Aurora Microplates, a Zeon company, announced that its CELLAZIP™ microplate coating received the Best in Showcase award at the 2026 LRIG-NYC Spring Expo, presented by the Laboratory Robotics Interest Group of New York City.
The Best in Showcase award recognizes the exhibitor who demonstrates exceptional innovation, technical excellence, and value to the laboratory automation community, highlighting technologies, products, or solutions that make a significant impact on advancing scientific research, laboratory operations, and automation workflows. Throughout the exhibition, a panel of secret judges comprised of experienced laboratory automation professionals, scientists, and industry experts visit exhibitor booths and assesses each submission on innovation, scientific and technical merit, practical application, user benefit, and overall presentation quality. The winner is selected through group consensus.
CELLAZIP is a ready-to-use, non-biological microplate coating for reproducible cell-based assays in screening, imaging, and research. Developed by Zeon and applied to the ZEONOR® Cyclo Olefin Polymer (COP) base in Aurora's microplates, it supports adherent cell culture without the animal-derived sourcing, cold-chain storage, or lot-to-lot variability of biological coatings like poly-D-lysine (PDL), collagen, laminin, and fibronectin. Stable at room temperature for 24 months.
We are honored to be recognized by the laboratory automation community. Scientists told us they needed a coating they could trust lot to lot and keep on the shelf without a freezer, and CELLAZIP delivers exactly that. This award belongs to the team that made it real and to the customers who pushed us to build it."
Larry Atupem, Vice President, Aurora Microplates
CELLAZIP is available in two coatings. CELLAZIP-F serves as an alternative to poly-D-lysine for neural cells, cell lines, and primary cells. CELLAZIP-G serves as an alternative to fibronectin for cardiomyocytes, stem cells, and muscle cells.