Interview withGL Sciences Inc.
“Proper weighing is the basis of advanced analysis. Every
morning A&D balances are highly sought after.”General Technology Center (Iruma-city, Saitama)

GL7700 series liquid chromatographChromatography is widely used for environmental analyses of water, air, soil, etc.1 For
examples that touch our lives, chromatography is actively used to verify pesticide residue infoods, harmful substances in buildings and furniture, standard values in medicines andingredient concentration in functional foods.
Under the slogan “The Only Way Forward Is Together” GL Science is making strides as acomprehensive science company focused on chromatography.
We talked with GL's customer support center in the general technology division about theuse of A&D analytical balances for calibration of analytical instruments.

A&D GR series analytical balance and sample cup holder.
Compact design with innovative retractable breeze break.

◆ General Technology Division
Takao Tamura, Customer Support Center
Manager and Executive Officer◆ Customer Support Center LC Section
Mari Kobayashi

Every morning employees race to get A&D balances (laughs).
First, tell us about the work done at the Customer Support Center.
Tamura: We develop, manufacture and sell various products related to chromatography, a method widely usedfor chemical analysis. Our customer support center gives technical advice for our customers’ analysis
needs and offers useful products to respond to their requests.
Mari: Additionally, I visit customers and give simple seminars on analysis. The Customer Support Center
performs around 100 seminars a year.
100 seminars! That's incredible! Do the customers have wide ranging requests?
Tamura: The content and level required by the customer varies case by case so a preliminary meeting isnecessary.
How are A&D balances used in chromatography?
Tamura: Balances are used in the preparation stage of analysis. High-precision balances are indispensable tools
for weighing to prepare2 solvents or standard samples of specified concentrations for the liquid
chromatograph.

Mari: Standard samples can be called a measure of quantitative analysis. If there is any error during thisstage it will be difficult to perform reliable analyses even with an extremely powerful analytical device.
Accurate weighing is the most important factor during analysis preparation and requires paying close
attention.
Tamura: It's not an exaggeration to say that there isn't a day that we don't use A&D balances (laughs).
Mari: Every morning our employees race to get the balances. There is also quite the rush before the lab shuts
down to prepare samples for analysis for the next day (laughs).

Support system built on regular technical seminars and useful options
Tamura: We are also in the business of manufacturing and selling
analysis devices but currently our flagship products arecylindrical glass vessels called columns. These columns arefilled with a silica gel. Components are separated by using theaffinity3 between the sample and filler and the different sizesof the molecules.
Mari: These columns are all manufactured by our company, and I
hear that A&D's balances are also both developed andColumns (image)

manufactured in Japan. All in all, I think domestically-made products provide customers with a great
sense of ease.
Tamura: We greatly appreciate the long term support that comes with A&D balances. Notably, spare parts arealso available on short notice. This is important for our company as we frequently inspect our analytical
instruments to keep them good as new.
Mari: The technical seminars regularly held at A&D's Technical Center have also been quite beneficial. It canbe difficult to find the right time to ask for help understanding correct balance usage and sources oferror so what we are taught while using actual equipment at these seminars is very useful for day to daywork.
What accessories do you use?
Mari: We have just started using the new sample cup holder set. Itis very useful when using containers without flat bottoms
such as test tubes and round-bottomed flasks. I am very
supportive of accessories like this that resolve small but
important issues.

Technological collaboration to provide highvalue-added products to laboratories

Electronic micropipettes and charging hanger

Mari: Actually, I have only been using A&D balances since college and have never used balances from othercompanies (laughs). A&D balances were easy for a student like me to use and understand back then andgave me peace of mind.

Tamura: Meanwhile, we have been selling A&D's electronic micro pipettes under the GL Sciences brand and they
are very popular in our customer's laboratories. Options like the charging hanger make the pipettes very
easy to use.
Mari: We installed them to the sample rack to free up space on the counter for experiments, making sample
preparation even easier.
Tamura: I believe we can continue to provide our customers with high value-added products resulting from thecombination of A&D's measuring technology and our analysis technology.
We would like to thank GL Sciences for taking the time to do this interview.
(Interviewer: A&D Company, Limited Sales Promotion Division)
Note 1: Chromatography: Advanced technology that uses separation to identify the composition and amount of the various components present in asubstance. Chromatography influences the global environment and society in a wide range of industries including research, high-tech
technology (biotechnology / new materials / electronics), quality control in manufacturing and environmental analysis.
Note 2: Preparation: Ensuring a sample is made according to rules and requirements. Term used for substances such as solutions and mixtures.
Note 3: Affinity: Nature and tendency of a substance to easily bond with another substance

Cooperation
GL Sciences Inc.
Head office location
Established
President
Capital
Employees

Trivia6-22-1 Nishishinjuku, Shinjuku-ku Tokyo
Shinjuku Square Tower, 30th floor
Feb 1, 1968
Yoshihiro Nagami
1,207,795,000 yen
398 (As of Apr 1, 2015)

GL gets its name from Gas and Liquid variants of chromatography and canalso stand for “Great Laboratory”.