Automated Liquid Handling Technologies Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Product (Automated Liquid Handling Workstations, Reagents & Consumables), By Application, By End-user, By Region, And Segment Forecasts, 2022 - 2030

Report Overview

The global automated liquid handling technologies market size was valued at USD 1.67 billion in 2021 and is expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10.44% from 2022 to 2030. The introduction of novel automated liquid handling workstations for non-contact dispensing is anticipated to drive the market. Over the years, contact dispensing gained wide acceptance due to its reliability, simplicity, and low cost. However, the liquid handling needs have changed with decreasing sample volume. The global COVID-19 pandemic brought a greater necessity for the collection and preparing virus samples safely, accurately, and quickly. This is putting pressure on the laboratories to meet the demand for high-throughput and large-scale testing.

In such life-threatening circumstances, preserving samples and reducing the risk of contamination is important, hence, dependency on automated liquid handling systems that require nominal supervision while safeguarding verifiable and repeatable results has become a standard. Solutions like the PIPETMAX offer effective handling for assays of large quantities, making it the ultimate laboratory assistant. PIPETMAX is suitable for numerous applications, such as cell-based assays and qPCR. It also requires a small footprint and comes with validated, pre-developed protocols.

Manufacturers have developed workstations based on different technologies to dispense the droplet from the dispensing tool by overcoming surface adhesion. These technologies include ultrasound, piezoelectric, and solenoid. For instance, LABCYTE INC. uses Echo acoustic liquid handling technology in its products to offer non-contact dispensing. In addition, effective miniaturization of the assay platforms reduces workflow expenditure, thereby decreasing the usage of expensive reagents. Miniaturized platforms are developed for highly précised liquid handling for different processes such as plate washing, bulk dispensing, and liquid transfer. Some of the leading providers of small benchtop workstations are Hamilton Company, PerkinElmer, Beckman Coulter, and LABCYTE INC.

Moreover, the adoption of artificial intelligence in automated liquid handling to control various stages of the procedure and exploit the capability of internet connectivity to interact with the handlers remotely has further offered lucrative opportunities during the study period. By depending on machine learning, the software will offer high levels of error controlling and adapt the activity of instruments to new situations such as reacting to a defect in a disposable tip or compensating for the blockage of the nozzle, which might happen during the handling of the samples. In addition, new product launch augments the growth of the market. For instance, in December 2021, DISPENDIX launched the I.DOT DW, the latest system in the I.DOT range of products. The I.DOT is the first instrument available around the globe to integrate a built-in drop detection system and can distinguish when operators run out of source liquid, while at the same time validating dispensing volume.

Despite the drop in costs related to sequencing technologies, there are still foremost hurdles in the human-led stages of this procedure. In clinical and research genomics laboratories these days, sample preparation is the obstacle to experiments, mostly when it comes to high-throughput NGS. The steps of sample preparation in the research laboratory are quite time-consuming, repetitive, and tedious. A study of the connection of genomic analysis to cancer diagnosis in the U.K. discovered that all-manual laboratory handling for next-generation sequencing results in a TAT of as much as 6 days, which is relatively long compared to automated handling systems. Due to the advantages offered by automation, most genomics laboratories nowadays are considering liquid handling automation to make the sequencing workflow more cost-effective and efficient, thereby driving the market.

Furthermore, a study of the breakdown of cost for genome sequencing revealed that 15% of the overall cost relates to the laboratory workers in a conventional clinical laboratory. Laboratory having a Hamilton Microlab STARlet for automated sample preparation revealed that the salaries of laboratory staff dropped after the implementation of automated techniques. Additionally, beyond cost, robots can also carry out repetitive and tedious tasks accurately and tirelessly, presenting an enormous advantage over manual liquid handling.

An increase in the outsourcing of pharma and biotech workflows has led CROs and CMOs to enhance their workflow efficiency in compliance with regulatory requirements. Therefore, many CROs and CMOs are integrating automated liquid handling in their facilities. For instance, in June 2022, Societal CDMO, Inc. announced a new customer project using its automated lyophilization and fill/finish line unit at the company’s San Diego facility.

Product Insights

The automated liquid handling workstations segment held the largest share of over 55.0% in 2021. Automated liquid handling workstations can be further classified based on their assembly and type. Based on their assembly, these devices are segmented into standalone and integrated workstations and based on type, they are segmented into multipurpose workstations, pipetting workstations, specialized liquid handlers, and workstation modules. The growing competition among pharmaceutical companies and their pursuit of new drugs to treat diseases effectively drive the adoption of automated workstations. The small footprint and ability to increate with other devices with nanoliter capabilities contribute to higher market penetration of standalone pipettors. 

The pipetting workstation segment is expected to dominate the market during the forecast period. Strategic activities by key market players are fueling the growth of the segment. For instance, in November 2021, Tianlong launched an automated pipetting workstation that is designed as a significant tool for PCR setup, which automates error-prone, tedious manual tasks and provides reliable sample mixing and exceptional pipetting performance to regulate the results.

