skalar.com

Yes—Skalar explicitly positions itself as a source for FIA and Lachat replacements, and its continuous flow analyzer line (the SAN++® Series) is the most direct fit for labs moving off those platforms. Whether a specific method transfers cleanly depends on your application and parameters, so the practical path is to match your current method to a Skalar analyzer through the company's analyzer selector, then confirm details with Skalar's application support before committing.

What Skalar Offers as a Replacement Path

Skalar is a Dutch manufacturer of laboratory automation founded in 1965, with subsidiaries across most of Europe, North America, and India, plus a worldwide representative network. Its stated focus is automating routine analyses—water, soil, and nutrient testing among them—for environmental, pharmaceutical, agricultural, detergent, and food and beverage laboratories.

Two product lines matter most for FIA/Lachat users:

• SAN++® Series (continuous flow analysis): The current range includes the SAN++® Compact, Classic, and Advanced models, described as providing fully automatic, accurate colorimetric analysis. Continuous flow analysis is the technology family closest to traditional FIA workflows, which makes this the first line to examine.
• BLUVISION® (discrete analysis): An alternative automation approach covered in Skalar's discrete analysis eBook, aimed at contamination-free, flexible testing across water, soil, and environmental applications. Worth considering if your lab wants to move away from flow-based methods entirely.

Skalar's site also hosts a webinar on seawater analysis with the BLUVISION® (available on demand) and has announced a TOC/TNb analyzer webinar featuring IGNIVIUS—useful if your replacement decision touches those parameter areas.

How to Find the Matching Analyzer

Skalar provides an analyzer selector tool designed for exactly this task: you choose your application and parameter, or select a technology, and the selector returns the matching analyzer. For a replacement project, the sequence looks like this:

1. List your current methods. Write down each parameter you run on the FIA or Lachat system (for example, nitrate, phosphate, ammonia, or other colorimetric determinations) and the sample types—water, soil extract, wastewater, or something else.
2. Enter application and parameter into the analyzer selector. The tool maps your inputs to a recommended instrument.
3. Compare technologies where results are ambiguous. If the selector points to more than one option, weigh continuous flow (SAN++) against discrete analysis (BLUVISION®) based on throughput needs and how closely you want to mirror your existing workflow.
4. Confirm with Skalar support. The site directs inquiries through a contact form; application support is described as a core part of the organization's daily work with users.

Expected result: a shortlist of one or two instruments tied to your actual parameter list, rather than a generic product family.

What to Verify Before You Decide

Skalar's public pages describe capability and positioning, not method-by-method equivalence with specific FIA or Lachat instruments. Before treating a Skalar analyzer as a drop-in replacement, confirm:

• Method equivalence for each parameter you run, including detection limits and range relevant to your samples.
• Throughput against your current sample volume—the SAN++® tiers (Compact, Classic, Advanced) differ in this respect, so ask which tier matches your load.
• Regulatory or accreditation implications of changing platforms for any reported methods; this is lab- and jurisdiction-specific and should go to your quality team.
• Commercial terms—pricing, lead time, and service coverage are not published on the site, so these come from direct contact.

Common Sticking Points

• Assuming the selector alone settles it. The tool narrows the field; application-specific confirmation still comes from Skalar's support team.
• Overlooking the discrete option. Labs often search only for a flow-based replacement, but BLUVISION® may suit labs whose method mix or contamination concerns favor discrete analysis.
• Skipping the parameter list. Vague inquiries ("we run a Lachat") slow down matching; a written parameter and sample-type list gets a faster, more precise answer.

Next Step

Gather your parameter list, run it through Skalar's analyzer selector, and send the resulting shortlist plus your current method details through the contact form. That combination gives Skalar's application team what they need to confirm a viable replacement path.

Skalar offers automated analyzers built around two main platforms: the SAN++® continuous flow analyzer series (Compact, Classic and Advanced) for fully automatic colorimetric analysis, and the BLUVISION® discrete analyzer for automated, contamination-free and flexible testing. The lineup also includes TOC/TNb analysis (IGNIVIUS) and serves environmental, pharmaceutical, agricultural, detergent, chemical and food & beverage laboratories. The right choice depends on your sample volume, the parameters you measure and whether you prefer continuous flow or discrete analysis.

SAN++® Continuous Flow Analyzers

The SAN++® series is Skalar's continuous flow analyzer range, described as providing fully automatic and accurate colorimetric analysis and incorporating the latest technologies. It comes in three configurations:

Skalar publishes a dedicated SAN++® Series guide for readers who want to compare the three models in detail. Continuous flow analysis is the established approach for running routine colorimetric determinations at high throughput, which is why Skalar frames the series around routine laboratory automation.

