The bio-instrumentation major Automed Systems teams up Swiss-based Salvis Labs with a new offer for process management in microbiology and biotechnology labs, as it introduces the latest in vacuum incubation and laboratory washers. The range complements the existing range of equipment, which is being offered with tie-ups with leading players like AES France and Wheaton USA.

The Salvis range is technologically superior, which will allow the company to provide total automation solutions for any microbiology lab operation, from sampling to analysis. Vacuum incubators are highly specialized. It is mandatory for large research and development labs in pharma/biotech companies to install them as in certain experiments vacuum and not air is required for drug discovery procedures explained TK Bhanu Prakash, director, Automed Systems.

The current R&D expenditure by pharma/biotech companies in the country is around Rs.600 crore and 20 per cent is allocated for instrumentation. Although it was preferred not to indicate the pricing of the equipment, yet the target for vacuum incubators by Automed is pegged at 25 centres in the country by December 2004, which could include Ranbaxy, Dr Reddys Labs, Lupin, Sun Pharma, Cipla apart from Centre for Chemical & Molecular Biology. Hyderabad, Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow and All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi. However, the main companies that could be keen for the Salvis range in Karnataka could be Biocon, Aurigene, AstraZeneca Research India Centre and John F Welch Technology Centre, part of GE India Technology Pvt. Ltd., he informed.

The company also has the advantage of a nationwide network and branch offices in Bangalore, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad and Pune to ensure that products have the required reach and service, he stated.

Salvis Labs is a part of Renggli Corporation, founded in 1927, an established Swiss family enterprise with international orientation in the realm of complete laboratory solutions. As one of the leading European producers and market leader in Switzerland and Austria, Renggli designs and implements state-of-the-art laboratories for research, industry, medicine and education. Salvis Labs offer a comprehensive line of modern laboratory equipment, for a wide variety of applications.