ABB and Agilent Technologies enter collaboration to advance laboratory automation

-ABB Robotics and Agilent Technologies collaborate to produce automated laboratory solutions -Solutions will help lab staff find new ways to improve workflows, making operations more efficient and flexible

ABB Robotics and Agilent Technologies, a global leader in analytical and laboratory technology and software, have signed a collaboration agreement to deliver automated laboratory solutions. Working together, ABB and Agilent will combine the benefits of their technologies to enable companies across multiple sectors including pharma, biotechnology, energy and food and beverage to transform their laboratory operations by making processes such as research and quality control faster and more efficient.


"By combining Agilent's state-of-the-art analytical instrumentation and laboratory software solutions with ABB's advanced robotics, we will empower laboratories to operate with greater speed, precision, and flexibility," said Marc Segura, President ABB Robotics Division. "By using our robots to automate key processes, this partnership will enable companies to introduce new approaches to carrying out key laboratory tasks. This will improve efficiency and free up laboratory teams to take on more rewarding work."

Laboratories are under increasing pressure to accelerate research and speed up time to market whilst meeting strict quality requirements. Working together, ABB and Agilent will provide joint solutions to automate repetitive, labor-intensive tasks such as sample handling, testing, and data processing to enable faster time-to-market and higher productivity.

"This collaboration with ABB Robotics underscores Agilent's dedication to fostering an open ecosystem within laboratories, representing a significant advancement in our mission to revolutionize lab operations across diverse markets such as pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, environmental testing, and food safety," said Tom Lillig, Vice President and General Manager of the Software Informatics Division at Agilent. "By integrating Agilent's cutting-edge analytical technologies with ABB's state-of-the-art robotics, we empower our customers to achieve faster, more reliable results, driving innovation and enhancing scientific outcomes. Seamless interoperability of all instruments, robots, and software is crucial to significantly boosting productivity," Lillig added.

The collaboration with Agilent is part of ABB's work to expand automation into new industry segments by working with technology partners to build complementary offerings. In 2024, ABB announced a collaboration with METTLER TOLEDO, a global supplier of precision instruments and services, to offer innovative solutions that seamlessly integrate ABB's robots with LabXâ„¢, METTLER TOLEDO's laboratory instrument management software.

ABB Robotics & Discrete Automation as one of the world's leading robotics and machine automation suppliers, is the only company with a comprehensive and integrated portfolio covering robots, Autonomous Mobile Robots and machine automation solutions, designed and orchestrated by our value-creating software. We help companies of all sizes and sectors - from automotive to electronics and logistics - to outperform by becoming more resilient, flexible and efficient. ABB Robotics & Discrete Automation supports customers in the transition towards the connected and collaborative factory of the future, operating leaner and cleaner for a better future. The business area employs approximately 11,000 people at over 100 locations in approximately 53 countries. go.abb/robotics

Featured Product

3D Vision: Ensenso B now also available as a mono version!

3D Vision: Ensenso B now also available as a mono version!

This compact 3D camera series combines a very short working distance, a large field of view and a high depth of field - perfect for bin picking applications. With its ability to capture multiple objects over a large area, it can help robots empty containers more efficiently. Now available from IDS Imaging Development Systems. In the color version of the Ensenso B, the stereo system is equipped with two RGB image sensors. This saves additional sensors and reduces installation space and hardware costs. Now, you can also choose your model to be equipped with two 5 MP mono sensors, achieving impressively high spatial precision. With enhanced sharpness and accuracy, you can tackle applications where absolute precision is essential. The great strength of the Ensenso B lies in the very precise detection of objects at close range. It offers a wide field of view and an impressively high depth of field. This means that the area in which an object is in focus is unusually large. At a distance of 30 centimetres between the camera and the object, the Z-accuracy is approx. 0.1 millimetres. The maximum working distance is 2 meters. This 3D camera series complies with protection class IP65/67 and is ideal for use in industrial environments.