The MultiPlant M100 takes the form of a semi-automated platform which can hold up to three of ChemSpeed's MiniPlants (in total 6 reactors), each MiniPlant consisting of two individually controlled 100 mL steel or glass reactors, one 50 mL feed vessel and two pumps.
Chemspeed introduced the MiniPlant last year as part of its AutoPlant A100 Workstation, a robotic workstation that holds up to 20 MiniPlants and allows for automatic solid dispensing and liquid handling to feed the reactors or transfer their content to an external analytical system. They can use various feeding modes, including batch, semi-continuous, continuous, and power feed.
Because it can carry out up to six reactions at a time, the MultiPlant M100 should increase the productivity of process optimisation in not only process R&D but also polymer research and formulation, without the expense of installing a full AutoPlant system, claims Chemspeed.
Rolf Gueller, Chemspeed's chief executive, said that new machine was a 'first step' towards automating process optimisation and has been designed to fulfil the demand for high throughput experimentation methods, "which will drive all the developments of new compounds in the coming years."