BLUVISION® Discrete Analyzer

BLUVISION® is Skalar's discrete analysis platform. Skalar's eBook on the system describes it as enabling automated, contamination-free and flexible testing for water, soil and environmental applications, with the goal of helping laboratories work faster and more accurately. If your workload mixes many parameters and changing test menus rather than long runs of the same determination, discrete analysis is the category to examine first.

TOC/TNb Analysis (IGNIVIUS)

Skalar also promotes TOC/TNb analysis through IGNIVIUS, including a dedicated webinar on the topic. This is a separate application area from colorimetric and discrete chemistry testing, so confirm that the parameters you need are covered before shortlisting it.

Matching an Analyzer to Your Application

Skalar provides an analyzer selector on its site: you choose your application and parameter, or select a technology, and the tool returns the matching analyzer. This is the fastest way to narrow the range without reading every product page.

A practical sequence:

1. List the parameters you measure routinely and the sample matrices (for example water, soil or nutrients).
2. Enter the application and parameter into the analyzer selector.
3. Compare the suggested platform against your throughput and menu-flexibility needs — continuous flow for established routine colorimetric work, discrete analysis for flexible, contamination-free testing.
4. Request application support or a quote through Skalar's contact page, since pricing is not published on the site.

Who the Analyzers Are For

Skalar describes its industrial analyzers as reliable and economical solutions for automation in modern routine laboratories, with applications in environmental, pharmaceutical, agricultural, detergent, chemical and food & beverage testing, focused on routine analyses such as water, soil and nutrient testing. The company was established in 1965 and supports users through subsidiaries in most European countries, North America and India, plus over eighty representatives worldwide — relevant if local service and application support matter to your purchasing decision.

Start with Skalar's online analyzer selector: choose your application, the parameter you need to measure, or the technology you prefer, and the tool returns matching instruments. This works best if you already know what you are testing (for example, water, soil, or nutrients) and roughly which detection method fits your lab. If you are still exploring, browse the industry pages first, then return to the selector.

Step 1: Define your application and parameter

Skalar's analyzers are built for routine chemical analysis across environmental, pharmaceutical, agricultural, detergent, and food & beverage laboratories, with a focus on automating tests for water, soil, and nutrients. Before using the selector, write down:

• Sample type — water, soil, fertilizer, food, detergent, pharmaceutical, etc.
• Parameter — the specific substance or measurement you report (for example, a nutrient or colorimetric measurement).
• Throughput — how many samples per day or batch you expect to run.

The selector asks for application and parameter, so having these ready shortens the process.

Step 2: Use the analyzer selector

On the products page, open the analyzer selector and enter your application, parameter, or preferred technology. The tool automatically finds the matching analyzer. This is the fastest route when you know your method; it avoids reading every product page.

Expected result: a short list of Skalar instruments that match your inputs. If the list is empty or too broad, loosen one criterion (for example, choose technology instead of a specific parameter) and try again.

Step 3: Narrow by industry

If you are unsure which technology fits, start from the industry pages instead. Skalar organizes solutions by field of interest, application, or expertise, which helps you see what other labs in your sector automate. Typical fields listed include environmental, pharmaceutical, agricultural, detergent, and food & beverage.

A practical sequence:

1. Open your industry page to see common applications.
2. Note the applications that match your workload.
3. Return to the analyzer selector with those applications.

Step 4: Compare the main technology families

Skalar's lineup centers on two automation approaches you will encounter in the selector:

If you are replacing an existing flow analyzer, Skalar addresses FIA or Lachat replacements directly — check that page before selecting a model, since it frames the comparison in terms of your current method.

Step 5: Use the resources before you decide

Skalar publishes material that helps you judge fit without a sales call:

• SAN++® Series guide — overview of the continuous flow range.
• Guide to Discrete Analysis and the BLUVISION® eBook — a practical introduction to discrete analysis and what the analyzer can do across water, soil, and environmental work.
• Webinars — recorded sessions include seawater analysis with the BLUVISION® and automated PFAS analysis; a TOC/TNb analyzer webinar is also announced.

These are useful for building an internal case or checking whether a method you run is covered.

Step 6: Contact Skalar for confirmation

When the selector gives you a candidate, use the contact page and submit the form with your inquiry. Include your sample type, parameters, expected throughput, and current instrument if you are replacing one. Skalar states it provides application support to users and will respond as soon as possible.

Common sticking points

• Selector returns nothing: your parameter may be phrased differently than the tool expects — try the application or technology route instead.
• You run a method not listed: contact Skalar directly rather than assuming coverage; the site does not publish a full parameter list in the material summarized here.
• You need pricing or lead times: these are not published on the site; request them through the contact form.
• You are unsure between continuous flow and discrete analysis: download both guides and compare against your throughput and flexibility needs before contacting sales.

What you end up with

A shortlist of one or two Skalar analyzers matched to your application and parameter, backed by the relevant guide or webinar, and a contact inquiry that gives Skalar enough detail to confirm the configuration. That is enough to move from browsing to a concrete evaluation.

