METTLER TOLEDO (NYSE: MTD) and Applied Biosystems (NYSE:ABI), an Applera Corporation business, announced an integrated solution that is expected to improve the workflow and the transfer of information in laboratories for many scientific disciplines, including the life science, chemistry, food and petrochemical industries. The companies have collaborated to create a unique solution through which they are providing researchers in these fields the means to exchange data between precision instruments and laboratory information management systems.
This one-of-a-kind solution seamlessly integrates Applied Biosystems' SQL*LIMS laboratory information management system (LIMS) with METTLER TOLEDO's LabX Data Management Software. The combination creates the ability to manage data more efficiently, while saving researchers time and costs in day-to-day laboratory processes, when compared to using instruments that are controlled by their own software and that operate independently of any information management systems. Applied Biosystems will sell, install and maintain SQL*LIMS systems and implement the integration of LabX software.
Analytical and precision balances as well as titration instruments are used for a variety of applications. In many laboratories, they are the basis of virtually all everyday processes. For the laboratory to meet Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) standards, these processes must be perfected and fully checked for accuracy before they can be used routinely. The combined SQL*LIMS and LabX package provides a fully validated system that eliminates the need to check each process for accuracy.
This solution combines the expertise of two leading companies in the life-science and analytical-instrumentation fields. Applied Biosystems is a global leader in the development and commercialization of instrument-based systems, consumables, software and services for the life science market. It has more than 25 years of experience as a leader in LIMS technology with more than 30,000 professionals worldwide using its SQL*LIMS software in industries as diverse as pharmaceuticals, chemicals and petrochemical manufacturing, environmental science, food and beverage production, and forensic analysis. METTLER TOLEDO is a worldwide market leader in balances and analytical instruments, including titration equipment. The company's precision instruments are used in research, drug discovery and quality control laboratories, in the pharmaceutical, chemical, food and cosmetics industries.
"We looked to partner with one of the leading LIMS suppliers in the laboratory world, who had the necessary credentials to support our customers in their informatics needs," said Holger Linnertz, head of LabX Competence Center at METTLER TOLEDO. "SQL*LIMS from Applied Biosystems has a long track record of industry leadership and provides a complete enterprise-accessible solution that meets the demands of laboratories across a broad range scientific disciplines."
SQL*LIMS can be used by laboratories to manage the entire laboratory workflow, including raw materials, sample tracking and data collection. LabX Data Management Software controls all METTLER TOLEDO precision balance and titration instruments and manages the data they produce. Once the two packages are integrated, SQL*LIMS takes sample data and, using LabX Data Management Software, sends all operator instructions to the METTLER TOLEDO instrument screen as a simple and intuitive user interface, so that users can operate the laboratory instruments as normal. The software guides the operator through each step of a work list, ensuring standard operating procedures (SOPs) are followed to avoid procedural errors. It performs full data acquisition, data storage, and automated reporting and documentation for audit trails; data can be stored within the LabX database and/or the LIMS as appropriate.
"This joint solution enables Applied Biosystems to extend its global expertise in LIMS into important new markets," said Peter Boogaard, director for LIMS product management for Applied Biosystems. "We will be able to offer METTLER TOLEDO's customers an integrated and more flexible validated solution for managing their informatics data than the series of disparate information systems which are often found in scientific laboratories using instruments and software from multiple vendors."
Additional information regarding METTLER TOLEDO's LabX Data Management Software can be found online at http://www.mt.com.
Additional information regarding Applied Biosystems' SQL*LIMS line of products can be found online at http://info.appliedbiosystems.com/sqllims.
About METTLER TOLEDO
METTLER TOLEDO is a leading global supplier of precision instruments and services. The Company is the world's largest manufacturer and marketer of weighing instruments for use in laboratory, industrial and food retailing applications. The Company also holds top-three market positions in several related analytical instruments and is a leading provider of automated chemistry systems used in drug and chemical compound discovery and development. In addition, the Company is the world's largest manufacturer and marketer of metal detection and other end-of-line inspection systems used in production and packaging and holds a leading position in certain process analytics applications. Additional information about METTLER TOLEDO can be found at www.mt.com.
Statements in this discussion which are not historical facts may be considered "forward-looking statements" that involve risks and uncertainties. For a discussion of these risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual events or results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements, see "Factors affecting our future operating results" in Part I, Item 1A, of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year December 31, 2006. The Company assumes no obligation to update this press release.
About Applera Corporation and Applied Biosystems
Applera Corporation consists of two operating groups. Applied Biosystems serves the life science industry and research community by developing and marketing instrument-based systems, consumables, software, and services. Customers use these tools to analyze nucleic acids (DNA and RNA), small molecules, and proteins to make scientific discoveries and develop new pharmaceuticals. Applied Biosystems' products also serve the needs of some markets outside of life science research, which we refer to as "applied markets," such as the fields of: human identity testing (forensic and paternity testing); biosecurity, which refers to products needed in response to the threat of biological terrorism and other malicious, accidental, and natural biological dangers; and quality and safety testing, such as testing required for food and pharmaceutical manufacturing. Applied Biosystems is headquartered in Foster City, CA, and reported sales of approximately $2.1 billion during fiscal 2007. Celera is a diagnostics business delivering personalized disease management solutions through a combination of tests and services based on proprietary genetics discovery platforms. The business is developing diagnostic products that predict disease risk and optimize therapy selection and patient outcomes, based on the discovery and validation of novel markers in complex diseases such as cardiovascular disease, breast cancer, and liver and autoimmune diseases. Celera also maintains a strategic alliance with Abbott for the development and commercialization of some of its molecular diagnostic products. Information about Applera Corporation, including reports and other information filed by the company with the Securities and Exchange Commission, is available at http://www.applera.com, or by telephoning 800.762.6923.
Information about Applied Biosystems is available at http://www.appliedbiosystems.com.
Applied Biosystems Forward Looking Statements
Certain statements in this press release are forward-looking. These may be identified by the use of forward-looking words or phrases such as "should, "planned," and "expect," among others. These forward-looking statements are based on Applera Corporation's current expectations. The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides a "safe harbor" for such forward-looking statements. In order to comply with the terms of the safe harbor, Applera Corporation notes that a variety of factors could cause actual results and experience to differ materially from the anticipated results or other expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements. These factors include but are not limited to: (1) rapidly changing technology and dependence on the development and customer acceptance of new products; (2) sales dependent on customers' capital spending policies and government-sponsored research; and (3) other factors that might be described from time to time in Applera Corporation's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. All information in this press release is as of the date of the release, and Applera does not undertake any duty to update this information, including any forward-looking statements, unless required by law.