Crystal Clear - Thermo Electron Corporation releases RhombixTM TableStore for Automated Crystallisation

December 9th 2005 MILFORD, MA — Thermo Electron Corporation (NYSE: TMO), the world leader in analytical instruments, have added to its world leading automated RhombixTM crystallisation range with the new compact, entry-level, TableStore. Growing and selecting the right crystal will now be much easier for any size of research group, since the Rhombix TableStore offers full integration of storage and imaging both within the laboratory and across the globe. The TableStore is an essential tool for your protein structure and drug discovery investigations offering peerless optical clarity and automated storage capabilities within a small footprint.

The Rhombix TableStore can hold up to 176 standard 96-well SBS-format plates in an integrated ambient storage unit. The optics used in TableStore produce high clarity, single- or multi-mode brightfield, darkfield or polarised images and its advanced automation capabilities process these at a maximum rate of 500 plates/day using single-mode imaging. TableStore takes the strain out of crystallography, by instigating and following over 16,800 crystallisations (using 96-well plates) purely by the analysis and scoring of the images produced – no need to touch the plates until the crystals are ready. Also, by having an integrated and automated system, plates have very small distances to travel and are transported using smooth robotic arms, so there is less chance of disturbing the growing crystals. TableStore supports sitting drop, hanging drop, and microbatch crystallisation methods and due to all experimental descriptions and automation settings are stored in a centralised database, global collaborations and the use of remote resources can be readily enabled.

As with its larger stable-mates, the 750i and 1250i, the superior optical clarity of the Rhombix TableStore, coupled to its multi-mode capabilities mean that it is now much easier to detect the state of crystal growth and assess the suitability for x-ray diffraction. Moreover, all relevant data are captured during the crystallisation and imaging processes, so any aspects of the procedure can be tracked, recalled and used for analysis. The functionality of TableStore can be enhanced with the addition of the Rhombix Software Suite v1.6. This new software package helps link experimental design, process control and analysis into a coherent flow to make experiments, protocols and results much more manageable. The Rhombix TableStore is a further example of Thermo's focus on customer driven solutions.

About Thermo Electron Corporation

Thermo Electron Corporation is the world leader in analytical instruments. Our instrument solutions enable our customers to make the world a healthier, cleaner and safer place. Thermo's Life and Laboratory Sciences segment provides analytical instruments, scientific equipment, services and software solutions for life science, drug discovery, clinical, environmental and industrial laboratories. Thermo's Measurement and Control segment is dedicated to providing analytical instruments used in a variety of manufacturing processes and in-the-field applications, including those associated with safety and homeland security. Based near Boston, Massachusetts, Thermo has revenues of approximately $2.7 billion, and employs approximately 11,000 people in 30 countries. For more information, visit http://www.thermo.com .

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Media Contact Information:

Neil Ravenhill

Alto Marketing Ltd

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Laboratory Equipment Division

Tara Tereso

Thermo Electron Corporation

+1 508-482-7065

tara.tereso@thermo.com