SFC and EZChrom users!!!

[wrxtotoro]

Hi all,
Our analytical lab is going to purchase a SFC in the coming months. We had three instrument demo: Thar Analytical, Berger and Jasco. I have basically thrown out Thar's on Day 1 because of both software and hardware design. (It might be good for Prep work but I would not pick it in a GMP ARD lab.) After using Berger and Jasco, I am completely sold on the Berger system because both instrument setup and software (Chemstation) are significant easier than the Jasco system (controlled by EZchrom). Also, 75% of the Berger system is basically Agilent component and I assume that it's maintainence should be easy as well. However, situation became complicated when Thar purchased Berger from Mettler Toledo and we are just not sure about it's service anymore.

1. As I might be bias for the Berger system as I used to be a Agilent LC (Chemstation) user , does anybody has any advice on which SFC is better? Which system is more rugged and robust?
2. I found EZchrom overly simplified and doesn't give the user too much control in it's integration and reporting format after 1 week of use. Is it the truth or am I just not familiar with the program enough?
3. Most importantly, does anybody has any experience with the service of TharTech or Berger? We'd hate to buy an instrument but endup without anybody fixing it when problem arise .

Thanks in advance.
CL

[Roxanne42]

We currently have two Berger SFC's in our lab. They were acquired a couple of years ago, while under Berger. The service we have gotten with Thar Technologies so far has been pretty good. We've been having problems with reproducibility and they have so far been very helpful.

Someone else I know who has some of these highly recommends getting a service contract, since they've experienced a few hardware problems in the past. We, in fact, are currently looking into this. We've actually only started to use the SFC's recently (like 5-6 months).

It's good to find someone else who'll be using SFC! I feel so alone! Are you going with a UV-detector? We currently have Agilent 1100 G1315B DAD detectors on and are slowly looking into acquiring an Agilent MS detector for one of them...

[wrxtotoro]

Thanks for the response!! We have decided to go with the Berger system and hopefully we can get it ASAP.