On show for the first time in the USA at LabAutomation 2003, TTP LabTech's compound storage and retrieval system has established itself as a major step forward in compound management
Since its launch at SBS last year, companies such as Pfizer, Wyeth, Millennium, Sugen, and Biovitrum have selected Compound for a variety of compound storage requirements.
Installations have been made at sites throughout Europe and the USA.
Designed as a modular system to fit in any standard lab, Compound combines the ability to grow with a company's storage requirements with cherry-picking capability at unparalleled levels of speed and accuracy.
Each Compound module can store 100,000 1.4ml microtubes at temperatures between ambient and -20C, and modules can be linked together to make a library of almost any size.
In an innovative development, microtubes are sent to, and retrieved from, storage using air pressure which both saves space, as robotics are not required, and is extremely quick - any of the 100,000 tubes can be identified, selected and retrieved in an average of five seconds.
"Compound is being chosen for the simple reason that it is what biopharma companies have long wanted" said Jas Sanghera, TTP LabTech's commercial director.
"Simple expansion, a self-contained environment and quick cherry-picking of tubes - which avoids unnecessary freeze-thaw cycles - are the main reasons for Compound's rapid success." Compound will be installed at new sites throughout the USA and Europe during 2003, and existing customers are now placing follow-on orders for additional Compound units as their libraries expand.
