Eppendorf epMotion® 5070 Compact Automated Liquid Handler

The Eppendorf epMotion 5070 Compact Automated Liquid Handler stands as the most space-efficient and user-friendly entry point into the world of laboratory automation, specifically engineered for researchers and technicians who require the precision of Eppendorf’s legendary manual pipettes in a fully automated, walk-away format. As the smallest member of the renowned epMotion family, this compact workstation is designed to fit seamlessly onto virtually any laboratory benchtop, requiring a mere footprint of 65 x 48 cm, making it an ideal solution for laboratories where space is at a premium, such as university research labs, clinical diagnostics settings, and biotech startups. Despite its small stature, the epMotion 5070 does not compromise on performance; it utilizes Eppendorf’s proprietary air-cushion (gas piston) pipetting technology, the very same principle found in their high-end Research Plus and Xplorer plus manual pipettes. This ensures that liquid handling protocols developed manually can be transferred directly to the robot without reprogramming or loss of accuracy. With a volume range spanning from 0.2 µL to 1,000 µL depending on the dispensing tool selected, the system delivers highly accurate and reproducible results for a wide array of routine molecular biology and biochemistry applications, effectively eliminating the physical strain and subjective errors associated with repetitive manual pipetting tasks like PCR/qPCR setup, serial dilutions, reagent distribution, and sample normalization.

One of the defining features of the epMotion 5070 is its intelligent operational design, centered around user safety, error prevention, and flexibility. The workstation is equipped with a sophisticated optical sensor system that performs a comprehensive pre-run check before any liquid is moved. This sensor verifies that all labware—such as tubes, plates, and tip racks—are positioned correctly on the deck, identifies the type and volume of tips loaded (including whether they are filter tips), counts the number of available tips in partially used racks, and even detects liquid levels in source containers to ensure sufficient volume is present for the protocol. This "check-before-you-run" functionality significantly reduces the risk of costly run failures and experimental repetition. The deck itself features four ANSI/SLAS standard positions, supplemented by virtual positions, allowing for flexible configuration of experiments involving tube-to-plate transfers, plate reformatting, and cherry-painting. Furthermore, the epMotion 5070 supports automatic tool exchange for up to two dispensing tools (e.g., a single-channel and an 8-channel tool, or tools covering different volume ranges), allowing the system to switch tools mid-protocol without user intervention. The dispensing tools themselves are based on the classic Eppendorf air-cushion system, offering free-jet dispensing to minimize cross-contamination, and they are fully autoclavable to maintain sterile conditions, particularly important for cell culture applications. The system is controlled either via the standalone EasyCon controller, which features a color touch screen for intuitive operation, or the MultiCon PC controller for advanced programming, network integration, and data management, both utilizing a drag-and-drop based software interface that requires no prior coding knowledge.

The practical impact of the epMotion 5070 in the daily laboratory workflow is profound, particularly for high-repetition tasks that demand consistency. In molecular biology, it excels at constructing PCR and qPCR master mixes, distributing primers and probes, and normalizing DNA/RNA samples to specific concentrations with CVs often below 2% at 1 µL. For cell-based assays, the 5070 model (including the 5070 CB variant designed for placement inside biosafety cabinets) can automate media changes, cell seeding, and reagent additions for cytotoxicity or growth curve assays, ensuring higher reproducibility between replicates compared to manual handling. The software, epBlue, comes pre-loaded with method assistants for common tasks, allowing users to start running experiments within minutes of installation, while also offering the depth to create complex, customized scripts for unique workflows; additionally, the software can be upgraded to include barcode tracking and modules compliant with GxP guidelines and 21 CFR Part 11 for regulated environments. By automating these tedious front-end processes, the epMotion 5070 not only increases the throughput and reliability of the data generated but also liberates skilled personnel to focus on data analysis, experimental design, and other high-value scientific tasks. It represents a perfect balance of German engineering precision, compact design, and intelligent simplicity, bridging the gap between manual pipetting and full-scale high-throughput automation.

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