33 LIMS & Lab Automation
Automated plate seal remover streamlines laboratory workfl ows
Removing seals from microplates may sound simple, but in high-throughput labs it’s one of those repetitive jobs that quietly eats away at time and patience. The Automated Plate Seal Remover from Azenta Life Sciences turns that task into a quick, push-button process - peeling away seals cleanly, without damaging plates or compromising samples.
In laboratories handling hundreds of plates a day, manual unsealing can easily become a bottleneck, even in facilities equipped with automated liquid handlers and robotic storage systems. This compact, hands-free device streamlines sample access, helping protect sample integrity by reducing bench exposure and the risk of cross-contamination.
Rather than relying on complex mechanical parts, the system uses a patented de-sealing tape that adheres to and gently lifts seals away in one smooth motion. Each plate is held firmly in place as it passes beneath a fresh section of tape,
ensuring consistent, reliable results - even with difficult-to-remove seals.
Capable of processing up to 200 plates per hour, the Automated Plate Seal Remover boosts throughput and frees up valuable researcher time. It can operate as a standalone unit or integrate seamlessly into robotic workflows for true walk-away performance, delivering smoother, cleaner and more efficient lab operations.
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ilmt.co/PL/XWBV 65992pr@reply-direct.com AI-driven DMTA cycles transform pharmaceutical R&D
ACD/Labs has released a new two-part white paper series exploring how AI-enabled design-make-test-analyse (DMTA) cycles are reshaping pharmaceutical and biotech research. By integrating AI with laboratory experiments and digital workflows, organisations can overcome fragmented processes, reduce manual data handling, and accelerate decision-making across drug discovery and development.
The first paper focuses on drug discovery, highlighting how digital twins and AI can streamline lead optimisation, reduce the burden of manual synthesis design, and improve experimental decision-making. By unifying design, synthesis, testing, and analysis into a single digital-physical cycle, researchers can identify viable clinical candidates faster while maintaining scientific rigour.
The second paper examines pharmaceutical development, with a focus on Chemistry, Manufacturing, and Controls (CMC). AI-augmented DMTA cycles support quality by design principles, enable iterative optimisation through design of experiments and Bayesian approaches, and improve reproducibility in drug substance and product formulation. By creating structured, machine- readable data from experiments, organisations can enhance regulatory readiness and shorten development timelines.
“The scientific method is being redefined,” said Andrew Anderson, Vice President of Innovation and Informatics Strategy at ACD/ Labs. “Even organisations that have embraced digitalisation often operate in fragmented environments that rely on manual data transfer. AI-digital-physical DMTA cycles give researchers more control, reduce errors, and accelerate the path from insight to clinical application.”
The series showcases best practices from leading R&D organisations, emphasising how automation, informatics, and AI can unlock faster, more cost-effective innovation. By digitalising the physical DMTA cycle, pharmaceutical scientists can work more efficiently, collaborate seamlessly, and focus on higher-value scientific questions.
The white paper series, AI-Digital-Physical Convergence: The Future of DMTA in Drug Discovery and Development, is available for download.
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ilmt.co/PL/BZYk 66046pr@reply-direct.com
65954pr@reply-direct.com
Retsch has unveiled a new generation of air jet sieving technology with the AS 200 jet pro and AS 200 jet pharma systems, alongside the EasySieve pro and EasySieve pharma evaluation software. Introduced on 6 October 2025, these innovations mark a major step toward fully digitised, automated sieve analysis for research and quality control laboratories.
The AS 200 jet pro and GMP-compliant AS 200 jet pharma combine advanced air jet sieving with a patented integrated balance, allowing sieving, weighing, and analysis within one compact unit. Controlled via a 10-inch touchscreen, the onboard software guides users through each step, ensuring reproducible results. A Weighing Assistant recommends optimal sieve loads and monitors tolerance levels, while additional tools support process monitoring and reduce the risk of error.
The AS 200 jet pharma meets all GMP requirements, featuring user management, e-signatures, and full audit trails for data integrity. Both models include LAN and USB connectivity for seamless data transfer and integration. “With the AS 200 jet pro and jet pharma, we’ve digitised and automated the sieving process,” said Retsch Managing Director Dr Jürgen Pankratz. “The combination of air jet sieving and integrated weighing reduces error and optimises productivity.”
The EasySieve pro and pharma software can also be used as stand-alone evaluation tools, enabling laboratories to upgrade existing instruments with digital analysis and compliance functionality. To celebrate the launch, Retsch is giving away two AS 200 jet pharma systems, with full details available on the company’s website.
More information online:
ilmt.co/PL/VGmn and
ilmt.co/PL/qB4l
All-in-one air jet sieving systems simplify laboratory workfl ows
Automated synthesiser streamlines peptide production
Vapourtec has unveiled the Peptide-Builder, a fully automated, high-throughput benchtop synthesiser designed to transform solid-phase peptide synthesis (SPPS). Compact and intuitive, it streamlines workflows while cutting costs and waste.
At the heart of the system is Vapourtec’s Variable Bed Flow Reactor (VBFR) technology, which increases efficiency, reduces solvent and reagent consumption, and delivers high-purity, high-yield peptides.
Developed in collaboration with peptide chemists, Peptide-Builder is the smallest high-throughput system of its kind, producing more peptides per square metre than any other platform. It supports flexible scales from 0.05 to 1 mmol and is compatible with widely used resins.
Operating sequentially, it can synthesise a GLP-1 analogue in under four hours, or up to sixteen analogues unattended over a weekend. User-friendly software - created with input from a major pharma partner - allows scientists to simply enter a sequence, press ‘start’ and walk away.
The system requires fewer than three equivalents of amino acid and handles both linear and branched peptides, including automated side-chain addition. Each run generates a detailed report that tracks aggregation events and Fmoc deprotection, offering valuable insights for tackling challenging syntheses.
Dr Manuel Nuño commented: “VBFR technology is a true game-changer, boosting efficiency, streamlining workflows, providing unique in-process data, and reducing space requirements without compromising performance.”
More information online:
ilmt.co/PL/Nwbl 65698pr@reply-direct.com
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