workbench automation in drug discovery

Competition in all chemical related markets, ie pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, fine chemicals etc. has put considerable pressure on the development of new compounds.

Speed has become an important cost factor, as only the first on the market will harvest extra profits. A skilled and educated workforce for research work is becoming a limiting factor. Automation, especially the more flexible concept of aworkbench automation' helps to increase efficiency, speeds up the development process and finally keeps costs under control.

Time consuming, tedious weighing of liquid and dry compounds and reagents, has been automated with CALLI. It is used for preparation of stock solutions and entering weighed samples into library stores. REDI's high speed powder distribution capabilities have been enhanced by VARIX, a tool for distribution of variable amounts of dry materials. The PickFix technology using apick-up' fixed volume tips, allows contamination free distribution of multiple powders. This technology is opening up new dimensions in modern material science, inorganic, and catalyst chemistry.

SOPHAS, the solid and liquid phase synthesiser has found new applications in process development, catalyst synthesis and other applications with reactions requiring heating, cooling and efficient mixing.

New tools are available for many applications such as for slurry dispensing, pipetting of highly viscous reagents and distribution of dry powders. Also new software modules such as aSYMYX's Studio' for synthesis planning and Sophas-ESS for enhanced scheduling have been added. u

ENQUIRY No 60

Zinsser Analytic (UK) Ltd is based in Maidenhead, Berkshire, UK. www.zinsser-analytic.com

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