Company Announcements

Thermo Fisher Scientific announced in November 2016 a partnership with Hamilton Storage to offer the fully automated Thermo Scientific Decapper 500 and 550 Series tube capping systems. The systems can cap and decap both Thermo Scientific Matrix and Nunc automation tubes on the same system. They are designed for use in medium- and high-throughput labs.

For the fiscal year ending September 30, 2016, Brooks Automation Life Science Solutions (LSS) sales jumped 58.7% to $108.1 million to represent 19% of revenues (see IBO 10/31/16), driven primarily by the acquisition of BioStorage Technologies (see IBO 11/15/15). Organic LSS sales declined 2.5% as adoption of automated cryogenic storage systems was slower than expected. Following profitability in the fiscal fourth quarter, fiscal 2016 LSS adjusted operating loss narrowed 70.6% to $5.0 million due to the acquisition. Fiscal 2017 sales are projected to grow more than 40%.

Berthold Technologies announced in November 2016 that its TriStar² S LB 942 and Mithras² LB 943 Multimode Readers have been granted assay certification to run Bellbrook Lab’s Transcreener TR-FRET and FI assays.

In December 2016, Labcyte announced a collaboration with Notable Labs, which is developing a personalized treatment service for cancer patients, for use of its Echo acoustic liquid handling technology to screen individual cancer patients’ tumor cells.

Tecan announced in December 2016 that Dr. Stefan Traeger, head of the Life Sciences Business, will leave the company no later than June 30 to become chairman of photonics firm Jenoptik.

In January, Labsis Laborsysteme, a provider of lab automation software, announced the acquisition of software developer Mikrotek Laborsysteme.

BMG LABTECH announced in January a collaboration with Genedata to integrate its multimode microplate readers with the Genedata Screener data analysis and management platform for in vitro screening technologies as part of Genedata’s Ready-to-Run program.

Product Introductions

Opentrons Labworks released in November 2016 an application programming interface for its OT-One line of pipetting robots, which start at $3,000. The API can be used to automate complex workflows with shareable protocols, and to connect the robots to other software tools and lab equipment.

In December 2016, Hamilton Storage introduced the SAM HD, a low-capacity automated sample management system. Models are available for storing samples at 4°C, -20°C, -40°C and -80°C, with capacity up to 60,000 tubes in standard ranks or 86,250 tubes using RackWare racks.

Hamilton Storage released in December 2016 upgrades to its LabElite DeCapper and I.D. Capper systems, including a 6-channel headed for use with 24-well tube ranks. The updated LabElite I.D. Reader features ColdScan technology to scan tube racks directly out of the freezer, combatting fog and condensation on barcode scanners.

Hamilton Storage announced in December 2016 updates to its Verso automated sample storage system to include the Verso S1 SE configuration for labs with ceiling heights as low as 7.10 ft (2.4 cm) and the Universal Picker, which accommodates 96-well tubes, 1 dram vials, and other types of plates and vials.