Thermo Fisher Scientific, the world leader in serving science, announced new laboratory automation technologies designed to streamline workflows, optimize productivity, and speed time to results.

The new solutions are on display this week at the 2018 Society for Laboratory Automation and Screening (SLAS) conference, Booth 1105, San Diego Convention Center, California.

The new Thermo Scientific inSPIRE vertical modular robotic platform is designed to integrate multiple instruments in an easy-to-use, space-saving solution.

It provides intuitive control of all integrated systems, both online and offline, and uses the Thermo Scientific Spinnaker XT robot.

As a microplate mover with built-in vision capability, Spinnaker XT can identify potential positional issues and take corrective actions to improve sample safety without interrupting the system’s operation.

The platform operates on Thermo Scientific Momentum software, which enables users to define, execute and monitor multiple workflows through a simple yet powerful interface.

Designed to address the high throughput needs of pharmaceutical and biotechnology laboratories, the Thermo Scientific Cytomat SkyLine microplate storage and sequential delivery device can hold up to 728 microplates and/or lids in 14-stackers.

Providing rapid plate access in less than 12 seconds, its built-in plate sequencer is designed to allow for the safe separation and precise centering of labware for optimal transfer placement.

Following use, plates can be loaded back into the system and stored at ambient conditions, eliminating the need for any additional storage.

With laboratory space at a premium, an optional plate lift device enables up to 150 mm of transfer position range, allowing flexible placement of the Cytomat SkyLine in laboratory automation systems.

For researchers looking to optimize results and accelerate throughput using less time and budget as is needed to develop and program customized systems, Thermo Fisher is introducing a series of automated turnkey workflow-based solutions.

The first in a series of systems is a cell-free DNA (cfDNA) extraction device, which combines the Thermo Scientific Spinnaker robot, Thermo Scientific KingFisher Presto purification system and MagMAX Cell-Free DNA Isolation Kit with Analytik Jena’s CyBio FeliX liquid handling system.

Leveraging Thermo Fisher’s genomics expertise, this end-to-end solution is easily configurable and expandable, offering a complete sample-to-knowledge workflow for next generation sequencing (NGS), reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and capillary electrophoresis (CE) sequencing applications. 

In conjunction with industry and company experts, Thermo Fisher will also host educational tutorials to highlight the latest scientific developments, innovations and applications.