News

Shimadzu Rika, a Shimadzu Group company that manufactures and sells research and educational systems and scientific equipment, has signed a joint development agreement with the Tokyo University of Agriculture to create safer and more comfortable research environments. Shimadzu Rika is working with Professor Arata Yajima of the Department of Chemistry for Life Sciences and Agriculture, Faculty of Life Sciences to improve operations when using chemicals in laboratories and to improve safety based on data such as gas concentrations and air flows. The two parties opened the Tokyo Agriculture Science Plaza (hereafter TASP) on 15 April at the Setagaya Campus of Tokyo University of Agriculture.

From left, Izumi Nakai, President of Shimadzu Rika, and Fumio Eguchi, President of Tokyo University of Agriculture

Ensuring the reliability of experimental and analytical data requires both 'stability of samples, chemicals and equipment' and a 'comfortable and secure workspace.' Shimadzu Rika and Tokyo University of Agriculture will develop a system that monitors air circulation in the laboratory and automatically vents harmful chemicals when they are detected. Shimadzu Rika will use its knowledge to formulate environmental management methods compliant with the Industrial Safety and Health Act^*1 that came into force in April this year and will provide air conditioning systems and consulting services to universities, companies and research institutes in compliance with the law.

Shimadzu Rika not only sells research and educational equipment such as fume hoods^*2, VAV systems^*3 and laboratory benches but also provides total solutions from laboratory design through to workflow proposals according to each clients’ objectives and budgets. By constructing safe and convenient research spaces, the Shimadzu Group contributes to the advancement of science and technology that leads to better solutions to issues that society faces.

Tokyo Agriculture Science Plaza

• *1 "Industrial Safety and Health Act, Chapter IV, Measures to Prevent the Endangerment of Workers and Impairment of Workers' Health."
  It is now mandatory to reduce exposure levels of chemical substances and other materials subject to risk assessments and to keep records of maintenance and management of safety in the work environment. Universities and companies are required to take measures to ensure that their facility environments are compliant with the Industrial Safety and Health Act
• *2 Equipment for discharging hazardous substances generated in the laboratory to the outside
• *3 Variable Air Volume devices (valves for adjusting the air flow rate to a designated level)

Related information
Shimadzu RIKA Corporation