Company Announcements

Freeslate integrated Wyatt Technology’s DynaPro Plate Reader II into its Biologics Formulation System.

Fiscal second quarter sales ending March 31 for Brooks Automation Life Science Systems (LSS) climbed 38.4%, 15.3% excluding the acquisition of Matrical (see IBO 7/31/13), to $12.6 million to account for 10% of company sales (see IBO 5/31/14). Including the acquisition, product and service sales grew 32.5% and 51.9% to make up 67% and 33% of LSS revenue, respectively. LSS adjusted operating loss narrowed 16.2% to $3.1 million.

In May, CryoXtract named Cambridge Bioscience as a UK distributor and LDB Life Sciences as its first distributor for China.

Biochrom and Gilson announced an agreement in June to comarket and distribute in Europe products for automation of ELISAs and other absorbance assays. The partnership combines the companies’ respective EZ Read range of microplate readers and liquid-handling systems.

In June, Tecan named Ulrich Kanter as a member of its Management Board and head of the Development & Operations Division, effective July 14. He has worked in various positions at Roche Diagnostics.

TTP Labtech revenues rose 43% in 2013, led by over 300% sales growth for the mirrorball and compound systems. Sales outside the US and Europe grew 24%.

In July, ATS Automation Tooling agreed to acquire M+W Process Automation for €248 million ($182 million). In 2013, M+W had revenues of €166 million ($122 million), with sales to the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry accounting for 13% of revenues.

Product Introductions

Biocontrol introduced the Thunderbolt automation system for pathogen testing using the company’s TRANSIA PLATE and Assurance EIA ELISA methods. It can process up to 372 samples per day.

Molecular Devices introduced the EMax Plus Microplate Reader, which measures 96-well plates and covers the entire visible range, and the MultiWash+ Microplate Washer for 96- and 384-well plates.

In May, Hamilton Storage Technologies launched the BiOS M and L compact, high-density, automated, ultra-low-temperature storage systems designed to fit existing labs and store from 100,000 to over 1,000,000 samples.

Artel released the ArtelWare applications software for use with its MVS Multichannel Verification System. ArtelWare enables users to track and manage the performance of their automated liquid handlers over time, aggregating the standardized measurements.

In June, PerkinElmer introduced the EnSight Multimode Plate Reader, which offers both labeled and label-free detection, together with well-imaging technology. The company also introduced new Kaleido Data Acquisition and Analysis Software, featuring a workflow-based interface.