Malvern Instruments' new Zetasizer Nano ZS particle characterisation system has won Instrument Business Outlook's (IBO) 2003 Gold Award for excellence in analytical and life science instrument industrial design. Launched earlier this year, the system measures particle size, zeta potential and molecular weight of molecules and nano-sized particles, all within one fully automated unit. The Zetasizer Nano was developed in-house at Malvern, with the main objective of the design being to make the system easy to use. As bench space for instrumentation in the laboratory is at a premium, particularly in the pharmaceutical industry, the "footprint" was also a key factor in the design. The result is an instrument that is less than half the size of comparative systems and also makes extensive use of fibre optics instead of the conventional mirror and lens systems. The system features the first ever entirely disposable cell for zeta potential measurement. Although reusable, the cell has a low enough cost to allow it to be replaced regularly, removing the risk of cross-contamination and eliminating cell cleaning. In choosing the winners, IBO considers the innovation, functionality and distinctiveness of a product's industrial design, commenting that the Zetasizer Nano "conveys simplicity, ease of use and technical sophistication through its streamlined, compact appearance".

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