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® 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® 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 was developed around the application-specific needs of laboratories. The Fluent solutions that have already been introduced address the need for automation in the rapidly growing cell biology market, compound management and genomics.

At the beginning of 2015, Spark® 10M marked the introduction of a new generation of the reader platform to the second main product line – detection instruments. The Spark® 10M multimode microplate reader is designed to offer greater flexibility and increased productivity for cell biology and genomics customers. The all-new platform delivers a combination of exceptional capabilities and ease of use to simplify routine laboratory tasks. At the heart of the Spark 10M is a unique optics module that ensures that laboratories no longer have to make a trade-off between flexibility and sensitivity. Integrated capabilities for cell counting and incubation simplify cell biology protocols, while ultra-fast scanning – in under five seconds – allows for rapid application analysis in the field of genomics. Tecan has introduced a number of new exciting features during the year for the Spark 10M.

At the beginning of 2016, Tecan has launched the new Spark 20M multimode microplate reader which offers solutions to suit virtually any drug discovery or advanced research application. The unique Fusion Optics, enables unparalleled sensitivity, speed and flexibility. Options include the newly developed Te-Cool™ cooling module that uniquely allows the measurement chamber temperature to be set below the ambient room temperature for more accurate and reliable results. The Spark 20M’s cell handling capabilities have also been extended, with a new automated cell imaging and confluence measurement feature. This allows incubation and monitoring of cell culture microplates within the measurement chamber.

Modern laboratory automation increases sample throughput in a laboratory, minimizes human error, enhances precision, delivers reproducible test results, documents these results and thus improves productivity as a whole in the laboratory. The currently available solutions are technically able to automate most highly complex processes; however, they are often complicated to use, meaning usage is limited to a small expert group within the laboratory. User-friendliness is therefore one of the most important benefits for customers, in addition to existing technical differences in the precision and reliability of the system. Tecan is renowned for its user-friendly solutions and has increased its focus on this area. 

Automation solutions have already been introduced that, for example, fully automate sample preparation for gene sequencing (next-generation sequencing) and mass spectrometry. Both areas are among the fastest-growing applications in life-science research.

Many countries are currently investing considerable amounts in healthcare and life science research. Tecan is focusing in particular on expanding its business in China, which is now the world’s fourth largest healthcare market, although its spending per capita is still only a fraction of that in many western industrialized countries. Continuing economic growth combined with rising spending per capita make this an extremely attractive market. Tecan has been active in China for a number of years, and since 2008 through an own subsidiary. In recent years, average sales have grown markedly. Tecan is, for example, the market leader in liquid handling platforms for the largest hospitals (class 3). The laboratories use Tecan platforms to test blood samples for infectious diseases, for instance. The number of the largest hospitals is constantly growing, along with patient numbers and utilization. The corresponding rise in diagnostic test volumes is increasing the need for efficient automation. 

Large investments are also being made in laboratory infrastructure in the area of academic research. According to estimates, government funding already accounts for half of the budget of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in the US. It is assumed that government funding in China will exceed that in the US by as early as 2020.

In order to exploit the various end markets in China, Tecan is continuing to invest heavily in expanding its marketing and service organization. A larger direct market presence should lead to a further considerable increase in sales in China in the coming years. 

Tecan is aiming to build up further pillars in the instrument market for life science research. This applies in particular to areas beyond conventional, open and flexible robotics solutions for liquid handling and microplate readers. There are plenty of opportunities here, especially in dedicated instruments for sample preparation. In adjacent markets, Tecan sees opportunities to extend its traditional core business so as to grow faster than the overall markets for life science research instruments. This potential can be accessed both organically and through acquisitions.

The third vector focuses on expanding recurring revenues in Tecan’s two main markets, life science research and in-vitro diagnostics. The Company wants to supply reagents and consumables for both markets so as to be able to offer fully integrated solutions.

IBL International is a leading Company in the field of microtiter plate-based immunoassays, with one of the widest ranges of tests for specialty diagnostics to be used in research and clinical laboratories. Tecan has a long tradition when it comes to immunoassay instruments for clinical diagnostics. Microtiter plate-based immunoassays are a growing market with a large and increasing number of tests for medical specialities, a market segment generally outside the scope of large in-vitro diagnostic companies and therefore outside the focus of Tecan’s typical Partnering Business customers.

The product portfolio comprises enzyme radio and luminescence immunoassays for research and clinical laboratories, including a large selection of specialty assays for endocrinology (hormone measurement), neurodegeneration (e.g. Alzheimer’s disease), neonatal screening and assessing steroid hormones in saliva.

Although the number of different specialized tests is large andgrowing, only a smaller number of each single test is processed by laboratories each day (high mix/low volume). New tests for such medical specialities are usually developed using proven immunodiagnostic technologies and first introduced in a microtiter plate format. In this growing segment, there is an increasing need for an integrated instrument and reagent offering. End-users would greatly benefit from less complex, user-friendly automation with lower throughput and which is pre-configured with certain reagents. 

Automated microtiter plate processing of immunoassays is a traditional stronghold of Tecan in the in-vitro diagnostics market. Tecan can now leverage its automation expertise and leading position within the immunoassay market for open instrumentation platforms and, in future, combine dedicated instruments with one of the widest ranges of immunoassays for specialty diagnostics.