Thermo Fisher Scientific Presents Extensive Laboratory Automation Offering at LabAutomation 2008

Thermo Fisher Scientific, the world leader in serving science, today announced that it will showcase several new automation products and technologies at this year's LabAutomation in Palm Springs, CA. The company will demonstrate a range of software and instrumentation to further improve workflow efficiency, experimental repeatability and data reproducibility within the automated laboratory. The new introductions further expand the Thermo Fisher Scientific range of automated technologies for the drug discovery market and address the demand for increased throughput and operational flexibility. Thermo Fisher Scientific continues to demonstrate its position as market leader and key innovator in laboratory automation.

Introducing Sophisticated Laboratory Automation Workflow Software
Thermo Fisher Scientific will showcase its new and revolutionary Thermo Scientific Momentum™ automation workflow software for laboratory applications. As an intelligent solution, the software enables the management of multiple islands of automation and workflows via real-time, data-driven decision-making, eliminating the need for customized data handling. Its open topology editor allows users to specify the design, configuration and operation of their individual system and plug-in different schedulers to support a broad range of processes and workflows.

Innovative Automation and Robotics
Another highlight at this year’s booth is the new Thermo Scientific KingFisher Flex® for the automated separation and purification of DNA/RNA, protein and cells. With an expanded sample volume range up to 5 ml, the Thermo Scientific KingFisher Flex increases yield by five times, requires minimum hands-on time and offers the highest purification capacity with excellent reproducibility.

Thermo Fisher Scientific will also display the following automation and robotics technologies at its booth:

• The Thermo Scientific CataLyst Express robotic arm, which seamlessly integrates with the Thermo Scientific Matrix line of automated liquid handlers, and can change both labware and Thermo Scientific Matrix D.A.R.T.s® (Disposable Automation Research Tips) tips. Furthermore, automated liquid handling applications are completely “walk-away,” creating a solution that increases throughput and operational efficiency.
• Thermo Scientific Nautilus LIMS™, a purpose-built LIMS solution that addresses the unique needs of drug discovery researchers. It offers off-the-shelf functionality and a flexible framework. Nautilus LIMS 8.0 provides users with functionality built on proven technologies such as Microsoft® .NET, and it features an enhanced user interface for ease of use. Advanced Plate Handling increases throughput and automation, and the new Data Manager module has been designed for efficient instrument integration, data management and collection, allowing the capture, storage and viewing of derived and raw data within the LIMS.
• BioRobotix™, Molecular BioProducts, Inc. (MBP), part of Thermo Fisher Scientific, will show the new BioRobotix™ 384-well extended length 50ul pipette tips for the Biomek FX/NX and Multimek AP384 workstations. Using a single pipette tip, researchers can now pipette into 384 and 1536 shallow or deep-well plates with better access to well bottoms, thus increasing volume and throughput for screening applications. Like all BioRobotix products, the 384XL pipette tips, trays and tray lids are specifically designed to reduce static charges so tips pick up straight and eject perfectly each time.

Application-based Solutions
Thermo Fisher Scientific will also feature products from the Nunc Brand at LabAutomation. Products include the Nunc LiveCell Array™, the first slide-based high content analysis tool that enables multiplex, real-time cellular assays on thousands of individual living cells; adhering and non-adhering within hetero¬geneous popu¬lations. The disposable, sterile microscope slides have an embedded transparent array of picowells that allow multiple functional assays without cell displacement during staining, rinsing and perfusion.

For more information, please visit the Thermo Fisher Scientific booth #405 at LabAutomation 2008, or visit the article webpage.

Thermo Scientific is part of Thermo Fisher Scientific, the world leader in serving science.