Laboratory Automation Workstation
Higher Capacity, Greater Flexibility
The workstation has the highest capacity deck space available today. Measuring .5 x 1.5 meters, it has almost five times the space of Beckman Coulter, Inc.2000. Its capacity and flexibility allow application-specific devices to operate directly on the deck, for the first time, while a new, unique gripper moves entire stacks of plates. The unit also operates with one or two interchangeable pipetting heads, an eight-channel independent axis control pipettor, and a 96-well head which can be used together for the first time on any system, enabling the it to do the work of three or more independent liquid handlers. This combination of liquid handling methodologies allows transfers between any two formats, from tubes all the way up to 1536-well plates. Development of a 384-well head for this flexible platform is also underway, and this capability will be previewed at Lab Automation 2000.
Packaged in Complete Solutions
To better meet the needs of customers in biotech and pharmaceutical research, the company has developed the system into complete, application-specific solutions for nucleic acid preparation, plate replication and high-throughput screening. Addressing market concerns about instrument-centric automation approaches, these solutions are pre-configured and pre-programmed for the specific application, for quick and easy implementation. Complete solutions for other applications are in development. Where appropriate, automated, pre-validated methods and chemistries are also being incorporated into these solutions.
Unique Labware Positioning Technology
The key to the the workstation's flexibility is the interchangeable way in which functional devices are positioned and moved around on the deck. The control of ALPs of labware devices, including shakers, tip washes, circulating reservoirs, chillers, stirrers and tip loaders, is automatically programmed for each assay by the software "wizards." New, proprietary Automated Labware Positioners (ALPs) facilitate the optimum configuration of labware on the deck for each assay. A wide variety of ALPs is available, providing application-specific functions. Each of the labware functions can now be performed directly on the deck, in up to 20 plate positions, for dramatically increased walkaway automation. Re-positioning of labware with the ALPs can be done in a matter of minutes and new ALPs can be easily added, making the unit ideal for applications where parameters are likely to change. New self-guided software "wizards" create pre-set methods for dramatic timesavings. The user completes a simple, self-guided sequence of questions through a real-time graphical interface, and an optimized method complete with deck layout is generated. A method editing capability allows the user to carry out final editing, if desired, prior to run.
<%=company%>, 4300 N. Harbor Blvd., D-33-E Fullerton, CA 92384. Tel: 317-808-4293. Fax: 714-773-8186.