Welcome
Dear <<First Name>>
Welcome to the Christmas issue of InFormU, the regular newsletter from Intelligent Formulation. As part of our partnership offer, InFormU combines general news from the IF network with exclusive content available only from us.
This issue is being provided ‘open’ – all content is available to all those who are currently subscribed to the Intelligent Formulation newsletter. Future issues will have certain items of content only available to those who have signed up to partnership with IF.
In this issue, you will find the lead InFirst article written by our very own Jim Bullock, on the issue of education and training for formulators. Chris Hodges and Simon Lawson from Escubed Ltd explain how atomic force microscopy can help analyse formulations, while David Calvert discusses the terms bio and sustainable and their use in formulation marketing.
You can also read up about our partnership offer, or click here to look at our partnership flyer
Enjoy the issue, have a Merry Christmas and have a good break!
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InFirst
Mummy, Where do Formulators Come From?
A casual glance at the job advertisements in this industry will reveal plenty of companies in our industries who seem to need trained formulators.
The job title may sometimes be formulation scientist, formulation chemist or formulation engineer – but the job description is broadly the same.
Even in these tough economic times it seems that formulation is a sought after profession. This is because formulating companies know that formulation technology adds huge value to their product offer.
But what kind of profession is it – how do you qualify as a formulator and how do you become a practising one? If you are recruiting formulators, where do you find them and what kind of professional standards should you expect?
Click here to read more
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InFo: Unravelling the mysteries of formulated products using atomic force microscopy
Over the last 20 years the Atomic Force Microscope (AFM) has emerged from being a specialist laboratory tool into a general surface characterisation apparatus. Industries such as the silicon chip manufacturing sector use AFM as a routine quality control technique. This has led to an improvement in reliability since small faults are more easily discovered and adjustments in the manufacturing process made earlier, saving costs and improving customer satisfaction.
The AFM concept is a very simple idea: if a small, sharp probe is pressed gently against a surface, and some way of detecting the movement of the probe is used, then an accurate map of the surface may be made without significantly affecting the surface. It is now straight forward to be able to produce very small sharp probes for this purpose
Click here to read more
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InFashion
The term “bio” is one which evokes strong responses from many people, not all positive. With the continuing drive towards “sustainable” formulations (yes another debatable term!) just what relevance does the term have for the responsible formulator and what progress is being made in different industries.
Click here to read more
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Network News: become an Intelligent Formulation Partner
You may have recently seen some press coverage or emails about our partnership offer. Originally set up to deliver a business network for innovation in Formulation Technology via a public sector contract, Intelligent Formulation Limited has successfully managed the transition to private sector funding to emerge as a key player in facilitating innovation in the formulating industries.
Key to our operation is a flexible and open partnership scheme. Partnership is available in a number of tiers to suit companies of different sizes, as well as companies in the Supply Chain and individual academics.
For example, IF offers Platinum partnership for Large companies, Gold partnership for Medium-sized companies (50-250 employees) and Silver partnership for Small Companies (under 50 employees). Of course, companies can ‘upgrade’ their membership to gain the extra benefits of a higher tier membership.
Partners in the Intelligent Formulation Innovation Network range from large multi-nationals, such as Reckitt Benckiser, Syngenta and P&G to innovative SMEs like Chamelic, Agenda1 and Micropore.
All partners can take advantage of facilitated networking and brokered contacts. Partners get free attendance or discounted fees at events and training courses. Intelligent Formulation regularly run events, both physical and web-based for its partner community: on average, there are two events per month, as well as training and CPD courses via the web and in person.
Gold and Platinum partners also receive a consultancy voucher to enable them to kick-start a project straight away. Working with partners and other companies, IF undertakes consultancy projects and also develops and manages R&D and innovation projects and programmes, using the network and internal expertise to ensure the right delivery partner companies, academics, and deliverables. The consultancy voucher can be used to kick-start such projects, although of course these services are offered to all companies outside of the partnership scheme
For more information, click here to see our partnership flyer
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InFinally
We all know that good formulation can result in unique, innovative products but we recently came across an example that should inspire all those formulators out there.
Click here to read more
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Events
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28th-30th May 2011
University of Leeds
Fundamentals of Formulation Science and Technology is a new short course which will provide attendees with a broad overview of the fundamentals of formulation.
The course is targeted towards industry personnel and academic researchers who are working in formulation or would like to familiarise themselves in this field.
The course is organised by Intelligent Formulation Ltd and ParticlesCIC and course tutors will be industrial and academic experts with a distinguished record in practical industrial applications of formulation science and technology.
Fundamentals of Formulation Science and Technology will ensure a good basic grounding in the underpinning science of formulation and will concentrate on the applications of this knowledge and the tools available to the practising scientist.
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February 2012
Online Webinar
In a formulations environment, informed decisions are based on data. To be valid, such data must be high quality and reliable. The use of quality management systems, and in particular, the principles of current Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP) used in the pharmaceutical industry, can support the production of such data. Not only applicable to highly regulated markets, cGMP encompasses Good Quality Control Laboratory Practice as well as elements of ISO 9001; 2008 and can therefore be applied to a broad range of markets to demonstrate the production of high quality data, contributing to successful new product launches.
Intelligent Formulation, together with one of its partners, Agenda1 Analytical Services Ltd, is planning a series of three 1 hour webinar sessions, outlining how to introduce quality/cGMP systems to an organisation and the added value that these can bring.
You can view a taster webinar here, where Agenda1 summarise the topics to be covered during the series.
The course can act as an introduction to those new to quality/cGMP or as a refresher for those already working in a laboratory or manufacturing environment. The content is applicable to any organisation where the quality of the data is of prime importance, but is particularly relevant to Pharmaceuticals, Agrochemicals, Cosmetics, Household & Personal Care, Contract R&D, Healthcare, Medical devices and Inks and Coatings.
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