Fluidigm's Nanoflex valves are used to stop or release the flow of liquids containing genetic samples or reagents in microfluidic chips used in life science research.
The company's Singapore factory has now manufactured and shipped more than a billion microscopic Nanoflex valves, each of which is so small that it takes 10 to span the width of a human hair.
The billion valves built into Fluidigm's integrated fluidic circuits (IFCs) are equivalent to the number of valves required for all the conventional plumbing for every home in California, Texas and New York.
The Nanoflex valves provide precise control over complex fluid-handling steps without losing reliability.
Scientists use IFC technology embedded with thousands of these Nanoflex valves to explore everything from single-cell genomics to the traits of tomatoes being grown for the local grocery store shelf.
In 2005, Fluidigm opened a biochip factory in Singapore; today, the factory manufactures all the IFCs and scientific instruments and systems for the company and conducts research and development in co-ordination with Fluidigm's south San Francisco operations.
The company develops, manufactures and markets microfluidic systems for growth markets in the life science and agricultural biotechnology, or ag-bio, industries.
Its proprietary microfluidic systems consist of instruments and consumables, including IFCs, or chips, and reagents.
These systems are designed to simplify experimental workflow, increase throughput and reduce costs, while providing good data quality.
Fluidigm markets three microfluidic systems including eight commercial chips to pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, academic institutions and ag-bio companies.
