RTS unveils compound storage unit
launch SmaRTStore, an automated sample management system designed
for customers that do not have the large-scale requirements, or
budget, of the big pharmaceutical companies, writes Wai Lang
Chu.
SmaRTStore, which is to be launched at the Society for Biomolecular Screening (SBS) in Orlando in September, intends to target the smaller storage market, in anticipation of an expected growth in automated satellite storage. The technology promises more storage density, speed and modularity for the small storage sector.
Automated satellite storage combines the resources of a larger storage unit, scaled down to a much smaller scale. These storage units interface with a central, main unit where they can get access to sample information and updates.
The high storage density in the SmaRTStore unit allows the mixing and matching of tubes, plates and vials. SmaRTStore stores its contents in such a way that the robot technology used to select the compounds can access it easily without interfering with delicate samples.
Alan Wyatt, business group manager of RTS Life Science said: "SmaRTStore will draw on RTS robotic and software expertise to provide a local storage unit to complement the larger systems we currently offer."
Sarah Cockburn-Price, public relations officer for RTS said: "The scheduling software is based on a technology that can schedule, order, and monitor samples. As far as we know, RTS is the only company that has this technology. The software is upgradeable when needed."
SmaRTStore will not only have the ability of a single automated repository, but also more storage, speed and modularity than other products currently available, claims the company. An additional advantage is that several SmaRTStores can be linked together to provide the capacity and functionality of a larger, advanced model.
Cockburn-Price added: "The research criteria was based on what we saw as a gap in the market. That is the need of a small, affordable multiformat storage device that does the work identical to those in big pharma companies but is suitable for universities and small research labs."
The Manchester-based company is best known for large-scale compound storage and laboratory automation projects. It believes that the current biotechnology explosion and the trend for large pharmaceutical companies to develop their drug discovery efforts across multiple research sites will drive the take-up of the new system.
