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CS Analytical and Lighthouse Instruments to Host Webinar on USP Testing for Elastomeric Components and Systems

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Joint October 14 webinar will examine how complementary testing approaches can be combined to address the requirements of <382> as part of a broader USP <1207> container closure integrity strategy.

CLIFTON, N.J., Sept. 9, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — CS Analytical Laboratory, an FDA-regulated contract laboratory dedicated to regulatory solutions and qualification testing for pharmaceutical and medical device container systems, is pleased to announce its participation in the first webinar of LIGHTHOUSE’s Autumn 2026 Container Closure Integrity webinar series.

Since December 1, 2025, USP <382> has required a systems-based approach to the functional suitability of elastomeric components used in parenteral packaging and delivery systems. Rather than evaluating stopper material in isolation, manufacturers must consider the performance of the elastomeric component as part of the complete packaging or delivery system and demonstrate fitness for its intended use, including the ability to create and maintain container closure integrity. CS Analytical is pleased to collaborate with LIGHTHOUSE on a joint webinar exploring how complementary analytical approaches can be combined to address these requirements as part of a broader container closure integrity testing strategy.

The joint webinar, “Are You Ready for USP <382>? A Complete Approach to Elastomer Resealing Capacity and Container Closure Integrity,” will be held on Wednesday, October 14, 2026 at 10:00 AM EDT / 4:00 PM CEST and will be presented by Dr. Francesca Caprioli, Laboratory Director at LIGHTHOUSE, and Brandon Zurawlow, Chief Scientific Officer at CS Analytical.

USP <382> introduces a broader approach to demonstrating the suitability of elastomeric components for pharmaceutical use. This now includes evaluation of inherent package integrity with reference to USP <1207>. However, for multi-dose vial systems, this also includes demonstrating that an elastomeric closure reliably reseals following repeated needle punctures. Section 5.2 of USP <382> references the use of deterministic methods described in USP <1207> for this evaluation. At the same time, needle self-sealing represents only one element of the chapter, with additional functional and physicochemical requirements necessary to establish the suitability of the elastomeric component within the complete system.

“One of the most important elements of USP <382> is that it moves the conversation around the functional performance of elastomers beyond those used in pharmaceutical vials, and in much more detail,” commented Brandon Zurawlow, Chief Scientific Officer at CS Analytical. “With physicochemical testing now described in <381>, the new <382> chapter has expanded the scope to cover many functional aspects of drug packaging and delivery systems that incorporate an elastomeric component, including prefilled syringes and cartridges, while also expanding the types and context for testing. No single analytical technique addresses every aspect of that evaluation. By bringing CS Analytical’s compendial, functional, and physicochemical testing experience together with LIGHTHOUSE’s headspace analysis capabilities, this webinar will show how those different pieces can be integrated into a more complete USP <382> qualification strategy.”

The webinar will examine the key changes between the historical USP <381> chapter and the new USP <382> with respect to CCI, including a shift away from the traditional blue dye immersion approach for needle self-sealing evaluation in favor of a choice of container closure integrity methods with reference to USP <1207>, including a new requirement for inherent integrity evaluations.

LIGHTHOUSE will discuss the application of laser-based headspace gas analysis to detect loss of container closure integrity through changes in headspace pressure or gas concentration. The presentation will include real-time monitoring of stopper resealing behavior during repeated needle punctures under both nitrogen and vacuum headspace conditions, as well as the use of a validated carbon dioxide tracer gas ingress method capable of detecting defects with a flow-effective size as small as 5 μm.

CS Analytical will complement these topics with discussion of the additional functional and physicochemical testing requirements of USP <381> and <382> that fall outside the scope of headspace analysis, and how those requirements fit into an overall elastomeric component and package-system qualification program.

