Automated Liquid Handling Systems Market - Global Outlook & Forecast 2024-2029

MARKET OVERVIEW

The global automated liquid handling systems market was valued at USD 1.46 billion in 2023 and is expected to reach USD 2.56 billion by 2029, growing at a CAGR of 9.82%. The rising adoption and use of automation in laboratories for clinical, research, academic, and industrial purposes boost the market growth year-on-year. In addition, advances and evolving laboratory development and manufacturing changes accelerate the adoption of ALH systems, positively impacting the automated liquid handling systems market growth. Laboratory automation is a rapidly growing sector across the globe. The major and prime factors driving industrial growth are the growing awareness about laboratory automation and associated benefits and significant R&D activities in biotech, pharma, medical devices, and medical device companies that significantly fuel the demand for ALH systems.

An automated liquid handling system (ALH) is laboratory equipment that performs liquid transfer through technology and systems. These advanced systems offer precise sample preparation for high throughput screening or sequencing, powder or liquid weighing, etc. Automated liquid handling systems accounted for higher demand from significant laboratories from pharmaceutical, clinical, and other laboratories. Specifically, major biopharma companies' need for ALH systems is significantly high. The application of the ALH system can take human variables out of pipetting and offer more precision and repeatability, reducing errors, improving records and tracking, increasing reproducibility and throughput, and improving the overall lab operations.

MARKET TRENDS & OPPORTUNITIES

Integration of AI, Machine Learning, and cloud Services
Globally, research and diagnostics laboratories are becoming automated, delivering future opportunities to enhance research. Integration of artificial intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML,) and automation into automated liquid handling systems are some of the emerging trends the market is witnessing globally. AI has improved lab automation significantly in the past few years. Most of the laboratory efforts aim to achieve high-quality research and boost efficiency in the shortage of skilled laboratory professionals.

Technology Advancements in Automated Liquid Handling Systems
The automated liquid handling systems industry is witnessing huge research & development (R&D) in advanced technologies for contactless liquid handling functions. The technology advancement in the industry encouraging and attracting huge consumers. Most automated liquid handler systems are used in pharmaceuticals and biotechnology companies due to the rapid development in these industries. Where technologically advanced tools are welcomed. For instance, Formulatix- a market player- introduces two automated liquid handling systems with advanced liquid handlers such as Flow Axial Seal Tip (F.A.S.T.) and FLO i8—these technologies offer significant benefits.

Increasing Adoption of Lab Automation Solutions
Lab automation is crucial in enhancing R&D procedures in the fast-paced scientific and research landscape. By automating streamlined workflows and repetitive tasks, laboratories achieve higher accuracy and efficiency in regular operations. In recent years, the laboratory field has constantly evolved with automation.

Increasing Research & Development in Life Sciences & Drug Discoveries
The life science, pharmaceutical, and biotechnology sectors have witnessed continuous research & development activities, which pose a high-cost burden, workforce shortage and lack of expertise, wastage of chemical material, and many more. The rising expenditure and investment in life sciences industries are accelerating the demand for most specialized laboratory equipment that reduces human error and increases possibilities of clear screening and effective result delivery. These factors accelerate demand for the most reliable automated liquid handling lab equipment proven for screening molecules.

Complexity in Lab Procedures and Demand for Miniaturization
Miniaturized analytical equipment is an advanced lab solution that allows a laboratory to expand the number of smaller samples that can be analyzed daily. Miniaturized technology can adjust more instruments in the same infrastructure. It can lead to fast and robust result analysis.

SEGMENTATION INSIGHTS

INSIGHTS BY INSTRUMENT TYPE
The global automated liquid handling systems market by instrument type is segmented into workstations and standalone instruments. Workstations are the ALH systems, consisting of several tools that deliver several facilities in one ALH system. This reduces the extra cost of several other liquid handling systems and saves the lab space. Pharmaceutical and biotech research and manufacturing company labs are going through highly stringent regulations that demand high-tech solutions where workstation systems are proven effective.

INSIGHTS BY APPLICATION
The drug discovery and development application segment dominated the global automated liquid handling systems market in 2023. ALH systems have become the most important automated lab equipment for clinical studies across the biotech and pharmaceutical industries, specifically in screening millions of tests and compound analyses. Pharma and biotech companies invest billions of dollars in clinical studies where human or lab equipment errors can lead to significant cost burdens and failure of new drugs. It fuels the demand for automated liquid handling systems in drug discovery and development procedures.

INSIGHTS BY END-USERS
The global automated liquid handling systems market by end-users is segmented into pharma & biotech companies, academic & research laboratories/centers, clinical diagnostics laboratories, and others. The demand for ALH systems is high by pharma and biotech companies due to continued engagement in clinical studies and R&D activities where ALH systems have proven effective. In 2023, the pharmaceutical and biotech companies segment had the highest segmental market share. But apart from that, academic research institutes that run publicly or privately highly demand types of ALH systems for research and academic purposes and highly contribute to market growth.

GEOGRAPHICAL ANALYSIS

North America holds the most prominent share of the global automated liquid handling systems market, accounting for over 33% in 2023. In North America, the demand for ALH systems is significantly high due to the increasing preferences for lab automation tools, high-tech infrastructure of laboratories, increasing investment in laboratories, presence of pharma & biotech companies, and high expenditure on diagnosis. On the other hand, the development of healthcare industries and the growth of associated clinical laboratories with high-tech equipment integration and smart and digital infrastructure are some of the factors that accelerate the market growth in the region.

The European region is significant in the global automated liquid handling systems market. Most European labs are advanced with infrastructure, workflow, adoption of digital tools, implementation of different automated lab instruments, and others. Laboratories are growing in overall industries with the adoption of technologically advanced equipment. Lab automation is a key strategy of several laboratories in the European market.

VENDOR LANDSCAPE

The global automated liquid handling systems market has witnessed highly competitive rivalry among market players. Globally, the presence of leading, rapidly growing, and emerging market players impacts the market landscape. Several market players showed continuous dominance over the market, and some companies are trying to achieve more market penetration and share. Based on the huge competitive landscape, leading companies accepted and implemented several business strategies focusing on expanding market share and presence.

Acquisitions, collaboration, partnerships, and co-agreements are the major business strategies implemented by several leading industry players. On the other hand, emerging and small market players are looking for advanced product launches and merger activities. The key vendors in the global automated liquid handling systems market are Agilent Technologies, Beckman Coulter, Eppendorf, Hamilton Company, and Thermo Fisher Scientific. Further, Agilent Technologies, one of the key players in the market, helps scientists in around 110 countries with cutting-edge life science research, patient testing, and diagnostics to ensure the safety of pharmaceuticals. The company offers a comprehensive range of product portfolios in the clinical and diagnostics testing product segment. In the automated liquid handling systems industry, the company offers AssayMAP bravo ALHS systems for biopharmaceutical companies, which is one of the company’s popular ALH product platforms in the global markets.