ABB Robotics
ABB demonstrated its GoFa cobot arms performing laboratory tasks in collaboration with METTLER TOLEDO and Agilent Technologies.
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ABB Robotics
ABB demonstrated its GoFa cobot arms performing laboratory tasks in collaboration with METTLER TOLEDO and Agilent Technologies.
Industrial automation systems provider ABB Robotics recently returned for a second year to the 2025 Society for Laboratory Automation and Screening (SLAS) International Conference & Exhibition, held January 25-29 in San Diego, Calif.
ABB collaborated with METTLER TOLEDO and Agilent Technologies to demonstrate two robotic automation systems and hold a roundtable discussion to explore the challenges laboratories face and how robotics can help.
“The need for increased efficiency, enhanced precision, reduced human error, and the ability to handle high-throughput workflows is prompting more organizations to consider automated laboratory solutions,” said Jose-Manuel Collados, ABB Robotics manager for product line service robotics. "We’re delighted to have the opportunity to demonstrate at SLAS how the latest advances in ABB’s collaborative robotics can unlock new possibilities for the ‘lab of the future.’”
ABB presented two demonstrations at its booth. The first demonstrated the automation of multiple lab workflows in collaboration with precision instruments and services provider METTLER TOLEDO.
In this demonstration, an ABB GoFa 5 kilogram (about 11 pound) robot arm interacted with METTLER TOLEDO equipment through METTLER TOLEDO’s LabX laboratory instrument management software, designed for integrated control of a fleet of instruments such as Karl Fischer titration and UV VIS spectrophotometers. The companies signed a Memorandum of Understanding in 2024 to integrate ABB robots with LabX.
The robot performed four workflows typically carried out in research & development and quality control labs. ABB said its precise cobot can perform complex, repetitive tasks, such as handling pipettes, decanting into titration cups to prepare samples for testing, and machine tending METTLER TOLEDO laboratory instruments.
In the second demo, another ABB GoFa 5 kg cobot arm prepared samples to analyze tablets using a high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) system from Agilent Technologies. The demonstration showcased the robot’s precision and reliability in tube filter HPLC preparation as well as picking and placing small tablets from a bin using machine vision technology.
The robotic system automatically loaded and unloaded different chemical powder dosing heads into a METTLER TOLEDO analytical balance, which ABB said can provide high walkaway time and flexibility in sample preparation processes.
ABB Robotics also hosted a roundtable discussion Jan. 28 titled “Robotic automation is the gateway to the Lab of the Future.” The conversation featured participants from METTLER TOLEDO and Agilent Technologies. Participants discussed automation potential in the lab using robots, and explored some of the challenges that can be addressed using robots.
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