Seeds are the new gold. Why is that? Plant-based foods can feed an ever-growing world population. But climate change, pests and diseases threaten plant breeding. To help develop resistant seeds and make them available to agriculture, plant breeders need vast amounts of DNA. That is precisely why Synchron Lab has developed the "DNA factory", which is automated with handling gantries, electric axes, pneumatic grippers and sensors from Festo.

If there’s one thing the corona pandemic has taught us, it is that laboratories place tremendous importance on high sample throughput rates. Even with highly qualified laboratory personnel, this demand can no longer be met. There’s no getting round the automation of laboratory processes. That’s why MolGen in the Netherlands developed PurePrep TTR, which can prepare 320 patient samples per hour for molecular downstream processing. And the Dutch company uses laboratory-specific automation technology from Festo.

Fast MDx shows how many pathogens can be detected with unrivalled speed without the need for expensive biosecure laboratories. This near-patient testing system, developed by London-based company Fast MDx, cuts the typical 24 to 48 hour waiting time to just one to two hours. The new system uses automation technology from Festo.