Rigaku Corporation (Headquarters: Akishima, Tokyo; President and CEO: Jun Kawakami; “Rigaku”), a group company of Rigaku Holdings Corporation, announces that its STAvesta thermogravimetric-differential scanning calorimeter (TG-DSC) has received the Special Jury Award at the 56th Machinery Industrial Design Award IDEA (hereinafter “IDEA”), organized by The Nikkan Kogyo Shimbun, Ltd.
IDEA recognizes industrial products based on a comprehensive evaluation of their design, functionality, performance, safety, operability, marketability, and other factors. Rigaku believes that STAvesta was recognized for its product design, which combines high measurement performance with a range of user-focused features in a single system.
STAvesta simultaneously measures changes in sample weight through thermogravimetry (TG) and heat flow, including endothermic and exothermic reactions, through differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) as a sample is heated or cooled. The system is used in research and development and quality control across a wide range of materials, from polymers and metals to battery materials.
Following this recognition, Rigaku will work to further raise awareness and expand adoption of STAvesta in Japan while strengthening its thermal analysis business in global markets.
Key Features
1. Universal Design
STAvesta is designed for easy sample handling and maintenance from either side, regardless of the user’s dominant hand. The display panel is angled for easy viewing, making temperature and error information easy to see regardless of how the system is positioned. Guidance markings also help prevent incorrect sample placement.
2. Automated Functions
The “vestaeye” self-diagnostic function monitors the condition of the instrument from startup through measurement, helping users detect abnormalities at an early stage. The “FlatBlank” automatic adjustment function automates pre-measurement adjustments that previously required users to remain with the instrument, allowing the process to continue unattended once adjustment has begun.
3. High Measurement Performance Combined with Efficient and Safe Sample Handling
STAvesta supports seven interchangeable electric furnaces for different applications, enabling a wide range of measurements with a single system.
The optional autosample changer accommodates up to 52 samples and offers a sample transfer speed approximately 2.3 times that of the previous model. A protective cover helps prevent contact with moving parts and heat sources during automatic sample transfer, supporting safe operation. The system maintains the same footprint even with the autosample changer attached, enabling efficient use of limited laboratory space.
Background to Development
As thermal analysis becomes more widely used in research and development and quality control, it is increasingly being performed by users who are not specialists in the field. Users who operate thermal analysis instruments only occasionally have also reported uncertainty about operating procedures and how to check instrument status.
With these needs in mind, Rigaku developed STAvesta to make thermal analysis more intuitive and easier to use, while building on the measurement technologies refined over previous generations of Rigaku instruments. A key development goal was to reduce the time users spend figuring out how to operate the instrument and give them greater confidence when using it.
About the Rigaku Group
Since its establishment in 1951, the engineering professionals of the Rigaku group have been dedicated to benefiting society with leading-edge technologies, notably including its core fields of X-ray and thermal analysis. With a market presence in 136 countries and regions and some 2,000 employees from 9 global operations, Rigaku is a solution partner in industry and research analysis institutes. Our overseas sales ratio has reached approximately 70% while sustaining an exceptionally high market share in Japan. Together with our customers, we continue to develop and grow. As applications expand from semiconductors, electronic materials, batteries, environment, resources, energy, life science to other high-tech fields, Rigaku realizes innovations “To Improve Our World by Powering New Perspectives.”
For details, please visit: rigaku-holdings.com/english
Contact:
Sawa Himeno
Director, Communications Dept., Rigaku Holdings Corporation
prad@rigaku.co.jp