Copia Scientific and HSE•AG Partner to Expand On-Deck Nucleic Acid Quantification for Laboratory Automation
Copia Scientific, a provider of laboratory automation, equipment, integration and technical service solutions, has announced a new distribution agreement with HSE•AG, a Switzerland-based developer and manufacturer of laboratory instrumentation. The partnership will expand access to HSE•AG’s laboratory measurement technologies across the United States and Canada while strengthening Copia Scientific’s portfolio of integrated automation solutions.
Under the agreement, Copia Scientific will serve as an authorized distributor of HSE•AG’s eviFluor Duo Fluorometer, eviDense UV Photometer, as well as related accessories and consumables throughout the North American market.
The collaboration is designed to address an important challenge faced by laboratories seeking to automate molecular biology and next-generation sequencing (NGS) workflows: integrating accurate sample quantification and quality-control measurements directly into automated liquid-handling processes.
By incorporating compact, on-deck measurement technologies into automated laboratory systems, the companies aim to reduce manual intervention, improve workflow continuity and enable laboratories to move more efficiently from sample preparation through measurement and downstream quality control.
The partnership will become part of Copia Scientific’s broader PlateCentric laboratory automation portfolio, providing laboratories with additional options for bringing quantitative measurements directly onto the automation deck.
Connecting Measurement With Automated Workflows
Modern laboratories increasingly rely on automation to improve throughput, consistency and reproducibility. Automated liquid handlers can perform complex sample preparation and transfer procedures with greater consistency than manual pipetting, but measurement and quality-control steps are often still performed separately.
In conventional workflows, samples may need to be removed from an automated liquid handler and transferred to a separate benchtop instrument for DNA or RNA quantification. Results may then have to be manually recorded or transferred back into laboratory software before the workflow can continue.
These additional steps can introduce delays and increase the risk of human error.
The new Copia Scientific and HSE•AG partnership is intended to help address this disconnect by bringing measurement capabilities directly into automated workflows.
Dyan Reagan, Chief Operating Officer of Copia Scientific, said the combination of HSE•AG’s measurement technologies with Copia Scientific’s automation and integration capabilities can help laboratories reduce manual intervention and create more connected workflows.
The companies believe that integrating measurement into the liquid-handling process can increase walk-away time while enabling laboratory personnel to focus on higher-value activities.
eviDense UV Photometer Brings UV Measurement Onto the Deck
One of the key products included in the distribution agreement is the eviDense UV Photometer, an on-deck measurement module designed to perform ultraviolet absorbance measurements as part of an automated liquid-handling workflow.
The system measures samples at four wavelengths and is designed to support DNA and RNA concentration measurements as well as purity assessments.
Among the measurements it can provide are the commonly used A260/A280 and A260/A230 ratios, which can help researchers evaluate nucleic acid quality following extraction and purification.
Traditional UV measurements may require samples to be manually transferred from a liquid-handling system to a separate instrument. By placing the measurement technology directly on the automation deck, the eviDense system is designed to allow measurements to occur as part of the overall automated workflow.
The instrument uses micro-cuvette technology for rapid, non-destructive measurements. Because samples can be recovered following measurement, laboratories can potentially continue using the material for subsequent processing steps.
Automating the measurement and associated data handling can also help reduce the number of manual transfers required during a workflow.
Fluorescence-Based DNA Quantification With eviFluor Duo
The second major product covered by the agreement is the eviFluor Duo Fluorometer, which provides fluorescence-based double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) quantification directly on the automation deck.
Fluorescence-based quantification can be particularly useful in molecular biology workflows where sensitive and specific DNA measurements are required.
According to HSE•AG application data, the eviFluor Duo has demonstrated suitability for automated NGS library quality-control workflows. Measurements generated using the system have shown strong agreement with a benchtop reference fluorometer, along with consistently low coefficients of variation.
The integration of a fluorometer into an automated liquid-handling platform can help eliminate another manual step that often interrupts automated sample preparation.
