Stop sticky labels from slowing down compound storage
Managing thousands of compounds across discovery chemistry and R&D programmes demands accurate sample identification, reliable traceability, and seamless integration with automated storage systems.
Yet many compound management teams still rely on adhesive vial labels, handwritten identifiers, or expensive pre-labelled tubes that create problems throughout the sample lifecycle.
Requirements of modern compound management workflows
Whether you’re supporting medicinal chemistry, materials science, analytical chemistry, or drug discovery programmes, every sample needs to be:
• Registered and tracked from receipt to disposal
• Linked to compound data within your LIMS or inventory system
• Readable by both operators and automation systems
• Compatible with high-density storage and retrieval platforms
From compound weighing and aliquoting to long-term storage, every vial should remain clearly identifiable.
Common challenges in compound storage labs
Sticky labels cause automation problems
Many compound management teams use adhesive labels to add human-readable information to standard barcoded tubes. Unfortunately, labels can:
• Catch during automated storage and retrieval
• Jam high-density tube racks
• Peel, wrinkle, or become damaged through repeated handling
• Create compatibility concerns with automated stores
For labs operating automated systems from vendors such as Hamilton, Micronic, Azenta or other sample management platforms, even minor label protrusions can impact performance.
Dual-coded tubes are expensive
Pre-labelled and dual-coded tubes provide both machine-readable and human-readable identification, but often come with significant ongoing costs. Many laboratories are looking for more flexible ways to add sample IDs, project identifiers and human-readable text, without being locked into expensive consumables.
Barcodes alone slow manual workflows
Automation systems love barcodes. Scientists don’t always. When technicians are manually sorting compounds, checking racks, performing weighing operations, or preparing assay plates, constantly scanning tubes creates unnecessary effort. Human-readable vial marking allows operators to quickly identify samples without additional scanning steps.
Permanent laser marking for compound management
Laser marking is fast becoming the alternative to physical labels for compund storage environments. The flexibility of laser marking provides multiple benefits whilst eliminating the issues associated with sticky labels.
• Identifiers which are permanent, with no risk of peeling or smudging
• Customisable markings applied in seconds
• It does not affect the vial diameter making it ideal for storage in high-density racks
• It does not degrade over time
• Vials can be fully cleaned with solvent making it compatible with GMP environments
• High resolution marking, enabling robust code reading in downstream automation workflows
Laser marking provides a durable identifier that becomes part of the tube itself. No adhesive labels. No label maintenance. No risk of labels interfering with automation systems.
Labman MultiVial®
Labman’s MultiVial permanently marks tubes and vials with human-readable text, barcodes, and unique identifiers, in seconds. The system can mark plastic or padded glass and handles vials from 1-50ml from almost any vial brand including Azenta, Corning, ThermoFisher, Micronic and many more.
The MultiVial draws information from numerous sources within the system such as the bottom 2D code, the date, the .csv input file, or the weight of the vial owing to an integrated high accuracy balance. This can then be engraved to the side of the vial, even on tiny vials in super high resolution. All without the limitations of sticky labels.
Read more about MultiVial here. Labman MultiVial