The heat of summer may begin to dissipate, PreeKem’s passionate search for old, tough, perseverant, and still unretired microwave digester has just got started. 

Microwave digestion devices invariably work in extreme physical and chemical environments and they tend to exit service much earlier than other instruments. But, do we really know how long they can last and how many Preekem systems more than 10 years old but still in everyday service are out there? 

Up till August 9, a week after we released this special survey to the public, 48 eligible respondents emerged.  

The 47th identified instrument, a WX-8000, installed in 2008, runs tirelessly in Will Testing labs (Hainan province) mostly for high-throughput applications. 

The 48th old Preekem pal, an EXCEL which inspired the creation of the classic TOPEX series, was also installed in 2008 at Huanping Powder Manufacturing in Dong-guan, Canton.