Ultramicrotome UC Enuity in Practice: Stable 15 nm Sections at ZFE

Description

Claudia Mayrhofer at ZFE Graz: UC Enuity’s cryo chamber enables in situ cryo-SEM via vacuum cryo transfer and speeds training for precise sectioning

At the Graz Centre for Electron Microscopy (ZFE), Ing. Claudia Mayrhofer shares how the ultramicrotome UC Enuity has changed day-to-day ultramicrotomy in a multi-user environment—especially during lectures and training. Having worked with the UCT and UC6, she calls UC Enuity a major step forward in stability—so robust that nearby movement and temperature shifts are far less likely to affect section quality. This robustness makes consistent 15 nm sections routine and reduces the pressure on beginners who are still building confidence at the instrument.

Beyond sectioning stability, Mayrhofer highlights features that streamline onboarding and shorten the time to reliable results. Automatic trimming, automatic knife-to-sample alignment, and the integrated camera support camera-assisted learning and help new users overcome hesitation—while still accelerating expert workflows. She also points to practical usability improvements for long sessions, including quickly adjustable ergonomics for different operators and better lighting compared with previous systems.

The interview also connects UC Enuity to a broader cryo workflow at ZFE: a cryo chamber paired with the EM VCT500 transfer system enables in situ preparation for cryo-SEM within the “Reed for Peat” project, where the mixture of reed and brewers’ spent grain are studied in in situ experiments. Looking ahead, Mayrhofer expects μCT-guided target trimming to become “state of the art” and anticipates first tests soon—positioning UC Enuity as a platform that supports both today’s sectioning needs and tomorrow’s targeted preparation strategies.