LIQUID HANDLING SYSTEMS MARKET ANALYSIS

Global liquid handling systems market size is expected to reach US$ 5,505.3 Mn by 2030, from US$ 3,381.5 Mn in 2023, exhibiting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.2% during the forecast period.

Analyst View: The key market drivers include rising drug discovery activities and increased outsourcing of assays to clinical research organizations. Automation of laboratory processes is expected to drive demand liquid handling systems market as it reduces manual errors and improves efficiency. Integration of liquid handling systems with laboratory information management systems presents an opportunity to further augment efficiency. Also, development of multi-mode systems that are capable of handling diverse sample types could help expand the addressable market. Adoption of liquid handling technologies in emerging areas such as genomics, proteomics and biobanks is likely to support the market growth. Furthermore, increasing research and development (R&D) investments of biotechs in Asia may further propel the Asian market. However, market players need to address cost challenges through innovative financing models to maximize penetration.

 Global liquid handling systems market is segmented into type, product type, application, end user, and region. By product type, the market is segmented into pipettes, reagent dispensers, liquid handling workstations, burettes, microplate washers, and consumables. Among these, pipettes is dominating the segment due to growing genomics and proteomics research.

Global Liquid Handling Systems Market Regional Insights:

• North America is the largest market for liquid handling systems, accounting for a market share of over 37.2% in 2023, the North America has dominated the liquid handling systems market over the past decade, primarily driven by increased R&D expenditure in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries. Growing demand for high-throughput screening and combination drugs will push pharmaceutical companies to invest in automated liquid handling equipment for improved efficiency in research workflows. Expansion of clinical diagnostics testing volume will also propel demand from hospitals and clinical laboratories.
• Europe is the second-largest market for liquid handling systems, accounting for a market share of over 26.5% in 2023 and the Europe liquid handling systems market is projected to witness significant growth over the forecast period driven by increasing R&D investment in pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries. Northwestern European countries such as Germany, U.K., and France dominate the region's market due to presence of major players and increasing global medical research investments. However, Central and Eastern European nations are expected to showcase higher growth rates during the assessment time frame buoyed by growing lab automation adoption across various end-users.
• Asia Pacific is the fastest-growing market for liquid handling systems, accounting for a market share of over 21.1% in 2023 this is due to the increases in pharmaceutical and biotech research and development expenditure across major Asia Pacific (APAC) economies. China and India are expected to see the fastest expansion in R&D expenditure which will boost demand for automated liquid handling systems. Increased regulatory approvals for new drug development are also supporting market growth. However, shortages of skilled lab technicians and high initial installation costs of liquid handling systems may restrain the market to some extent. Opportunities lie in expanding applications outside of core drug development into areas such as diagnostics, forensics, and academic research

 Figure 1. Global Liquid Handling Systems Market Share (%), By Region, 2023

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Global Liquid Handling Systems Market Drivers:

• Automation: Automation is significantly impacting the global liquid handling systems market as it allows for greater productivity, precision, and efficiency. With automated liquid handlers, tedious and repetitive manual tasks can be performed quickly and accurately by machines. This enables researchers and lab technicians to focus on more complicated tasks that require human insights. Automated systems can handle tiny volumes of liquids with high accuracy and transfer them between multiple wells of plates at an extremely fast pace. They minimize human errors and ensure consistency in experimental results. Many industries like healthcare and pharmaceutical that rely on complex research and development (R&D) have greatly benefited from automated liquid handling systems.
• Growing demand from pharmaceutical & biotechnology companies: The demand for liquid handling systems is witnessing significant growth from the pharmaceutical and biotechnology sector. The nature of work in drug development and precision laboratory research requires a high degree of accuracy when handling tiny volumes of liquids. Liquid handling automation allows for consistent delivery of micro-liter volumes of reagents and samples in a way that minimizes errors. This helps improve productivity and reliability of experimental outcomes in fields like genomics, proteomics, and drug discovery. Pharmaceutical companies are engaged in complex processes like high-throughput screening that requires loading thousands of well-plates accurately with different compound mixtures for testing. Liquid handling systems can complete such repetitive tasks far more efficiently than manual methods, thus saving valuable time and resources. As drug development cycles continue to shorten with increased competition, automation offers a means to expedite the drug discovery workflow.
• Increasing R&D investments in life sciences: Growing investments in research and development (R&D) activities in the life sciences sector is a major factor fueling the demand for global liquid handling systems market. Life sciences R&D heavily relies on automation and precision afforded by liquid handling equipment to process large volumes of samples efficiently and accurately in various applications such as genomics, drug discovery, clinical diagnostics, and regenerative medicine. As biopharmaceutical and biotech companies pour more money into developing innovative drugs, therapies, and diagnostic tests year-over-year, their dependency on liquid handling systems has increased substantially. Moreover, in June 2023, according to data published by the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations, the pharmaceutical industry invested more than US $ 45,621.2 million (€42,500 million) in R&D in Europe in 2021.
• Technological advancements in liquid handling systems: Technological innovations are improving the accuracy, efficiency, and automation of liquid handling systems. Advanced electronic pipetting systems offer greater reproducibility and throughput as compared to older manual methods. Integrated liquid handling workstations combine with multi-channel electronic pipettes, microplate washers and stackers, thereby providing fully automated processing and freeing up labor for other tasks. As assays become more complex and high-throughput screening grows in pharmaceutical research and medical diagnostics, demand is increasing for systems that can precisely dispense numerous reagents across thousands of samples simultaneously.

