Analox Group has been awarded a grant by Design Network North to work with a regional designer to identify new product ideas with high growth potential, and to begin development.

The grant allows Analox’s product development team and The Product Group to work together to examine product ideas and opportunities to identify those with market growth potential.  The grant funds three days’ design time.  The aim is to develop the new product ideas to the stage where feedback can be sought from potential users.

The grant is one of five awarded through the ‘Step up to Design’ programme – the five best project or service ideas presented at the November networking event were awarded development funding.  The Step up to Design programme is run by Design Network North (DNN) with backing from the Design Council’s Fund for Growth Programme and aims to promote the use of high quality design skills and processes to assist companies to grow.

Mike Corcoran, partner of The Product Group, commented: “Analox impressed us because they have generated lots of ideas for new gas analysis products.  This grant allows us to work with Analox to prove which ideas are most effective, and turn these ideas into viable products which could enable the company to grow.

“Bringing design expertise in at this early development stage is especially exciting in small companies and can make a significant difference.  We’re able to work with the company’s decision makers allowing us to move ideas forward, solve any problems and quickly reach the stage where the new product can be tested in its target sector.”

Paul Branton, Director of Projects for Analox Group, added: “Working with The Product Group allows us to fine tune potential product ideas, and move them towards testing and ultimately commercialisation.  Mike and his team have proven expertise in industrial design.  Bringing in this expertise now will hopefully bring some of the company’s ideas to life quickly, so we could soon see some of them in production.”

The Product Group has 25 years’ experience in industrial design working on products from babies dummies to the interior of aeroplanes.  The Cramlington-based team of six work with a range of businesses to solve product design problems.

Every month, Analyse Analox will bring you a personal view of what is happeing within the offices at Analox.

The team will write pieces on what they are doing, request your feedback and up date you on important events and news. Januarys newsletter has now been issued, click here to read it.

Should you wish to subscribe and receive this on a monthly basis, click on the link located on the footer of the newsletter. Alternatively drop me an email (michelle.morley@analox.biz)  and I’ll be happy to add you onto the distribution list.

Michelle (Marketing)

Analox Group is now offering all its clients the opportunity to pay invoices online – whatever time of the day or night is most convenient.

Continued development of Analox Group’s online services has led to the development of a secure online payment system which is now available to all clients.

Mark Lewis, managing director of Analox Group, commented: “Analox operates in markets around the world and we are always keen to make it as convenient as possible for our clients to deal with us, wherever they are.  The online payment system is now fully operational and means that clients can settle invoices at the time of the day that suits them best.”

There’s no need to file away your sense of humour and let the January blues set in.  Instead, prove how witty you are by supplying Analox Group with clever, funny or cheeky captions to their staff’s photographs.

Several members of Analox’s staff were feeling a little light-hearted when they posed for photographs.  Their message is ‘Don’t just analyse it – Analox it!’  The question is what will your wittiest caption be?

Read more here and remember to submit your captions!

Analox are proud to sponsor Martin Robson and the Blue Lake Project.

Martin is keeping an excellent blog record of his adventures, so keep reading to check on his progress.

Good luck Martin and the team, Analox wish you all the best.

Initiative Will Help Protect Against Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

Contaminated breathing gas is a potential hazard of which every diver is aware. Breathing gas with high levels of carbon monoxide (CO) is of special concern, as the difficulty in detecting it can be a potentially fatal problem. Divers Alert Network^® (DAN^®) and Analox Sensor Technology have teamed up to help provide a solution by donating an Analox CO Clear Carbon Monoxide Alarm (CO Clear™) to 10 dive operators in Cozumel, Mexico.

“Countless numbers of divers travel to Cozumel each year to enjoy the exceptional diving the region offers,” said William M Ziefle, president and CEO of DAN Holdings. “DAN wanted to ensure those divers have measures in place to help them stay safe. The best way we can do that is to provide resources to the dive operators who work hard to keep a focus on diver safety.”

Several gases can cause the contamination of breathing gas, but carbon monoxide is especially problematic as it is colourless, odourless, tasteless and virtually impossible to detect without the assistance of sensors. Its danger manifests when carbon monoxide binds with haemoglobin, essentially blocking oxygen from doing the same and reducing the blood’s ability to carry oxygen throughout the body. Symptoms of CO poisoning include headache, dizziness, weakness, nausea, vomiting, chest pain and confusion, with loss of consciousness and death possible when exposed to higher levels. The dangers of these symptoms are increased when symptoms present underwater.

