Fluidigm today announced
that its Singapore biochip factory has manufactured and shipped more than 250
million microscopic NanoFlex™ valves. The 250 million valves built into
Fluidigm's integrated fluidic circuits (IFCs) would be equivalent to the
number of valves required for all the conventional plumbing - both residential
and commercial - in a metropolitan region the size of the San Francisco
Bay Area.
Fluidigm's NanoFlex valves stop or release the flow of liquids containing
genetic samples and reagents in microfluidic chips. These chips are used by
life science researchers to conduct endpoint, real-time and digital PCR analyses.
Scientists utilize this technology to explore everything from individual stem
cells and cancer cells, to the traits of tomatoes being grown for your local
grocery store shelf. These manufactured valves are so small and precise that
they can isolate a single cell or DNA molecule, permitting researchers to detect
the mutation of a cell into a cancerous state much earlier than standard techniques,
or non-invasively detect Down syndrome in a fetus.
“Fluidigm's integrated fluidic circuits are now being broadly used
by leading life science researchers and companies around the globe,” said
Gajus Worthington, Fluidigm president and chief executive officer. “Our
IFC technology is delivering on the promise of tiny plumbing to enable breakthroughs
in life science research today and into the future. This technology is revolutionizing
many facets of life science by making existing workflows dramatically faster,
better, cheaper and easier to accomplish.”
In 2005, Fluidigm opened Singapore's first biochip factory and it is
now the world's leading manufacturer of microfluidic devices. Today, the
factory manufactures both IFCs and associated instruments/systems, as well as
conducts research and development in coordination with the company's South
San Francisco operations.
Worthington noted that when Fluidigm first came to Singapore it found a supportive
partner in Singapore's Economic Development Board. “Having the Singapore
government ready, willing and able to help us, led to the creation of a world-class
biochip manufacturing site with a world-class staff - resulting in a world-class
outcome,” concluded Worthington.
“We are proud that Fluidigm has made Singapore its sole site to develop,
manufacture and distribute high-density microfluidic chips for global biomedical
research. Leveraging Singapore's engineering talent base, supply chain management
capabilities and pro-business environment, Fluidigm and leading global medical
technology companies are well-positioned to harness growth opportunities in
Asia and beyond," said Mr. Beh Kian Teik, Director, Biomedical Sciences,
Singapore Economic Development Board.
“I never doubted that one day biochip manufacturing would move into the
mainstream and that Fluidigm's Singapore factory would be leading the
parade,” said Grace Yow, Fluidigm vice president of worldwide manufacturing
and Fluidigm Singapore's managing director. “Our multi-layer soft
lithography manufacturing builds on technologies developed in the semiconductor
industry. Singapore has a stellar reputation for its semiconductor manufacturing
capabilities, so we were confident that we could find and train highly-skilled
workers to build high-quality, high volume biochips for the life science industry,”
Yow added.