Instead of transferring samples to a separate instrument, measuring them and manually returning the results to the workflow, laboratories can incorporate fluorescence-based quantification directly into the automated process.
This approach may be particularly valuable in high-throughput environments where repeated sample transfers can consume significant amounts of operator time.
Supporting NGS Workflows
Next-generation sequencing is one area where integrated nucleic acid measurement can provide significant workflow benefits.
NGS library preparation often involves multiple stages in which nucleic acid concentration and quality need to be evaluated. Accurate quantification can be important for determining how samples should be normalized before subsequent sequencing steps.
Copia Scientific and HSE•AG envision their combined technologies supporting measurements at multiple stages of automated sample preparation.
For example, UV absorbance measurements can provide rapid, label-free assessments of DNA concentration and purity following extraction. Fluorescence-based measurements can then provide additional quantification capabilities for applications such as NGS library quality control.
When measurement data are incorporated directly into an automated workflow, concentration information can potentially be used to support automated normalization.
Automated normalization can reduce manual pipetting and help ensure that samples are prepared more consistently for downstream processing.
This capability can be particularly relevant for laboratories processing large numbers of samples, where manually calculating and adjusting concentrations can become a significant source of labor and potential variability.
Integration Across Multiple Automation Platforms
The distribution agreement also provides Copia Scientific with the opportunity to integrate HSE•AG technologies into broader laboratory automation systems.
Copia Scientific can incorporate the products into workflows built around Opentrons liquid handlers, NAYO A8 mini, other compatible third-party automation platforms, laboratory software and customized Copia automation solutions.
This flexibility allows laboratories to incorporate on-deck measurement into their existing automation infrastructure rather than necessarily redesigning their entire workflow.
The ability to integrate instruments from multiple manufacturers can be important for laboratories with specialized automation requirements. Different research organizations may have different liquid handlers, software environments and laboratory processes.
Copia Scientific’s integration capabilities are intended to help connect measurement devices with these systems and support the creation of customized workflows.
By combining liquid handling, measurement and software-driven automation, laboratories can move toward workflows in which data generated during a process can inform subsequent automated steps.
Moving Toward Data-Driven Automation
The partnership reflects a broader movement toward increasingly connected and data-driven laboratory automation.
Automation is no longer limited to robotic pipetting. Modern laboratory systems can incorporate instruments, sensors, software and analytical technologies into integrated workflows.
In such systems, measurement results can potentially be used to guide the next stage of an automated process.
For nucleic acid workflows, concentration and purity data can be particularly useful because sample characteristics can vary significantly from one specimen to another.
Automated measurement can provide information that enables a system to make workflow decisions based on actual sample data rather than relying solely on predetermined assumptions.
This could support greater consistency while reducing manual intervention.
The combination of HSE•AG’s measurement technologies and Copia Scientific’s automation expertise is therefore intended to help laboratories move toward more complete end-to-end automation.
Complementary Strengths
Konstantin Lutze, Chief Technology Officer of HSE•AG, described the partnership as a combination of complementary capabilities.
HSE•AG contributes its expertise in nucleic acid quantification and laboratory instrumentation, while Copia Scientific brings experience in automation, systems integration and customer support.
Together, the companies aim to provide laboratories in the United States and Canada with access to measurement technologies that can be incorporated directly into automated workflows.
The partnership may be particularly useful for research organizations seeking to increase throughput without proportionally increasing manual laboratory work.
Installation, Service and Technical Support
The agreement extends beyond product distribution. Copia Scientific will provide customers with installation services, application assistance, preventative maintenance, warranty coordination and first-line technical support for HSE•AG products sold through Copia.
Copia Scientific will also serve as the preferred service provider for HSE•AG products sold through the company within the agreed territory.
Providing local installation and service capabilities can be an important consideration for laboratories implementing new automation equipment. Successful automation depends not only on instrument performance but also on integration, workflow configuration, training and ongoing maintenance.
