I couldn’t attend SLAS this year but I’d love to hear about the new products released, @Kalpesh mentioned a $10k 6DOF arm with Python control from Dorna Robotics which sounds really cool.
Please share your thoughts about some cool products!
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Couple things that caught my attention:
- Trisonic A1 tiny Echo prototype is now shooting liquid. Estimated 9-12 months till beta units?
- Hettich finally released their HiG competitor and its actually chilled! Supposed price is ~$60k which is cheaper than a HiG I believe
- Kunher has finally released an automated shaker MPS-Z for cell culture…but so has Thermo with the Cytomat 2 Selector. These both have the larger amplitude shaking not found in the typical shakers so they should be better for doing cell culture in larger formats like 6, 24, and 48 well.
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You know I absolutely knew heading into this SLAS that everyone was going to run toward the Trisonic to get their update. Talk about market desire and need!
I also made a special note for Hettich. Their centrifuge form factor is awesome.
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My colleagues shared with me a video of the new Hamilton magnetic linear rails for the channels. Looked real fast and precise, big upgrade for the slow old STARS.
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Does anyone have any details about the new CertusFlex? I would appreciate any info. Thanks!
I imagine that the most interesting items were revealed behind closed doors.
I took a lot of notes but these are easy to call out,
- The sustained lowering of the integration bar for XPlanar solutions.
- Festo - 'nuff said
- Tecan Veya’s interface has some major QoL improvements and Introspect is very cool
- The Opentrons Flex stacker will be nice for folks who had throughput concerns.
- Beckhoff Linux PLC and just awesome to see some of their other modules IRL.
Lots of software solutions, lots of AI solutions, but it feels like way more moats. I get it but IDK.
Maybe I’ll talk about it on BlueSky idk.
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- Up to 16 valves
- Working on adding an aspiration set of nozzles to do full wash cycles
- Slightly more compact
- Redesign the plate tray
They had also an automated valves washing device, which is not new, but may not be known to everyone.
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I didn’t go, but a coworker did. I asked two things of him, get me a shirt from Tekmatic (I don’t know, I just like those guys) and give me an update on Trisonic.
I haven’t worked with an Echo for over a decade and every time I estimate their price I say $600k-$700k and the person I’m talking to, says “no, more than that.” More than 3/4 of a million dollars for a single instrument!? We need an Echo competitor.
Sheesh. Is that the estimate for the instrument alone or for a year’s OpEx?
No, from my understanding that was just purchase price.
This is correct. Purchase price for a 600 series Echo is “more than that”. The 525 is considerably less, but less capable and still expensive. I, too, welcome a competitor in this space. It would be great to see some more active development of the technology.
My favorite product was in a corner of the Thomas Scientific booth: Pulpfixin was showing cardboard tip boxes and tube racks. If they can withstand the force of tip loading, be certified DNase/RNase free, and sterilized, I think that would be a great way to reduce plastic use. Recycling is not available here and paying extra for 3rd party recycling has been a hard sell. I would feel better about trashing degradable paper instead of plastic.
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I was curious to see the deployment of generative AI as to possible applications and had a great chat at the LabSync booth with Labora…this could be a very usefull application for end users to be able to query which devices/protocols an individual can run given the nature of what they’re trying to accomplish.
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also curious as to whether people have been looking at the lab-machines company (former Labcyte people) who both maintain and refurbish Echo units
Hello All,
Here are some of my more thoughts.
QINSTRUMENTS’ Plate Orienter: versatile instrument compatible with any liquid handling deck, simplifying pipetting for specific assays.
PHIO Scientific GmbH’s Compact Microscope: small microscope designed to fit inside any incubator, providing live imaging capabilities.
Mito Robotics’ Automated Cell Culture Instrument: compact device streamlining cell culture processes.
Sepmag’s Smart Magnetic 96-Well Plate: features real-time visualization of bead separation and strength, displayed graphically.
BlueCatBio Combi: An integrated system combining centrifuge and plate washer functionalities.
MycoFog Diffuser: an effective tool for incubator decontamination.
Volume Verification Tools by Meniscense and LIQUIMETRIX: two impressive products ensuring precise plate volume measurements.
FORMULATRIX Vertical Integration System: their inaugural vertical integration offering, promising to enhance laboratory workflows.
Also LRIG is doing a SLAS recap. Please register to listen to some great discussion
I really like Labora too. I think this can be game changer
I have a few of these in-house with and without the plastic coating. I haven’t been able to test quite yet but they seem great!
How does this work for tip boxes? Unless we are getting our newly purchased tips in these cardboard racks seems like it’s not feasible, right? Are they working with OEMs to replace the plastic racks with their cardboard ones?
We recently stopped using Polycarbin to recycle our tip boxes because it’s too expensive, definitely interested in alternatives.
I demoed the IDOT at SLAS and it seems to be a very capable Echo alternatively for ~150k
I think the only way I see it working is for the tip vendors to supply the tips in these boxes. I have already spoken to most of my tip suppliers and asked them to look into feasibility. The initial responses have been positive. I know some vendors try to be carbon neutral, and I would think this would go a long way to reaching that goal.