Apogent Technologies Inc has acquired BioRobotics Group Limited (BioRobotics) in Haslingfield, England. BioRobotics, founded in 1993, is a leading provider of automated instrumentation solutions used in functional genomics.

Through innovative products such as its bench-top MicroGrid microarraying robot, BioRobotics offerings enable researchers the ability to print their own DNA biochips, also called DNA microarrays or gene-chips. In addition, these products provide researchers a route to higher throughput and parallel analysis in functional genomics-increasing research speed and reducing costs with the goal of accelerating the development of new pharmaceutical drugs.

The acquisition of BioRobotics by Apogent's Labware and Life Science Group affords numerous strategic synergies for the company. Chief among them are extending Apogent's technical knowledge and product offerings into these rapidly growing life science market segments.

In particular, the joining of forces of BioRobotics with Apogent's subsidiary, Matrix Technologies, will create a formidable organization capable of delivering the tools for almost any liquid transfer application in today's laboratories.

Erie Scientific, another Apogent subsidiary, currently manufactures glass slides for microarraying applications. These slides, combined with the Nuncleolink surface modification, a proprietary technology developed by Apogent's subsidiary Nunc A/S in Denmark, will soon allow Apogent to introduce a complete line of microarraying substrates for covalent binding of cDNA and oligonucleotides.

Verner Andersen, president of Apogent's Labware and Life Sciences Group states, "Apogent's technologically advanced consumables for microarraying, combined with BioRobotics' leading role in microarraying equipment will further Apogent's opportunities as a leading supplier of complete solutions for applications in genomics and proteomics research".

Commenting on the BioRobotics acquisition, Apogent's president and chief executive officer, Frank Jellinek Jr said "Independent market studies and BioRobotics historical results indicate that instrumentation sales for the functional genomics/drug discovery markets are growing rapidly. BioRobotics collaborations with Matrix Technologies and the other Apogent life science companies, will allow us to heighten Apogent's presence in these exciting business arenas."