other people.

Blood supplies need to be safe

A professional blood donor service not only needs donors but it also needs suitable products and expert knowledge to ensure high quality standards, maximum safety and wide coverage for this vital service. The SRK’s international experience helps the Lebanese Red Cross a great deal as it establishes this valuable service. Greiner Bio-One is supporting this project through its financial contribution, its products and its expertise.

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Event Talks

Monday 21st Oct - 15:35

Glauco Souza, Ph.D. (Director of Global Business Development and Innovation and Assistant Adjunct Professor, Greiner Bio-One and University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston) will be speaking as part of the Scientific Program. Join his talk 'Magnetic 3D Bioprinting from Spheroids to Fingerprinting in 3D Using a 2D Workflow'

Tuesday 22nd Oct - 14:00

Vendor Snapshot with Dr Glauco Souza 'Magnetic 3D Cell Culture, 3D in a 2D Workflow.'

Glauco Souza in action at SLAS Washington earlier this year

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Special thanks to The Works at Gloucester Quays whose support meant that we could donate so many books!

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VACUETTE® QUICKSHIELD family

• Rotating safety shield
• Clear visibility of the entire puncture site
• Comfort through one-handed avtivation of the safety mechanism
• Many different needle lengths and gauges result in 16 possible combinations

Scientific Information about the VACUETTE® QUICKSHIELD Safety Tube Holder

• Evaluation of VACUETTE® QUICKSHIELD Safety Tube Holder
• Expert opinion for the prevention of needlestick injuries (NSI) during blood collection

Watch the video:

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The Family Haven is based in Gloucester, near our Stonehouse facility and supports families with a wide range of problems including disabilities, domestic violence, mental health, drug/alcohol misuse, chaotic lifestyles and poverty.

Amongst the many services they provide includes a day nursery and staff at Greiner have been collecting items such as nappies, wet wipes, toys and kitchen equipment to help support the organisation. Read more about the fantastic work of The Family Haven here.

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Read more about the transformation of At-Bristol to We the Curious and the Open City Lab here 

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To learn more about award and the event, please visit the UK Biobanking Showcase website.

Entries are open until 10th October 2019.

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We are investing a total of nearly 20 million Euros at our Frickenhausen site in optimised plant infrastructure, material supply and logistics, as well as a 30 percent increase in production capacity. 

Modern Plant, Simplified Communication

By the end of September 2020, not only will the new office building be completed, but also the production area will be expanded by over 1,700 square meters. Thanks to the new high-bay warehouse, the old logistics areas can be converted for production. Distributed on two levels, special products for the cultivation and analysis of cell and tissue cultures made of plastic are produced in the automated state-of-the-art facility. In addition, an integrated ISO5 clean room cell for CELLCOAT production and a state-of-the-art roller bottle and tube system will also be created.

Prerequisite for Growth

In the course of the infrastructure project, the modernisation of the existing buildings as well as a redesign of the company premises are planned. 30 bicycle parking spaces will be created plus a new routing system for public transport. In addition to the current 330 employees, 40 new jobs are planned for the coming years. 

 Managing Director Heinz Schmid: "The infrastructure project creates the conditions for further growth at this location. Both in production and in administration, the company has reached its capacity limits. With its new high-bay warehouse, new office building and enlarged and modernized production, Greiner Bio-One is perfectly positioned for today's and tomorrow's challenges."

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The Greiner stand at the event will feature our full range of Sample Management products including our latest Triple Coded Cryo.s™, Rack Scanners, Decappers and a full suite of accessories. 

Book your place at this fantastic event here.

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Sustainability as a cross-sectional subject  

Although Greiner has established focal points such as those regarding circular economy and CO2 reduction, the group nevertheless regards sustainability as a cross-sectional subject. As Hannes Moser, the Greiner AG CFO, explains, “Apart from plainly evident areas such as environment-friendly product design and responsible material employment, sustainability also means being a good and reliable employer that appreciates the individuality and diversity of its workforce. Moreover, both sustainable management, which involves long-term and transparent relations with all stakeholders and the securing of profit-oriented growth are matters equally inherent to the sustainability thematic area.”

A focus on circular economy  

During 2018, the various impacts of plastics were dealt with extensively on a European level and initial regulations for the industry followed. Greiner welcomes the new EU plastics strategy and in fact has been working on sustainable solutions for a number of years. Indeed in 2016, which was well before the topic of plastic waste came to dominate the day-to-day media agenda, socially and environmentally acceptable conduct was already anchored within the group through the introduction of the binding “Plastics for Life” sustainability strategy. During 2017, there followed the installation of sustainability management across the entire concern and now comes our first Sustainability Report. Accordingly, group activities aimed at product portfolio modification with respect to recycling capacity, increased innovation in line with sustainability and the establishment of a cyclical economic approach, not only represent measures in accordance with the European strategy for plastics, but go beyond the statutory requirements to which Greiner leads by example.          