The CO Clear is a fixed carbon monoxide alarm that monitors for high levels of carbon monoxide from diving compressors. With visual and audible alarm warnings to rising CO levels, the CO Clear is both easy to use and cost effective. This wall-mounted analyser is designed to provide continuous ‘on line’ monitoring for the presence of CO in breathing air compressor lines

Read more here.

Gamers from around the world have picked up the prizes from Analox’s 12 Dives of Christmas – and many more have started their festive season by stopping Santa’s bottom getting burned when he drops down a ‘lit’ chimney!

One of the 12 festive games was released each day for the first 12 days of December 2011, inviting online participants to top the leader board to win.  Prize winners have been confirmed from across the world, including Singapore, the United States, Australia and Wiltshire!

Matthew Tai from Singapore was the third winner, topping the leader board for the ‘Penguin Pickup’ game winning an Analox O2EII nitrox analyser.  He commented: “Playing the awesome games from the 12 Dives of Christmas by Analox not only helps to get rid of boredom but also provides you with an opportunity to win exciting prizes!  Thanks Analox for providing this wonderful Christmas gift!”

Rich Best from Pennsylvania, US, got the highest score for keeping Santa from burning his bottom in the fireplace and won a Hotel Chocolat Christmas Hamper.  He said: “So glad we use the Analox O2EII in our store because these games are so addictive we need to get our Nitrox tanks filled and tested as quickly as possible so we can get back to the games.”

Brian Richards from Virginia, United States, won a Rebreather Try Dive on Day 6 of the competition.  He replied: “Analox provides great atmospheric monitoring equipment for military applications as well as great entertainment through their 12 Dives of Christmas game (not the official opinion of the US Navy).”

Paul Dowding from Royal Wootton Bassett in Wiltshire, UK, won an Analox ATA Pro trimix analyser on the eighth day of competitions.  He commented: “I think the interaction with the games idea is great, it’s much more of a thank you to your customers than a card!”

Ashley De Freitas from Australia proved best at assisting a dancing snowman to top the final day’s leader board and win an Analox EII CO portable carbon monoxide analyser.  He said: “The 12 Dives of Christmas was a great way to get into the festive season!”

Michelle Morley, of Analox Group, concluded: “We’ve had a fantastic response to the 12 Dives of Christmas, and so many people have been in touch to let us know how much they enjoy the games.  Even though the competitions have ended, people are still sharing the links and tickling diving reindeers, or catching diving penguins.  We hope it’s brought a little festive cheer to our clients and friends around the world.”

The 12 Dives of Christmas festive games can still be accessed via www.12dayadvent.com/analox

From January 1^st, 2012, Analox Sensor Technology is relaunching its popular Analox 3000 range of industrial transmitters.

The range was withdrawn in April 2010 when parts became difficult to source.  However, Analox has continued to receive regular requests for the Analox 3000 range and the full range of replacement sensors.  The firm has therefore re-evaluated the market and taken the decision to invest in order to reintroduce the range.

Mark Lewis, Managing Director of Analox Sensor Technology, said: “We withdrew the product line because some parts were no longer available, and we introduced a replacement product.  However, it has become clear to us how popular the Analox 3000 range is with our clients.  We’ve therefore decided to reinvest in this area of our business.  We are pleased to confirm we are now relaunching the Analox 3000 range and can supply the transmitters and all replacement sensors from January 1^st, 2012.”

The Analox 3000si is an ATEX approved transmitter which can be used in many industrial applications.  It can be fitted with any sensor from the 3000si range to monitor a range of toxic gases.  For more information, visit industrial.analox.net.

Todays game on the 12 dives of Christmas sees Santa and Rudolph sprinting 200m but with the addition of a few obstacles and items to collect. Can you pass the finish line in one piece? Get into the festive spirit and play the Christmas Run. If you top the leader board you could win an ATA pro trimix analyser – good luck everyone!

Congratulations to Paul who won yesterdays game Turkey Flier – how difficult was that game???

Even more of you are getting into the festive spirit, each day we are seeing more people register their scores on the 12 dives of Christmas advent game.

We are pleased to announce the winners of days 5 and 6 are:

day 5 – Rich who wins a festive Hotel Chocolate hamper

day 6 – Brian who wins a free rebreather try dive kindly provided by Plant Scuba

If you win, I will email you notification, you just need to confirm your address for the prize to be sent. We still have a few unclaimed prizes so make sure you check your inbox for an email from me.

Todays game – Turkey Flier, have you got what it takes to make the turkey fly?? Good Luck – Michelle