Key topics will include:

Why USP <382> replaced blue dye immersion testing with a reference to USP <1207> for inherent integrity and needle self-sealing evaluationThe role of laser-based headspace gas analysis in Container Closure Integrity TestingReal-time evaluation of elastomer resealing behavior following repeated needle puncturesNitrogen, vacuum, and carbon dioxide tracer gas approaches to headspace-based integrity assessmentInherent integrity testing and its role across the product lifecycleFunctional and physicochemical testing requirements under USP <381> and <382>How different testing methodologies can be combined into a comprehensive qualification strategyJoint case studies demonstrating how LIGHTHOUSE headspace analysis and CS Analytical’s complementary testing capabilities can work together to build a complete USP <382> compliance package

The webinar is intended for pharmaceutical scientists, quality managers, regulatory affairs professionals, and manufacturing engineers responsible for container closure integrity testing, elastomeric component qualification, and USP <382> compliance.

The October 14 presentation is the first in a series of webinars from LIGHTHOUSE examining Container Closure Integrity across the product lifecycle. Attendees are encouraged to follow LIGHTHOUSE for announcements regarding subsequent webinars in the series.

Registration for the October 14 webinar is available here: https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/4542041210404383831

About CS Analytical Laboratory
CS Analytical Laboratory is an FDA-regulated, cGMP laboratory dedicated to the complex world of pharmaceutical and medical device container and package qualification testing. The CS Analytical team provides comprehensive laboratory services supporting glass, plastic, and elastomeric packaging components, including relevant USP, EP, and JP procedures, as well as complete USP <1207> Container Closure Integrity services.

CS Analytical supports programs ranging from material and component characterization through package development, functional and physicochemical testing, method development and validation, stability testing, and lifecycle container closure integrity programs. By combining compendial testing, materials expertise, dimensional analysis, and advanced CCI capabilities, CS Analytical provides an integrated resource for manufacturers navigating the regulatory and technical requirements associated with pharmaceutical container and package systems.

About LIGHTHOUSE Instruments
At LIGHTHOUSE, we leverage years of innovation and expertise to provide robust equipment and analytical service solutions for pharmaceutical companies.

As innovators of laser-based headspace analysis, we introduced the first platforms in 2000 with support from the FDA.

Our systems ensure the quality of sterile products and processes throughout the entire product life cycle.

Beyond equipment, we offer customized GMP lab services, but also lease equipment for urgent on-site testing projects, helping you to achieve the highest standards in your processes and products.

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SOURCE CS Analytical

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The World Is Taking Notice: TIME Recognition Fuels VinFast’s Global Journey

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On a rainy Tuesday morning in Paris, a driver waiting at a red light on Boulevard Haussmann might not immediately place the badge on the SUV beside them. Thousands of miles away, a driver in California might have a similar moment seeing the same badge on an American road. It is not German, nor one of the familiar Asian names that have become common across established automotive markets. It belongs to VinFast ,  a Vietnamese automotive brand that is steadily making its presence felt across Europe and North America, and whose global journey reflects a much larger story unfolding inside its parent group, Vingroup.

PARIS , Sept. 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — That journey reached a new milestone this year. Vingroup has been ranked 340th in TIME’s World’s Best Companies 2026, produced jointly with the research firm Statista, placing it among the world’s top 350 businesses and marking a rise of nearly 500 places from the previous year. It is the only Vietnamese company to appear on the list for two consecutive years.

A Ranking Built on More Than Growth

TIME and Statista do not rank companies on size alone. Their methodology weighs three dimensions: revenue growth, employee satisfaction and sustainability transparency. Vingroup earned an overall score of 81 out of 100, rising from 817th to 340th worldwide.

The revenue figures behind that score are substantial. In the first half of 2026, Vingroup posted consolidated net revenue of VND 222.9 trillion, up 72 percent year on year, with profit after tax reaching VND 20.904 trillion, more than four and a half times the figure recorded over the same period in 2025. That growth was driven largely by the Group’s industrial manufacturing and real estate businesses, earning Vingroup an “Outstanding” rating on the revenue metric.

Employee satisfaction told a similar story of momentum. Vingroup climbed to 398th globally, up 496 places, in a workforce that now spans roughly 400,000 people across 12 countries.

On sustainability, the Group’s contribution came through a different kind of infrastructure – green transition projects, urban development, and long-term investment in the systems that sustain a livable city rather than a single quarter’s balance sheet. Vinhomes, the Group’s real estate arm, has extended this thinking through its ESG++ model, adding Regeneration and Resilience to the conventional three pillars of Environmental, Social and Governance work, applied across urban developments spanning thousands of hectares.

