The firefly features novel dispensing technology to minimize pipette tip use. It uses air-displacement pipetting in the 0.5 to 125 μL range, accommodating a variety of 96- or 384-well-plate formats. The instrument is application-ready, with prevalidated protocols for library preparation kits NEBNext Ultra II DNA, NEBNext Ultra II FS DNA, NEBNext Ultra II RNA, and Illumina DNA Prep. In addition, there is a rolling program of new validated protocols in development, according to SPT Labtech. Furthermore, automated tip loading streamlines time-consuming processes, and flexible column loading makes it easier for researchers to manage partial plates or partitioning of plates.

"We've made the software really intuitive and easy to use. It's a really nice graphical user interface, drag-and-drop workflow," said Paul Lomax, genomics product manager at SPT Labtech, at the event. "So, we really want this to be something that is a walk-up-and-use instrument for anyone in the lab."

SPT Labtech's new apricot DC1 is a compact and accessible automated pipettor featuring a dual-core pipetting head and a 9 + 1 position deck. The apricot DC1 integrates four separate pipetting tools within a single benchtop unit to allow for high-volume and low-volume, single- and multichannel pipetting. The instrument is compatible with a wide range of labware to support many different applications.

In October 2021, the company rolled out a combined portfolio of products incorporating product lines from its 2021 strategic acquisitions of Apricot Designs, a liquid handling instrumentation provider, and BioMicroLab, a specialist in benchtop automation.

The SPT Labtech team debuted the company's combined product offering for the first time at SLAS 2022, including the dragonfly, multichannel, noncontact dispensing-from-positive displacement syringes, and the mosquito, a positive-displacement pipetting solution.

Do you have a unique perspective on your research related to automation? Contact the editor today to learn more.

Hamilton and Artel collaborate
Hamilton and Artel's nearly complete collaboration has resulted in a packaged solution to standardize performance validation of Hamilton's automated liquid...

Novel genetic analyzer advances capabilities of Sanger sequencing
Capillary electrophoresis, which enables Sanger sequencing and fragment analysis, is an important tool for improving clinical research and advancing scientific...

Applied Cells unveils GMP-ready MARS bar system
Applied Cells unveiled its multiphysics automated reconfigurable separation (MARS) good manufacturing practices (GMP)-ready bar system at the Society...