Microbial colony pickers have remained relatively unchanged for many years, relying on traditional algorithms to identify colonies and plan movements. With the latest innovation from the team at Singer Instruments, a new standard for speed and repeatability has been achieved through the integration of cutting edge AI technologies.
Previous versions of this colony picking technology has already saved a total of more than 38 years of scientists’ time since its original inception back in 2017. Now, with a verified picking speed of 3,000+ colonies per hour at 99.8% accuracy, it is set to enable even more major advances in phage therapy, cancer research, climate change, and antimicrobial resistance, to name just a few.
“Going from one picking head to six was just the beginning. By combining this with a powerful new AI detection system, we’ve created a leap in speed and efficiency not seen in this market for nearly a decade,” said Harry Singer, CEO of Singer Instruments.
David vs Goliath
As a small, family-owned company based in rural Somerset, UK, challenging some of the world’s largest scientific instrument conglomerates is no small feat.
“We’re competing against multibillion dollar budgets in a market renowned for mergers and acquisitions,” said Jack Boyles, Sales and Marketing Director at Singer Instruments.
“Our team of scientists and engineers have been working relentlessly to bring this breakthrough to market, and we’re confident we now have a solution for our customers that simply can’t be beaten.”
Picked for style
“Laboratory instruments don’t have to look boring. Scientists spend a lot of time around these machines, often in rooms with no windows or plants. We decided long ago that we didn’t have to follow the norm when it came to instrument design,” commented Singer.
The instrument’s distinctive finish is intended to evoke a sense of freedom and creativity, reflecting its technical capability and flexibility. This is matched by its ability to pick an exceptionally wide range of microorganisms, enabled by the innovative PickupLineTM— a filament with excellent adhesion across bacteria, fungi, and even bacteriophages.
Availability and demonstrations
PIXL Max is now available to order globally. Interested researchers and institutions are invited to register their interest via the Singer Instruments website.
Singer Instruments designs and builds world-leading laboratory robotics for microbiology and life-science research.
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