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Laboratory Automation Solutions
Improve Efficiency, Consistency and Throughput Across Your Laboratory
Laboratory automation can reduce repetitive manual tasks, improve consistency and reproducibility, increase throughput and allow skilled laboratory personnel to focus on higher-value activities.
Automation can be introduced at many points in a laboratory workflow, from sample preparation and handling through analysis, imaging, storage and data management.
Mason Technology provides laboratory automation technologies for research, pharmaceutical, biopharmaceutical, clinical, quality control and industrial laboratories across Ireland. Our specialists can help you identify opportunities to automate individual processes or develop more connected workflows using technologies from across our laboratory portfolio.
Explore Laboratory Automation Solutions
Automated Sample Preparation & Liquid Handling
Sample preparation and liquid handling are often repetitive and time-consuming stages of laboratory workflows where consistency is critical.
Automated and semi-automated technologies can reduce hands-on time, improve repeatability and support increased sample throughput across applications including:
- PCR and qPCR setup
- Nucleic acid and NGS sample preparation
- ELISA
- Cell biology and cell culture
- Plate-based workflows
- Automated pipetting and dispensing
- Analytical sample preparation
Our portfolio includes solutions from Analytik Jena and Eppendorf.
Laboratory Robotics & Integrated Automation
Laboratory robotics can automate the physical handling and movement of samples, labware and equipment, reducing manual intervention between different stages of a workflow.
Robotic technologies can automate individual repetitive tasks or connect multiple instruments and processes as part of a more integrated laboratory environment.
Applications include sample and labware handling, plate movement, instrument loading and unloading, sample sorting and automated transfer between processes.
Our portfolio includes flexible laboratory robotics and automation technologies from Brooks Automation.
For applications requiring controlled environments, Contained Air Solutions provides customised clean air and containment enclosures designed to accommodate robotic laboratory platforms.
Automated Sample Storage & Management
Growing sample collections can create challenges around capacity, manual handling, retrieval and traceability.
Automated sample storage and retrieval systems can help laboratories manage valuable sample collections efficiently while reducing manual intervention.
Our portfolio includes solutions for biological and research sample storage across a range of temperature requirements, with technologies from Azenta Life Sciences and Brooks Automation.
Automated Analytical Workflows
Automation is increasingly integrated directly into analytical instrumentation, enabling laboratories to automate processes from sample introduction and preparation through analysis and data processing.
Automated analytical workflows can help increase throughput, standardise routine processes and enable extended periods of unattended operation.
Our Shimadzu portfolio provides automation across a range of chromatography and mass spectrometry workflows, helping laboratories reduce manual intervention and improve the efficiency and consistency of routine analysis.
For clinical research laboratories, the Shimadzu CLAM system combines automated sample preparation with LC-MS analysis, reducing manual sample handling within the analytical workflow.
Automated Imaging & Inspection
Automation can reduce many of the repetitive manual processes associated with microscopy, imaging and inspection, including sample positioning, focusing, scanning, image acquisition and analysis.
Our Evident portfolio includes automated imaging technologies for life science research, materials analysis and manufacturing quality control.
For life science laboratories, automated whole-slide scanning can replace the repetitive process of manually navigating microscope slides. The Evident VS200 uses automated slide loading, stage movement and image acquisition to capture high-resolution whole-slide images that can be reviewed and analysed digitally. This supports research microscopy applications in university, research and clinical laboratory environments.
In materials laboratories, automation enables larger sample areas and multiple focal planes to be captured and combined for more comprehensive analysis. Systems such as the Evident GX53 and DSX2000 automate elements of image acquisition across the X, Y and Z axes, supporting applications including materials characterisation, surface measurement, failure analysis and manufacturing quality control.
For cleanliness inspection, the Evident CIX100 automates the process of scanning samples, capturing and stitching images, and detecting, measuring and classifying particles. This supports standardised cleanliness analysis in applications including medical device manufacturing and other industrial environments.
Laboratory Software & Connected Workflows
Laboratory automation is not limited to the physical handling of samples.
Software and instrument connectivity can automate the movement of data, standardise processes, reduce manual transcription and improve traceability across laboratory workflows.
Our portfolio includes technologies supporting:
- Analytical data management
- Instrument connectivity
- Automated data capture and transfer
- Weighing and formulation workflows
- Standardised laboratory processes
- Data integrity and traceability
Solutions include Shimadzu LabSolutions for analytical instrument data management and Mettler Toledo software supporting connected laboratory and weighing workflows.
What Can Laboratory Automation Help You Achieve?
The appropriate level of automation will depend on your laboratory, application and existing workflow.
Reduce Repetitive Manual Tasks
Automate routine processes such as pipetting, sample handling, instrument loading, imaging and data transfer.
Improve Consistency and Reproducibility
Standardise repetitive processes and reduce variation between operators, samples and laboratory runs.
Increase Throughput
Process greater sample volumes and enable appropriate workflows to operate for longer periods with less manual intervention.
Reduce Errors
Reduce manual handling and transcription steps that can introduce errors into laboratory processes.
Improve Traceability
Create more connected workflows between samples, instruments, processes and data.
Make Better Use of Skilled Personnel
Reduce the time laboratory personnel spend on repetitive tasks, allowing greater focus on scientific, analytical and decision-making activities.
Finding the Right Level of Laboratory Automation
Laboratory automation does not have to mean implementing a fully robotic laboratory.
For many organisations, the starting point is identifying a particular bottleneck, repetitive task or manual process where automation can deliver a measurable improvement.
This could mean introducing an automated liquid handling system, automating sample preparation, increasing unattended analytical operation, implementing automated sample storage or connecting instruments and data more effectively.
More complex requirements may involve integrating several technologies to reduce manual intervention across a wider workflow.
The right approach depends on factors including:
- Current workflow and process steps
- Sample volumes and throughput requirements
- Existing instrumentation
- Reproducibility requirements
- Laboratory space and infrastructure
- Data and traceability requirements
- Future capacity and workflow needs
Laboratory Automation Technology Partners
Mason Technology works with leading manufacturers providing technologies across different areas of laboratory automation.
Brooks Automation
Laboratory robotics, automated sample handling and integrated automation.
Analytik Jena
Automated liquid handling and laboratory workflow automation.
Azenta Life Sciences
Automated sample storage and sample management.
Eppendorf
Automated and semi-automated liquid handling.
Shimadzu
Automated analytical workflows, sample preparation and laboratory data management.
Evident
Automated microscopy, whole-slide imaging and inspection.
Mettler Toledo
Connected laboratory workflows, weighing automation and laboratory software.
Contained Air Solutions
Clean air and containment enclosures for laboratory robotics and automated platforms.
Discuss Your Laboratory Automation Requirements
Whether you are looking to automate a single repetitive task or investigate a more integrated laboratory workflow, our specialists can help you identify technologies appropriate to your application and requirements.