Power Up Your Lab With Connected Devices

Significance of the Topic

Modern analytical laboratories face growing pressure to deliver high-quality results with minimal variability, rapid turnaround and full traceability. Integrating connected devices into routine workflows addresses these challenges by enabling automated or guided operations, reducing manual errors, and ensuring consistent process documentation.

Objectives and Overview

This application note introduces an ecosystem of connected laboratory devices controlled via OneLab software. The aim is to demonstrate how intuitive method programming—combined with versatile hardware modules—enhances reproducibility and scalability from manual experiments to fully automated workflows.

Methodology

OneLab provides a graphical interface for drag-and-drop method creation, guiding users through manual and automated protocols. Devices communicate over a network to synchronize temperature control, shaking, pressure profiles and magnetic operations. Users can validate methods manually before committing to full automation, preserving traceability and compliance.

Used Instrumentation

• Microplate Shaker+ (temperature control, orbital shaking 200–3000 rpm)
• Tube Shaker+ variants with adaptors for 16×90 mm, 12×75 mm and 5 mL tubes
• Heater-Shaker+ with adaptors for PCR plates, deep-well plates
• Microplate Vacuum+ manifold with pressure gauge and pump kits (110 V/220 V)
• Microplate Peltier+ and 96-PCR Peltier+ for precise thermal control (0–99 °C)
• 96-PCR Magnet+, Deepwell Magnet+, 50 mL Tube Magnet+ for bead capture
• Extraction+ device and cartridge kits (1 cc, 3 cc, 6 cc) integrated with Andrew+ robot
• Microplate and column gripper tools for automated transfer

Main Results and Discussion

Consistent temperature regulation across 0–99 °C ensures optimal sample processing in plates and tubes. Vibration-free orbital shaking at customizable speeds delivers reliable mixing and homogenization, even for viscous or high-volume samples. Automated pressure control on the vacuum manifold simplifies solid-phase extraction (SPE) workflows, providing reproducible elution profiles. Magnetic bead–based purification benefits from programmable shelf movement, fully automating binding and elution steps. The combined hardware and software solution supports seamless transition from guided manual execution to full robotic automation.

Benefits and Practical Applications

• Enhanced reproducibility and reduced user variability
• Comprehensive method traceability and audit trails
• Streamlined method development with scalable automation options
• Compatibility with a wide range of labware and sample volumes
• Rapid adoption for QA/QC, genomics, proteomics and environmental analyses

Future Trends and Possibilities

Future developments will focus on deeper integration of AI-driven method optimization, cloud-based data analytics and expanded robotic interoperability. Anticipated trends include autonomous scheduling of runs, real-time process monitoring with predictive maintenance alerts and support for next-generation sample preparation techniques.

Conclusion

The OneLab-driven ecosystem of connected devices offers laboratories a flexible, reproducible and traceable platform for both manual and automated workflows. By simplifying method programming and unifying hardware control, laboratories can improve productivity, reduce errors and accelerate time to insight.