Targets as a corporate development blueprint  

The objectives contained in the Sustainability Report extend up to the year 2030. They form a blueprint for the future development of the group and more than meet the demands of the EU’s plastics strategy. The targets include:

• A 53% cut in specific CO2 emissions by 2030.
• The introduction of an internal carbon pricing system by 2020.
• The promise that by 2025 all the plastic packaging manufactured will be suitable for recycling, reuse or composting.
• An assurance that all problematic and superfluous plastic packaging will be eliminated.
• An obligation that by 2025 a considerable percentage of the material employed will emanate from recycling.

Axel Kühner remarked “The latest example of these endeavors is a shampoo bottle, which is produced entirely from recycled polyolefins. It has an attractive design and offers both optimum product protection and outstanding environmental compatibility. The recycled material for this product, which is also 100 percent recyclable, is obtained from plastic milk bottles that were collected in the UK. In fact, the motto, “designed for recycla-bility” was a primary consideration from the very start of this development.”

It is also worthy of note that the Greiner Sustainability Report foresees the occupation by women of 35% of managerial posts by 2025, as well as an increase in the share of renewable energy in electricity purchases to 90% by 2030.  

Further information at: sustainability.greiner.com /  #makingithappen

Download the brand new Greiner Sustainability Report here...

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Our tubes should continue to be used according to our instructions for use (IFU) and by allowing the blood to clot appropriately, the optimal performance of the tube can be ensured.

These tubes will start to be manufactured at the beginning of June 2019.

If you would like to discuss this change further then please contact us at info.ukgbocom 

Scientific Information about VACUETTE® Safety Blood Collection Sets

• Evaluation of VACUETTE® Safety Blood Collection Sets
• Comparison Testing of Needles and Packaging of Various Blood Collection Sets

Want to know more? Simply complete the form below.

  New Cell Culture Rocks 2

Cell Culture Rocks

Want to now more?

See our full Cell Culture range here or simply complete the form below.

To request a copy simply complete the form below.

During his address at the ceremonial opening of the Campus, the Upper Austrian governor, Thomas Stelzer, noted that: “Employees are the most valuable asset of successful companies and with its Campus, Greiner provides a splendid example of how motivated and qualified personnel can be recruited and retained. Moreover, the fact that a globally successful concern remains true to its roots and invests in Kremsmünster, is an indication of the future viability of the Upper Austrian location. For this, my sincere gratitude also goes to the Greiner family.”

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Take a moment to learn about how Greiner Bio-One Microplates can be used with various strategies to measure and calculate unknown DNA concentrations of aqueous samples. Read our Application Note here

Want to know more about National DNA Day? Visit the National Human Genome Research Institute website.

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Our full range including accessories can be found here

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The change will take place mid 2019. It is further planned to implement these changes on all VACUETTE® tubes successively in the coming years.

If you have any concerns regarding this change, please contact us at info.ukgbocom 

The Preanalytics Global Summit for Best Practices is a leading educational conference for healthcare professionals that collects samples in clinical laboratories or healthcare facilities. The three-day conference (7th -10th October) in Las Vegas, Nevada, will provide lab managers and leaders, phlebotomists, educators, nurses, and medical technologists with the opportunity to improve their sampling skills and knowledge, as well as organisational topics such as enhancement of employee relations. 

The Global Summit for Best Practices in Preanalytics offers the participants presentations on two main topics, according to their needs, between which the participants can choose after successful registration: 

• Improving Collection & Competency 
• Managing Your Lab to Peak Productivity

Registration will end on 6th October 2019. Please note that the participation in the Global Summit for Best Practices in Preanalytics is chargeable and self-paid. Geiner Bio-One does not cover the costs of flights, hotels and the event itself.

Inform and register NOW! 

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On average, 7 lorries per week arrive to re-stock the warehouse from our global manufacturing sites.  Greiner’s ERP system facilitates the management of stock and allows for increased visibility within the supply chain ecompasing batch traceability and expiry date.

A Genuine Team Effort

UK Warehouse Manager Mark Stannard explains that the team’s skills incorporate accuracy and efficiency, however he highlights the importance of cross departmental communication to ensure customer needs are met.  The positive, self-motivated attitude of the team was recognised when the annual Colleague Recognition Award was won by a member of the warehouse team for the second year in succession.  This was decided from a vote by all employees in the company.

