Männedorf, Switzerland, June 24, 2014 - The Tecan Group (SIX Swiss Exchange: TECN) today announced the launch of the Fluent(TM) laboratory automation family as the latest addition to its extensive liquid handling portfolio. Fluent is a unique automation concept built around the application-specific needs of laboratories, delivering more capacity and increased speed. With an initial focus on the complete automation of cell-based and biochemical assay workflows, the new systems bring together all the modules and devices required for these assays in a simple, productive and easy-to-use platform.
Tecan CEO David Martyr commented: "We are excited to launch the Fluent laboratory automation solutions with three new instruments to complement our leading Freedom EVO product family and extend our product portfolio. Fluent has been a major development program for Tecan and the launch of the first wave of products underpins our leading brand in laboratory automation that stands for quality, reliability and innovation.
Fluent reflects the increasingly application-focused nature of the life sciences market, as scientists look to partner with equipment manufacturers that can provide this type of high quality and user-friendly technical solution, backed by knowledgeable and responsive application support. Our first Fluent solutions are designed to meet the needs of the strongly growing cell biology market and our test sites and assay partners have been impressed by its speed and capabilities."
Simplicity - Productivity - Confidence
Fluent provides high precision, superior throughput and extended walkaway time - making it easier to get more done, more confidently. Completely new from the ground up, it is available in three sizes - offering deck capacities from 30 to 72 microplates - to suit the throughput requirements of almost any laboratory.
The Fluent solution for cell-based assays is designed to take the complexity out of cell biology research, simplify day-to-day tasks and increase both throughput and reliability. High definition liquid handling ensures precision and accuracy over a wide dynamic range, from sub-microliter to milliliter volumes. Patented Adaptive Signal Technology(TM) precisely detects even small volumes enabling accurate monitoring of liquid, allowing for the use of smaller reagent and sample volumes for significant cost savings. The patented Dynamic Deck(TM) uses a modular, multilevel design to offer exceptional deck capacity, allowing flexible integration of all the complementary devices required for cell-based research - including incubators, washers and readers - into a single, fully automated system.
Liquid handling and labware logistics have never been easier, thanks to the instrument`s three, task-specific arms which operate simultaneously to ensure timely completion of assays, minimizing the time cells spend outside of the incubator. Perfect coordination of the robotic arms is achieved by the platform`s Path Finder(TM) move optimization technology, which continuously adapts to the changing topography of the workdeck, avoiding the need for laborious programming of individual arm movements, helping to accelerate both set-up and routine system use.
The platform`s intuitive FluentControl(TM) software and built-in touchscreen interface simplify day-to-day activities by guiding scientists through routine set-up and operation of the system for consistent, reproducible operation.
Fluent is launched together with specific application notes that were developed together with partners to generate real scientific data and provide a proof of concept for a selection of commonly-used cell-based assays.