MilliporeSigma, the US and Canada Life Science business of Germany-based Merck, and Opentrons Labworks have partnered to automate assay kits.
The multi-year agreement focuses on using a custom Opentrons Flex workstation for efficient lab automation.
Opentrons Labworks is a life science company providing lab automation and accessible robotics solutions.
Scientists and engineers will create and test workflows using Merck’s broad offering of automation-enabled assays.
The collaboration aims to boost consistency and throughput by reducing manual processing tasks with a user-friendly robotic system.
Opentrons CEO Jonathan Brennan-Badal said: “Part of our commitment to making lab automation as accessible as possible is finding partners who share a similar vision.
“The Life Science business of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany is a proven leader in terms of the breadth and quality of products they offer for pharmaceutical development and manufacturing, and we’re excited to combine that with our ability to provide world-class automation, service and support.”
Customers can order workstations and assay kits starting in mid-2025.
The platform will support workflows in protein sample preparation, and molecular, cell, biochemical and chemistry workflows launching throughout the length of the agreement.
Opentrons’ automation expertise will be combined with Merck’s research and development (R&D), supply chain, and quality systems, to deliver reliable products to streamline research from sample prep to analysis.
Applications include immunodetection, protein research, enzyme technology, genome editing, omics research, pharmaceutical development, service and testing, and cell culture.
This complements Merck’s biology innovations, like the Millicell DCI Digital Cell Imager, which accelerates cell culture analysis with an intuitive interface.
It also reinforces the company’s commitment to next-generation biology solutions, including its recent acquisition of HUB Organoids.
MilliporeSigma Science & Lab Solutions head Jean-Charles Wirth said: “Our customers are prioritising tools and technologies that improve reproducibility and productivity, allowing them to focus on more complex tasks that take their science further, faster.
“Our partnership with Opentrons reinforces our focus to automate and digitalise the lab – supporting scientists at all stages with tools that can increase efficiency, safety, and success rates of delivering new potential therapeutics.”
