Whether you build compact point-of-care analysers, high-throughput lab equipment or robust systems for hospital environments, you need automation components that are clean, reliable and easy to integrate.
SMC’s Life Science team combines a global network in more than 80 countries with a portfolio of over 700,000 components covering pneumatics, microfluidics, thermal control, high-purity gas and liquid handling. This means you get everything from a single source: standard parts, highly integrated manifolds and fully customised assemblies designed specifically for your device.
Our engineers understand the realities of life science applications: strict regulatory requirements, limited installation space, aggressive media, the need for quiet operation and long service life. We work with you from concept to series production to turn your processes into stable, repeatable and automated sequences.
Automation solutions built for the life science industry
You need advanced automation solutions, durable high-purity components and miniature elements designed for space-constrained life science and medical devices.
Whether you are a specialised lab, an OEM start-up or a global multinational, we put at your disposal:
Materials that handle even the most aggressive liquids
We use high-performance materials to ensure safe, reliable liquid handling, even with aggressive, corrosive or high-temperature media. These include fluoropolymer tubing and fittings for outstanding chemical and heat resistance, stainless steel for corrosion-prone environments and elastomers such as FKM, FFKM and EPDM for critical seals.
Together they create fluid paths that resist acids, solvents and cleaning agents while maintaining media purity, extending service life and supporting CIP/SIP and other demanding life science processes.
Fluid handling systems
Our fluid handling systems combine valves, pumps, sensors and manifolds to deliver precise microlitre control. Chemical-resistant isolation and pinch valves protect sensitive reagents, while micro-dispense pumps ensure highly repeatable dosing.
Integrated into custom composite manifolds, these components reduce internal volume and connections, improving flushing and response times, simplifying assembly and supporting stable, reproducible performance in sample preparation, reagent dosing and washing.
Quiet temperature control equipment
Sensitive life science and medical devices need stable temperatures and low noise. Our thermo-chillers and peltier-based units keep reagents, optics and electronics within tight temperature limits, often within a fraction of a degree.
Quiet, low-vibration operation makes them ideal for analyser cabinets, imaging equipment and laboratories, while functions such as flow monitoring and intelligent control help maintain consistent thermal conditions over the equipment lifecycle.
Acrylic products for high-purity applications
For high-purity applications, we design acrylic and engineered-plastic manifolds that integrate flow paths and components into a single compact block. Transparent acrylic allows easy visual inspection of flow, bubbles and contamination.
By optimising internal channels and integrating valves, fittings and sensors, these manifolds reduce dead volume and leak points, supporting high-purity, low-contamination designs in analytical instruments and diagnostic devices.
Special pumps for precision dosing
Our special pumps are designed for applications where every microlitre counts. Fixed-shot solenoid and diaphragm pumps deliver highly repeatable discharge volumes for reagent dosing, spot dispensing and microplate handling.
Their compact design simplifies integration into tight spaces or manifolds, while robust construction ensures long service life. Combined with our valves and sensors, they form reliable, easy-to-control dosing modules.
Miniature valves for compact medical and lab devices
Microvalves are key to modern, compact life science equipment. We offer miniature isolation valves for aggressive liquids and compact 2-port and 3-port solenoid valves for air, oxygen and inert gases.
With small footprints, low power consumption and long cycle life, these microvalves are ideal for portable medical devices, NIBP monitors, oxygen concentrators, training simulators and compact analysers, delivering low switching noise and precise control for better user comfort and stable measurements.
