Across blood and other complex biological samples, upstream cell processing — sorting, washing, and concentration — remains a key bottleneck for automated platforms. Gentle, scalable, and integration-ready solutions are needed to deliver the consistency and quality that modern instruments demand.
Microfluidic cell handling modules
BendBio
BendBio’s inertial microfluidics engine integrates key functions such as cell sorting, washing and concentration into compact, modular units that can be directly embedded into diagnostic instruments and automated bioprocessing workflows.
Challenge(s)
The Customer's Brief
Across diagnostic and bioprocessing workflows, upstream cell handling — sorting, washing, and concentration — remains one of the most critical and underserved steps in automated instrument design. Legacy centrifugation-based methods were not built for the consistency, throughput, or integration requirements of modern platforms.
Traditional centrifugation and bead- or affinity-based methods are:
labor-intensive and difficult to automate
challenging to scale to clinically relevant volumes
potentially harmful to cell integrity and function
For BendBio and its customers, this created several needs at once:
a reagent-free, label-free separation principle that preserves cell viability and function
high-throughput processing of liters of material per hour
reproducible performance suitable for industrial, automated systems
a component design that can be manufactured reliably and cost-effectively at scale
OUR SOLUTION
STRATEC Consumables and BendBio jointly developed and industrialized microfluidic cartridges with precisely defined microstructures, turning a geometrical design principle into a robust, integration-ready engine for cell separation.
Key elements of the solution include:
- Advanced cell handling for cell therapy manufacturing
STRATEC helps translate BendBio’s microfluidic design into precision-manufactured consumables for gentle, scalable, automation-ready cell handling.
Modern bioprocessing and diagnostics demand cell handling solutions that are gentle, scalable, and precise. BendBio's inertial microfluidics platform enables key upstream processing steps — sorting, washing, concentration, and filtration — within closed, compact, automation-ready modules. STRATEC brings the precision engineering and manufacturing expertise needed to faithfully translate BendBio’s microfluidic design intent into robust, reproducible consumables for industrial use.
- Precision that preserves performance
In microfluidic cell handling, performance depends on the faithful realization of microscale geometries and flow paths. Even small deviations can affect hydrodynamic behavior and process consistency. STRATEC’s precision manufacturing capabilities are designed to preserve these critical design features, helping ensure that BendBio’s intended functional performance is maintained from development through scaled production.
- From innovation to industrialization
Together, BendBio and STRATEC have developed microfluidic cartridges that combine advanced inertial flow design with manufacturing processes built for repeatability and scale. STRATEC’s expertise in mastering, high-precision temperature-controlled compression injection molding, advanced bonding, laser welding, and automated in-line process control supports reliable production of complex microstructured consumables.
- Designed for integration into automated systems
gentle, low-stress cell handling to help preserve viability and functionality
continuous, flow-based processing compatible with automation
modular architecture that supports scalable throughput
reproducible consumables performance across production batches
integration into closed-system manufacturing workflows
The resulting platform is well suited for automated diagnostic and bioprocessing instruments that require:
ADVANTAGES
STRATEC’s precision capabilities help ensure that BendBio’s microfluidic designs are translated into cartridge hardware with the geometric fidelity required for predictable performance:
Gentle cell handling
The platform supports key cell handling steps using a flow-based approach designed to preserve cell quality attributes important for downstream bioprocessing and analysis.Scalable throughput
The modular design supports high-throughput processing and scale-out through parallelization, making it suitable for larger manufacturing workflows.Automation-ready integration
Compact cartridge architecture and continuous processing enable integration into automated, closed manufacturing systems.Industrial-grade reproducibility
Automated production and in-line controls support consistent microstructured geometries and reliable batch-to-batch performance.
Disc molding and bonding platform available at STRATEC Consumables for products like BendBio example.
By combining BendBio's microfluidic innovation with STRATEC's precision manufacturing expertise, the partnership delivers a scalable cell handling solution for automated bioprocessing and diagnostics—one that faithfully preserves design intent while enabling robust industrialization.
STRATEC Competences
Involved Services
To realize BendBio’s inertial microfluidics engine as an industrial product, key STRATEC competences were involved:
Design for manufacturability
Translating an academic microfluidics concept into a scalable, cost-efficient component design suitable for mass production.
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Mastering
Development and fabrication of inserts with complex microstructured features for molding.
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Molding
Temperature-controlled compression injection molding for stable, high-throughput flow behavior.
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Bonding
Bonding and laser-welding processes tailored to microfluidic components to ensure robust, leak-tight cartridges.
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Quality & Process Control
Automated production with in-line controls to ensure reproducible geometries and performance, even at the microscale.
