Molecular Devices begins shipping SynchroMax ET Plate Handling Robot

Sunnyvale, Calif., July 15, 2004 - Molecular Devices Corporation (Nasdaq: MDCC), today announced the first shipment of the SynchroMax ET Plate Handling Robot-the latest addition to its line of microplate readers and liquid handling systems. The SynchroMax ET Plate Handler provides walk-away automation for ELISA workstations and cell-based screening units which include a Molecular Devices' SpectraMax® or Gemini microplate reader, AquaMax® dispenser or Embla washer. ELISA and cell-based screening assays make up the largest application segments for life sciences research. With the SynchroMax ET, researchers can run up to 320 microplates uninterrupted in 96-, 384- or 1536-well formats, improving efficiency and freeing up valuable research time.

A complete, automated workstation can be purchased directly from Molecular Devices, eliminating the need to combine instrumentation from multiple vendors. The configuration and installation of the assay workstation by qualified Molecular Devices onsite application scientists provides optimal data quality and throughput.

Molecular Devices' SpectraMax multimode detectors are a standard in academic, biotech and pharmaceutical industry laboratories for life sciences research. Together with SpectraTestTM instrument validation tools and SoftMax® Pro software data analysis and compliance capabilities, migrating automated assay workstations to the GLP/cGMP and FDA 21 CFR Part 11 environment can be achieved quickly.