• New state-of-the-art equipment offers greater breadth and depth of water sample testing to determine best green treatment options for home and business
CHICAGO, IL, Jan. 14, 2008 -- With the move of its worldwide headquarters to Rosemont, IL, Culligan International Company has unveiled an expanded Analytical Laboratory and new services to meet the needs of consumers concerned about their water quality and safety. The 71-year-old, Chicago-based global innovator of water treatment solutions now houses state-of-the art equipment that tests water samples from virtually anywhere in the world. The new, 9,500 square foot lab also facilitates product innovations that promote greener practices to enhance the environment and healthier customer lifestyles.
Whether consumers have city or well water, many unknowingly expose themselves to contaminants* that can compromise taste, bathing, household cleaning, laundry and even their health. Culligan's new Analytical Lab offers expanded testing capabilities that can evaluate specific impurities* (i.e., iron, chlorine, sulfur, arsenic, radium, nitrates, etc.) or level of hardness in water. The testing is based on water samples collected by local Culligan dealers (water professionals who know their region's specific water conditions and unique treatment requirements) and sent to Culligan's new lab. Knowing exactly what's in their tap water supply helps people make more informed decisions about which water treatment approach is right for them. Culligan dealers can then recommend to their customers customized filtration or softening solutions -- many of which also benefit the environment.
New Testing Capabilities
Culligan's Analytical Laboratory tests up to 10,000 water samples every year using U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approved methods. Culligan has the only lab in the water treatment industry that is certified by the State of Illinois EPA to be compliant with National Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Conference (NELAC) standards.
Now, Culligan's expanded laboratory offers Organic Analysis as a new service. The addition of a new gas chromatograph/mass spectrometer (GC/MS) can test for the presence of volatile organics (e.g., disinfection by-products, gasoline, oil, toluene, etc.) in water samples, upon request by a Culligan dealer or a customer. In addition to Organic Analysis, Culligan offers a comprehensive range of analytical services including:
• Standard Analysis -- for sizing systems and general chemical water characteristics
• Hemodialysis Analysis -- ensures that water meets Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI) standards, including the analysis of heavy metals
• Scale Analysis -- for determining the composition of water deposits
• Resin Analysis -- for identifying the quality of cation resin
Advancing a Greener Product Pipeline
The data captured by its new Analytical Lab also helps Culligan to develop next-generation water treatment solutions for home and commercial applications that offer innovative and environmental benefits.
"More people are seeking greener alternatives to single-serve bottled drinking water to spare landfills of non-recyclable plastic and the atmosphere of excess fuel emissions. Culligan's new lab supports ongoing engineering and development initiatives to design products with the environment in mind -- and give consumers more eco-friendly water filtration and softening solutions for the home and workplace," said Mark Seals, Culligan's chief executive officer.
Filtration Innovation
When it comes to drinking water, Culligan offers today's homeowners and businesses many environmentally friendly alternatives to single-serve bottled drinking water, including reverse osmosis (RO) filtration and point-of-use (POU) solutions. For example, Culligan's under-the-sink filtration systems for the home and "bottle-less coolers" for the office help eliminate the need for the throw-away plastic bottles that contribute to U.S. dependence on oil and are clogging landfills around the country. The company also offers a five-gallon bottled water service, where Culligan dealers deliver water in jugs that are sanitized and then reused up to 90 times.
Smarter Softening
For water softening, Culligan's Smart-Sensor™ residential water softener automatically adjusts to changes in water conditions and activates regeneration only when needed. This helps to ensure optimal water and salt consumption while sparing environmental waste and saving energy. Using softened water also minimizes build-up on fixtures and appliances, which means less soap and harsh chemical cleansers are needed to remove scale deposits.
"Culligan recognizes that customers crave smart technology that is eco-friendly, energy-efficient and low maintenance -- while offering all the benefits of making their water the best it can be. Our new lab will enable us to engineer these innovations so we can provide more choices to our customers," added John Van Newenhizen, Culligan's director of commercial products.
Residential and commercial customers interested in obtaining a water analysis from Culligan's Analytical Laboratory should contact their local Culligan dealer. To locate a Culligan dealer near you, visit: www.culligan.com or call 1-800-CULLIGAN.
*Contaminants and impurities are not necessarily in your water.###
