Merck Advances Lab Water Purification Technology with Milli-Q® IQ 7000 System

• Marks 50th anniversary of first lab water system launch
• First to use environmentally friendly, mercury-free UV lamps
• Smaller, ergonomic design reduces waste, increases productivity, accelerates research

Darmstadt, Germany, March 6, 2017 — Merck, a leading science and technology company, today announced the global launch of the Milli-Q® IQ 7000 system, the seventh-generation Milli-Q® water purification innovation. This launch marks 50 years of providing ultrapure water to scientists in laboratories all over the world. The company announced details about the water purification system during a press briefing at the Pittcon Conference & Expo 2017 in Chicago, Illinois.

“While there have been tremendous advancements in the lab, today’s scientists continue to seek ways to improve reproducibility and reliability of data,” said Udit Batra, Member of the Merck Executive Board and CEO, Life Science. “Our customers are looking for compact, ergonomic systems and software so that they can advance science, further faster. Our new lab water system addresses these pain points, allowing scientists to focus on problem solving, without worrying about the purity of their water. This new system reflects our legacy of pioneering innovations in lab water purification.”

For half a century, Merck has been the partner of choice for water purification systems and services for lab scientists who need to ensure their water is free of contaminants.

To ensure that Merck’s new water purification systems meet customers’ evolving needs, the company combined customer feedback with its engineering and technical expertise to develop the Milli-Q® IQ 7000 system — an even smaller, easier-to-use, device, designed with:

• ech₂o® mercury-free UV lamps for the photoxidation of organic contaminants
• Purification cartridges that are 33 percent smaller than previous versions
• High-definition digital touchscreen similar to a mobile phone display for simple operation
• Easy connection to lab networks through an integrated data management system that allows quick, easy access to information
  • Includes custom reporting and global system data archive for traceability and paperless environment for generating reports
• Hibernation mode to maintain system water quality with reduced energy consumption
• Ergonomic, precise dispensing wheel with a wider range of ultrapure water dispensing options—from drop-by-drop up to 2 liters per minute
• Smaller footprint, free of tubing / cables for a smaller, clutter-free workspace

Merck’s leading brand, Milli-Q® water, has become synonymous with ultrapure lab water, and is the most cited brand in peer-reviewed publications. Milli-Q® systems have purification media that are tested and designed exclusively for Merck, allowing the company to provide the best water quality to labs across the world.

Merck’s Milli-Q® IQ 7000 system is the first product in an offering that will replace the existing bench-top Milli-Q® Advantage A10 systems. It will be available for purchase in April 2017.

About Merck

Merck, a leading science and technology company, operates across healthcare, life science, and electronics. Around 58,000 employees work to make a positive difference to millions of people’s lives every day by creating more joyful and sustainable ways to live. From advancing gene-editing technologies and discovering unique ways to treat the most challenging diseases to enabling the intelligence of devices – the company is everywhere. In 2020, Merck generated sales of € 17.5 billion in 66 countries.

Scientific exploration and responsible entrepreneurship have been key to Merck’s technological and scientific advances. This is how Merck has thrived since its founding in 1668. The founding family remains the majority owner of the publicly listed company. Merck holds the global rights to the Merck name and brand. The only exceptions are the United States and Canada, where the business sectors of Merck operate as EMD Serono in healthcare, MilliporeSigma in life science, and EMD Electronics.