Picus 2 Electronic Pipette: Sartorius focus on ergonomic liquid handling

Sartorius puts its long-running Picus 2 electronic pipette in the spotlight, aiming at labs that need precise, ergonomic and programmable liquid handling for daily workflows in the U.S. and worldwide.

Responsible: ad hoc news Classics & Long-sellers Desk. Reviewed prior to publication on June 14, 2026 at 3:13 PM ET. Details in the imprint.

The Picus 2 electronic pipette from Sartorius Stedim Biotech is a long-established workhorse for laboratories that demand precise and reproducible liquid handling. The battery powered pipette combines electronic volume setting, lightweight construction and ergonomic design to reduce strain during repetitive pipetting tasks. Sartorius positions the Picus 2 as a flexible platform with both single-channel and multichannel variants, allowing labs to standardize workflows from low to higher throughput on one pipetting family. For U.S. buyers, the Picus 2 is available from major lab distributors, typically starting around $700 to $900 per unit depending on configuration, according to reseller listings checked in mid-June 2026.

What the Picus 2 electronic pipette is designed to do

Picus 2 is built for accurate dispensing of small liquid volumes in research, quality control and clinical labs where manual mechanical pipettes may limit throughput or introduce hand fatigue. The device uses an electronic piston drive to set and execute aspiration and dispensing cycles, which can help reduce user-to-user variability compared to purely manual pipettes. Sartorius states that Picus 2 meets ISO 8655 requirements for piston-operated volumetric apparatus, giving labs a defined performance framework for accuracy and precision. The pipette line covers volume ranges from as low as 0.2 µL up to 10,000 µL depending on model, allowing one product family to span microliter-scale molecular biology work and higher volume workflows such as buffer preparation.

A core element of the Picus 2 design is its ergonomics. The housing is lightweight, and the handle shape is contoured to fit the natural grip of the hand, while the low-force tip ejection mechanism is intended to reduce strain on the thumb. Sartorius highlights that the center of gravity is close to the hand to improve balance during extended use and that the electronic trigger reduces repetitive thumb movements compared with traditional mechanical pipettes. For labs where staff pipette for several hours per day, this kind of ergonomic focus can be an important factor in reducing discomfort and supporting occupational health policies, particularly in high-throughput molecular biology and cell culture labs.

The Picus 2 interface is centered on a small color display and a multi-button control layout that allows users to switch between pipetting modes and adjust parameters such as volume, speed and mixing cycles. The pipette offers several built-in modes, including standard pipetting, reverse pipetting, multi-dispensing, dilution and mixing, which can streamline protocols that would otherwise require manual timing and multiple hand movements. Users can store frequently used programs to reduce setup time for routine assays, helping to standardize processes across different operators. Single-channel versions are typically used for tasks such as qPCR plate setup, ELISA sample preparation or reagent additions in microtubes, while 8-channel and 12-channel models target microplate workflows common in screening and diagnostic labs.

Sartorius also emphasizes compatibility with a broad range of tips, including its own Safetyspace filter tips and standard non-filter tips, provided they match the appropriate size for the pipette model. Using manufacturer-recommended tips can support the specified accuracy and precision levels, especially at low volumes where tip geometry and fit matter. Careful tip selection is particularly relevant in sensitive workflows such as PCR setup, where aerosol-resistant filter tips can help reduce cross-contamination risk. For GLP-compliant environments, regular calibration and performance checks are essential; Sartorius and third-party providers offer calibration services and guidelines to keep Picus 2 units within specification.

How Picus 2 fits into Sartorius Stedim Biotech's pipetting portfolio

Within the Sartorius pipetting portfolio, Picus 2 sits as a premium electronic option alongside the company’s mechanical pipettes like Proline Plus and Tacta, which target labs preferring classic manual instruments. While Proline Plus focuses on durability and everyday manual pipetting, and Tacta emphasizes comfort in a purely mechanical format, Picus 2 extends these concepts with electronic control and programmable functions aimed at intensively used workflows. This layered portfolio allows Sartorius to address a wide range of customer preferences from small academic labs to regulated biopharma environments.

Compared with earlier Picus models, Picus 2 introduces updated electronics and firmware designed to support easier software updates and expanded functionality over its lifecycle. Sartorius documentation points to improved user interface elements and mode handling, while keeping backward compatibility with many existing accessories and charging solutions where applicable. This approach can help existing Picus customers upgrade gradually without discarding their entire accessory base, an important cost consideration for labs that maintain fleets of pipettes across multiple benches and locations.

In the U.S. market, Picus 2 is typically sold through established scientific distributors and e-commerce platforms that specialize in life science equipment. These distributors often list multiple configurations, including single-channel units in the 0.2-10 µL and 10-300 µL ranges and multichannel variants tailored to 96-well plate formats. Pricing varies with channel count and volume range, but listings around $800 for mid-range models are common in June 2026, with occasional promotional discounts for bundle purchases. For procurement managers, this allows Picus 2 to be introduced initially on a limited scale, for example on a single workflow, and then expanded once performance and acceptance in the lab are confirmed.

Independent lab product reviews and vendor application notes frequently highlight the Picus family’s balance of ergonomics and precision as a key selling point. Users in molecular biology and cell culture workflows often cite reduced hand fatigue during multi-plate pipetting sessions, while QC labs refer to the reproducibility of electronic pipetting modes when meeting standard operating procedures. At the same time, electronic pipettes can require more structured maintenance than basic mechanical models, including regular charging, battery health monitoring and occasional firmware updates, which labs need to factor into their equipment management routines.

From a strategic perspective, the Picus 2 line reinforces Sartorius Stedim Biotech’s positioning as a provider of integrated tools for bioprocessing and laboratory workflows rather than only large-scale bioreactor and filtration systems. Pipettes are an entry point into Sartorius ecosystems for smaller research groups and academic labs, potentially building brand familiarity that can later support purchasing decisions in more capital-intensive categories. Shares of Sartorius Stedim Biotech (FR0013154002, ticker SARTF) traded at around $19.50 on the OTC market in the United States on June 13, 2026, based on recent over-the-counter quotation data.

Picus 2 electronic pipette at a glance

• Product: Picus 2 electronic pipette
• Manufacturer: Sartorius Stedim Biotech
• Category: classic long-seller laboratory pipette
• Launch date: Originally introduced before 2023, with ongoing availability as of mid-2026
• MSRP / Price: Commonly listed around $700 to $900 per unit in the U.S., depending on channel count and volume range (as of mid-June 2026)
• Availability: Sold via Sartorius distributors and scientific e-commerce platforms serving the U.S. market
• Target audience: Research, quality control and clinical labs requiring precise, ergonomic and programmable pipetting
• Key feature / USP: Electronic, ergonomic pipette family with multiple pipetting modes and volume ranges, designed to reduce hand strain while supporting reproducible liquid handling

This article was created with a.i. assistance and editorially reviewed. Product information is provided without warranty; prices and availability may change at any time. Not investment advice, not a buy or sell recommendation. Trading in securities carries risks up to the total loss of capital.