Environmental Responsibility

Of course, it is not just the volume of products we ship which have changed over the past 30 years.  With the growth of the business has come an increase in responsibility to minimise the impact on the environment.  In 2011 Greiner Bio-One UK was successfully certified to the ISO14001 Environmental Management System and by the end of 2018, over 93% of waste was recycled with the remainder being sent for ‘waste to energy’ making the company ‘Zero to Landfill.’

No one knows what the next 30 years will bring in terms of opportunities and challenges, but one thing that we can be certain of is that through its ‘can do’ attitude and flexible approach the Greiner Bio-One Warehouse team, we will be perfectly placed to meet customer requirements.

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Amongst the many services they provide includes a day nursery and staff at Greiner have been collecting items such as nappies, wet wipes, toys and kitchen equipment to help support the organisation.

If you would like to read more about The Family Haven then please click here

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Tube holder with potential

The luer lock feature sets the VACUETTE® SAFELINK apart from the conventional Greiner Bio-One tube holders and makes it particularly suitable for blood collection from venous access devices according to guideline recommendations (Infusion Therapy Standard of Practice, Revised 2016, www.ins1.org). Furthermore, tests show that the secure connection withstands pressures of up to 185mmHg. This, along with the functional design and practical handling could make a significant contribution to efficiency in everyday healthcare situations.

Secure screw connection between holder and collection product

The simple screw connection ensures safe and successful blood collection. With a controlled threading movement, the single-use product connects safely and smoothly to the respective medical device. The VACUETTE® SAFELINK is manufactured from unbreakable plastic, and does not contain natural rubber latex.

Regular improvements and innovations at Greiner Bio-One

Greiner Bio-One uses targeted market monitoring as the basis for implementing ongoing enhancements, so its product portfolio is regularly optimised and expanded. The range of accessories already includes various tube holders, from the standard holder through to the safety version. The VACUETTE® SAFELINK holder is a perfect addition to the product line with its screw system for a secure connection.

Order information:

Item no. 450210 - VACUETTE® SAFELINK Holder with male luer lock, single-packed, not made with natural rubber latex.

For further information, please have a look into our Product Flyer:

VACUETTE® SAFELINK Product Flyer - English Version

A focus on sustainable business activities

Greiner has always actively engaged with its responsibility as a plastics processor and seeks to ensure that an intact ecological, social, and economic system remains in place for future generations. “The fact that sustainable business activities are important to us is evidenced by our group-wide Plastics for Life sustainability strategy. This makes responsible business activities an intrinsic component of our corporate strategy and represents a voluntary contribution to sustainable development that goes beyond legal requirements,” says Axel Kühner, CEO of Greiner AG.

As part of its anniversary celebrations, Greiner came up with a very special present for its employees – one that has a big impact! Together with children’s and youth initiative Plant-for-the-Planet, the company is planting 10,800 trees on the Yucatán Peninsula in Mexico. In doing so, it is helping to reforest a woodland area that has been degraded and cleared of trees. The new, healthy forest will store CO2, supply raw materials over the long term, and create jobs.

Every tree counts

Plant-for-the-Planet is pursuing the ambitious goal of working with partners and supporters around the world to plant one trillion new trees and thereby absorb around a quarter of today’s man-made CO2 emissions. To coincide with the tree planting campaign, Axel Kühner, CEO of Greiner AG, and Hannes Moser, CFO of Greiner AG, planted a tree in the grounds of the new Greiner Campus to symbolize the company’s involvement on the Yucatán Peninsula. Scheduled for completion by spring 2019, the Greiner Campus is an extension of the company’s headquarters and will include a modern office complex and training center. “As a family business, Greiner places great importance on leaving behind an intact ecological system for future generations. We are pleased to support Plant-for-the-Planet and hope many more partners will join this model project,” says Moser.

Advantages

• Stabilisation immediately after collection for 48 hours
• Based on the in vivo value (almost 100 %)
• Avoids false negative diagnoses of diabetes patients
• Stabilisation allows for longer transport and storage times

The unique additive mixture is what makes the difference

The citrate/citric acid buffer ensures a quick stabilisation of the blood sample. The glycolysis is catalysed and suppressed. Therefore, the blood sugar is held constantly at the in vivo value  . Due to the sodium fluoride additive contained in the VACUETTE® FC Mix Tube, inhibition is extended to 48 hours. Additionally, the Na2-EDTA is included as an anticoagulant, which is effective due to complexation of Ca++. 

The almost full inhibition of glycoloysis in the VACUETTE® FC Mix Tube means that diagnosis is a much more reliable process than before. The stabilisation is carried out in whole blood and therefore does not require immediate centrifugation. Unlike in tubes with liquid additives, the finely granulated additive does not cause a dilution effect.

As such, the VACUETTE® FC Mix Tube is the ideal tool for reliably detecting diabetes and taking appropriate measures to combat the condition.

