Hamilton Robotics, as part of its co-marketing partnership with Illumina, is developing automated solutions for NGS sample preparation that reduce hands-on time, minimize operational variability, and deliver consistent results. Illumina is providing input on the protocols and assay performance. Solutions will include an NGS workstation and methods for Illumina's sample prep kits. This collaboration will enable customers to seamlessly and completely automate the upstream sample preparation of the NGS workflow using Hamilton's higher-throughput Microlab STAR pipetting workstation or its benchtop NIMBUS NGS Workstation with Illumina's sample preparation kits. The solutions will be jointly marketed and sold separately. Initial development of Hamilton's NGS workstations will begin with standardized deck placement options and dedicated software with a graphical user interface (GUI) for easy automation setup and simple user control. Methods for TruSeq Total Stranded RNA kits will be developed first, followed by other methods later in the year.

Hamilton Robotics, 800-648-5950, www.hamiltonrobotics.com

Illumina, Inc., 858-202-4500, www.illumina.com