This year’s LabAutomation was the debut conference for the Society for Laboratory Automation and Screening (SLAS). Formed in July 2010 by the merger of the Association for Laboratory Automation and the Society for Biomolecular Sciences, the SLAS was created to take advantage of the organizations’ shared resources and opportunities, including global expansion and member diversity. The SLAS consists of a Biomolecular Science and a Lab Automation section, each devoted to the former organizations’ missions and goals.

Attendance for LabAutomation bounced back this year after two years of declines, growing 6.7% to 4,407 (see graph, page 4). Held January 29–February 2 in Palm Springs, California, the conference hosted 100 presentations and 186 posters. The number of companies exhibiting also increased this year, growing 3.3% to 241, following a decline last year.

Monday’s keynote speaker was Chad A. Mirkin, PhD, the George B. Rathmann Professor of Chemistry and director of the International Institute for Nanotechnology at Northwestern University. He presented a talk on the use of dip pen nanolithography to create high-density nanoarrays (1 million dots per 200 x 200 µm2 array). He also discussed the applications of polyvalent oligonucleotide nanoparticle conjugates for DNA analysis and diagnostics. Tuesday’s plenary lecture was given by Daryl Lund, PhD, editor in chief of the Institute for Food Technologies’ Journal of Food Science and emeritus professor at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. He discussed three major topics of current food-testing research: acrylamide, antioxidants and nanoparticles. He also highlighted the need for instruments by which fiber in foods can be quantified.

Monday’s activity on the exhibit floor reflected an upbeat environment as the aisles were full of visitors. There were many new products at the show, including several “firsts.” Agilent introduced the AssayMAP Bravo platform, its solution for high-throughput microscale protein purification and sample preparation. Built on Agilent’s Bravo liquid handling platform utilizing the new 96 AM head, the platform automates BioSystem Development’s (see IBO 5/31/10) disposable 5 µL packed-bed AssayMAP cartridges for dispensing into well plates. The open platform allows for collaboration with other providers of chemical resins or immobilized enzymes. Agilent’s plans include application-specific workstations based on the platform. Agilent also introduced the BenchBot Robot, a mid-sized microplate handler priced at $35,000 for a standard configuration. It can manage and interface with 10 devices simultaneously.

At the press conference, Nitin Sood, general manager of Agilent’s Automation Solutions Division, stated that the Division is growing well above the market rate and highlighted growth in Asia, where sales more than doubled last year. Such growth was driven in part by Agilent’s SureSelect target enrichment products for next-generation sequencing (NGS). Agilent recently introduced automation for the SureSelect XT workflow that can process up to 192 samples per week. In fact, automation of library preparation for NGS was nearly everywhere one looked on the exhibit floor, with many liquid handling vendors displaying their solutions.

Thermo Fisher Scientific exhibited its Versette automated liquid handler (see IBO 7/31/10) at the show. Introduced last year, the system features 19 interchangeable pipetting heads, allowing for easy reconfiguration. Designed for multiple applications, as well as for end-users new to automation, the Versette features single-, 8- and 12-channel pipetting heads, as well as two- and six-position staging options. Pricing starts at $20,000. Thermo also launched its first nucleic acid purification kits, the Thermo Scientific KingFisher kits. The five kits are optimized for use with the KingFisher magnetic particle processors.

LabCyte introduced the Access workstation, the next step in the evolution of its Echo acoustic liquid handler. Based on the software and automation found in the company’s POD 810 platform, the benchtop Access system consists of a four-axis microplate handling robot with pneumatic gripper, a computer, an Echo Insert Station, a four-shelf de-lidder, four-shelf temporary storage for 80–200 Echo-compatible plates and a barcode reading shelf. The company emphasized the system’s quick setup and easy-to-use software. By providing automation for the Echo, LabCyte stated that it will be easier for the company to maintain direct contact with its customers and to service the Echo more quickly.

Holding its first-ever press conference, Hudson Robotics highlighted its history and wide range of lab automation products. Last year, the company reorganized its sales organization and increased its overseas distribution, resulting in its best sales year ever. Capitalizing on the computer control of instruments and robots, which the company calls its core competency, Hudson Robotics stated that it offers a unique product portfolio, with standard products as well as products designed “to fill in the gaps” in lab automation. Products include the compact SOLO Robotic Pipetter, available for less than $30,000, as well as microplate handling and liquid handling systems. Starting this year, the SoftLinx software is available free of charge. SoftLinx product highlights include the Master Scheduler, which can run multiple protocols for the same instrument. Also this year, the company plans to expand its OEM business, which includes an agreement with Illumina.

New approaches to large automated workstations were on display at the show’s exhibition. HighRes Biosolutions (see IBO 8/15/10), which is known for roll-up, multi-spoked solutions for flexible high-throughput automation, introduced the TCell table-based automation system. Unique to the system is that labware is stored under the table and lifted up onto the tabletop through a hole, creating a cleaner work space. Instruments are mounted on shelves that allow them to be rotated out of the enclosure for easier access. Other innovative features include the enclosure’s doors, which slide open vertically, and an infrared camera mounted on the enclosure’s ceiling. The system also features the company’s first robot, the Cromium Cr2, which has a 32-inch reach.

Hamilton Robotic and Storage Technologies displayed several large systems at its booth, which was the largest on the floor. Among the new products were the MICROLAB STARline of liquid handling platforms with the TADM 96 Multi-Channel Pipetting Head, which contains air pressure sensors in each channel to monitor dispensing in real time. Hamilton also announced a Field Verification II service for GLP/GMP conformance of its MICROLAB STAR automated pipetting workstations and third-party peripherals. As part of the service, Hamilton technicians verify fluid delivery accuracy and X-Y-Z axes positioning. The company’s booth also displayed solutions for blood banking, featuring products for automated blood fractionation and extraction, storage of samples and sample retrieval via an enclosed Hamilton Rack Runner robot.

Integrated solutions drawing upon a company’s many product lines was also a theme at Beckman Coulter’s booth. Automated workflows were on display for stem cell research, featuring the company’s Biomek NXP system and GAllios flow cytometer, and for NGS, featuring the SPRIWorks II and a Biomek liquid handler.

As usual, cell analysis platforms and microfluidics were also well represented on the exhibit floor. Genetix launched the second-generation ClonePix system for the selection and screening of mammalian cell clones. New features include robotics that minimize system vibration and software designed to provide more data. The system will begin shipping soon at a price of $380,000. Gyros AB displayed its microfluidics-based platform for immunoassays. The Gyrolab Bioaffy CD uses centrifugal force and capillary columns to generate 112 data points from nanoliter volumes. Applications include method development and quality control.

Only a few dedicated instrument companies attended the show. Microsaic Systems exhibited the Microsaic 2500 MiD (molecular ion detector), a chip-based atmospheric pressure ionization MS detector. The compact system is designed to fit into an LC stack and features a built-in pump and computer. The system’s advantages include cost savings from lower usage of gas, solvent, electricity and air-conditioning. Applications include use as a detector with HPLC, reaction monitoring and process monitoring.

Next year, the LabAutomation and SBS conferences will be combined. The first annual SLAS Conference and Exhibition, SLAS 2012, will be held in San Diego, California, on February 4–8. The conference location will alternate between San Diego and Orlando, Florida, every year through 2016.

Bar Graph: LabAutomation Participants

2009 4237

2010 4113

2011 4407