Formulation and development
Develop better coatings, faster with laboratory automation designed around your formulations, processes and R&D objectives. Labman connects dosing, mixing, dispersion and testing workflows to increase throughput, improve reproducibility and generate higher-quality experimental data. From formulation optimisation to high-throughput screening, our tailored automation solutions help coatings manufacturers manage complexity, respond to raw material changes and advance data-driven development.Formulation & Development
Automation across the formulation workflow
Automate the coatings formulation workflow, from raw material dosing and mixing through dispersion and high-throughput screening. Labman systems improve consistency, repeatability and efficiency, enabling structured experimentation, richer data and faster formulation optimisation.Formulation optimisation
Systematically explore formulation variables, ingredient combinations and processing conditions to identify promising coating compositions.- Automate recipe preparation and experimental execution.
- Support design of experiments (DoE) and structured screening.
- Compare formulations using consistent preparation methods.
- Accelerate optimisation through higher-quality experimental data.
Raw material dosing & DAC mixing
Automate the preparation of complex formulations through controlled ingredient dosing and integrated dual asymmetric centrifugal (DAC) mixing workflows.- Handle multiple raw materials and formulation components.
- Improve dosing consistency and mixing repeatability.
- Reduce manual intervention during sample preparation.
- Support efficient preparation of small-scale formulations.
High-throughput screening
Expand experimental capacity by preparing and processing multiple formulations within a connected automated workflow.- Increase the number of experiments completed per development cycle.
- Screen formulation variables more efficiently.
- Reduce repetitive manual laboratory operations.
- Generate comparable datasets to support faster decisions.
Characterisation & screening
Connect automated sample preparation with relevant analytical and characterisation processes to evaluate coating properties.- Standardise sample handling and preparation.
- Support consistent comparison of formulation performance.
- Integrate measurement steps where compatible with laboratory methods.
- Generate structured data for optimisation and model development.
Dispersion & milling
Automate dispersion and milling workflows to support controlled, repeatable preparation of coating samples.- Standardise processing conditions across experiments.
- Investigate the influence of dispersion parameters on performance.
- Improve consistency between samples and experimental batches.
- Integrate processing steps into wider automated workflows.
Labman expertise
Enabling your workflow
Bring the precision, speed and safety of formulation and development to your laboratory.Tailored laboratory automationEvery formulation workflow is different. Labman combines proven, standardised technologies with bespoke system design to automate processes around your materials, methods and objectives.
Our modular approach enables systems to evolve as formulations, experimental requirements and development priorities change.
Precision dosing & mixingImprove control over formulation preparation with automated raw material handling, accurate dosing and controlled mixing.
Repeatable preparation reduces operator variability and supports consistent evaluation across complex formulations, ingredients and experimental conditions.
High-throughput experimentationIncrease experimental capacity by automating repetitive laboratory tasks and enabling multiple formulations to be prepared and evaluated efficiently.
Explore wider formulation spaces, accelerate screening programmes and generate more comparative data without proportionally increasing laboratory workload.
Connected workflows & data qualityConnect formulation preparation, processing and characterisation into integrated laboratory workflows.
Standardised execution and structured data capture improve traceability, support reproducible experimentation and provide a stronger foundation for data-driven and AI-enabled R&D.
Key services
Lab technology that suits everyone
Automate formulation and development workflows to accelerate innovation, improve reproducibility and generate higher-quality data.Custom projectsLabman are experts at creating technologies for your lab that work exactly as you need them to, with no compromises.
ProductsBrowse our ever-growing catalogue of off-the-shelf products transforming the lab processes you use everyday - explore now.
Process skidsWorking in GMP? Need manufacturing scale? Our experienced team creates skid technology that fits your workflow.
SoftwareFDA-compliant software, custom web apps, full LIMS integration - our software team works at all scales.
AkzoNobel
“Labman are very professional for resolving requirement and issues and have innovation ideas in the whole process not only during the building robot but also for reality services.” — Tony HuangR&D Project Leader II - Automation
We take our role seriously
The technologies we develop enable some of the world's leading scientists, often in endeavours that are at the cutting edge of some of the most vital fields. We pride ourselves on being able to product high quality, robust technologies that meet the standards expected by even the most demanding industries.Our projects and working practices are covered by our comprehensive quality management system and dedicated team. We're also fully compliant with both ISO9001 and ISO13485, so you can rest assured that your project is in good hands.
Learn morePrevious projects
Explore our portfolioExplore custom projects
We’ve produced 100s of unique pieces of revolutionary technologies for laboratories worldwide. Each of these harnesses Labman’s unique ability to design for a specific workflow and to integrate tools that customer’s know well in an automated way.LASH
Paint Application and Testing SystemThe system combines three dedicated workcells that create coated test panels, analyse coating properties and perform durability assessments.
ILFC
Formulation SystemA formulation and characterisation system designed to handle a range of powders and viscous liquids/slurries. The system is suited to serve a range of industries.
XFBD
Alexion LitreLab PrepSuiteA bespoke, automated platform designed for Alexion to produce customisable feedstocks for use in laboratory Reactor Skids, helping to streamline and accelerate drug discovery
MCOPUK
The Horizon MiniThe Horizon Mini™ automates large-scale sample production of Liquid Nanoparticles (LNP) using Micropore’s AXF™-Mini mixing devices.