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We believe the greatest risks are:

a) extended time lines for importing goods into the UK resulting from import clearance procedures and increased demands on the ports of entry into the UK.

And

b) increased costs within the supply chain, relating to import handling and import duties,

Whilst we can take no action to influence any additional costs of importation, we are implementing contingencies to mitigate potential challenges and minimise supply chain disruption during this transitional period. These will include increasing stock levels in the run up to 31st October 2019, and engaging with both our customers and our manufacturing colleagues to work together on maintaining our service.

The customer service team at Greiner are constantly in touch with customers and as such have built excellent relationships.    Staff take ownership of queries, providing effective and efficient resolutions and customers indicate that Greiner set the bar high at this aspect of service. In addition, we work closely with both our production team and customers thus facilitating timely shipments. 

Greiner understand the importance of a flexible approach to customer requirements and are adept at providing solutions.    

Do you have any future plans which will enhance how customers experience customer service from Greiner?

We are currently on a journey to enhance the value for customers, consequently we are engaging with our new CRM system to ensure all stakeholders have timely access to relevant information. This will facilitate our aim to achieve first call resolutions for customers.

In addition, to further strengthen relationships many staff will have the opportunity to visit customers, seeking feedback to establish how we may continue to improve. We are also in the process of building product directories to enable staff to proactively offer alternative products.

Tell us about your team?

The customer service team have had exposure to each aspect of the Supply Chain which has contributed to an efficient service. Our combined team have in excess of 30 years experience in customer service, they hold a positive attitude and always go the extra mile.

Want to find out more about anything mentioned in this interview? Simply complete the form below.

In this video we focus on biobanking and how you can ensure that you're biobanking samples correctly. All of this and more in under 90 seconds! 

Video 4: Protein Coating

This video is all about Protein Coating. Why is it used and what does it do?

Video 3: Mass Cell Culture

Learn about the scaling up cells with this Lab Minute video.

Video 2: Cell Culture Basics

This video discusses the common technique of cell culture and what factors can influence your assay.

Video 1: 3D Cell Culture

This video tackles questions like "What is 3D cell culture?", "Why is it important?", and "How is it being used?"

Want to find out more about our products and applications? just leave your details below:

The production start of the tubes with the new name CAT Serum will be in Q4 2018.If there are any questions, please do not hesitate to contact your responsible Sales Area Manager.

If you would like to download this notification as a PDF, please click here

If you have any queries, please contact your local Account Manager or info.ukgbocom 

Heinz Schmid, CEO of Greiner Bio-One BioScience commented on this strategic acquisition: “The potential for growth in the 3D cell culture market is amazingly vast with laboratories and research facilities utilising this new technology daily to find cures for disease and improve the existing cell culture methodology. The acquisition of a magnetic 3D cell culture technology is just one of Greiner Bio-One’s ongoing efforts to advance scientific research and improve health, while providing researchers access to the best products.”

Nano3D Biosciences, Inc. President and Chief Scientific Officer, Glauco Souza: "We are delighted to have completed this acquisition with Greiner Bio-One. The synergy between Nano3D's technology and Greiner Bio-One’s innovation in tissue culture makes this an excellent match to further advance magnetic 3D cell culture."

About 3D cell culture technology: 
Magnetic 3D cell culture is an innovative technology that allows for the magnetisation of cells that can then be aggregated through levitation or bioprinted to form a structurally and biologically representative 3D model in vitro. This is a crucial improvement over previously used cell culture methods due to its ability to better recreate cell growth and behaviour as it would be found in the body. 
The CELLSTAR cell culture vessels with cell-repellent surface from Greiner Bio-One are ideal for cultivating cells to form three-dimensional structures. Outstanding results can be achieved, particularly when they are used in combination with the technology from Nano3D Biosciences.

Watch our video about magnetic 3D bioprinting of spheroids: 

Want to know more?

In the 2017 financial year, a cash flow of 67 million euros was generated. At the end of the year, there were 2,247 employees worldwide at Greiner Bio-One.

Turnover and cashflow:

2013 – 2017, figures are given in EUR millions

Click here for more information

• Improving Sample Collection
• Improving Your Laboratory Environment

Registration will end on October 15, 2018. Please note that the participation in the Global Summit for Best Practices in Preanalytics is chargeable and self-paid. GBO does not cover the costs of flights, hotels and the event itself.

Inform and register NOW!

Opened in 2012 as a joint venture between the British Government and Wolfson Foundation, the Molecular Collections Facility at the Natural History Museum is a ‘biobank’ of non-human biological material, such as tissue, DNA and RNA. As a not-for-profit repository, the collections are made available to scientific researchers across the globe to advance research into endangered and extinct organisms, some of which may assist in answering the way we solve the biodiversity crisis facing us. Along with other renowned museums such as the American and Smithsonian Museums of Natural History, the Molecular Collections Facility is part of the wider Global Genome Biodiversity Network. This global network of scientific institutions help in sharing the huge workload involved in extracting the molecular samples from the traditional collections displayed and stored in our museums.

