Grenova
Grenova
Lab Equipment Innovator
Grenova® is a sustainability company dedicated to revolutionizing the life sciences industry by drastically reducing waste through the washing and reuse of consumable plastics. Grenova empowers laboratories worldwide to adopt eco-friendly solutions that enhance operational efficiency and maximize sustainability impact. Their flagship product, the TipNovus, allows laboratories to wash and reuse pipette tips, which is a game-changer in an industry built around single-use disposables.
“They met the timeline, they came in on budget, and they delivered…maybe even overdelivered.This isn’t my first time hiring firms like this. SPARK brought value in both cost and people that exceeded others I’ve worked with.”
— Rich Pellegrino, Head of Research, Grenova
The Challenge
Grenova has been offering solutions to the market for the past 10 years. The TipNovus was popular with customers and saw a huge spike in sales during COVID as plastic consumables were hard to source. As demand grew and certification requirements evolved, the TipNovus was due for a major update. Customers were struggling with excess noise, inconsistency, and limited capacity for pipette tip types. At the same time, Grenova’s internal engineering team was at capacity. Head of Research, Rich Pellegrino, brought in SPARK to move the redesign forward, quickly, without compromising compliance, manufacturing, or user trust.
The SOLUTION
SPARK stepped in as both a design partner and extension of the engineering team, helping execute on Grenova’s vision for its updated TipNovus, The TipNovus X, while navigating a tight timeline and evolving technical constraints. Working closely with Grenova’s internal team, SPARK:
Identified the root cause of disruptive noise and replaced the machine’s drain pump with a quieter, more efficient alternative
Redesigned the machine’s rear enclosure, separating electronics and pumping controls, creating a seamless, integrated look and improving access for technicians
Integrated requested features, such as UV, in the washer and dryer
Supported manufacturing readiness, ensuring 2D prints were used for quality control to reduce defects at the factory level
Redesigned a very costly wash basin composed of bonded glass and sheet metal into a pure sheet metal base
Worked with the internal Grenova marketing team to update user interface graphic designs to be in line with the new Grenova branding work
Created renders of the product that could be used in marketing materials while the new design was working through CE certification
Connected Grenova with SPARK’s vast network, helping them to find a trustworthy electrical partner
The IMPACT
SPARK delivered an upgraded TipNovus machine that improved performance, usability, and aesthetics, all while aligning with CE certification requirements and codes:
Improved product capabilities: the new product handles both 96 and 384 format tip racks, a major technical leap
Reduced noise by 25 dB, greatly improving the lab experience
Improved performance, user experience, and serviceability, easing the customer adoption process
Used in board presentations as an example of product innovation
Freed up internal bandwidth to focus on other priorities, including Grenova’s PlateNovus and TipLumis products
“At the last minute, I threw them a very big challenge: could the machine also wash the 384 configuration pipette racks? I was in front of the board and said, look, I'll put the challenge out. I don't know if my team can do it, but we're going to give it a shot. And lo and behold, SPARK did it. And that has become a new flagship product for us.”
— Rich Pellegrino, Head of Research, Grenova
WHY IT MATTERS
TipNovus X is more than a lab machine. It’s a category-leading innovation that changes how pipettes are able to be used across research and lab settings. This project shows what’s possible when strategic design meets thoughtful, technical collaboration. By stepping in as a nimble outside resource, SPARK helped Grenova evolve a complex, critical product under pressure, supporting their reputation, revenue, and growth.
