Biofortuna boosts lyo bead output threefold with bespoke robotic manufacturing and QC system
24 Feb 2026
Kathryn Marshall, Quality Manager and Chris McCarthy, Development & Manufacturing Manager at BeadBot's™ installation at Biofortuna's main laboratory
Point-of-care diagnostics is reshaping the way healthcare is delivered, driving demand for faster results, decentralized testing, and scalable manufacturing. To meet this demand Biofortuna, an independent UK CDMO, has developed a bespoke robotic manufacturing and quality control system which will increase lyo bead output threefold.
The Wales based diagnostic specialist has been at the forefront of lyo development for almost two decades and is now increasing its focus on bead technology.
Lyo beads are robust spheres of single dose reagent, perfectly suited to point-of-care diagnostics, that remove the environmental impact of cold chain. To maximize the benefits of the single dose nature of lyo beads, customers increasingly require the beads to be packed individually, for picking and packing into microfluidic devices.
This new robotic addition to the team, known as BeadBot™, accurately singularises large batches of beads and packs them individually. An optical check then ensures no omissions or doubles, delivering 100% accuracy at a rate of 20 beads per second.
BeadBot™ has been specifically designed for this process and created in partnership with the Welsh Government’s 'SMART Flexible Innovation Support' initiative.
Chief Operating Officer for Biofortuna, Dr Nick Leaves, commented, “The addition of BeadBot™ will further strengthen our bespoke manufacturing infrastructure, accelerating our market penetration in a rapidly growing and essential segment of the diagnostics market. This is great example of what can be achieved when government and industry work together.”