Skalar is a Dutch manufacturer of laboratory and process analyzers, founded in 1965, that specializes in chemistry automation for routine analyses such as water, soil, and nutrient testing. It serves environmental, pharmaceutical, chemical, agricultural, detergent, and food & beverage laboratories, and sells and supports its instruments worldwide. If you are evaluating Skalar, the practical question is usually which analyzer family fits your lab's workflow—continuous flow or discrete analysis—and whether the company's application support and distribution reach match your location.

Company at a glance

The company describes itself as a partner in chemistry automation, with an emphasis on keeping automation platforms running reliably through quality parts and materials.

What Skalar actually makes

Skalar's product line centers on automated analyzers for routine, high-throughput laboratory work. The company highlights two main technology directions:

• Continuous flow analysis (CFA): The SAN++® Series, including the SAN++® Compact, Classic, and Advanced models, provides fully automatic and accurate colorimetric analysis.
• Discrete analysis: The BLUVISION® analyzer, aimed at automated, contamination-free, and flexible testing across water, soil, and environmental applications.

Skalar also positions itself as a source for labs running older continuous flow systems: its site explicitly addresses users looking for a "FIA or Lachat Replacement," suggesting the SAN++® line as a migration path for those platforms.

Who the analyzers are for

The instruments are built for laboratories that run the same analyses repeatedly and need consistent throughput and precision. Typical settings named by the company include:

• Environmental laboratories testing water and soil
• Pharmaceutical laboratories
• Chemical and detergent laboratories
• Agricultural laboratories
• Food and beverage laboratories

The common thread is routine chemistry—nutrient testing, colorimetric determinations, and similar repetitive methods—rather than one-off research assays.

How to narrow down a choice

Skalar provides an analyzer selector tool on its site: you choose your application and parameter, or your technology, and the selector returns matching analyzers. This is the most direct way to check fit before contacting the company. For labs unsure whether continuous flow or discrete analysis suits them, the company also offers a guide to discrete analysis and an eBook on the BLUVISION® platform covering water, soil, and environmental applications.

If you are replacing an existing FIA or Lachat system, start with the SAN++® Series documentation and confirm method compatibility with your current protocols before committing.

What to verify before deciding

The public site does not list prices, so cost has to come from a direct quote. Before that conversation, confirm:

• Whether your required parameters are covered by the analyzer selector results
• Whether your existing methods transfer to the SAN++® or BLUVISION® platform
• Which subsidiary or representative covers your country for service and application support
• Whether training and ongoing application support are included in your region's offering

Skalar's stated differentiator is application support for existing and potential users, so it is worth asking specifically how that support is delivered locally.

Skalar serves laboratories in environmental, pharmaceutical, chemical, agricultural, detergent, and food & beverage sectors, with a focus on automating routine analyses such as water, soil, and nutrient testing. If your lab runs repetitive colorimetric or discrete testing in one of these fields, Skalar's analyzer range is designed for that work; if your needs fall outside these areas, the site's industry and application pages are the place to confirm a match before contacting the company.

Industries covered

Skalar, a Dutch manufacturer established in 1965, builds automated laboratory analyzers for the following markets:

The company describes its industrial analyzers as reliable and economical solutions for automation in modern routine laboratories, and notes worldwide sales, support, and distribution through subsidiaries in most European countries, North America, and India, plus over eighty representatives globally.

Applications and product lines

Skalar's automation centers on routine analyses—water, soil, and nutrient testing are named explicitly—using colorimetric and discrete analysis technologies. Two product families are highlighted on the site:

• SAN++® Series — continuous flow analyzers offered in Compact, Classic, and Advanced models, providing fully automatic and accurate colorimetric analysis.
• BLUVISION® — a discrete analyzer line; Skalar publishes an eBook introducing discrete analysis and the analyzer's contamination-free, flexible testing for water, soil, and environmental applications.

Skalar also addresses labs running other platforms: a dedicated page covers FIA or Lachat replacement, useful if you are considering migrating existing methods.

Finding the right analyzer for your lab

The site provides two routes to narrow down a fit:

1. Analyzer selector — choose your application and parameter, or select a technology, and the selector returns matching analyzers automatically.
2. Industry pages — browse by your own field, application, or expertise to find the relevant automation solution.

For questions or further information, Skalar directs visitors to its contact page and inquiry form. The company states that application support is a daily focus for both existing and potential users, so method-specific questions are reasonable to raise before purchase.

When Skalar is likely—and unlikely—to fit

Skalar is a reasonable starting point if you run high-throughput routine chemistry in the industries above and want automated colorimetric or discrete analysis. If your work is outside these sectors, or you need a technology not represented in the SAN++ or BLUVISION lines, verify against the analyzer selector and industry pages first. Current pricing and purchasing terms are not stated on the pages reviewed here, so treat cost and access details as something to confirm directly with Skalar.