Company Announcements

Tecan and Luminex entered into an OEM agreement in October 2010 to develop an automated newborn-screening solution that will combine Tecan’s Freedom EVO liquid handling platform and HydroFlex washer with Luminex’s xMAP technology and LX 200 instrument.

Effective January 1, Frederic Vanderhaegen, previously head of Tecan’s Detection business unit, took over the Life Sciences Business. Dr. Bernhard Grob, who joined the company in November 2010, was appointed head of the Partnering Business (OEM business). He replaces Matthew Robin, who left the company.

Tecan and Covaris announced in November 2010 that they will copromote the Freedom EVO liquid handling platform with integrated Adaptive Focused Acoustics for sample preparation, compound management and next-generation sequencing applications.

Under a licensing and collaboration agreement announced in October 2010, Hamilton Robotics and GE Healthcare will develop a fully automated workflow for sample handling and processing for GE Healthcare’s FTA substrates for dried samples.

Hamilton Robotics signed a government services partnership agreement with Technical Communities in December 2010.

Paraytec named Distek the US distributor of its ActiPix SDI300 system for surface dissolution imaging.

On January 1, Sias AG appointed COO Andre Günter as CEO. He replaces Pius Fink, who remains CTO.

For the fiscal year ending September 30, 2010, CyBio sales fell 30.5% to €11.4 million ($15.4 million). EBIT rose to €1.1 million ($1.5 million) from a loss of €0.5 million ($0.6 million). Instrument sales fell 10% to account for 35% of revenues. Sales of consumables for pipettes increased to make up 25% of revenues. Service and automation project revenues represented 24% and 16%, respectively.

Product Introductions

AssayMetrics introduced the Fluospec FL Fluorescence Lifetime plate reader, which is optimized for the company’s Puretime reagents.

Redd & Whyte launched the Preddator S1 single-channel microplate dispenser, which dispenses cells, beads, biochemical reagents, surfactants and oils from 20 nL in 20 nL increments.

Aurora Biomed released the VERSA Next Generation Library Prep workstation for next-generation sequencing (NGS) sample preparation.

IntegenX launched the Apollo 324 System, a workstation that automates construction of DNA fragment libraries for NGS. It features the BeadX In-Tip magnetic bead–capture system and PrepX reagent kits.

Agilent launched the 708-DS Dissolution Apparatus, featuring a new design that minimizes variability and is available in a manual or various automated models.