Auditing the museum’s historic collections for biological samples of sufficient quality to be stored in the Molecular Collections Facility’s collection is no easy process. With many of the museum’s collections having been stored in sub-optimal conditions for the preservation of DNA and other biological material, the Molecular Collections Facility must provide storage solutions that will enable the samples to be viable for hundreds of years to come. Along with ‘repairing’ rare DNA samples that have been degraded with time. This preservation problem also transposes to modern fieldwork. For example, just how do you transport tissue samples back to London when on a 7 week expedition deep in the jungle of Vietnam without using chemical preservatives and avoiding excessive heat and humidity, each of which act to degrade molecular material? For this reason, time is of the essence, and along with developing secure and reliable ‘cold chains’ the Molecular Collections Facility has also to keep up-to-date with fast changing legislation relating to the collection and export of biological samples and dangerous goods.

With a capacity to hold 2 million samples, the Molecular Collections Facility faces the same problems as every museum collection, with space and time being two of the biggest. The colder and drier the storage environment, the better the likelihood that a biological sample will be stored successfully. Hence, the Molecular Collections Facility houses three large liquid nitrogen tanks each of which can hold 120,000 individual samples. Stored in datamatrix encoded cryopreservation tubes at -196ºC, this is the ‘gold standard’ for the long-term preservation of the molecular samples. In addition to the ‘gold standard’, thirty one traditional upright freezers are used to house historic samples stored in alcohol or as a ‘handling station’ prior to long-term liquid nitrogen storage. Along with ‘cold storage’, the Molecular Collections Facility is also developing techniques to store DNA at ambient temperature on paper impregnated with chemicals which capture and preserve the DNA from cells. Whilst a liquid nitrogen tank can store 120,000 samples and an upright freezer a mere 60,000 samples, paper storage enables 200,000 samples to be held in one storage drawer not much bigger than a kitchen utensil drawer. With 133 years of specimen collections to catalogue, one of the key tools in the Molecular Collections Facility’s success is automation. Without this, reformatting the DNA samples would take hundreds of years to achieve by hand. DNA extraction, purification and quantification are all automated processes and enable up to 384 samples to be handled at the same time, so reducing the reformatting time of the museums historic collections to only 5 to 10 years.

One other problem associated with long-term storage is how to you ‘track’ your samples? Would you risk an incredibly rare sample for hundreds of years to come to an adhesive label or number written on the tube in marker pen ink? Instead, the Molecular Collections Facility keeps all its cryogenically stored samples in tubes with laser-etched datamatix codes. These 2 dimensional barcodes provide each sample with a unique identification number which when used in conjunction with a Laboratory Information Management system, enables unique identifying data relating to each sample to be stored electronically and the samples’ location and history to be fully logged. With scientific advancement occurring so rapidly, the Molecular Collections Facility is also involved with initiatives in readiness for research beyond DNA. Examples include holding a growing collection of cryopreserved samples of living cells as part of the Frozen Ark, an initiative to biobank samples taken from endangered species. Currently being catalogued is a collection of 50,000 whole specimens of insect pollinating species, such a bumble bees, that are increasingly threatened by changes in the climate, habitats and agricultural methods. 

With the planet’s non-human organisms threatened as never before, the race to collect and catalogue their genetic and molecular resources is one that is not only huge in its undertaking but also subject to the pressures of time. The Natural History Museum through the Molecular Collections Facility is not only continuing the historic and world famous collection of specimens, but in a reversal of traditional roles is now acting in tandem with the world’s most prestigious institutions to provide a legacy to future generations, in the hope that they can learn from the mistakes that human expansion has placed on the other organisms that share this planet.

Dr. Gary Kennerley

Greiner Bio-One Ltd.

We would like to thank the Natural History Museum, and in particular all the staff of the Molecular Collections Facility, for their assistance in producing this article.

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See CELLdisc™ in action.

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Recycling was an obvious starting point and although we'd always done our best, we started to look at how we could do better, how we could reduce the waste in the first place. We introduced simple concepts like using scrap paper to make notes, train staff on duplex printing and increase the level of electronic filing. At the time of writing this article, our recycling rate stood at 93.29% and we have recently become a Zero to Landfill organisation.  This has been aided by our relationship with local recycling company Printwaste Recycling who provide us with a giant green container where all recyclable materials can be put, making the whole process as easy as possible.

