Company Announcements

Brooks Automation named Mark D. Morelli president and COO in August. He previously served as executive vice president and COO.

In September, TTP Labtech named AXT its exclusive distributor for Australia and New Zealand.

Labcyte announced a collaboration with AstraZeneca to use acoustic dispensing combined with MS for high-throughput, low cost, label-free analysis.

In October, CryoXtract Instruments named BioStrategy its distributor for Australia and New Zealand.

Hamilton announced a collaboration with the University of Nevada for robotic biochemistry research.

In October, Tecan lowered its outlook for 2013 revenues from mid-single digit to moderate growth, citing market conditions for the Life Sciences Business. Tecan continues to expect 2015 sales at current exchange rates of CHF 500 million ($553 million).

BMG Labtech and InvivoSciences collaborated in November to market a solution for the time-dependent fluorescence assessment of engineered 3D heart tissues.

Product Introductions

Corning introduced the Epic BT System, a benchtop label-free detection system for both cell-based and biochemical assays. It features a compact design, more affordable price point and whole microplate analysis.

In September, BioTek Instruments launched the new MultiFlo FX Microplate Dispenser with up to four independent reagent dispensers and a washer.

BioTek Instruments released the BioStack 4 Microplate Stacker.

IntelLIDrives introduced a new Cartesian Multi-Axes Robotic System for assembly automation. It is capable of 600 mm/sec velocity.

Berthold Technologies released the Mithras2 LB943 Multimode Microplate Reader, featuring four reagent injectors and the ability to use optical filters for luminescence, fluorescence and absorbance measurements.

Hamilton introduced the vertically integrated VANTAGE liquid handling platform for multipurpose pipetting, featuring a linear motor design and contract-free NanoPulse pipetting technology covering 100 nL to 1 mL (see IBO 1/31/13) and INSTINCT V software for ease of use.

In October, Molecular Devices launched the ScanLater Western Blot Detection System, which combines time-resolved fluorescence–based western blot membrane detection with a multimode microplate reader platform. The System can be added to the SpectraMax i3 or SpectraMax Paradigm Platform.

Eppendorf introduced seven new models of its epMotion automated pipetting system: five larger 5075 models and the smaller epMotion 5070 and 5070f. All systems feature an increased number of workable positions.