Global Liquid Handling Systems Market Opportunities

• Emerging markets in Asian countries: Rapid growth and development of biotechnology and healthcare sectors across various Asian countries has significantly boosted the demand for liquid handling systems in recent years. Rising incomes and growing investments in scientific research and development, nations like China, India, South Korea, Singapore, and others are emerging as important hubs for biotech innovation and medical breakthroughs. This has prompted pharmaceutical, diagnostics and research organizations across Asia to augment their in-house research capabilities through investments in advanced laboratory automation technology including liquid handling equipment. Several Asian governments have also been encouraging domestic biotech firms through favorable policies and funding to contribute towards developing affordable healthcare solutions and addressing public health priorities.
• Integration of robotics with liquid handling systems: Global liquid handling systems market has traditionally relied on manual labor intensive processes for applications like fluid transfer, dispensing, pipetting, and microplate handling. However, with advances in robotics, there is a possibility to automate these repetitive tasks through integration of robotics with liquid handling equipment. Robotics can help improve precision, accuracy, and throughput while reducing human errors in applications like high-volume dispensing and screening of chemical and biological samples. Researchers are working on developing affordable robots with advanced vision capabilities that can seamlessly coordinate with existing liquid handlers to form a fully automated workflow from start to end. This level of integration can significantly boost lab productivity and efficiency
• Product Launches: Product launches present a major opportunity for growth in the global liquid handling systems market. As the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries continue to advance, the need for precise and automated liquid handling is paramount. New product lines that enhance accuracy, throughput, and functionality can fill important needs as lab workflows become more complex. Moreover, increasing launches of liquid handling systems by key market players are expected to propel the market growth over forecast period. For instance, in September 2023, Scientific Laboratory Supplies Ltd (SLS)., a U.K. based independent supplier of chemicals, laboratory equipment, and consumables, e-launched the Eppendorf epMotion range for automated liquid handling systems, a leap forward in liquid handling technology. In a landmark decision, SLS had earned the unique privilege of being the exclusive distributor for this eagerly awaited product line.

Global Liquid Handling Systems Market Trends:

• Miniaturization of liquid handling systems: The trend of miniaturization in liquid handling systems is having a significant impact on the market. As lab spaces continue to shrink and demand grows for portable devices, companies are developing increasingly small and compact liquid handling solutions. This allows scientists to conduct complex biochemical analysis and procedures outside of traditional lab environments. Miniaturized products take up less bench space and many are small enough to fit in the palm of a hand, thus enabling field and on-site work. For example, companies like Labexpo manufactures an extensive range of Laboratory Equipment & Analytical instrument, are developing handheld devices for rapid pathogen testing that can be used directly in hospitals, thereby allowing for faster diagnosis and treatment decisions for patients.
• Increased adoption of electronic and mechatronics components: Adoption of electronic and mechatronic components in liquid handling systems is enabling greater precision, automation, and data integration capabilities. Traditional mechanical systems that relied on manual handling are increasingly giving way to smart automated solutions that leverage digital technologies. The use of electronic sensors, actuators, programmable logic controllers, and human-machine interfaces is allowing for advanced process control and monitoring in new age liquid handlers. Precision robotic arm assemblies equipped with force sensors are enabling consistent pipetting, dispensing and liquid transfer even with evolving viscosity and other parameters. Integrated optical sensors and image recognition systems further optimize process validation checks and sample tracking. Mechatronic components powered by machines and software are also reducing human errors and thus ensuring harmonized handling of multiple parallel sample preparations.
• Cloud-based liquid handling workstations: The life sciences industry has seen a rise in demand for automated liquid handling systems that streamline laboratory workflows and improve reproducibility. Traditionally, these systems that are involved on-premise instruments are high-cost and took up physical space in laboratories. However, new cloud-based liquid handling workstations are radically changing the conduction of research. By enabling remote access and sample processing via cloud-connected instruments, scientists can leverage liquid handling as a service without investing in physical devices. This flexibility and lower upfront investment are attracting more end-users, particularly small to mid-sized laboratories and academic research groups with limited budgets. Moreover, in November 2021, PerkinElmer, Inc., a global leader committed to innovating for a healthier world, launched its PKeye Workflow Monitor, a cloud-based platform enabling laboratory personnel to remotely manage and monitor their PerkinElmer instruments and workflows in real-time. Through instant notifications and remote web-access, this platform provides users with confidence that their samples are moving efficiently through extraction, quality control, and liquid handling processes.