More than just recycling 

But ISO14001 is about more than just recycling.  We looked at many other aspects including our use of utilities, how often we charge our forklift trucks, how we would deal with an emergency such as a fuel leak from a delivery lorry and how we could ensure that items such as quotes and invoices could be 100% electronic, removing the need for printing. 

We also identified procurement as being another key factor of our impact on the environment. Although our products are delivered to us mainly from our manufacturing sites in Austria and Germany, we source non-stock items from the UK. For us, this presented an opportunity to look local and source as much as we could from suppliers near to our base in Stonehouse, Gloucestershire.

In 2017 over 81% of our non-stock procurement was from local suppliers. Not only has this helped cut down on the environmental impact of deliveries, it has also helped us to build strong and friendly relationships with suppliers who can better respond to the changing needs of our business.

So, overall, what have we learnt? 

We have certainly learnt that improvements are always possible and that there is never a time to stand still. Before each project is even finished another potential improvement has been identified. 

We have also learnt that a project such as ISO14001 can help bring staff together. We have changed the team over the past 7 years to ensure that as many people get involved as possible and that we keep bringing in fresh ideas and new perspectives. 

We are proud to hold the ISO14001 Environmental Management certification and although it has taken a lot of hard work, learning and dedication from many people, we can safely say that it has been well worth it. 

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• FC Mix Tubes (Primary Tubes) can be stored after correct inversion for up to 24 hours at room temperature without centrifugation. 
• Should the tubes be expected to be stored longer than 24 hours at room temperature, samples should be centrifuged after blood collection in order to be stored for up to 48 hours at room temperature.
• Centrifuged aliquots from FC Mix Tubes can be stored for up to 48 hours at room temperature. Tubes should be centrifuged as soon as possible.
• Cooling of the samples (4-8°C, 39–46°F) is also suitable for 48 hours glucose stabilization.

Affected Products

To address these potential risks with precautionary measures, some changes have been made in the draw volumes and shelf life of selected gel tubes. It has therefore been decided to change the draw volume in all our 13x75 4ml gel tubes to a 3.5ml draw, while the new shelf life will be 15 months for these tubes.

This change will increase the amount of headspace in our tubes thereby increasing the overall robustness of the tubes. This is also in line with tubes from competitors, as these specific tubes generally offer a draw volume of 3.5ml.

Affected products are:

If you have any further queries, please contact your Greiner Bio-One Account Manager or email infouk.gbocom 

Improved workflows and communication

Employees moved into their new offices in the first two weeks of October. “The spacious, bright design of the offices, meeting rooms, and meet-up zones really makes a fantastic difference in my daily work,” said Doris Gintner, a Greiner Bio-One employee, of her new workplace. Departments that were formerly situated at a considerable distance from one another within a building, and sometimes even located at different sites, have now been merged at the organizational level into a single building. “This allows for optimized workflows, shorter communication channels, and greater efficiency during the implementation of projects. The laboratory will also be moved from Rainbach to Kremsmünster to leverage these same benefits,” said Perneker. 

Sustainable investment

The new company building stands out not just for its modern design, but also for its highly efficient use of resources. “We see taking active responsibility for people and the environment as one of our most important duties. If we want to continue to be successful in the future, we need to focus on sustainability in everything we do. This conviction is also reflected in the design and implementation of our site expansion,” noted Axel Kühner, CEO of the Greiner Group. 

“The Greiner Group is investing 16 million euros in the expansion of the Greiner Campus. This represents a clear and long-term commitment to its headquarters site in Upper Austria,” said Axel Kühner, CEO of the Greiner Group at the groundbreaking ceremony. Deputy State Governor Dr. Michael Strugl also noted that he was pleased to see this development. “For many companies in Upper Austria, a shortage of skilled workers is a potential – or a very real – obstacle to their growth. With their Greiner Campus, the Greiner Group is providing an exemplary model for how we can ensure we have the skilled and qualified employees we need for the future. The fact that a successful company such as the Greiner Group is investing in Upper Austria and further expanding its headquarters in Kremsmünster is also a positive sign that Upper Austria is a location that’s ready for the future.”

A focus on optimal training conditions and open communication

The expansion into the Greiner Campus will create a modern office environment with state-of-the-art workspaces. Open workspaces will be available for interdisciplinary projects and will promote communication and the exchange of ideas across both team and departmental lines. Creating an optimal work environment is also at the heart of the new training center. “Qualified and committed employees are the most important asset a successful company can have. By constructing our training centre, we are emphasising the high value we place on training at Greiner, which extends from apprenticeships, to training of specialist staff...” said Kühner. Cutting-edge trainee workshops will be built for the apprentices, and new seminar and event rooms will create additional space for the education and further training of current and future employees. “Training for apprentices is part of our regional and social responsibility. That is why the Greiner Group trains more young people each year than the company is able to employ,” noted Kühner.

