Policies - Industry & Commercial
Our lab appreciates the need for confidentiality, and we strive to maintain information privacy and security for our clients. We might say that we have done for work for medical technology or mineral exploration companies; however, we will not offer analytical details or names of the companies for which the work was done. Clients retain intellectual property rights to their analytical data, and non-disclosure agreements can be secured.
For clients with recurrent analyses, we work with them to develop a standard operating procedure (SOP) that suits their needs and quality standards. The SOP describes those steps involved in an analysis that affects its quality and results. With the SOP, clients can be assured that their analyses are carried out correctly and in the same manner each time. Having a documented SOP helps to ensure reproducability of the analyses -- an experienced analyst could follow the standardized procedures and obtain the same results.
Our electron microprobe has been continuously maintained (includes spectrometer calibration and reproducability) under contract with JEOL since its installation. Consequently, our instrument continues to meet or exceed its original factory specifications. Routine maintenance and testing is conducted by JEOL service technicians every six months, and records are kept on file. This ensures analytical consistency and reproducability over time.
Commercial Service Policies
- We strive to keep instrument and staff-time fees consistent with analytical services market.
- We are happy to discuss cost estimates for analytical work with potential customers, and any initial discussions are free of charge.
- We reserve the right to request either (1) a purchase order in advance of any analytical work or (2) payment in advance based on an estimate for such work.
- It is the responsibility of the individual requesting analyses to seek, if necessary, an estimate before any work is done, track the costs incurred, and coordinate budgetary details between their company and lab personnel. Upon request, lab personnel will provide estimates, discuss the costs involved, and stay within any provided budgetary guidelines. If no budgetary guidelines are provided in advance, the lab personnel will use their best judgement to supply clients with the best balance of data quality and cost.
- It is the responsibility of the commercial client to follow all of their own internal purchasing policies (e.g., arranging for a purchase order before any analytical work is performed) and provide lab personnel with any necessary paperwork (e.g, forms establishing the lab as a vendor or service provider for the company).
- It is also possible for companies to hire a laboratory staff member as an independent consultant (in addition to paying the commercial instrument fees) in order to provide a level of intellectual content and methods development beyond what is normally available in the analytical services market.
- Occasionally companies have employees very well trained in using electron microprobes. For these companies with already experienced users of JEOL 8900 microprobes, there is a commercial "unassisted" rate available. Only under certain circumstances we will train inexperienced commercial clients to use our microprobe. We also reserve the right to not allow any individual to operate the microprobe unsupervised.
- The Electron Microprobe Laboratory (EML) and any client are independent contractors and not partners, joint venturers, or principal and agent.
- Liability notice: In no event will the EML be responsible for any damages or penalties resulting from a failure to provide or delay in providing the services or deliverables. If a service or deliverable is found within six months to be defective or inaccurate, the EML will provide the service or deliverable again at no cost. This is the sole and exclusive remedy under our policies. Services and deliverables are provided "as is." The EML's aggregate liability to a client will never exceed the amount paid by that client. In no event will the EML be liable for any direct, indirect, special, punitive, or consequential damages whatsoever. All clients agree to hold harmless the EML against any claims arising out of the use, commercial sale, or distribution of the deliverables or products or processes resulting from or reliance on the deliverables.
Contact Us
probelab@umn.edu
Phone: 612-624-7370
Research Applications
With respect to geoscience research, our electron microprobe is often used for igneous, metamorphic, and experimental petrology as well as mineral studies and geochronology. In addition to rocks and minerals, we have conducted analyses of metals and alloys, thin films, ceramics and composites, glass, optical fibers, teeth and bones, and many other natural and artificial materials.
Commercial Applications
We have experience analyzing various materials for industrial purposes, including:
- quality control
- materials characterization
- research and development
- failure analysis and product testing
Our clients have come from numerous industries and research fields, including:
- semiconductors
- medical technology
- environmental testing
- geological exploration
- fuel cells and batteries
- ceramics and composites
- electronics and photonics
- metallurgical technologies
- thin films and surface coatings
- turbines and aerospace research
- chemical and mechanical engineering
