SPT Labtech, a world leader in the design and development of laboratory automation and liquid handling solutions, and the European Molecular Biology Laboratory’s Genomics Core Facility (EMBL GeneCore) today announced a partnership to power fully walk-away automated genomics workflows. As part of the collaboration, SPT Labtech’s firefly®+ all-in-one liquid handling platform was installed at EMBL GeneCore, an internationally recognized, state-of-the-art genomics service center.
Through the installation of firefly+, EMBL GeneCore will expand its ability to develop new protocols, further validate and optimize existing workflows for challenging applications such as low input and metagenomics samples, and support the broader genomics community. SPT Labtech’s firefly+ all-in-one liquid handling platform is a compact, flexible automation solution designed to simplify complex genomics workflows, combining pipetting, dispensing, incubation, and shaking techniques in one instrument.
The automated protocol uses the New England Biolabs® (NEB) library preparation kit NEBNext® to generate high-yield, high-quality libraries from a wide range of inputs. Designed with simplicity and efficiency in mind, this kit enables the development of low-bias, high-sensitivity NGS protocols while minimizing plastic waste.
When installed on the EMBL GeneCore, SPT Labtech’s firefly+ platform, combined with the simplicity of NEB® kits, creates a solid foundation for complete walk-away automation, enabling a more streamlined end-to-end workflow and allowing labs to more easily scale their automation.
Introducing SPT Labtech’s firefly+ platform as part of our collaboration underscores our commitment to remaining at the forefront of scientific innovation. Complete walk-away automation addresses key bottlenecks in genomics workflows and helps develop high-quality, scalable NGS protocols. ”
Mr. Vladimir Benes, Head of Genomics Core Facility (GeneCore), EMBL
Morten Frost, Chief Commercial Officer at SPT Labtech commented: “Our latest partnership with EMBL GeneCore marks an important step towards advancing full walk-away automation, delivering end-to-end genomics workflows for a broader range of applications, including environmental and rare species research. We are excited to expand access to the firefly+ platform in Europe through our partnership at our biotech hub in Heidelberg, where strong industry collaborations are driving ecosystem growth.”
Bjoern Textor PhD, Sales and Senior Applications Manager at New England Biolabs GmbH, added: “The integration of our library preparation kits with EMBL GeneCore’s SPT Labtech’s firefly+ platform creates an exciting opportunity to enable faster and scalable DNA and RNA-Seq workflows. We look forward to working together to develop new solutions to overcome persistent challenges in genomics research.”
