In late 2013 Labman delivered the world’s first fully automated metabolite extraction system to a large research institute in the USA. The system automatically processes samples from leaf through to phase separated extract in GC vials, ready for analysis. The system is used for the preparation of plant tissues and subsequent polar and non-polar metabolite extraction assays. Samples are produced ready for analysis on LC-MS or GC-MS instruments. The process is complex and laborious to undertake manually.