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Opentrons’ Flex Prep robotic can carry out pipetting duties akin to pattern reformatting, plate prep, dilutions, focus normalization, cherry-picking, and extra. | Supply: Opentrons
Opentrons Labworks, Inc. launched its Flex Prep robotic this week. It’s paired with new no-code software program that permits customers to arrange pipetting duties and execute that workflow all via a touchscreen. The corporate stated this launch will increase its market attain by empowering scientists with no prior laboratory robotics expertise to include automated pipetting into their workflows.
With Flex Prep, Opentron goals to mix the simplicity of a pipette with the ability and flexibility of a liquid handler. This allows it to supply scientists with each ease of use and enhanced functionality. With the touchscreen software program, customers can develop, visualize, and run pipetting duties in as little as a minute, the corporate says.
Flex Prep allows customers to regulate primary pipetting duties, like these at the moment carried out with multi-channel or digital pipettes, whereas additionally providing the flexibleness to execute extra advanced protocols when wanted. The corporate touts duties akin to pattern reformatting, plate prep, dilutions, focus normalization, cherry selecting and extra, with all kinds of tube and plate sorts supported.
“Robotic liquid dealing with doesn’t need to be sophisticated or require particular know-how,” stated James Atwood, GM of robotics at Opentrons. “With the Flex Prep and its no-code software program, we’re enabling researchers to delegate repetitive pipetting duties to our robots, in only a minute or two with no particular coaching wanted. It’s so simple as asking, ‘What pipetting duties would you delegate to your Flex Prep?’”
“For scientists who’ve but to undertake automation, these new capabilities supply a compelling purpose to rethink,” Jonathan Brennan-Badal, CEO of Opentrons, stated. “Our Flex Prep just isn’t solely a cheap entry level but in addition a wise funding for labs seeking to scale up their automation with a system that evolves with their wants.”
The worldwide lab automation market measurement was estimated at $6.87 billion in 2022 and is predicted to develop at a compound annual progress price (CAGR) of 6.64% from 2023 to 2030, in keeping with Grand View Analysis. A few of the key elements driving progress available in the market embody an increase within the hole between the supply of educated laboratory personnel and the demand for laboratory procedures and excessive reproducibility and accuracy obtained via lab automation.