Photo: Adam Bezer / Unsplash
01 · Industry
Pharma & Biotech
From preclinical formulation to medicinal chemistry, cell culture and lab automation: LabOperator guides scientists through every step at the bench, captures instrument data automatically and hands a complete, traceable record to the ELN.
Formulation & preclinical development
How it works across these workflows: the experiment is created in the ELN and pushed to LabOperator. At the bench the scientist runs a guided workflow on a tablet: instrument readings are captured automatically, calculations run in the workflow and notes can be added. Results go back to the ELN to finalise the entry, with barcode scanning and label printing throughout.
Preclinical formulation supply
The science
Preparation of dosing formulations of a drug candidate (solutions, suspensions, emulsions) for toxicology and pharmacology studies. The goal is an exact, reproducible concentration in a vehicle that is safe for the animal model, with documented pH, osmolality and density.
What LabOperator does
Guides preparation step by step, captures weights, pH, osmolality and density directly from the instruments, calculates concentrations and prints labels for the finished formulations.
Instruments
Balances, pH meters, osmometers, density meters, barcode scanners, label printers
Milling request & report
The science
Mechanical particle-size reduction of the active ingredient to improve dissolution, content uniformity and bioavailability. The goal is a target particle-size distribution with recorded mass balance and yield, and confirmation that the solid form is unchanged.
What LabOperator does
Digitises the milling request and report as one workflow, captures input and output weights for mass balance and yield, and returns the report to the ELN.
Instruments
Balances, barcode scanners, label printers
Physical chemistry profiling
The science
Measurement of a compound’s core properties such as ionisation (pKa), lipophilicity (logD) and solubility early in development. The goal is to predict absorption and formulation behaviour so the most developable candidates are selected.
What LabOperator does
Guides sample and buffer preparation, captures weights and pH readings automatically and hands the documented preparation data to the ELN.
Instruments
Balances, pH meters
Solubility
The science
Determination of the maximum concentration of a compound that dissolves at equilibrium in buffers, biorelevant media or vehicles. The goal is to judge whether enough drug can dissolve to be absorbed, and under which conditions.
What LabOperator does
Guides media and sample preparation, records weights and pH from the instruments and calculates target concentrations, with the full preparation record written back to the ELN.
Instruments
Balances, pH meters
Thermal analysis: DSC
The science
Differential scanning calorimetry measures heat flow into or out of a sample during heating or cooling, revealing melting points, glass transitions, crystallisation and polymorphic transitions. The goal is to characterise solid form, thermal stability and excipient compatibility.
What LabOperator does
Documents sample preparation (captured sample weights, sample IDs) in a guided workflow.
Instruments
Balances for sample preparation
Thermal analysis: TGA
The science
Thermogravimetric analysis records sample mass continuously as temperature rises, capturing weight lost to solvent or water evaporation or to decomposition. The goal is to quantify residual solvent or hydrate content and find the onset of degradation.
What LabOperator does
Documents sample preparation (weights, IDs) in a guided workflow.
Instruments
Balances for sample preparation
Stability studies 5 workflows
The science
- Biorelevant media: tests whether the compound stays intact in simulated gastric and intestinal fluids (FaSSIF/FeSSIF).
- Buffer: measures degradation across a pH range to map the pH–degradation profile.
- Light (photostability): exposes the compound to defined visible and UV doses according to ICH Q1B.
- Oxidation: forced degradation with oxidising agents to identify degradation pathways and degradants.
- Solid state: storage under controlled temperature and humidity to detect chemical or physical-form changes.
What LabOperator does
One guided workflow per study type: captures sample weights and media or buffer pH, labels stability samples at set-up and hands the set-up data to the ELN, where later results such as chromatography reports are added.
Instruments
Balances, pH meters, barcode scanners, label printers
Synthetic & medicinal chemistry
Compound weighing
The science
Recording the exact mass of starting materials, reagents or compounds and calculating net weight and the solvent volume needed for a target concentration. The goal is correct stoichiometry and concentration with a traceable link from balance to experiment.
What LabOperator does
- Opens directly from the experiment or booking tool, pre-linked to the experiment ID.
- Scan the balance ID card to connect it and scan sample barcodes to register samples.
- Weight and tare can only be written by the balance, not typed, protecting data integrity. Pressing the balance’s print key records the weighing.
- Automatic line-jumping enables hands-free weighing series in the cabinet.
- Calculates net weight and required solvent volume, supports device take-over between colleagues and exports to ELN or spreadsheet.
Instruments
Analytical balances, barcode scanners
Weighing for parallel & peptide synthesis
The science
Parallel synthesis builds compound libraries from many simultaneous reactions; peptide synthesis assembles amino acids step by step. Both need fast, error-free weighing of many building blocks, each tied to the right well or vessel.
What LabOperator does
Extends the weighing workflow to many positions, with QR-code balance cards, equipment-registry tag numbers and a dedicated entry point in the lab’s booking tool.
Instruments
Balances, device ID cards, barcode scanners
Reactant weighing & stoichiometry
The science
Weighing the starting materials of a planned reaction and checking them against target amounts and molar ratios. The goal is correct stoichiometry before the reaction starts.
