Thermo Electron Corporation Presents New Laboratory Automation Solutions, Demonstrates Focus on Proteomics
SAN JOSE, Calif., Feb. 4 — Thermo Electron Corporation today introduced several new laboratory technologies designed to further automate laboratories, resulting in higher throughput, efficiency and accuracy for today’s scientist. These solutions were unveiled at the LabAutomation meeting in San Jose, California on February 1.
One of these solutions, a patented technology for protein purification, is a result of a new collaboration between Thermo Electron and Dynal Biotech called Dynabeads(R) TALON(TM) automated on Thermo’s KingFisher platform. Using biomagnetic technology for proteomic research, this system increases the amount of samples that can be processed per day to over 1000 by isolating pure histidine-tagged proteins faster. Working with KingFisher magnetic particle processors, the Dynabeads purify 96 samples in 30 minutes. The purified recombinant proteins can then be used by scientists in the next steps of their drug and biomarker discovery efforts.
“In addition to our proteomics-collaboration with Dynal Biotech, we’re committed to expanding our automated lab solutions based on our deep knowledge of customer needs and the given breadth of our company’s capabilities,” said Marc Casper, president, Thermo Electron Life and Laboratory Sciences.
Among the technologies Thermo Electron is showcasing at LabAutomation are:
Version 2.1 of POLARA(TM) integration software: Powering automated workstations, including the CRS Mini DM and CataLyst(TM) Express. The POLARA software incorporates existing features, such as the renowned “smart” error recovery, with many new additional features, including run-extension and run-stop-resume. POLARA ensures higher throughput, promotes greater process control by the user, allows reliable recovery from unanticipated interruptions, calculates down time, and recalculates incubation times.
Ambi-Store R Automated Ambient Carousel: High-speed automated carousel and plate mover for higher throughput. Ambi-Store R is fully compatible with Thermo’s Steri-Cult R(R) CO2 Incubator and provides more total storage than equivalent carousels available on the market. Ambi-Store R joins the Steri-Cult R Automated CO2 Incubator in Thermo’s growing line of automated
controlled environment equipment.
Thermo Multiskan(R) Spectrum microplate spectrophotometer: A highly flexible microplate spectrophotometer used in life science and drug discovery applications, that is fully compatible with CRS POLARA, Thermo’s open architecture laboratory automation software. Customers can now integrate the Multiskan Spectrum with Thermo CRS Dimension4(TM) High Speed Distributed
Motion movers to provide fully automated lab systems with throughputs of up to 1,000 plates per day. Multiskan Spectrum is designed for easy access by automated plate handlers, supporting both portrait and landscape gripping of the plate. The Multiskan Spectrum’s compatibility with CRS POLARA software allows it to join the already expansive library of Thermo’s microplate instruments that are fully compatible with automated systems.
Steri-Cult(R) R Automated CO2 Incubator: Automated incubator combining best-in-class capacity at 196 plates, market leading contamination control, and easy integration with other systems. The stable, uniform chamber is ideal for ADME/Tox absorption assays, such as Caco2, other cell-based assays, and general automation-compatible incubation applications. Steri-Cult R combines the quality and reliability of the leading critical tissue culture incubator with innovative automated storage and access capabilities. It is the only automated incubator on the market with airborne and waterborne contamination control, including a contamination-resistant external humidification system.
“Our customers are demanding not only automated technology, but reliable, fast and user-friendly solutions that will easily integrate with their existing system, growing with the lab as their needs change,” continued Casper. “Thermo delivers automated, end-to-end laboratory solutions and services that will improve drug discovery and validation processes.”
Thermo Electron was recently named Life Sciences Instrument Company of the Year by Frost & Sullivan. Thermo was selected because of their ability to provide total solutions to customers, from outfitting an entire lab with equipment to prepare and analyze samples, to software that manages all the data.
A world leader in high-tech instruments, Thermo Electron Corporation helps life science, laboratory, and industrial customers advance scientific knowledge, enable drug discovery, improve manufacturing processes, and protect people and the environment with instruments, scientific equipment, and integrated software solutions. Based in Waltham, Massachusetts, Thermo Electron has revenues of more than $2 billion, and employs approximately 11,000 people in 30 countries worldwide. For more information, visit www.thermo.com.
The following constitutes a “Safe Harbor” statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements are set forth under the heading “Forward-Looking Statements” in the company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended September 27, 2003. These include risks and uncertainties relating to: the need to develop new products and adapt to significant technological change, dependence on customers that operate in cyclical industries, general worldwide economic slowdown and relateduncertainties, the effect of changes in governmental regulations, dependence on customers’ capital spending policies and government funding policies, use and protection of intellectual property, retention of contingent liabilities from businesses we sold, integration and consolidation of instrument businesses, realization of potential future savings from new sourcing
initiatives, implementation of new branding strategy, implementation of strategies for improving internal growth, the effect of exchange rate fluctuations on international operations, and potential impairment of goodwill. We undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.
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Lori Gorski J. Timothy Corcoran
Phone: 781-622-1242 Phone: 781-622-1111
E-mail: lori.gorski@thermo.com E-mail: tim.corcoran@thermo.com
Website: http://www.thermo.com