Through the partnership, customers will have access to a broader support structure covering both the instrumentation and its integration into laboratory workflows.
Improving Laboratory Efficiency
The companies believe that combining on-deck measurement with automated liquid handling can deliver several potential benefits.
Reducing manual sample transfers can decrease hands-on time and minimize opportunities for handling errors. Automated data capture can reduce the need for manual transcription and improve data continuity.
At the same time, integrating measurement into automated workflows can increase walk-away time, allowing laboratory personnel to work on other tasks while the automated system performs sample processing and measurement.
For laboratories managing large sample volumes, these improvements can contribute to greater operational efficiency.
The approach can also help laboratories build more connected workflows in which sample preparation, measurement, normalization and quality control occur within a single automated environment.
Expanding Access to Laboratory Automation
The Copia Scientific and HSE•AG agreement represents another step toward expanding integrated laboratory automation for molecular biology and genomic research.
As laboratories increasingly adopt automated platforms, there is growing demand for technologies that can be incorporated into the workflow rather than operating as isolated instruments.
The addition of HSE•AG’s eviFluor Duo Fluorometer and eviDense UV Photometer to Copia Scientific’s portfolio gives laboratories additional options for integrating nucleic acid measurement into automated processes.
The technologies may be particularly relevant to NGS, molecular biology and research workflows where accurate quantification and quality control are essential.
By combining measurement capabilities with liquid handling and software integration, the companies aim to reduce workflow interruptions and improve the efficiency of laboratory operations.
The new distribution agreement between Copia Scientific and HSE•AG establishes a broader commercial and service platform for on-deck nucleic acid measurement technologies in the United States and Canada.
Through the agreement, laboratories will gain access to HSE•AG’s eviDense UV Photometer, eviFluor Duo Fluorometer and associated products through Copia Scientific.
More importantly, the partnership is focused on integrating these measurement capabilities into complete laboratory automation workflows.
As research laboratories continue to pursue higher throughput, greater reproducibility and reduced manual intervention, the ability to perform quantification directly within automated processes could become increasingly valuable.
For NGS and other molecular workflows, integrating measurement into the automation deck can help connect sample preparation with quality control and downstream processing. Automated concentration data can also support normalization and other workflow decisions, potentially improving consistency across large batches.
With HSE•AG’s measurement technologies and Copia Scientific’s automation, integration and service capabilities working together, the companies are seeking to provide laboratories with a more connected approach to nucleic acid workflow management.
The partnership ultimately reflects the industry’s broader transition toward automated, data-driven laboratory environments in which instruments, software and sample-processing systems operate as integrated components rather than separate steps. By bringing quantification closer to the point of sample processing, Copia Scientific and HSE•AG aim to help laboratories improve efficiency, increase walk-away time and establish more streamlined workflows from sample preparation through quality control.
Products are not intended for use in diagnostic procedures.
About Copia Scientific
Copia Scientific provides laboratory equipment, automation, integration, service, and application solutions to life science laboratories. Through its portfolio of new and certified pre-owned laboratory equipment and its specialized service, integration, and method development capabilities, Copia helps laboratories build, optimize, and support workflows tailored to their research and operational needs. www.copiasci.com
About Hombrechtikon Systems Engineering AG (HSE•AG)
In today’s rapidly evolving life sciences landscape, HSE•AG emerges as a leader in technical consulting and engineering services, offering extensive expertise in designing and industrializing automated solutions tailored to the complex demands of molecular, protein, and cell biology analyses. HSE•AG collaborates closely with its clients to drive innovation, streamline processes, and ensure long-term success in a competitive industry.
In addition to client-specific development services, HSE•AG designs and manufactures proprietary products, resold by commercial partners, to optimize workflows in life science applications. By bridging the gap between biological-medical application expertise and engineering knowledge, HSE•AG creates automated systems optimized for use in life science research and diagnostics. www.hseag.com