What LabOperator does
- Loads the planned reaction (structures, amounts, ratios) from the ELN into a smart workflow on a handheld or workstation.
- Chemicals are scanned from the inventory, with hazard-handling guidance shown.
- Captures balance masses; fill any two related fields and it calculates the third.
- Colour-codes deviations (green, yellow, red) against a lab-defined tolerance.
- Supports timers, alerts, dictated notes, photos and parallel workflows, with final storage in the ELN.
Instruments
Balances, stirrers, barcode scanners
Product isolation & yield determination
The science
Recording the isolated mass of each product fraction after work-up or purification and calculating yield against theory. The goal is an accurate, traceable yield to evaluate and scale the synthetic route.
What LabOperator does
A fraction step where each product fraction is added and automatically linked to the product structure from the reaction scheme; the balance weight is captured and yield calculated per fraction, stored back in the ELN.
Instruments
Balances
Remote reaction monitoring & control in fume hoods
The science
Tracking the parameters of a running synthesis (temperature, stirring, vacuum, evaporation) and adjusting them remotely. The goal is reproducible reactions, safe unattended or overnight runs and a complete record of conditions.
What LabOperator does
Connects all devices in a hood to one live dashboard: automatic data capture and plotting, remote control (e.g. stop heating, set stirrer speed), webcam pictures for documentation and notifications. Dashboard access follows the hood booking in the external booking tool.
Instruments
Magnetic stirrers/hotplates, rotary evaporators, vacuum controllers, webcams
In-situ reaction temperature profiling
The science
Measuring the actual temperature inside the reaction mixture rather than the hotplate setpoint. The goal is to catch exotherms and setpoint deviations that affect yield, selectivity and safety.
What LabOperator does
Integrates bookable wireless sensors and overlays the in-reaction temperature curve on the existing hood dashboard.
Instruments
Wireless temperature sensors, stirrers
Biology, cell culture & bioprocess
Reagent & buffer weighing
The science
Weighing solids to prepare buffers, media and stock solutions at defined concentrations for biological assays. The goal is reproducible assay conditions.
What LabOperator does
Adapts the weighing workflow to biology needs, with automatic weight capture and concentration calculation.
Instruments
Balances
Cell-culture incubator monitoring
The science
Continuous logging of incubator temperature, CO2, humidity and shaking, with alerts when values leave their limits. The goal is to protect cell lines and keep culture conditions consistent 24/7.
What LabOperator does
Connects incubators via serial interface and the LabOperator Connector Box, with live dashboards and threshold-based email/SMS alerts, replacing a custom in-house IoT solution.
Instruments
Automated cell-culture incubators
Cell-culture metabolite analysis setup
The science
Measuring metabolites and product in cell-culture samples (glucose, lactate, glutamine, antibody titre) to track culture health and productivity. The goal is correctly set-up runs so feeding and harvest decisions rest on reliable data.
What LabOperator does
Converts the analyser’s serial interface to SiLA 2 and provides a workflow that sets up the run (plate layout, method choice), starts and stops it and retrieves the result file.
Instruments
Cell-culture bioanalyser
Lab automation
Automated assay plate processing
The science
An end-to-end microplate workflow: liquid handling, sealing, then timed incubation at defined temperatures. The goal is reproducible timing and temperature across plates without manual handovers.
What LabOperator does
Connects all devices over SiLA 2 (including new drivers) and orchestrates the sequence as one workflow: pipetting, arm transfer, sealing and timed incubation, triggered from the lab’s automation scheduler with email notification at handover.
Instruments
Liquid-handling robot, robotic arm, plate sealer, plate incubators
Photo: Andrej Lišakov / Unsplash
02 · Industry
Specialty Chemicals & Materials
In QC laboratories, gravimetric methods still run on paper and manual transcription. LabOperator turns them into guided, barcode-driven workflows where every weight comes straight from the balance and every result lands in the ERP.
Residue on ignition & loss on ignition
The science
Residue on ignition (ash content) burns a sample in a muffle furnace and weighs the non-combustible inorganic residue; loss on ignition measures the mass lost on heating. The goal is to quantify inorganic or filler content and volatile or organic content against specification.
What LabOperator does
The analyst scans the sample ID to set the reference; the workflow captures every weighing from the balance (crucible, sample, after ignition), runs the standard calculations and returns results to the ERP. A second workstation with its own Connector Box provides redundancy.
Instruments
Analytical balances, barcode scanners
Extraction analysis
The science
Solvent extraction of soluble components (oils, plasticisers, additives) from a sample, determined by weight. The goal is to quantify extractable content against specification.
What LabOperator does
Replaces fully manual paper documentation with a guided workflow: scan the sample ID, capture weights automatically, calculate results and write them back to the ERP. Set up and validated in a test environment before going productive.
Instruments
Analytical balances, barcode scanners
Photo: Alicia Christin Gerald / Unsplash
03 · Industry
Agriculture & Horticulture
Substrate QC spans a central laboratory and several site labs. LabOperator replaces legacy instrument middleware with standardised workflows across sites, with every result reviewed and validated before it is transferred to the LIMS.
