The Rothamsted Research systems were installed and commissioned in 2008. The first module gravimetrically feeds pre-ground, freeze-dried plant material into Micronic tubes and GC vials. The system uses a novel method of powder feeding which eliminates any cross contamination between samples and also required no new consumable types. The system is designed to dispense 1mg of freeze-dried Arabidopsis to an accuracy of +/-0.05mg.