Timeless architecture and sustainable construction techniques

The Greiner Campus is being constructed by the “F2 Architekten” architectural firm based in Schwanenstadt. The site expansion stands out for its environmentally-friendly, rectilinear design. “Clear lines and timeless architecture unite the new construction with the existing buildings to form a harmonious whole. Bright, well-lit interiors and the modern room layout create a pleasant and contemporary office environment. The varied design vocabulary of the new buildings, together with the architecture of the current structures, reflect the group’s diversity,” noted Markus Fischer of F2 Architekten.

PapilloCheck – fast analysis, accurate results

An infection with the human papillomavirus (HPV) is the cause of virtually all cases of cervical cancer. With the CE-marked in vitro diagnostic device PapilloCheck, Greiner Bio-One can provide a test system which enables not only the detection but also the simultaneous genotyp-ing of six low-risk (lr) and 18 high-risk (hr) HPV types from cervical smears in a single analysis. Hence, whilst the test system can be used for HPV primary screening purposes it can also be a valuable tool for an improved HPV risk assessment of the patient. Furthermore, PapilloCheck plays an important role in terms of HPV vaccination management and in epidemiological studies. PapilloCheck meets the requirements in cervical cancer screening due to high clinical sensitivity, specificity, as well as reproducibility and benefits from its integrated control system which guarantees accurate results.

Boosting profitability

The new CX platforms allow laboratories to streamline the PapilloCheck workflow by integrating DNA extraction, PCR setup and microarray hybridisation. The automated sample processing out of the primary tube significantly shortens hands-on time, allows an increased throughput and helps laboratories to be more efficient and profitable.

In addition to this, you can discover more about:

• Sample360 from MSoft which uses VACUETTE® Barcoded Tubes to offer a powerful phlebotomy sample tracking and management solution.
• Reliable results using Urine CCM Tubes.
• Precise determination of the blood sugar levels with our FC Mix Tube.
• Plus, request one of our new 2017 wall planners.

 To read VACUETTE® News please click here

This year’s event was held at the University of Swansea’s Bay Campus and our stand saw the welcome return of BATAK which first made an appearance in 2013. We had many delegates come along and have a chat to us and also to test their speed and coordination against the BATAK with the conference winner leaving with a DAB radio as a prize.

The shortlisted projects will go through a final round of judging in September with the winners being announced at the Awards Ceremony in November. 

Further information can be found at http://lushprize.org/

May Mayhem finished with Family Fortunes and the crowning of the winning team.

Great fun was had by all and £168 was raised in the process which will go towards helping combat Meningitis and its effects.

MiniCollect® Complete tubes simplify the analysis process

For centrifugation, the MiniCollect® tubes can be threaded into a PREMIUM carrier tube using a simple rotational movement. In the Complete version, the MiniCollect® tube is already irreversibly assembled in the carrier tube. This brings many advantages for sample analysis in instruments. 

When combined, the dimensions correspond to a standard 13x75 mm tube format. This allows the tube to be placed directly into a standard centrifuge adapter. Previously, it was necessary to adjust the settings on the analysis device because the tube format was different for venous and capillary blood samples. The combined tube means that both capillary and venous blood samples can now be analysed in the same way without complex modification of the device. Another advantage is that the carrier tubes can be identified using standard label formats. MiniCollect® Complete are primary tubes. Both blood collection and subsequent analyses can be carried out using the same tube. It is not necessary to transfer the sample material to a secondary tube for analysis.

The new cap on the tube is a particularly important feature. The membrane can be pierced by a cap-piercing analysis needle while the cap is closed, before automatically resealing after the needle is removed. It is not necessary to remove the cap first, thereby improving the level of hygiene. The caps are completely sealed, meet the highest standards and can be sent via pneumatic post with confidence, and without losing any sample material.

Combined filling volume for greater flexibility

Combined filling volumes for the EDTA and serum tubes make the preparation of samples more straightforward. Two easily visible filling marks on the tube provide greater flexibility for use. It is no longer necessary to decide on a certain volume in advance, which reduces logistical efforts.

Integrated blood collection scoop means accessories are no longer needed

The awkward process of transferring the drop of blood using capillary tubes or funnels is now also a thing of the past, thanks to the MiniCollect® System. The special feature here is the blood collection scoop integrated into the wide tube opening. In this way, the drop of blood can be transferred to the MiniCollect® primary tube quickly and easy, minimising adhesion. The sample immediately comes into contact with the additive inside the tube.

