ABB Robotics partners with XtalPi for intelligent automated laboratories

ABB Robotics and XtalPi have joined forces in a strategic alliance to develop a series of automated laboratory workstations in China. These state-of-the-art facilities are set to enhance the productivity of research and development activities in fields such as biopharmaceuticals, chemical engineering, chemistry, and new energy materials.

Jose-Manuel Collados, Manager of Service Robotics Product Line at ABB Robotics, commented on the partnership, stating: “Our collaboration with XtalPi marks another milestone for ABB’s collaborative robots in the life sciences sector. ABB Robotics and XtalPi will radically advance lab research and development through automation that works side-by-side with people. By enabling pharma and biotech companies to develop new drugs faster and with less cost, ABB is helping to further research into disease prevention, creating healthier societies.”

He also noted the significance of ABB’s new Open Innovation Lab for Life Science and Healthcare in Zhangjiang, Shanghai, complementing the work at their Life Sciences and Healthcare Lab at the Texas Medical Center Campus in Houston.

XtalPi, committed to driving intelligent and digital transformation in the life sciences and new materials in the chemicals industry, embraced automation in 2022. The AI tech company acquired over 100 GoFa cobots to create automated laboratory workstations at its Shanghai facility. This year, XtalPi launched XtalPi Intelligent Automation, focusing on aiding researchers through automation equipment. In collaboration with ABB Robotics, XtalPi is employing GoFa cobots to automate synthesis and crystallisation processes in drug and material development.

The customisable automated laboratory workstations utilise different modules for various experimental steps. ABB’s GoFa cobots handle repetitive, manual tasks and operate continuously, speeding up experimentation. The vast volumes of high-quality data generated enhance the efficiency of the Design-Make-Test-Analyse research cycle, providing a robust foundation for AI-driven science.

XtalPi’s automated workstations, powered by GoFa cobots, include preparation, diluting and filtration, reaction, UPLC testing, glovebox workstations, sample warehouses, and Automated Guided Vehicles. These facilitate faster, more efficient lab research and development.

Chenxi Zhang, Director of Automation Product Management at XtalPi, remarked: “Through partnering with ABB, we can increase efficiency in laboratories by implementing a human-robot integration model. We hope to combine XtalPi’s intelligent software system and industry experience with ABB’s expertise in robotics to bring more innovative solutions to the pharmaceutical industry.”

This venture is part of ABB Robotics’ increasing involvement in the burgeoning lab automation market, which reported revenues of $5.1 billion in 2022 and is projected to rise to $7.1 billion by 2028.

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