Lab automation, inside the workflow where it matters most

Kbiosystems is a UK laboratory automation company based in Basildon, Essex. For 32+ years we have built the equipment that handles the critical, repeatable steps inside automated laboratory workflows. 

Applications
The steps inside the workflow that have to work every time

The steps inside the workflow that have to work every time

Plate sealing. Colony picking. Barcode labelling and sample tracking. Nitrogen blowdown evaporation. PCR automation. Microplate handling. These are the steps that define throughput, reproducibility and sample integrity inside an automated laboratory workflow. They are also the steps Kbiosystems has been building purpose engineered equipment for since 1991. Our systems integrate alongside the liquid handlers, incubators, imaging platforms and robotic systems you already use. We do not replace the workflow you have built. We make the parts of it that matter most run reliably, every plate, every shift, every day. 

Three ways our lab automation fits your application
Standard, modified or bespoke

Three ways our lab automation fits your application

No two laboratories run a workflow exactly the same way. Kbiosystems equipment is built to support that reality, with three routes to the right fit depending on whether your workflow uses a standard configuration, needs adjustment to fit your specific protocols, or requires an entirely new system designed around a step that has no off-the-shelf answer. 

  • Standard equipment, integration ready out of the box 
  • Modified standard equipment, adapted to your exact plate formats, throughput or integration points 
  • Bespoke systems, engineered from the ground up around a workflow step 
Four laboratory environments, one engineering team

Lab automation applications we build for

Kbiosystems equipment is in active use across four core laboratory environments. Each environment has its own dedicated page, where you can see the workflow steps we support and the Kbiosystems equipment that handles them.

  • Genomics and molecular biology

    Supporting genomics and molecular biology laboratories with reliable microplate sealing, sample tracking and plate handling equipment, so your PCR and sequencing workflows run consistently, plate after plate. The Ultraseal range and the eGecko 2 barcode applicator slot into existing automated workflows without forcing a redesign. 

  • Microbiology 

    Equipping microbiology laboratories with purpose-built colony picking, plate replication and petri dish identification systems, returning scientist hours from manual picking to strain selection and analysis. The K6 and K8 colony pickers handle the critical steps from initial culture through to downstream analysis 

  • Synthetic biology

    Powering synthetic biology laboratories with automated colony picking, high throughput screening preparation and microplate processing, so your team can iterate as fast as the science demands. Our systems scale with your team, whether you are a research group of three or a commercial biotech running three shifts. 

  • Drug discovery and screening

    Supporting drug discovery and high throughput screening laboratories with assay plate sealing, sample tracking and integration-ready handling, protecting sample integrity through the full assay lifecycle. Kbiosystems equipment maintains full traceability from compound plating through to endpoint readout.

What this looks like in practice

Two real application scenes

  • Microbiology strain selection at a UK research institute

    A microbiology research group at a UK institute needed to scale up colony picking from manual selection to a process that could keep up with their strain library growth. The K8 colony picker was the right platform, but the lab’s plate identification convention was non standard and needed to be supported natively. Kbiosystems engineered the plate ID handling into the system before delivery, paired the K8 with an eGecko 2 barcode applicator for downstream tracking, and commissioned both on site. The lab now picks at multiple times the throughput it could manage manually, with full sample traceability from petri dish through to analysis. 

  • PCR sample preparation at a genomics sequencing facility

    A genomics sequencing facility was sealing thousands of PCR plates a week using a process that could not keep up with their sample volume and was producing inconsistent seal quality across shifts. The Ultraseal ePRO replaced the existing setup, integrated with their liquid handler for in-line sealing immediately after dispense. Seal consistency moved from a weekly source of rework to a non issue. The facility now runs the same Ultraseal across two additional benches, supplied through a single point of contact at Kbiosystems. 

Who we build for
The people running the labs we equip

Who we build for

Kbiosystems equipment is specified by lab managers, scientists, automation engineers and research directors across academic research groups, contract research organisations, pharmaceutical and biotech companies, diagnostic manufacturers, and plant and animal science facilities. From small university labs running a single Ultraseal through to large industrial research sites running multiple systems alongside third party automation, the question we answer is the same: which steps in your workflow are holding you back, and what would change if they ran reliably? 

  • Lab managers selecting equipment for automated laboratory workflows 
  • Scientists and technicians who need the equipment to fit their actual protocols 
  • Automation engineers integrating Kbiosystems hardware alongside other platforms 
  • Research directors and OEM partners selecting a long term automation supplier 
From sealing to handling, the equipment that runs your benchwork

The workflow steps we equip

Across all four laboratory environments above, Kbiosystems equipment handles the same core set of workflow steps. Each step is owned by a dedicated product range, designed and built in Basildon.

  • Card 1
    Sealing and sample protection

    The Ultraseal range provides heat applied, adhesive and electrically operated sealing for microplates and tube racks across PCR, assay and storage workflows. 

  • Card 2
    Picking, tracking and identification

    K6 and K8 colony pickers, paired with eGecko 2 and ValiData barcode applicators, deliver automated picking with full sample traceability. 

  • Card 3
    Handling and integration

    The Scorpion microplate handler, the Ultravap evaporator range and the DT-24 PCR system integrate alongside your existing liquid handlers and robotic platforms. 

Frequently asked questions

Discuss your application
Tell us about your workflow

Discuss your application

Whether you are evaluating equipment for a single workflow step, planning a larger automation project across multiple steps, or scoping integration with platforms you already operate, our engineering team will respond directly. Initial conversations are technical, not commercial.