Avoid unnecessary agitation

The sight of a puncture needle often causes anxiety in children. “One of the main advantages for our young patients is that the safety mechanism of the MiniCollect® safety lancets means that no needle is visible at any point before or after the puncture. This makes the situation more relaxing for all involved,” explains Petra Langmayr, former paediatric nurse and product specialist at Greiner Bio-One. The puncture can either be carried out by pressing the Lancelino safety lancet down on the puncture site (contact-activated safety lancet) or by pressing down the release button (pressure-activated safety lancet). After the puncture, the needle retracts automatically and is safely enclosed within the plastic casing. The risk of needlestick injuries is prevented.

Product availability depends on country-specific registrations.

Europe, accounting for rounded 75 percent of sales, is the Greiner Group’s core market, followed by North America and Asia with 10 percent each. “Tapping new markets remains a central topic. Besides the USA, we are focused on the BRICS states, as these markets will record a stronger growth than Europe in the medium to long term,” explains Kühner. In 2016, Greiner Packaging founded a joint venture with a packaging company in India. The company thereby positioned itself on the Indian market with food packaging that is used in the dairy industry. The expansion of the Greiner Bio-One production site in Brazil was completed as planned in the fall of 2016. Greiner Bio-One integrated sales and distribution for Italy into its own organization by taking over a distribution partner of many years. In addition, the company founded its own sales office in Turkey. To also be able in the future to process orders from large automobile manufacturers that are to be satisfied on a global level, Greiner Foam International founded joint ventures in China and Mexico in 2016.
 
“Plastics for Life” for the responsible handling of plastics

The Greiner Group actively lives up to its responsibility as a plastics processor. Under the title “Plastics for Life”, a Group-wide sustainability process was implemented. “Plastics make our daily lives simpler in many areas. But we also know that our products can contribute to environmental pollution if they are not disposed of correctly. We therefore want to raise awareness for the best possible handling of plastics,” Axel Kühner, Chairman of the Management Board of Greiner Group, explains. “Innovation is an important lever for sustainability. We see great potential in innovative and sustainable product solutions that deliver an added value for our customers,” CFO Hannes Moser adds. Plastics should be used anywhere where the material offers advantages over other materials, for example, by saving CO2 because of its low weight during transport. Likewise, plastic waste as a resource for manufacturing new products is a central topic in the context of the company’s sustainable orientation.
 
Outlook 2017

“In spite of difficult framework conditions, we had a good start into the financial year 2017. Especially in the foam division, we are confronted with disproportionally high raw materials prices. In light of this, we expect modest growth for 2017,” says Moser. The successfully adopted globalization strategy will also be continued in the current financial year – both by means of intense working of existing markets as well as by tapping new markets.
On or about May 5, 2017, Greiner Bio-One takes over 67.75 percent of shares of Vigmed Holding AB, a development and trade company for safety IV catheters located in Helsingborg, Sweden. For the first time in company history, Greiner Group takes over shares of a listed company. “Through the majority shareholding in Vigmed, Greiner Bio-One is expanding its product portfolio with IV catheters. The already existing, strong distribution network of Greiner Bio-One is to be utilized for being successful in the market with the product,” explains Chairman of the Board, Axel Kühner.
In the first quarter of 2017, 70 percent of the shares in Plastic System, a Russian packaging specialist with operating site in Noginsk, near Moscow, was taken over by Greiner Packaging. Greiner Packaging thus continues to expand its market share in Russia and its product portfolio. Additionally, Greiner aerospace is expanding its competency with the acquisition of CarTrim, a German specialist for cabin components of aircraft. “The integration of the new acquisitions, the expansion to new markets and the continuous implementation of the sustainability strategy in operations will keep us very busy in the current financial year,” says Kühner.
 
The Greiner Group furthermore invests strongly in the Upper Austrian site. The groundbreaking for the expansion of the headquarters in Kremsmünster will take place in the fall of 2017. Overall EUR 16 million will be invested in the construction. Besides a new trainee center, office areas, open work spaces and the site’s own employee bistro will be built on the modern Greiner Campus. Its completion is planned for early 2019.
 
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About the Greiner Group
The Greiner Group with headquarters in Kremsmünster, with its four operative business units (Greiner Packaging International GmbH, Greiner Bio-One International GmbH, Greiner Foam International GmbH, Greiner Extrusion Group GmbH) is among the leading foam producers and plastics processors for the packaging, furniture, sports and automotive industry, as well as for medical technology, the pharmaceuticals sector and the leading manufacturers of extrusion tools and machines for plant engineering. The Greiner Group earned sales revenues of EUR 1.475 billion in the financial year 2016 and employed more than 9,700 people at 134 operating sites in 30 countries. The Chairman of the Management Board of the Greiner Group is (DH) Axel Kühner (MBA), the CFO is Mag. Hannes Moser. www.greiner.at