Ahlstrom and Hamilton collaborate to advance fully automated Dried Blood Spot sample processing

Ahlstrom, a global leader in fiber-based specialty materials, and Hamilton AG are collaborating to drive the next generation of laboratory automation for Dried Blood Spot (DBS) sample processing. This collaboration combines Ahlstrom’s proven specimen collection solutions with the Hamilton easyPunch STAR platform. Together, the companies aim to elevate DBS cards as a practical, high-performance alternative to traditional liquid blood sampling—while delivering higher levels of automation, beginning with punching, and ensuring complete sample traceability from collection through final processing.

Fully automated DBS workflows hold particular promise across key application areas, including nutrigenomics, newborn screening, veterinary diagnostics, and agrigenomics. Ahlstrom and Hamilton are committed to supporting these fields by developing seamless end-to-end automated solutions enabling fully unattended workflows capable of processing hundreds of DBS cards without operator intervention.

Leveraging decades of expertise in DBS card manufacturing, Ahlstrom provides automation-optimized card formats while upholding its gold-standard tissue paper specifications. Following the acquisition of EBF, Ahlstrom is also the manufacturer of 903™ cards, the reference card for DBS applications. The acquisition has further strengthened Ahlstrom’s capabilities in specimen collection, card manufacturing, advanced printing, sequential numbering and custom packaging.

Through this collaboration, Ahlstrom and Hamilton are setting a new standard for efficiency, reliability, and scalability in DBS sample processing—helping laboratories unlock greater throughput and consistency across critical testing applications.

”For our customers, the value of this collaboration is in connecting high-quality specimen collection with the next steps in the laboratory workflow. By working with Hamilton, we can help laboratories move toward more efficient and scalable DBS processing while maintaining the consistency and reliability they require,” said Tamara Quatrano, Vice President, Lab & Lab Science, Ahlstrom.

“Combining Hamilton’s automation expertise with Ahlstrom’s DBS specimen collection solutions gives laboratories a practical path to reduce manual handling and process larger sample volumes with greater consistency and traceability. Together, we are exploring how automation can create value across a range of DBS applications,” said Roberto Fantozzi, Director Commercial Excellence, Hamilton AG.

For further information, please contact:

Annemiek Voorzee
VP, Communications and Marketing
annemiek.voorzee@ahlstrom.com

Ahlstrom in brief

Ahlstrom is a global leader in combining fibers into sustainable specialty materials. Our purpose is to Purify and Protect, with Every Fiber, for a Sustainable World. Our vision is to be the leading Sustainable Specialty Materials Company for all our stakeholders. Our three Core divisions, Filtration & Life Sciences, Food & Consumer Packaging, and Protective Materials, address global trends with safe and sustainable solutions. Our net sales in 2025 amounted to EUR 2.9 billion and we employ some 7,000 people. Read more www.ahlstrom.com.

Hamilton in brief

For more than 75 years, Hamilton Company has been a global life sciences leader in the design and manufacturing of precision measurement devices, automated liquid handling platforms, and sample management solutions. Headquartered in Reno, Nevada, with key manufacturing and R&D affiliates in Bonaduz, Switzerland, Franklin, Massachusetts, and Timisoara, Romania, Hamilton serves the scientific community through a robust network of sales and support offices worldwide.

Hamilton's expertise spans across liquid handling, process analytics, robotics, and automated storage, providing the foundational tools necessary for groundbreaking scientific research and clinical discovery. By combining the best-quality materials with skilled workmanship and a lifelong commitment to ISO 9001-certified precision, Hamilton ensures the highest level of performance and reliability. Hamilton remains dedicated to driving innovation and satisfying the evolving needs of laboratories across the globe, maintaining a steadfast focus on quality and customer success.