Global Liquid Handling Systems Market Restraints:

• High capital investments required for liquid handling systems: The high capital investments required for liquid handling systems is significantly restraining the market growth. Liquid handling systems involve costly equipment, machinery, and instruments that automate the processing of liquids in laboratories. These systems consist of standalone instruments such as micropipettes, dispensers, liquid handlers, and robotic systems as well as their associated consumables like tips, plates, reagents, and others. Setting up a fully automated liquid handling system can cost anywhere between half a million to few million dollars depending on the workflow automation levels, integrate equipment and throughput requirements.
• Budget constraints in research laboratories: Budget constraints in research laboratories are significantly restraining the growth potential of the liquid handling systems market. Most public and government funded research institutes have seen stagnant or reduction in their research budgets over the past few years. With inflation, the real value of budgets is eroded and the researchers have had to make tough choices and prioritize essential equipment and consumables over relatively expensive new technologies. Liquid handling systems, which automate several fluid transfer, dispensing and storage tasks, demand substantial upfront investment running into several tens of thousands of dollars. While they offer advantages like higher throughput, reproducibility and reduced manual errors over the long run, the high initial cost makes them difficult to justify for labs struggling with constrained resources. Expanding the scope of research or taking up additional projects would require new liquid handlers, but limited budgets have prevented many labs from procuring these capital intensive instruments.
• Lack of skilled professionals: Global liquid handling systems market has been witnessing steady growth over the past few years. However, lack of availability of skilled professionals who can efficiently operate advanced liquid handling equipment has emerged as a major challenge restricting the faster growth of this market. Liquid handling systems are becoming more complex with integration of robotics, automation, and software control and data analysis. Their efficient operation requires professionals with expertise and hands-on experience in fields like laboratory medicine, life sciences research, and bioprocessing. Unfortunately, there is a severe shortage of such skilled technicians, researchers and engineers available in the market. According to data published by American society for microbiology in 2021, the need for laboratory professionals is expected to grow by 11% between 2020 and 2030, a rate of growth considered faster than the overall average of all other healthcare occupations.

Counterbalance: As a result, to overcome this challenge, the key market players should bring in skilled and effient professionals who are efficient in operating the advanced liquid handling systems.

Figure 2. Global Liquid Handling Systems Market Share (%), By Product Type, 2023

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Recent Developments:

Product Launch/Approval:

• In July 2023, Revvity (formerly PerkinElmer, Inc.) a company specializes in designing, manufacturing, and marketing measurement devices and analytical instruments for the healthcare, environmental, scientific research, industry and food sectors, launched the Fontus Automated Liquid Handling Workstation, a next-generation liquid handler incorporating the best technologies from Revvity’s existing platforms, that is designed to deliver easier and faster workflows which enable better results for next generation sequencing (NGS) and diagnostic research applications.
• In June 2022, Beckman Coulter, Inc., a subsidiary of Danaher Corporation, a manufacturer of biomedical testing instrument systems, launched the Biomek NGenius liquid handling system, which automates manual library construction and reagent transfers to free up technicians and researchers to focus on other tasks. The product combines the optical analytics of Dynamic DeckOptix technology and a head-up display to guide users with real-time feedback on guided labware placement.
• In February 2022, DISPENDIX, a BICO company, introduced the I.DOT HT non-contact dispenser and the L.DROP liquid handler at SLAS (Society of Laboratory Automation and Screening) 2022. The I.DOT HT builds on the core technology of the I.DOT, by expanding the source well layout to a 384 format to support the management of compound libraries at large pharmaceutical and smaller biotechnology companies.

Collaboration/Agreement

• In August 2023, Starlab International develops and manufactures high quality pipette tips, pipettes, gloves, and other laboratory products for research and development; acquired the remaining shares of Life Systems Design, a distributor of products for research laboratories. Life Systems Design is one of the world's leading manufacturers of liquid handling laboratory products.
• In June 2023, Biosero a company developing automation solutions for laboratories and Analytik Jena, a provider of analytical, bioanalytical and optical systems for industrial and scientific applications, entered into a comarketing agreement to promote applications of their combined laboratory automation technologies. Analytik Jena offers innovative laboratory instrumentation for numerous scientific applications. The CyBioFeliX platform allows liquid handling in automated laboratory setups and is suitable for several applications.

Top Companies in Global Liquid Handling Systems Market:

• Qiagen N.V.
• Danaher Corporation
• PerkinElmer, Inc.
• Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc.
• Eppendorf AG
• Sartorious AG
• Merck KGaA
• Agilent Technologies.
• Biosero
• Starlab International
• DISPENDIX
• Tecan Group Ltd
• Hamilton Company
• Agilent Technologies
• Aurora Biomed
• BioTek Instruments

Definition:  Liquid handling systems are laboratory instruments that are designed to automate the process of dispensing, aspirating, and transferring liquid samples in various research and clinical applications. These systems are crucial for tasks that involve precise and repetitive manipulation of liquids, such as in genomics, drug discovery, diagnostics, and other life science research.