Syngenta Deploys ATLAS Robot to Accelerate Product Development and Tank-Mix Testing
Automation platform enhances testing accuracy, speeds up product innovation, and improves customer support
18 June 2026, North Carolina: Syngenta has introduced its proprietary Application Technology Laboratory Automation System (ATLAS), an advanced robotic platform designed to transform tank-mix compatibility testing and accelerate product development. Developed and refined in-house, the ATLAS system delivers greater consistency, precision, and efficiency in evaluating agricultural product mixtures before they reach the market.
The automated platform is capable of processing between 500 and 600 tank-mix combinations every month, a volume that would require several months to complete through conventional manual testing methods. ATLAS manages the entire testing workflow, including sample preparation, mixture imaging, and detailed analytical assessments, generating highly repeatable and objective results.
By eliminating the variability associated with manual evaluations, the system supports faster decision-making during product development while helping ensure that new solutions meet customer expectations for handling, compatibility, and field performance.
“ATLAS is another example of how Syngenta is innovating across every stage of the R&D process, including application technology,” said Stephanie Schwenke, Turf Market Manager at Syngenta. “By automating and standardizing tank-mix evaluations, we can generate meaningful insights faster, reduce subjectivity, and provide greater confidence for customers making application decisions.”
Beyond supporting pre-commercialization testing, the ATLAS platform also serves as a valuable troubleshooting tool. When customers encounter unexpected tank-mix performance issues that are difficult to replicate, the system can recreate specific application conditions using customer-supplied water sources, adjuvants, or other variables. This capability enables Syngenta researchers to investigate challenges such as sedimentation, nozzle blockage, mixing order interactions, and other spray-tank dynamics under controlled laboratory conditions.
The data generated through these investigations contributes to a growing historical database, helping technical teams diagnose issues more efficiently and provide science-based recommendations to customers.
According to Mark Coffelt, Ph.D., Head of Technical Services for Syngenta Professional Solutions in North America, the ATLAS platform is part of the company’s broader innovation strategy focused on integrating research, digital technologies, and real-world application insights.
“The ATLAS system strengthens Syngenta’s ability to deliver science-backed solutions that help customers operate more efficiently while improving the quality and reliability of product recommendations,” Coffelt said.
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