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Practichem is a scientific instrumentation company that develops biotech research tools utilizing Internet of Things (IoT) principles for its product design. Their flagship product is the Arista Slice fast protein liquid chromatography (FPLC) unit, designed to purify proteins using column chromatography.

History
Practichem was founded in 2010 in Burlington, Wisconsin. The company moved to the Research Triangle Park in North Carolina in 2013 to take advantage of the area's rich talent pool and strong maker culture. Its flagship product, the Arista Slice FPLC, was released in 2016.

The nonprofit organization Innovate Raleigh chose Practichem as a subject for their 2016 "Makers & Doers" film series. This choice was made by Innovate Raleigh because "Practichem is transforming the way scientists work by designing and mechanizing a new approach to scientific instruments".

The Arista Slice FPLC from Practichem was nominated as a finalist for the North Carolina Technology Association's 2016 Beacon Award for most innovative product.

Founder
Practichem’s founder and CEO, Nicholas DeMarco, is an engineer, scientist, and entrepreneur. He currently holds six US patents, with several more pending. He co-founded BioLogix in 1995 and created the LabJet labeling system for scientific laboratories (which was later acquired by investors). DeMarco then founded Analogix Inc in 1998, developing scientific instruments and components for flash liquid chromatography. The company was successfully acquired by Varian Inc in 2007 (later acquired by Agilent Technologies).

Practichem gained significant national attention after its founder announced that full-time employee benefits would include a two-year lease of a brand new Tesla Motors Model 3 car upon their release in 2017.

Products
The Arista Slice fast protein liquid chromatography (FPLC) unit is a compact instrument used for protein purification. The Arista Slice FPLC system includes a fluidic unit, an integrated fraction collector, a D3 in-line detector and a license to its browser-based software.

The Arista Slice is the first browser controlled chromatography instrument (multiple patents issued and pending). Browser-based software allows scientists to use smart devices as part of their workflow and collaboratively work with any device, and from any location.

Practichem also makes several chromatography components, or "chromponents", for customized FPLC systems. Their D3 biodetector is compact in-line UV detector capable of monitoring two UV wavelength with an integrated conductivity sensor to monitor buffer concentration. Their FluidSwitch is a novel rotary valve designed to withstand corrosive solutions and has integrated software and a USB connection. Practichem also supplies a series of pre-packed protein chromatography columns for FPLC and flash liquid chromatography.