Application Insights

The drug discovery and ADME-Tox research segment dominated the market with a share of over 35.0% in 2021. Over a million compounds are screened to identify a new drug candidate in a single drug discovery experiment. Microarray technology presents the typical requirements of liquid handling such as high throughput, low volume, and high accuracy and precision. Various applications in drug discovery and ADME-Tox include stepwise serial dilution over a wide concentration range, selection and transfer of compounds for the retest, and confirmatory and further analysis. Plate-to-plate dilutions, plate replications, and plate reformatting are the major applications for which automated liquid handling workstations are used in drug discovery and ADME-Tox research. The ability to integrate different types of liquid handlers and stackers or incubators to improve throughput is a major advantage of using automated liquid handling platforms in drug discovery.

The adoption of automated liquid handling technologies for genomic and cancer research is anticipated to witness significant growth. Automated liquid handling is an essential part of cancer and genomic research as it requires dispensing protein or DNA solutions onto substrates or microwells. The subsequent steps involving synthesis and analysis usually require dispensing of additional solutions. The use of manual liquid handling techniques for these becomes impractical and tedious.

End-user Insights

Pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies dominated the market in 2021 with a revenue share of over 35.0%. Automated liquid handlers were pioneered for drug discovery laboratories. The regular need to disburse the liquid samples on various substrates and transfer them to containers of various sizes is contributing to their rapid growth in drug development and manufacturing. Owing to this increase in the use of automation for drug screening and drug development, pharma and biotech companies are estimated to maintain their lead in the market in the years to come.

Furthermore, academic and research institutes involved in life science experiments, especially those involving gene sequencing, antibody testing, drug, screening, and protein crystallization, usually need to handle very small sample volumes. Thus, demand for automated methods such as sensor-integrated robotic systems is anticipated to boost revenue growth in the academic and research institutes segment.

Regional Insights

North America dominated the market in 2021 with a revenue share of over 35.0% owing to the well-established distribution network of the major market players and rapid adoption of advanced automation solutions. Demand for small volume genomic and proteomics analysis for life science research further fuels growth in this region. Competitors in this region have collaborated with large academic universities and research centers in Europe to increase their revenue.

However, the rise in local biotech companies, an increase in funding support, CFDA reform in China, and the price reform in Japan (affecting both off-patent and on-patent products) are anticipated to foster the progress of the biopharmaceutical industry. The rapid progress of the biopharma and biotechnology companies and CROs and CDMOs in countries such as Japan and China is projected to fuel growth in the APAC region during the forecast period.

Key Companies & Market Share Insights

Key players in this market are adopting various organic and inorganic strategies such as partnerships, mergers and acquisitions, geographical expansion, and strategic collaborations to expand their market presence. For instance, in January 2021, SPT Labtech acquired Apricot Designs. Through this acquisition, SPT will expand its range of liquid handling technologies as part of its collection of automation solutions for structural biology, drug discovery, sample management, genomics, biobanking, and cryo-electron microscopy. Some prominent players in the global automated liquid handling technologies market include:

• Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc.

• Agilent Technologies

• Aurora Biomed, Inc.

• AUTOGEN, INC.

• Danaher

• BioTek Instruments, Inc.

• Analytik Jena AG

• Corning Incorporated

• Eppendorf AG

• Formulatrix, Inc.

• Gilson, Inc.

• Hamilton Company

• Hudson Robotics

• LABCYTE INC.

• Lonza

• PerkinElmer, Inc.

• QIAGEN

• Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc.

• Tecan Trading AG

• METTLER TOLEDO

Automated Liquid Handling Technologies Market Report Scope

Global Automated Liquid Handling Technologies Market Segmentation

This report forecasts revenue growth at the global, regional, and country levels and provides an analysis of the latest industry trends and opportunities in each of the sub-segments from 2018 to 2030. For the purpose of this report, Grand View Research has segmented the global automated liquid handling technologies market report on the basis of product, application, end-user, and region:

• Product Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

  • Automated Liquid Handling Workstations

    • By Assembly

      • Standalone Workstations

      • Integrated Workstations

    • By Type

      • Multipurpose Workstation

      • Pipetting Workstation

      • Specialized Liquid Handler

      • Workstation Module

  • Reagents & Consumables

    • Reagents

    • Accessories

• Application Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

  • Drug Discovery & ADME-Tox Research

  • Cancer & Genomic Research

  • Bioprocessing/Biotechnology

  • Others

• End-user Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

  • Academic & Research Institutes

  • Pharmaceutical & Biotechnology Companies

  • Contract Research Organizations

• Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

  • North America

    • U.S.

    • Canada

  • Europe

    • Germany

    • U.K.

    • France

    • Italy

    • Spain

  • Asia Pacific

    • Japan

    • China

    • India

    • South Korea

    • Australia

  • Latin America

    • Brazil

    • Mexico

    • Argentina

  • Middle East and Africa (MEA)

    • South Africa

    • Saudi Arabia

    • UAE