DNA extraction Seed picking Seed germination

SEED AUTOMATION MADE EASY FROM BATCH TO DATA

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Agri automation The AgBio product suite from Synchron has been designed for and with our customers in the seed industry. Automating tasks that traditionally have been performed by laboratory staff, have led to an increased throughput and data collection. Starting from multiple batches with multiple seed types, the SeedPicker can process each seed batch into individual seeds. This process is completely controlled by imaging, barcodes and vacuum measurements during each movement. These single seeds can be placed in microtitre plates for DNA extraction, paper based germination trays, planting in soil or Rockwool trays or be used for individual seed phenotyping. Our DNA extraction system can purify DNA from up to 40,000 samples per day, using magnetic beads. This throughput is accomplished by processing the samples in a semi-serial processing fashion, rather than the traditional, parallel processing of microtitre plates in a liquid handling robot. Analysing the germination process of your seeds can be a time-consuming task which often relies on human, visual interpretation and manual data processing. Using robotics in combination with automated imaging and analysis, our Germinator systems can fully automate the monitoring and analysis of your germination processes. All of our systems can be linked to your LIMS system to ensure a smooth and safe transition through our robots within your laboratory workflow.

Advantages of a Synchron Designed System • Non dedicated Instrumentation • Flexible . . . . . . . .Hardware . . . . . . . . . .&. .Software . . . . . . . . .configurations .................................................. • Fast & comprehensive technical Support

More information Information sheets on the products and applications are available on request. If you would like to discuss these products or a custom engineering project, please feel free to contact us by email or phone:

[email protected] +31(0)76 82 00 284

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SEED AUTOMATION MADE EASY FROM BATCH TO DATA

About Synchron Synchron develops custom-made laboratory automation solutions and specializes in automated liquid handling and sample handling. Within its branch of industry, Synchron is renowned as a progressive and innovative company. Since 1985, we have been developing custom products based on excellent relationships with manufacturers of laboratory instruments. Our products, both software and hardware, are now widely used in laboratories. Synchron offers expertise in all areas of automation and has a wealth of experience developing and marketing flexible robotic automation. In Synchron, you have a dedicated and experienced partner who can help you realize your automation projects efficiently and cost effectively around your existing laboratory.

DNA extraction Seed picking Seed germination

Synchron has successfully realized over 100 different laboratory automation projects by applying its total solutions approach. The Synchron capabilities include total system design and realization, ranging from stand-alone customized instruments to complex integration of existing systems, featuring robot barcodes and fully incorporated LIMS systems. Whatever your application, you can trust in the Synchron characteristics of cutting edge technology and long-standing experience in laboratory automation. Our AgBio product line is a range that has been designed as products rather than as a unique project. These products are designed by taking the requirements from several customers into consideration and packed into a single system. In the process from seed to data we have several solutions available. We would welcome you to share your automation needs with us and together discuss about a suitable solution for your applications. Synchron Lab Automation Laboratory automation & Engineering Mon plaisir 23 4879 AK Etten-Leur The Netherlands [email protected]

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MODULAR DESIGN

Seed picking

DNA extraction

ENABLES TAILOR-MADE SOLUTIONS

MODULAR DESIGN

Seed germination

ENABLES TAILOR-MADE SOLUTIONS

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The SeedPicker 3

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For many processes in the lab, seeds will have to be individualised for analysis. This can be required for DNA extraction, phenotyping, germination or a range of other analysis. The SeedPicker will individualise seeds from multiple batches fully automatically.

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The SeedPicker has fixed stackers or an automated TrayFeeder system for seed containers and corresponding target plates or trays. An industrial, high precision 6-axis robotic arm is the centre of the SeedPicker and automates all movements and transfers. The gripper tool has multiple functions which include a plate gripper, interchangeable picking tools, barcode scanner and liquid handler.

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DNA extraction

The Germinator family

In order to move to the next step in high throughput DNA extraction, Synchron is leading the way from parallel processing to industrial, semi-serial processing. Using a magnetic bead extraction kit and essentially a system with 10 x 96 channel heads, the DNA extraction system eliminates many tedious washing and waiting steps.

Our family of germination systems allows our customers to store plates and/or trays in different formats and different configurations. Synchron has developed a scalable building block principle system that scales from a few plates to several thousands and from several trays to a thousand, for automated root analysis.

The supply of microtitre plates and disposable tips is taken care of by a large plate feeding system, the PlateFeeder, that can hold up to 400 plates per 8h run (200 input, 200 output) and several disposable tip racks. A run of 200 microtitre plates will typically take about 8 hours. The first sample plate is ready in about 20 min from start and then every 2.5 min a new plate is ready.

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The same building blocks can also be configured for storage in media such as agar, soil and Rockwool to monitor the growth progress. The systems can be equipped with liquid handling and a balance to constantly monitor the weight. The software enables you to schedule imaging and automate the entry and retrieval of large batched of plates or trays using a trolley based system.

1 | HIGH PERFORMANCE FEEDER

2 | VISION SYSTEM

3 | ROBOT

4 | 96-WELL HEADS

5 | MAGBEAD STIRRER

6 | PLATEFEEDER

7 | DOUBLE TELESCOPE TRAYFEEDER

8 | TROLLEY BASED (UN)LOADING

9 | PLANT IMAGING

Individualizing seeds starts with the robotic arm depositing each seed batch into a trough and using vibration to individualize the seeds on a flat surface that can be imaged. The remainder of the batch in the trough can be collected again into the original seed container.

After vibrating onto a flat surface, the seeds are imaged using a high-speed camera with on-board processing capabilities. The coordinates of each individual seed are transferred to the robot arm every time before picking.

The 6-axis, high-precision, industrial robotic arm is able to move more than 45 seeds per minute from the separating flat surface into any plate or tray your downstream application may dictate.

The system uses 2 x 96 disposable tip, accurate pipetting heads, for volume and contamination critical steps. The other 8 x 96-heads are in fact 4 x dual-function 192-heads, for aspiration into waste and non-contact dispensing of one washing buffer each.

The magnetics beads are constantly kept in suspension in the system and can be freshly added per run. Keeping the beads in suspension is a critical step in order to make sure that the DNA concentration after elution is similar from plate to plate and run to run.

The PlateFeeder system has up to 12 stacker that can be plates stacked on top of eachother or random access. The PlateFeeder scans all barcodes at the beginning of the run and transfers source and destination plates to and from the carriers when required by the scheduling in the protocol. The PlateFeeder can also be used for supplying plates to and from the SeedPicker as well as funtion as storage of the Germinator system.

The TrayFeeder is the central part in automation of our germination systems. This unit takes care of the transport of multiple plates or germination supports on a transport tray from/to trolley, shelve and analyser(s). The doubles telescope mechanism enables the pick-up and delivery on both sides of the centre of the system, which double the capacity of the systems.

In all our Germinator systems, the plates, trays of other formats can be loaded intoand unloaded from the systems. The most smallest type system is simply one trolley in a TrayFeeder. The TrayFeeder can be also placed on a rails, to accommodate multiple trolleys enables a larger shelve surface to be automated. Plants can be grown in the dark or under light conditions.

Building blocks can configure a storage to monitor the growth progress of young plants. The systems can be equipped with liquid handling and a balance to constantly monitor the weight. The software enables you to schedule imaging and automate the entry and retrieval of large batched of plates or trays using a trolley based system.