Dispensing Systems

Dispensing systems deliver precise amounts of liquid in the nanoliter, microliter, and milliliter range into a microplate or tube. They are used in drug discovery, genomics and proteomics, materials science, forensics, and food safety. Dispensers can be manual or automatic, from a basic single-channel design to multichannel systems with 4, 8, 12, 16, 96, 384, or 1536 channels. Types include bottletop dispensers with pulse-free dispensing and digital control, bulk dispensers, and complete automated liquid handling workstations. Each pump type has its pros and cons, depending on the reagent to be used: Microprocessor-controlled syringe pumps offer precision and speed, while peristaltic pumps tend to reduce backflushing, among other benefits. Systems that combine both pump types into one system eliminate the need to purchase multiple instruments. A key term in dispenser technology is modular design, which enhances performance by enabling automatic changeover of volume range, tip configuration, or dispense heads.