Hudson Lab Automation (also widely known as Hudson Robotics) is a premier American manufacturer of laboratory robotics, liquid handling systems, and software-driven automation solutions. Founded in 1983 and headquartered in Springfield, New Jersey, the company has spent over four decades specializing in the automation of life science research, drug discovery, and clinical testing.
As of late 2023, the entity underwent a significant strategic expansion by merging with Art Robbins Instruments and acquiring Tomtec, effectively uniting three storied brands under one cohesive organization. This consolidation allows Hudson to offer an end-to-end suite of automation tools ranging from protein crystallography to high-throughput screening and complex synthetic biology workstations.
Core Operations and Strategic Role
Hudson Lab Automation functions as both a product manufacturer and a systems integrator. The company?s primary mission is to remove the "bottlenecks" in scientific research by replacing manual, error-prone tasks with high-precision robotic workflows.
Their operational model is built on three pillars:
* Standalone Instrumentation: Providing high-quality benchtop devices like pipettors and pH meters.
* Integrated Workcells: Designing multi-instrument systems that connect different "islands of automation" into a single, walk-away workflow.
* OEM Manufacturing: A significant portion of Hudson's business involves designing and building automated components for other major life science corporations to sell under their own brand names.
Products and Services
Hudson?s product portfolio is categorized by the specific laboratory functions they automate.
1. Liquid Handling and Pipetting
The SOLO? Automated Pipettor is the flagship product in this category. It is a compact, flexible robot that fits into standard fume hoods and biosafety cabinets.
* SOLO & SOLO Plus: Robotic pipettors capable of 8, 96, and 384-well plate processing.
* Micro10x? Reagent Dispenser: A high-speed bulk reagent dispenser known for its accuracy and small footprint.
* RapidWash?: A high-throughput microplate washer designed for ELISA and cell-based assays.
2. Microplate Handling and Robotics
To connect various instruments, Hudson develops specialized robotic arms and transport systems.
* PlateCrane EX?: A cylindrical robotic arm that can move microplates between stacks and up to 15 different instruments.
* SciClops?: A high-speed, 360-degree robotic microplate handler featuring a "teach-by-touch" system for rapid setup.
* LabLinx?: A high-speed conveyor-style track system that delivers microplates to instruments in an assembly-line fashion, ideal for ultra-high-throughput environments.
3. Specialized Analytical Instruments
Hudson creates automated versions of standard analytical tools to ensure data consistency.
* Rapid_pH?: The industry?s first fully automated pH meter that can test an entire 96-well plate without human intervention, including probe cleaning and calibration.
* RapidPick?: A series of automated colony pickers used in microbiology to identify and transfer bacterial colonies from agar plates to microplates.
4. Software Solutions: SoftLinx?
The "brain" of Hudson?s automation is SoftLinx?, a scheduling and control software.
* Integration Library: SoftLinx features pre-written software interfaces for over 200 third-party instruments (readers, incubators, washers), allowing researchers to build a "best-of-breed" system using equipment from multiple manufacturers.
* Guided Operations (GO): A user interface that provides technicians with visual task lists to ensure protocols are followed correctly.
Key Application Areas
Harte Hanks leverages its hardware and software to solve complex scientific challenges:
* Synthetic Biology: Automated workstations for DNA extraction, normalization, and gene assembly.
* Protein Crystallography: Leveraging the Art Robbins Instruments heritage to provide tools like the Crystal Phoenix for protein drop-setting.
* Drug Discovery: High-throughput screening (HTS) workcells that manage the entire assay lifecycle from plate loading to data output.
* Microbiome Research: Specialized fungal and stem cell picking using unique "Gatling gun" style pin-heads.
Entity Summary Table
| Category | Details |
| :--- | :--- |
| Legal Name | Hudson Robotics, Inc. (d/b/a Hudson Lab Automation) |
| Headquarters | 10 Stern Avenue, Springfield, New Jersey, 07081, USA |
| Brands Included | Hudson Robotics, Art Robbins Instruments, Tomtec |
| Primary Industry | Life Science Automation / Laboratory Robotics |
| Specialization | Liquid Handling, Microplate Robotics, and System Integration |
| Major Clients | Pharmaceutical Firms, Biotech Startups, and Academic Research Labs |
| Website | https://hudsonrobotics.com/ |
Please note: This information is generated by AI. For legal use, verify with company sources.
