What BioNex Solutions does

BioNex Solutions, Inc. is a privately held laboratory automation company founded in 2009 and headquartered at 2340 Bering Drive, San Jose, California, where it conducts in-house manufacturing of its entire product portfolio. The company designs and sells modular automation systems for pharmaceutical, biotechnology, agricultural, and diagnostic laboratories, targeting applications including compound management, high-throughput screening, next-generation sequencing, drug discovery, sample preparation, and DNA/RNA extraction. Its core platforms are the Hive Automation Platform — a vertically-oriented modular system that integrates instruments and consumable storage in a compact footprint — and the customizable TaskCel Lab Workstations, both controlled by the proprietary VWorks Automation Control Software that BioNex has continuously developed since acquiring the source code in 2014. VWorks supports 175+ device drivers, 21 CFR Part 11 compliance for regulated environments, and LIMS integration via .NET APIs.

The product ecosystem includes complementary liquid handling instruments (BumbleBee Sample Handler with 1-16 independent pipetting channels; Nanodrop II/Express low-volume pipettors dispensing from 100 nL), microplate devices (HiG Centrifuge reaching 5,000 x g with 100g imbalance tolerance; BeeSure Level Sensing; TubeScale gravimetric measurement), and storage/accessory solutions (HD Stack microplate storage, BeeSmart Kart mobile carts, plus modular components such as carousels, rotators, and de-lidders). BioNex monetizes through hardware sales (often bundled with custom automation design consulting), one-time VWorks software licenses, and recurring warranty/service contracts. The go-to-market combines direct enterprise field sales in the United States with a regional distributor network across Japan (Kiko Tech), South Korea (Bionics), and Australia/New Zealand (Solve Scientific), supported by event-driven demand generation at conferences such as SLAS Europe 2026.

The company is ISO 9001:2015 certified and, via its October 2024 strategic partnership with Biosero, now offers Green Button Go-integrated Hive systems for regulated pharmaceutical environments (first deliveries expected Q2 2025). Market research indicates BioNex was acquired by Eppendorf in 2024, though this has not been formally announced on the company's own channels. Named customers include AnimaBio and Beckman Coulter. The leadership team comprises CEO Antonio (Tony) Lima and Director of Marketing and Applications Richie Huang; Eric Rollins is identified as a co-founder.

Name

BioNex Solutions

Legal name

BioNex Solutions, Inc.

Website

https://bionexsolutions.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

BioNex Solutions designs and manufactures modular laboratory automation systems — including the Hive Automation Platform, TaskCel workstations, and proprietary VWorks control software — for pharmaceutical, biotechnology, agricultural, and diagnostic laboratories performing compound management, HTS, NGS, and drug discovery workflows, selling direct in the US and via distributors in APAC.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Laboratory Automation

NAICS

Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing (334516), Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing (33451)

SIC

Laboratory Apparatus & Furniture (3821), Laboratory Analytical Instruments (3826), Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, And Control (3823)

akta.pro primary industry

Liquid Handling & Laboratory Automation (Pipettes, Robots, Workstations) (HLAGAIAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Lab Automation, Instrument Control & Workflow Orchestration Software (HLAGAJAG), General Lab Equipment (Centrifuges, Incubators, Shakers, Ovens) (HLAGAIAC)

Keywords

• Laboratory automation systems
• Liquid handling instruments
• Microplate handling devices
• Robotic sample processing
• Lab automation software

Headquarters

HQ city

Sunnyvale

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Lab Automation Hardware Sales: Sale of laboratory automation instruments and systems including Hive platform, BumbleBee handlers, HiG centrifuges, Nanodrop pipettors, and system components. Custom system design services bundled with hardware.
2. Software Licenses: VWorks Automation Control Software licensing for scheduling and controlling laboratory automation systems. BioNex obtained VWorks source code in 2014 and continues development.
3. Service Contracts and Warranty: Warranty and service contract offerings for installed systems. Support includes hardware, software, firmware, electrical, and applications assistance.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

BioNex Solutions designs, manufactures, and sells laboratory automation systems and instruments for life sciences research. Its core offerings include the Hive vertical automation platform, TaskCel workstations, the VWorks scheduling and control software, and complementary modules such as the BumbleBee sample handler, Nanodrop pipettor, HiG centrifuge, BeeSure level sensor, and TubeScale. All products are manufactured in San Jose, California and sold to pharmaceutical, biotech, agricultural, and diagnostic research organizations, often with custom automation design services.

Product overview

BioNex Solutions provides a portfolio of laboratory automation products consisting of two core platform systems (Hive Automation Platform and TaskCel Lab Workstations) controlled by VWorks Automation Control Software. The ecosystem includes complementary liquid handling products (BumbleBee Sample Handler, Nanodrop Pipettor), microplate devices (HiG Centrifuge, BeeSure Level Sensing, TubeScale), and storage solutions (HD Stack, BeeSmart Kart, Microplate Carousel) plus various system components. The Hive is a vertical-design modular platform while TaskCel offers customizable workstations. Products are manufactured in San Jose, California and are designed to integrate with third-party instruments and LIMS systems.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Hive Automation Platform: A revolutionary lab automation system with innovative vertical design for integrating instruments and consumable storage in a small footprint.
• TaskCel Workstations
• VWorks Automation Software
• BumbleBee Sample Handler
• Nanodrop Low Volume Pipettor
• HiG Centrifuge
• BeeSure Sample Level Sensing
• BeeSmart Kart
• TubeScale

