GlobeNewswire: 70 pipetting players

Roots Analysis said in a report released on May 18 that the automated liquid handling market now includes 70 established players offering more than 150 automated pipetting systems worldwide. The report, distributed via GlobeNewswire, said growth is being driven by air-displacement technology, disposable tips and standalone systems, alongside broader demand for laboratory automation. It also said around 60% of the systems identified provide barcode identification for tracking samples and reagents. ### Why does the number of systems matter to buyers? The count of more than 150 systems matters because it points to a fragmented supplier base rather than a market dominated by only a few large instrument makers. Roots Analysis named companies including Agilent Technologies, Beckman Coulter Life Sciences, Eppendorf, Hamilton Robotics, MyGenostics, Tecan and Thermo Fisher Scientific among the participants it tracked. (finance.yahoo.com) For procurement teams, that means the choice is no longer only between a few flagship workstations. A larger installed base usually brings more variation in deck layouts, software, tip formats and plate handling requirements, according to vendor materials and market descriptions reviewed for this article. SPT Labtech says automated pipetting platforms are being adopted across biotech and pharmaceutical laboratories for scalable workflows, while Lab Manager describes automation as a way to support precision, throughput and reproducibility. (finance.yahoo.com) ### Why are air-displacement systems and disposable tips getting attention? Air-displacement pipetting remains a core technology in automated systems because it is widely used for precise liquid transfer in microliter workflows. A recent technical review in SLAS Discovery said pipetting in that range typically relies on air, positive or liquid displacement methods. Vendor documents from Hamilton and STRATEC describe air-displacement modules that use disposable tips to reduce carry-over and contamination risk. (sptlabtech.com) Disposable tips matter commercially because they shift part of the value from the instrument sale to recurring consumables. Hamilton says its air-displacement modules use disposable tips to avoid carry-over, and STRATEC makes a similar point in describing DiTi-compatible systems. That ties instrument adoption to ongoing purchases of tips and related lab plastics rather than a one-time capital order. (sciencedirect.com) ### Why would standalone systems change consumables buying? Standalone systems are gaining attention because they can offer task-specific automation without the footprint or integration demands of larger robotic lines. Market descriptions reviewed in other industry reports list standalone systems alongside larger benchtop and multi-instrument formats, suggesting buyers are adding automation in narrower workflow steps as well as in full-platform installations. (hamiltoncompany.com) That matters for consumables because task-specific systems often come with validated accessories, recommended plastics and software-linked consumable settings. Lab Manager noted that some touchless and automated transfer technologies still depend on specialized source plates or calibration requirements, even when they reduce manual handling. In practice, that can narrow the range of interchangeable third-party items a lab is willing to qualify. (industryresearch.biz) ### Where does platform lock-in show up first? Tips, plates, reservoirs and other handling accessories are the categories most likely to become platform-specific first. Roots Analysis linked market growth to disposable tips and standalone systems, and the report’s emphasis on barcode-enabled tracking also points to tighter integration between hardware, software and sample workflows. (labmanager.com) For buyers, the immediate question is less the headline count of vendors than whether an instrument can run validated alternatives without sacrificing throughput, contamination control or traceability. The report released on May 18 is framed as a market forecast through 2035, and Roots Analysis said it includes company profiles, product benchmarking and segment-level analysis for automated pipetting systems and microplate washers. (rootsanalysis.com) (finance.yahoo.com)