Biotech innovation accelerated by semiconductor-grade automation and process integration
Project snapshot
Client:
Location:
Sector:
Product type:
Challenge
Scale a complex biotech process beyond in-house capabilities
A leading biotech manufacturer needed to industrialize a proprietary genomic process by embedding it into a large, automated tool. While the company was an expert in genetic science, semiconductor-style automation, wafer handling, and large-scale tool integration were outside its core competencies.
The project’s size, technical complexity, and R&D-stage uncertainty made in-house development impractical. The customer required a partner who could lead design, integrate a complex process module, and adapt quickly as requirements evolved.
Innovation
Semiconductor automation expertise applied to biotech manufacturing
We led the design and integration of a production-ready automated system that combined the customer’s biotech process with proven semiconductor automation principles.
This involved:
- Leading the end-to-end design effort, translating an evolving biotech process into a robust automated platform.
- Integrating semiconductor-grade wafer handling and automation into a non-traditional life sciences application.
- Using a phased development model to reduce risk, control investment, and accommodate changing R&D requirements.
- Applying in-house expertise across mechanical, electrical, fluidics, controls, procurement, and system build to compress development timelines.
- Providing hands-on collaboration, on-site engineering engagement, and operator training to accelerate adoption.
- Maintaining scope and manufacturing flexibility, including adapting when the program scaled from multiple tools to a single system.
Result
Automation reduced labor and created a scalable manufacturing platform
The automated tool is now in production, significantly reducing manual labor and enabling the customer to scale output to meet growing market demand. The system established a foundation for future expansion, with a design and manufacturing approach capable of supporting additional tools and next-generation development as the product matures.
Featured capabilities:
Featured sectors:
Case studies
A leader in microfluidic dispensing needed design and manufacturing support for a next-generation synthetic biology workflow platform. The system had to support modularity, flexibility, manufacturability,…
A medical device diagnostic manufacturer needed to rapidly replicate an in-house designed manufacturing tool to support a production ramp-up. The tool included multiple control systems and needed to be…
A manufacturer and supplier to the medical device industry required a new automated assembly machine to support significant sales growth and increasing order fulfillment demands. Following consultation,…