Automation and Robotics: Addressing the Skilled Labor Shortage in German Labs
The German laboratory sector faces a significant challenge: a chronic shortage of Medical Technological Assistants (MTAs). In response, 2026 has seen a massive investment in Laboratory Automation.
Modern German labs now feature fully automated "track systems" that handle samples from the moment they are uncapped until they are archived.
These systems utilize robotic arms for centrifugation, aliquotting, and loading into analyzers. Automation is not just about speed; it significantly reduces the margin of error associated with manual handling. By automating routine tasks, laboratories can redirect their limited human experts toward complex "exception handling" and specialized diagnostics, such as mass spectrometry or manual microscopic differentiation, where human clinical judgment remains irreplaceable.