The 15,000-square-foot facility, in the Sacramento, California suburb of El Dorado Hills, includes organic synthesis, R&D and analytical labs.
The columns, marketed under the Zebron brand name, were previously manufactured in Sutter Creek, California.
Twice the production capacity
It supports twice the production capacity and enables improved logistics and delivery speeds to customers.
Phenomenex is expanding sales internationally as demand for GC columns grows in North America and Europe as well as in India and China, particularly in food testing applications.
Emmet Welch, senior product development manager, said: "We are staffed with scientists and production experts with decades of leadership in every aspect of GC column technology and manufacturing. In fact, many of our current staff have more than 25 years of experience in column technology development.
"Detailed and exhaustive planning went into creating an efficient production floor, using lean principles to maximize the use of space while minimizing the movement of people and materials. We have also included a centralized piping system that reduces the cost and movement of process gasses."
GC columns for FAME analysis
The firm has also introduced a trio of Zebron GC columns developed for the analysis of fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) in food.
Identification and measurement of these compounds in products such as cheese, peanut butter, infant formula, cooking oils and oil-based nutritional supplements is increasingly important in meeting labeling requirements and testing for product adulteration, said the company.
Kristen Parnell, product marketing manager, said it has been able to improve the separations so they can be done on shorter columns, saving analysts up to 45 minutes per run.
“Cis/trans FAME analysis has historically been carried out with long columns, which produce corresponding long run times. These three new columns for FAME analysis add to the portfolio we already have in place for food testing.”
The Zebron ZB-FAME offers selectivity targeting a 37-compound mix, in a shorter column. It reduces run times to about 11 minutes while providing Rs values of 1.0 or greater.
The Zebron ZB-88 is a GC alternative to other 88-phase columns for the separation of cis/trans isomers. This column is for analysis of olive and hydrogenated oils.
The third column, Zebron ZB-23, is an alternative to existing 23-phase columns for the separation of cis/trans isomers in a group of products that includes omega-3 and fish oils.