Curiox at SLAS 2026

Bring Centrifuge-Free Automation to Your Liquid Handler with C-FREE™ Pluto CODE

Exhibitor Tutorial · February 9, 2026 · 2–3 PM EST

Curiox Booth #2140

EXHIBITOR TUTORIAL

Replace Your Centrifuge with a Pipette Robot:

Centrifuge-Free Automation with C-FREE™ Pluto CODE

February 9, 2026 · 2–3 PM EST

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Automation teams are removing the centrifuge as the last manual bottleneck in cell processing. This tutorial introduces C-FREE™ Pluto CODE, a software library that enables any commercial liquid handler to perform gentle, reproducible cell washing without centrifugation.

Using validation data from AstraZeneca and ETH Zurich, attendees will see how pipette-based washing achieves SOP-equivalent performance in 96- and 384-well formats , using programmable wash physics rather than hardware spin-force. The session will demonstrate how Pluto CODE standardizes washing, reduces variability, and accelerates assay transfer across sites. 

The session will also show how Pluto CODE integrates with liquid handlers such as Hamilton, Tecan, Beckman Coulter, Opentrons, and others, providing a consistent software-defined wash protocol that harmonizes cell-based workflows across labs and operators.

Designed for automation engineers, integration specialists, and research scientists, the tutorial combines peer-generated data, workflow demonstrations, and implementation insights to showcase the practical path to deploying centrifuge-free automation in biological workflows. 

Speakers: 

  • Ozzie Civelekoglu, PhD, AstraZeneca
  • Bernd Wollscheid, PhD, ETH Zurich
  • Chyan Ying, PhD, Curiox Biosystems

By the end of this session, participants will understand:

  • How Pluto CODE enables centrifuge-free washing on commercial liquid handlers
  • Data from AstraZeneca and ETH Zurich demonstrating reproducibility and gentle cell handling
  • How software-defined washing reduces operator variability and supports consistent assay transfer across sites 
  • How centrifuge-free workflows scale from 96-well to 384-well throughputs

What We’re Showcasing at SLAS 

C-FREE Pluto CODE

Centrifuge-free cell sample prep now comes from software, not machines

Pluto Code is a script library that adds centrifuge-free washing via controlled wash physics to commercial liquid handlers including Hamilton, Tecan, Beckman Coulter, Opentrons, & more — no hardware upgrades required.

  • Scalable across your fleet—no hardware changes 
  • Standardizes wash parameters across users, labs, and sites 
  • Reduces hands-on workflow time  
  • Reproducible washing through fine-motion, geometry-controlled liquid exchange 
  • Simplifies automation by removing complex centrifuge integrations 
  • Affordable and easy to adopt through simple software installation 

Explore Pluto Code →

High-Throughput Automation

Pluto Code and Pluto HT Workstation now support up to 384-well throughputs.  

Automate high-throughput screening or cell processing with our new 384-well compatible Pluto Code or Pluto HT Workstation.

  • Precision-controlled wash and mix routines for 96- and 384-well formats 
  • Enables centrifuge-free cell processing in higher throughputs 
  • Equal or improved wash uniformity and recovery performance on 384-well plates 
  • Supports high-throughput automated screening and assay development 
  • Add 384-well washing to your existing liquid handler or try our turnkey workstation

“We had automation but we were still carrying plates between instruments, centrifuging, flicking, and resetting the workflow. Washing was the missing link.”

– Dr. Ryan Duggan, Scientist at AbbVie

About C-FREE™ Pluto Technology

C-FREE technology replaces the centrifuge with a pipette-driven wash mechanism: 

  • Uses controlled flow-rate pipetting, not centripetal force 
  • Reduces shear stress on cells 
  • Enables gentle washing directly on-deck 
  • Standardizes wash steps independent of operator technique 

Learn More about C-FREE™ Technology

Who Should Visit the Booth 

  • Automation engineers 
  • Integration specialists 
  • Screening and assay-development groups 
  • Flow core facilities 
  • Cell-analysis researchers 
  • Flow cytometry scientists 
  • Teams planning to scale workflows to 384-well or fleet-wide automation 

About SLAS 2026 in Boston 

The Society for Laboratory Automation and Screening’s (SLAS) flagship International Conference & Exhibition is returning to Boston’s Thomas Michael Menino Convention & Exhibition Center from February7112026. Recognized as a mustattend event for lifesciences discovery and labautomation professionals, SLAS2026 will bring together more than 7,500 researchers and technology experts. The week features preconference short courses and a Technology Provider Showcase on February78, followed by a dynamic exhibition and eight scientific tracks during the main conference days. Attendees will experience a fastpaced exhibition of the latest products, supplies and automation solutions, alongside expertled educational sessions, networking events, and recognition programs such as the SLAS Innovation Award.