Two new business lines added to that picture in 2025: infrastructure, through VinSpeed’s high-speed rail projects connecting Ho Chi Minh City to Can Gio and Hanoi to Quang Ninh, and green energy, through VinEnergo’s projects across multiple provinces. Together, they represent an attempt to build not just individual businesses, but the connective tissue – rail, power and mobility – that a modern, low-carbon economy runs on.

Making the EV Transition More Accessible

Within that broader ecosystem, VinFast represents one of the clearest expressions of Vingroup’s global aspirations. The company’s expansion across Asia, North America and Europe is bringing the Group’s vision for a greener future to an increasingly international audience, while putting a Vietnamese automotive brand directly into competition in some of the world’s most established markets.

For customers considering a new automotive brand, however, global vision is only the starting point. The more important question is whether a new entrant can earn the trust required to become part of everyday life.

Research from the McKinsey Center for Future Mobility offers a useful, if counterintuitive, perspective. Surveying thousands of European car buyers, McKinsey found that Europeans open to considering an Asian market entrant show an overall 53 percent likelihood of switching to a new brand when they move to an electric vehicle – a figure that rises as high as 63 percent in the United Kingdom. Brand loyalty, in other words, is proving more fluid in the EV era than it was in the age of the internal combustion engine.

That shift creates an opening for new EV brands. But winning customers requires more than a competitive vehicle. It requires making electric mobility accessible while building the sales, service and ownership infrastructure that gives customers confidence throughout the ownership journey.

With an increasingly diverse and accessible product portfolio, VinFast remains committed to its mission of making electric vehicles more accessible to everyone and enabling customers to transition to green mobility with greater ease and confidence.

In Europe, the company is expanding its presence with products designed around local priorities of efficiency, design and accessibility, including the VF 6 and VF 8, while electric buses such as the EB 8 and the fully European-certified EB 12 further extend its contribution to the region’s transition toward greener transportation.

Across North America, the same vision is being supported by the expansion of VinFast’s sales and service network and the development of its Certified Pre-Owned (CPO) program. Together, these initiatives are designed to build a more comprehensive ecosystem around the customer, extending beyond the vehicle itself to the services and support that shape the ownership experience.

Vingroup was the first Vietnamese company to qualify for TIME’s World’s Best Companies list in 2025, while VinFast has earned recognition among TIME100 Most Influential Companies and Asia-Pacific’s Best Companies of 2025. These milestones reflect growing international recognition of Vingroup’s and VinFast’s aspirations, capabilities and expanding global reach.

The latest TIME recognition for Vingroup therefore arrives at a moment when that global reach is becoming increasingly visible. For VinFast, the challenge and opportunity now extend across multiple continents ,  from European cities where a new badge is gradually becoming familiar, to North American roads where the company is building its presence and customer ecosystem. 

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XLCS Partners advises CID Capital on its investment in Kaiser Garage Doors & Gates

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NASHVILLE, Tenn., Sept. 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — XLCS Partners, Inc., a leading middle market investment bank, is pleased to announce it served as advisor to CID Capital on its investment in Kaiser Garage Doors & Gates, LLC (Kaiser).

Headquartered in Tucson, Arizona, Kaiser is a leading installer and servicer of residential and commercial overhead doors and gates serving the Phoenix, Tucson, and White Mountains markets. With over 30 years of proven operations, the company has established a strong regional footprint, a reputation for quality and reliability, and long-standing customer relationships.

Based in Indianapolis, Indiana, CID Capital is a private equity firm with decades of experience partnering with high-quality, lower middle market companies. CID makes control investments in companies with a proven track record of success and works alongside management teams to provide strategic guidance, resources, and capital for the next phase of growth, combining a focus on founder- and family-owned companies with a collaborative approach to building long-term value.

Kaiser is the third platform investment made from CID’s latest fund, CID Capital Opportunity Fund IV, L.P. In conjunction with the closing, industry veteran Eric Farley stepped in as CEO to lead the business under CID’s ownership, partnering with Dean Bennett, COO, and the existing Kaiser team.

