The Netherlands' Applikon Biotechnology has entered into an agreement with Niro Soavi, part of the GEA Group, for the distribution of lab-scale homogenisers to the fermentation market in North America.

The products included in the agreement are Niro Soavi's NS100L Pharma PANDA and NS100L PANDA 2K, both of which are small single piston, tabletop units designed for the laboratory needs of companies processing biochemicals, chemicals, cosmetics, foodstuffs and pharmaceuticals.

Parma, Italy-based Niro Soavi said that the agreement with Applikon was a cornerstone of its strategy of expanding its presence in North America. Applikon already sells a broad range of multiple scale fermentation and bioreactor systems to the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries, and the addition of Niro Soavi's homogenisers adds to its range of laboratory equipment products for product development and testing.

Applikon's "specific lab focus will complement our traditional activities on the larger sized production units and systems," said Ron Tuckner, Niro Soavi Division Manager.

Applikon has two offices in the USA, based in Foster City, California, and Clinton, New Jersey.