A vacuum column for oil distillation incorporates a thickened plate that has a layer of erosion-resistant material that is thicker than the corrosion-resistant thickness of an adjacent column section. The reception unit receives handwriting information. A clamp is formed by a first pair of opposed surfaces of the base and cover adjacent the hinge. In an emergency situation, the module separates from the aircraft by means of releasable connector elements and descends using parachutes. After the second implantation process, parametric testing may be performed on semiconductor devices manufactured on the first and second portions to determine if there is variation in one or more performance characteristics of these semiconductor devices.