RASTRUM™ Allegro

Researchers required significantly higher throughput and reproducibility in 3D cell culture while working with limited cell quantities. This demanded evolving the platform to accommodate reengineered internal layouts for speed and airflow, that would extend capability to produce full 96- and 384-well plates in minutes without increasing footprint, and enable continuous operation across 35+ plates per day. Key requirements included simplified manufacturing, improved serviceability, and enhanced usability. The front access required a complete rethink to enable single-handed operation for extended research sessions. Allegro also demanded an elevation of the RASTRUM design language for the next generation: edge-to-edge glass, flush surfaces, and distinctive colour material combinations.

RASTRUM Allegro features reengineered internal layouts and delivers faster print times—producing 96-well plates in 6 minutes—without increasing its compact footprint. Airflow and component density were optimised to support continuous operation. The sliding front panel, developed through anthropometric analysis and user feedback, enables single-handed plate loading while eliminating workspace obstruction. Precision alignment between tinted glass and anodised aluminium required sourcing and testing from global suppliers to ensure consistency at scale. The console-style interface simplifies operation with intuitive status cues, while integrated top venting supports thermal regulation. A simplified three-panel construction improves serviceability and presents the signature RASTRUM identity through refined edge geometry and material transitions.

RASTRUM Allegro advances disease research by enabling high-throughput 3D cell culture at scale—producing 35+ plates in an 8-hour day while maintaining consistent results (CVs <10%). This efficiency accelerates drug discovery timelines while the system's minimal dead volume maximizes output from precious patient-derived samples, producing 3.5× more models from limited inputs. The design prioritizes environmental responsibility through fully recyclable anodized aluminium construction with non-toxic finishes that require no intermediate processing. The simplified three-panel design improves serviceability and reduces manufacturing complexity, ensuring longevity in laboratory environments while supporting breakthrough research in oncology, regenerative medicine, and personalized therapeutics.

Proprietary drop-on-demand technology places individual cell types and matrix components drop-by-drop, layer-by-layer, now producing full 96-well plates in 6 minutes and 384-well plates in 9 minutes, supporting continuous output of 35+ plates per 8-hour day. Maintains post-print CVs below 10% across architectures; downstream viability assays range from 7.1% to 18.6%, supporting confidence in data integrity. Cartridge-based handling reduces dead volume and reagent waste, enabling up to 3.5× more models from the same sample. Guided experimental setup via cloud-based interface with automated workflows built specifically for biologists ensures consistency while saving valuable time. Supports a wide library of xeno-free, tunable matrices—allowing control over stiffness, degradation, and biochemical signalling. Frameless sliding front access panel enables single-handed operation and prevents obstruction in tightly packed lab environments. Simple user interface with console-style Power, Ready, and Active indicators requiring no buttons to push, providing high visibility during extended workflows. Access system designed through anthropometric analysis to minimise fatigue during repeated plate loading. Integrated well plate nest with active biasing mechanism enables consistent, single-handed plate loading while ensuring precise, repeatable positioning—improving both the user experience and sample consistency. Three-panel external shell enables direct access to internal subsystems for servicing and maintenance. Quick installation with simple connections—USB, power, and compressed air—operational within 10 minutes. Internal layouts support robotic precision, airflow efficiency, and minimise cross-contamination risks. Defined top vent geometry integrated into the enclosure for passive airflow management. Cleanroom-compatible finish with anodised aluminium, pink-tinted glass, rear-printed black panels, and removable surfaces for easy cleaning. Refined RASTRUM design language includes softened corner radii, flush detailing, and distinctive chrome-pink contrast. Slimmed cable track shroud reduces visual mass while preserving transparency into the bioprinting chamber.