Products and services

• Hive Automation Platform A modular, vertically designed laboratory automation platform that integrates multiple instruments and consumable storage in a compact footprint, with front/back access for easy loading, maintenance, and integration. Targeted at pharmaceutical, biotech, and diagnostic research labs needing space-efficient 24/7 automation.
• TaskCel Lab Workstations Customizable automation workstations built on the VWorks software platform that optimize microplate handling and material transfer to eliminate idle time in research workflows. For research labs needing flexible, modular workstations.
• VWorks Automation Control Software Scheduling and control software for integrated laboratory automation, with event-driven protocol execution, error recovery, simultaneous protocol running, device pooling, and LIMS integration. Supports 175+ device drivers and 21 CFR Part 11 compliance. Used by research labs operating BioNex and third-party automation systems.
• BumbleBee Sample Handler Automated sample handler with 1–16 independent pipetting channels and rotating sample translators, supporting transfer rates as low as 3 seconds per sample and volumes of 0.5–250 uL. Designed for complex sample transfer applications such as hit picking and cherry picking in screening and genomics labs.
• Nanodrop Low Volume Pipettor High-precision low-volume pipetting system with interchangeable 8- or 16-channel fixed-tip heads dispensing from 100 nL and above. Supports 96-, 384-, and 1536-well plate formats including deep well and crystallography plates. For labs requiring low-volume, high-throughput dispensing.
• HiG Automated Centrifuge High-speed robot-accessible centrifuge reaching up to 5000 x g with imbalance tolerance up to 100 grams, dual-position rotor accepting payloads up to 350 g per bucket, and direct robot access without an intermediate plate loader. For high-throughput automated workflows requiring centrifugation.
• BeeSure Sample Level Sensing System Quality control tool that measures liquid level changes in microplates, tubes, vials, and reagent containers to detect dispensing errors, blocked tips, missing vials, and depth anomalies. Processes 96-well plates in 30 seconds and 384-well plates in 2 minutes. For automated QC of pipetting workflows.
• TubeScale Gravimetric tube volume measurement system for 96-tube SBS-compatible racks, reading a full rack in as little as 4.5 minutes with an integrated ionizer and .NET library for system integration. For automated gravimetric volume verification of sample tubes.
• HD Stack Microplate Storage High-density stacked storage system for microplates in a compact footprint, part of the Hive storage module ecosystem for space-efficient plate storage.
• BeeSmart Kart Mobile Plate Storage Mobile plate storage cart for transporting microplates and consumables between systems or remote locations, with docking capability to the Hive platform for automated material transfer.

Quantifiable outcome

• 96-well plates processed in 30 seconds, 384-well plates in 2 minutes for level sensing
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature9 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and regional.

• BioserocoreTechnology or Integration · 9 October 2024Strategic collaboration to integrate Biosero's Green Button Go (GBG) Scheduler software with BioNex's Hive Laboratory Automation platform. This partnership adds 21 CFR Part 11 compliance capability for regulated environments, enhanced workflow scheduling for cellular-based assays, and LIMS integration. First Hive systems with GBG expected to begin delivery in Q2 2025.
• Kiko Tech Co., Ltd.regionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional distributor for Japan handling sales and customer support for BioNex laboratory automation products.
• Bionics Co., Ltd.regionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional distributor for South Korea handling sales and customer support for BioNex laboratory automation products.
• Solve Scientific Pty Ltd.regionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional distributor for Australia and New Zealand handling sales and customer support for BioNex laboratory automation products.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Hamilton Company: Hamilton is a leading manufacturer of liquid handling robots, automated pipetting workstations, and laboratory automation solutions used across pharma, biotech, and clinical diagnostics. Direct competitor to BioNex in liquid handling workstations and integrated lab automation.
• Tecan: Tecan is a major provider of laboratory automation instruments, liquid handling platforms, and detection systems for life science research and diagnostics. Direct competitor to BioNex in automated liquid handling workstations and lab automation.
• Beckman Coulter Life Sciences (Danaher): Beckman Coulter is a major life science instrumentation company offering liquid handling, automation, and laboratory workflow solutions. Direct competitor and also a documented customer/endorser of BioNex's HiG centrifuge.
• Eppendorf: Eppendorf is a leading life science company specializing in liquid handling, pipettes, and bioprocess equipment. Market research indicates Eppendorf has acquired BioNex, making it both parent and direct peer in liquid handling robotics and lab automation.
• Integra Biosciences: Integra manufactures pipetting systems, liquid handling workstations, and lab automation tools for pharma, biotech, and academic research. Comparable to BioNex as a mid-sized liquid handling and lab automation specialist.
• Azenta Life Sciences (formerly Brooks Life Sciences): Azenta (formerly Brooks Life Sciences) provides automated sample storage, compound management, and laboratory automation solutions. Directly comparable to BioNex in sample storage, microplate handling, and integrated lab automation for pharma/biotech.

Broad incumbents

• PerkinElmer (Revvity): PerkinElmer/Revvity is a broad life sciences and laboratory automation provider with a wide portfolio including analytical instruments, automation platforms, and software. Overlaps with BioNex in lab automation and analytical workflows but at significantly larger scale.
• Agilent Technologies: Agilent provides analytical instruments, laboratory automation, and software for life sciences and diagnostics. Comparable as an incumbent provider of integrated lab automation and analytical solutions, but with much broader scope and scale.
• Sartorius: Sartorius provides bioprocess and laboratory products including liquid handling, cell line development, and lab automation for pharma/biotech. Comparable to BioNex as a lab equipment supplier to biopharma, with deeper focus on bioprocess workflows.

Emerging players

• Biosero: Biosero provides Green Button Go (GBG) Scheduler software for laboratory automation orchestration and workflow management. Strategic technology partner of BioNex as of October 2024, and a software-defined peer in the same lab automation ecosystem.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bionex-solutions

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds3 records

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about BioNex Solutions