RoboDesign International Inc have entered into a worldwide marketing partnership with Rigaku/MSC to distribute RoboDesign's CrystalMation line of products for protein crystallography research.

RoboDesign's CrystalMation is an ever-expanding line of modular products focused on addressing the needs of protein crystal analysis. Each facet of the process: plate handling, image collection, image storage and analysis, crystallization data collection and analysis, is part of a seamless system.

At the core of this system is the RoboMicroscope II, an ultra-high resolution imaging system that can quickly and consistently image hanging, sitting, or micro-batch drops in all plate types. CPXO automatic classification software then distinguishes each image into four distinct categories, greatly reducing the number of images a crystallographer has to review. From CMView, users can remotely access the data, manage projects, create reports, and manually score their images. When coupled with CrystalTrak, a total crystallization database solution, the images and scores provide a basis from which optimization can be affectively achieved. Capacity can be easily expanded with the integration of multiple RoboIncubators, a 540-plate temperature controlled storage system.

"We are extremely pleased to be partnering with Rigaku/MSC, the leading provider of instrumentation for the crystallography market," stated RoboDesign's CEO, Mr. Robert L. Corey. "By leveraging Rigaku/MSC's industry knowledge and experience we can rapidly expand the market for CrystalMation as well as complement our global marketing strategy."

Paul N. Swepston, president of Rigaku/MSC continues, "Macromolecular crystallography produces some of the most valuable information for structural biology. Unfortunately, the technique is constrained by the ability to grow suitable crystals. RoboDesign's CrystalMation products automate the crystallization process in an integrated fashion and thus we feel that partnering with RoboDesign will help us further our mission of providing leading-edge tools for structural research."