Address: 112A Bala Ave.
Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004
United States of America
Office Phone: (610) 660-9665 or 9623
Fax: (610) 660-9643
Donation of Used Freeze-Drying Equipment and Instrumentation
Mission. The International Society of Lyophilization - Freeze Drying, Inc. (ISL-FD) is a non-profit organization (registered in the State of Delaware in the United States) whose mission is to promote the field of lyophilization (lyophilisation) by personal interaction using the Internet and supporting programs that provide financial and/or material assistance to those who need it. It is also dedicated to the promotion of friendship and understanding throughout the international community by conducting meetings at various locations throughout the world.
General Description of the Program: The ISL-FD is seeking used freeze-drying equipment or instrumentation in any condition to support its many programs that will be conducted throughout the world. This equipment would be used by educational organizations such as a university for the intended purposes of providing undergraduate and graduate students the opportunity to conduct planned laboratory experiments that are designed to teach the basic principles of the lyophilization or freeze-drying process. The donated equipment could also be used to promote and encourage research either in the field of lyophilization or to use lyophilization as a primary part of the program. Even production size dryers that may no longer be useful in manufacturing pharmaceutical products can find new life when used to produce other much needed products such as foods.
Advantages of Donating Equipment: By donating the equipment, instruments or laboratory supplies to the Society the company can take as a deduction a portion of the appraised value of the donation. The amount of the tax deduction will in most instances far exceed any income realized from the sale of the equipment so the company will actually benefit financially from the donation. There is even a larger benefit. The company will be recognized as being a contributor to the Society and will enrich the public image of the company. We will make it known to our world wide membership the fact that your company was so generous to donate to the Society. Good will is a very valuable asset of any company and should never be overlooked.
The following is a more detailed description of the various programs offered by the ISL-FD
Educational Program: The objective of this program is to provide training and encourage students at the undergraduate or graduate level to acquire an interest in the field of lyophilization or freeze-drying. In this program, the equipment will be turned over to educational organizations such as a university for the intended purposes of providing undergraduate and graduate students the opportunity to conduct planned laboratory experiments that are designed to teach the basic principles of the lyophilization or freeze-drying process. The laboratory experiments will give them an appreciation of the complexity of the lyophilization process and a working knowledge of the operation of freeze-drying equipment. Any university in an industrial or developing country showing that it has added a lyophilization or freeze-drying course to its curriculum shall be eligible to receive this equipment on lease ($1.00 per year) from the ISL-FD. If at any time, the educational institution not longer offers such a course of study, the equipment will be returned to the society for loan to another institution of higher learning.
Research Programs: This program is designed to promote and encourage research either in the field of lyophilization or to use lyophilization as a primary part of the program. Participants in this program will be carefully screened as to the nature of the research program for which the equipment is intended. An active member of the society, selected by the Program Committee, will be responsible for monitoring that the equipment is indeed being used within the scope of the research proposal. A key condition for the lease of such equipment will be that periodic progress reports will be issued and made available to the membership of the Society though its Newsletter or at one of its conferences. ISL-FD shall have the right of first refusal to publish any final papers of the work in its Lyophilization Journal.
Lease of Equipment: The Society, at its discretion, will lease the equipment to a profit making organization to assist them it expanding their production. For example, a pharmaceutical company in the United States may find that a piece of manufacturing equipment is no longer suitable for manufacturing under cGMPs. Yet this same piece of freeze-drying equipment may be very suitable for processing food products in a developing country where the purchase of new equipment of that size would be prohibitive. In this way, freeze-drying equipment can find new life and continue to produce products that are beneficial to many people. The Society will lease the equipment to the recipient and after a given number of years and upon completion of the lease the equipment will be the property of the recipient. If at any time prior to the completion of the lease, the equipment is no longer in service it will be returned to the Society for redistribution.
Sale Of Equipment: The Society shall at its discretion sell the equipment or instruments in order to raise funds to conduct its many other programs such as scholarships, awards and conferences - both international and local. Each year the society will make a full disclose of its finances to its membership.
What type of Freeze-Drying Equipment and Instruments? The Society is seeking any kind of freeze-drying equipment. We will accept any freeze drying equipment provided the major components of the system are present and in working order. We would expect that certain items like gauges and data collection systems may well have to be replaced in order to make the equipment operational. We will accept any size freeze-dryer. Acceptance of the equipment may, at the discretion of the Society, be dependent on a visual inspection of the equipment at the donors site. We will also accept all associated items such filling equipment, crimpers, trays, shelf loading equipment, ovens, autoclaves and clean rooms. In addition we will accept excess vials, bottles, closures, crimp seals, and clean room garments. We will also accept tanks, blenders, steam generators and emergency generators. Laboratory testing equipment will also be accepted such a balances, pH meters, spectrometers, moisture analysis equipment, recorders, computers and miscellaneous laboratory supplies.
Removal of the Equipment: The donating organization will be responsible for disconnecting the equipment from any services or utilities. The organization shall provide the Society a reasonable access route by which the equipment can be removed from their premises. The Society will be responsible for and shipping and handling costs to remove the equipment from the donors premises.
Selling vs. Donating: When selling used equipment and instruments one can at most receive only about 10% of its actual appraised value. The reason being is that the seller is often in a hurry to remove the equipment or does not have the means to locate interested buyers for one reason or another. The seller may simply wish to keep its change in operation confidential and for the confidentiality there comes a penalty - loss of revenue. In addition, any monies derived from the sale of the equipment, instruments or laboratory supplies must be reported as income and for that reason is taxable.
How to Donate: To donate to the society is quite simple. Just complete the attached a form I will send you for each piece of equipment, instrument or laboratory supplies that your company wishes to donate. Have the form signed by a Corporate Officer and mail it to “Donations” at the address shown on the letterhead. To assist those companies in the United States, we have enclosed IRS forms 8282 and 8283 for your convenience.
If your company has freeze-drying equipment, instrumentation or laboratory supplies that has laid idle for more than a year or has been sitting that long in a storage area, give it new life and a new purpose by donating it to the ISL-FD.
Sincerely,
Thomas A. Jennings, Ph.D.
President