Our new a4S Automatic Heat Sealer provides a number of breakthrough advantages:

– First fully electronic heat sealer, no need for pressurized air supply

– SiLA compatible drivers, plug-and-play robotic integration possible

– Unrivalled sealing performance and consistency

– Unrivalled selection of sealing materials by 4titude

– It is to date the most cost-effective Instrument in the market

 

Automatic Heat Sealer a4S

The main advantage of the a4S is that it does not require an air supply, which gives it the flexibility to be placed on a standard lab bench as a stand-alone unit, or integrated within a robotic set‑up. The sealer’s rapid heating element enables a fast start-up, and the stand-by function saves energy when the unit is not in use.

The a4S sealer is compatible with a wide range of SBS footprint plates, including all PCR plate formats from 96well to 1536well, assay plates, deep well storage plates and microplates. Varying plate heights, from 3mm to 60mm can be accommodated with minimal adjustments of the instrument. Plates are presented in the portrait format and the plate position on the shuttle allows good access for robotic integration.

Rolls with a width of between 75—85mm can be loaded in either of two roll positions, depending on roll length and available space, enabling the entire instrument to fit under the gantree of most liquid handling robots.

The width and length of the applied seals are set to precisely cover an SBS footprint plate without interfering with plate stacking. The seal position can be adjusted to give an overhang at one end of the plate to facilitate ease of seal removal.

 

Features

Installation

No need for compressed air — Installation is fast and flexible

2 positions for different roll sizes — Increased flexibility

Optional roll cover — Seal protection for sensitive applications

Handling

Colour touch screen with intuitive user interface — Ease of use

Unlimited password protected protocols — 3 security levels save personalised and SOP set temperatures and times

Rapid heating — Fast start up time, block uniformity is maintained to ± 1°C

Variable time/temperature controls — Adjustment of time and temperature settings enables the perfect seal to be established for any heat sealer friendly plate type

Up to 5,000 seals without manual intervention — True walk-away-system

Sealing

Reproducible sealing — A fixed pressure and accurate time and temperature controls ensure consistent sealing

High sealing pressure — Improved seal uniformity on the widest range of plates

Sealing cycle time of less than 15sec — Time saving

Flexibility

Compatible with a wide range of plate types, from racked tubes to 1536well PCR plates — Highest flexibility

Flexibility of seal material choice — 4titude® offers a wide range of sealing materials, with a variety of properties for use with the a4S

Compatible with gas permeable heat seals — No instrument modification necessary for maximum convenience

Economic efficiency

Competitive pricing — Save money without compromises

Auto standby mode — Saves energy and prolongs component life

2 year warranty on parts and labour

Extended warranty and service contracts available — For peace of mind

 

Plug and Play Robotic Integration

All 4titude® instruments are compliant with SiLA standards for rapid integration of automated systems (www.sila-standard.com). This means they can be “plug and play” connected with other instruments, such as readers, robotic arms and liquid handlers, to give a custom automated system without the need to write expensive custom drivers. The a4S heat sealer is extremely versatile leaving you the freedom to expand and configure your systems such as adding robotic plate handling.

Full communication protocol available — Operate the instrument and record sealing conditions for each seal using the RS232 communication port

SiLA compatible — Quick and easy integration with other SiLA compliant devices using the SiLA driver*
* Available at extra cost. For details please contact 4titude® or your local distributor.

 

Colour touch screen with intuitive user interface – Ease of use

Protocol management function – Unlimited password protected protocols

Compatibility with a wide range of plate types – 2 adaptors supplied for optimal sealing results, custom adaptors available on request

Flexibility of seal material choice – 4titude® offers a wide range of sealing films and foils

2 roll positions for increased flexibility

Small footprint due to internal compressor – Fast and flexible installation, easy integration into automated systems

 

Heat Sealing Applications

Heat sealing is the gold standard method for plate sealing. Not only does it minimise sample loss but also maximises sample security for PCR, qPCR, storage and other applications. Three typical applications for automated heat sealing are outlined below. Please also see our website for the entire portfolio of heat seals.

 

qPCR

Reduce evaporation and save money

The optimised sealing performance of the a4S heat sealer prevents reagent volume loss by evaporation.

Up to a fivefold reduction in the costs of sealing can be achieved when heat sealing with the a4S compared to using caps or adhesive seals – Reliable qPCR results and significant reagent savings.

Clear Seal (4ti-0540) and Clear Weld Seal Mark II (4ti-0573) are widely used for qPCR.

Clear Weld Seal Mark II is particularly designed for Hydrocyclers.

Cell assays and Cell culture

Increase cell viability and assay performance

Heat sealing is the optimal method for cell based assay plates and cell culture plates. It is a proven method for compound storage, particularly in protective gases such as Argon and CO2.

Black Seal (4ti-0525)

Foil based heat seal, coated on the sealing surface with a low fluorescence black pigment.

Ideal for automated handling of light-sensitive samples, e.g. for fluorescence and luminescence detection.

Gas Permeable Seal Mark II (4ti-0598)

Perfect choice for cell culture – allows for optimized gaseous exchange, whilst limiting evaporation.

 

Sample Storage

Strongest resistance against organic solvents

Essential requirements for long term storage include maintaining sample integrity and minimising the risks of sample degradation.

E.g. Foil Seal (4ti-0535), Pierce Seal (4ti-0530), and DMSO Resistant Peel Seal (4ti-0585)

These seals when applied using the a4S heat sealer demonstrate the highest performance in compound storage, drug screening and subsequent sample retrieval.

DMSO Resistant Peel Seal

The first 100 DMSO resistant seal. Pure DMSO can be stored at room temperature for 12 months with this seal with no deterioration of the seal quality.

 

Challenge us – Tailor-made solutions

4titude® stocks one of the widest ranges of sealing solutions for varying applications. We can also design and manufacture custom solutions for specific non-standard sealing requirements. This service includes custom sealer blocks for the a4S and 4S3 heat sealers as well as custom size and specification seal material. Contact us at info@4ti.co.uk.

Download PDF: 4ti-FL-0007_a4S_Automatic_Heat_Sealer_en1_20150617