Across all methods: a review worksheet lets analysts choose which results are transferred (for example excluding dilution retests), with audit trail, access to historical data, separate QA and production environments, single sign-on and interfaces in three languages.
Water pH & incubated pH
The science
Measuring the acidity of a substrate suspended in water, then again after a set incubation period once amendments such as lime have reacted. The goal is to confirm the product holds the pH range plants need once buffering is complete.
What LabOperator does
Barcode-driven pH workflows; for incubated pH it calculates the incubation time automatically and maps the result to the matching LIMS test. Supports continuous pH acquisition and sending one result to several LIMS samples.
Instruments
Benchtop pH meters
Granulometry (particle-size distribution)
The science
Passing a sample through a stack of sieves and weighing the fraction retained on each. The goal is to control particle structure, which drives air porosity, water retention and drainage.
What LabOperator does
Guides the analyst through the sieve sequence for each material type, captures each fraction weight from the balance, advances by barcode and calculates the distribution.
Instruments
Precision balances
Moisture, dry matter & organic matter
The science
Weighing a sample before and after oven drying, then deriving organic matter from loss on ignition of the dry residue. The goal is to measure water content, which affects sale weight and volume, and the organic fraction that defines product composition.
What LabOperator does
Multi-step weighing workflows that run over several days, capturing each weighing automatically and calculating moisture, dry matter and organic matter.
Instruments
Precision balances
Nutrient & elemental analysis
The science
A combination of ICP emission spectrometry for elements, titration, segmented flow analysis for nitrate, ammonium and phosphate, and combustion analysis for total nitrogen and carbon. The goal is to verify the fertiliser charge and detect contaminants against nutrient specifications.
What LabOperator does
Imports instrument result files (CSV), applies dilution factors, handles reruns and lets the analyst select which results are exported to the LIMS.
Instruments
ICP-OES, automated titrator, segmented flow analyser, CN combustion analyser
Photo: RephiLe water / Unsplash
04 · Industry
Mining & Raw Materials
Environmental monitoring around extraction sites has to be legally defensible. LabOperator puts standardised, norm-referenced sampling procedures on mobile devices so every field measurement is documented the same way, from equipment check to sign-off.
Environmental water sampling with on-site measurement
The science
Water is collected from wells, springs, surface and process water, and pH, conductivity, redox potential, dissolved oxygen, alkalinity/acidity and sensory properties are measured on site, each according to its DIN/ISO method. The goal is legally defensible environmental monitoring with fully documented sampling conditions before the sample reaches the lab.
What LabOperator does
- Guided sampling templates on mobile devices, built from reusable base steps and consolidated into one configurable workflow where one order equals one sample.
- Each run starts with an equipment check against acceptance ranges, for example conductivity against a reference standard.
- Records sampling type, sampling point, devices used and weather, then each on-site measurement with its norm, sensory observations and a final sign-off.
- Integration with the LIMS (sampling tasks in, results back) has been designed as the next step.
Instruments
Portable multiparameter meters, conductivity electrodes, depth samplers, flow-velocity meters (guided manual entry)
Photo: Nathan Rimoux / Unsplash
05 · Industry
Environmental Research & Testing
Environmental analytics combines high-end instrumentation with bioassays and strict sample handling. LabOperator connects chromatography, mass spectrometry, dosing and monitoring equipment into one traceable lab environment.
Trace analysis of environmental contaminants (LC/GC-MS)
The science
Compounds in water or wastewater extracts are separated by liquid or gas chromatography and identified and quantified by UV or tandem mass spectrometry. The goal is reliable detection of micropollutants at very low concentrations.
What LabOperator does
Connects the chromatography systems and autosampler control software, and runs an automated data pipeline that converts raw MS data into HTML/PDF reports, stores them centrally and links them in the ELN.
Instruments
HPLC-UV, LC-MS/MS, GC-MS/MS, robotic autosamplers
Effect-based analysis: AChE inhibition assay
The science
Measuring how strongly a sample suppresses the enzyme acetylcholinesterase, an indicator of neurotoxic substances such as organophosphate and carbamate pesticides. The goal is to catch biologically active contamination that targeted analysis might miss.
What LabOperator does
Connects the autosampler control software that executes the automated assay, so runs and their data are captured in the connected lab environment.
Instruments
Robotic autosampler
Calibration standard & stock solution preparation
The science
Dosing exact amounts of powdered reference substance and solvent to prepare calibration and stock solutions by weight. The goal is accurate, traceable standard concentrations, because every quantitative result depends on them.
What LabOperator does
Connects the powder-dosing system, balance and Bluetooth pipettes so dosed masses and volumes are captured automatically instead of transcribed.
Instruments
Automated powder-dosing system, analytical balance, electronic pipettes
Sample & reagent storage monitoring
The science
Continuous logging of temperature and airflow in fridges, freezers, incubators and biosafety cabinets. The goal is to prove samples and standards stayed within their conditions, and to handle cytotoxic substances safely.
What LabOperator does
Integrates sensors and biosafety cabinets into real-time dashboards with alerts, plus workflows that schedule and document periodic equipment checks.
Instruments
Wireless environmental sensors, biosafety cabinets, pH meters