XLCS acted as buyside advisor to CID Capital in connection with its investment in Kaiser, which was completed on August 14, 2026. The engagement was supported by Jay Cremer, Vice President, and David Silva, Senior Associate.

About XLCS Partners, Inc.
XLCS Partners is a leading global investment banking firm providing M&A advisory services. Visit www.xlcspartners.com for more information.

Media Contact: 
Kendra Span
kspan@xlcspartners.com
615-379-7783

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SOURCE XLCS Partners, Inc.

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PlanetiQ Selected for NOAA’s Space-Based Environmental Monitoring IDIQ

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Selection builds on PlanetiQ’s long-standing relationship with NOAA and adds thermospheric neutral density to its environmental data offerings

GOLDEN, Colo., Sept. 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — PlanetiQ, a leading provider of commercial satellite-based environmental data, today announced that it has been selected as an industry partner under NOAA’s new Space-Based Environmental Monitoring (SBEM) Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract. Through the SBEM IDIQ, PlanetiQ will be eligible to compete for task orders to provide NOAA with two types of commercial environmental data: Global Navigation Satellite System-Radio Occultation (GNSS-RO) observations for atmospheric profiling and ionospheric monitoring, and thermospheric neutral density data for satellite orbit prediction.

“This selection builds on our long-standing partnership with NOAA and expands the ways our data can support the agency, from high-resolution atmospheric and ionospheric observations to thermospheric neutral density for satellite orbit prediction,” said Ira Scharf, CEO of PlanetiQ.  

The SBEM IDIQ, established by NOAA’s National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service (NESDIS) through its Commercial Data Program. The contract has a five-year base period followed by a five-year option and is effective from September 1, 2026, through August 31, 2036.

Under SBEM, PlanetiQ will provide data from its existing satellite constellation as well as additional satellites planned for launch later this year. The company’s GNSS-RO observations provide high-resolution atmospheric profiles for numerical weather prediction and measurements of the ionosphere, including Total Electron Content (TEC) and scintillation. PlanetiQ will also introduce thermospheric neutral density data as a new commercial data product for NOAA NESDIS, supporting improved satellite orbit prediction and space-weather applications.

“PlanetiQ has built its business around delivering high-quality GNSS-RO data with the precision needed to improve weather forecasting,” said Ira Scharf, CEO of PlanetiQ. “This selection builds on our long-standing partnership with NOAA and expands the ways our data can support the agency, from high-resolution atmospheric and ionospheric observations to thermospheric neutral density for satellite orbit prediction. We look forward to continuing to work with NOAA to advance weather forecasting and space weather applications.”

Per NOAA’s own press release, NOAA is expanding its procurement and use of new commercial environmental satellite data streams that will enhance weather forecasting and space weather monitoring. The SBEM IDIQ contract is a key part in the agency’s ongoing effort to boost U.S. weather forecasting capabilities.

PlanetiQ currently provides GNSS-RO data to NOAA NESDIS under the agency’s previous commercial data contract vehicle. The company’s most recent task order, announced in August, provides GNSS-RO and ionospheric data and bridges the transition to the new SBEM contract.

About PlanetiQ

PlanetiQ provides the highest-quality GNSS radio occultation (RO) data available from a commercial constellation of satellites, offering unmatched temporal and spatial resolution. The data drive accurate, high-impact weather and climate forecast models, helping improve Numerical Weather Prediction and AI forecasts, safeguard lives and property from severe weather. In 2025, PlanetiQ was awarded NOAA’s largest-ever contract for satellite weather data, valued at $24.3 million. PlanetiQ is a space-tech company that serves the most mission-critical government, defense, and industry leaders, including international weather agencies, enabling more resilient operations across sectors. Founded in 2015 and privately owned, PlanetiQ designs, builds, and operates the preeminent commercial constellation of GNSS-RO satellites, setting the standard for precision and reliability in atmospheric monitoring. For more information, contact info@planetiq.com

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SOURCE PlanetiQ

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