About Us

We’ve proudly served the life science community for 20 years.

Black Dog Technical Services, Inc. was founded in March 2005, inspired by the suggestions of customers seeking superior service for their FLIPR cellular screening systems. From the beginning, we have focused on treating customers fairly and delivering the highest quality service. This dedication has made Black Dog the trusted choice for many pharmaceutical, biotech, and academic laboratories needing refurbished FLIPR, FLIPR^TETRA, FLIPR^TETRA Plus, and FLIPR Penta instruments, as well as ongoing technical support. We are proud to be celebrating our 20th Anniversary—a milestone made possible by the trust and loyalty of our customers.

A Company Built on Solutions That Solve Real Problems

From the outset, Black Dog Technical Services has been driven by a commitment to practical solutions—finding ways to help customers overcome challenges and achieve better results. One of our earliest service calls illustrates how our commitment to problem-solving shaped the path of our company.

We were asked to refurbish and install a FLIPR 1 system for a small biotech company, which later became part of a major research institution. During this project, we developed our patented air-cooled laser modification. This innovative upgrade replaced the original water-cooled laser—which required three-phase 208V power and consumed three gallons of water per minute—with an air-cooled laser needing only 110V power. The new laser reduced the system’s footprint by half, increased portability, and delivered superior data stability. Remarkably, that same FLIPR 1 system and laser remain in use at our customer’s site 19 years later. Recently, to support their growing research needs, the customer purchased a refurbished FLIPR^TETRA from Black Dog.

Our Growth Has Always Been Fueled by Customer Trust and Referrals

Our greatest asset: the strong relationships we’ve built within the research community. Because this community is small and closely knit, we do very little advertising. Instead, researchers—many of whom become friends—regularly refer Black Dog to colleagues.

Although we often receive requests to service other product lines, we have chosen to remain highly specialized, dedicating our expertise to FLIPR, FLIPR^TETRA, FLIPR^TETRA Plus, and FLIPR Penta systems. We maintain a large inventory of instruments and an even larger stock of replacement parts, ensuring we’re ready whenever a customer needs us.

Supporting Customers Worldwide

Black Dog is based in the United States, but our reputation extends internationally. For instance, a customer in the UK initially hesitated to work with us due to concerns about service costs and response times for overseas support. However, after speaking with other Black Dog customers, they decided to proceed. We installed a refurbished FLIPR 2 for them, which quickly became central to their expanding research. Nine months later, they added a refurbished FLIPR 3 and, last year, a refurbished FLIPR^TETRA. They also purchased an Annual Contract for preventive maintenance and have never needed additional service calls since.

Similarly, a customer in Kyiv, Ukraine, planned to visit our facility for training before installing a refurbished FLIPR^TETRA. When the COVID-19 pandemic made travel impossible, they asked if we could help remotely. Using Zoom, we guided them through the installation, which they reported worked perfectly. Later, they requested additional Zoom support to repair an older FLIPR^TETRA, which we successfully completed. Despite the ongoing war in Ukraine and the need for multiple relocations of their instrument—from Ukraine to Latvia and then Romania—their system continues to perform reliably.

Supplying Quality Consumables for Superior Results

Over time, we learned that FLIPR and FLIPR^TETRA systems deliver optimal results when used with high-quality consumables. To help our customers achieve the best possible data, we began recommending Greiner® plates and Axygen® tips. In 2007, both companies offered us distributorships—an honor we accepted with the commitment to offer these products at minimal markup, ensuring our customers cost-effective access to quality consumables. Today, we ship Greiner products directly from Greiner and maintain an inventory of Axygen 96-well and 384-well tips to promptly serve our customers’ needs.

Staying True to Our Values

All of our success is rooted in the trust our customers place in us, for which we are deeply grateful. While we could easily expand our business and revenue, we have deliberately chosen to remain small, nimble, and focused. This allows us to respond quickly and personally to each customer’s needs, maintaining the same customer-first philosophy that has guided us for two decades.
At Black Dog Technical Services, we look forward to many more years of serving our customers with dedication, innovation, and integrity.

FLIPR, FLIPR^TETRA, FLIPR^TETRA Plus, and FLIPR Penta are registered trademarks of Molecular Devices, LLC. Greiner is a registered trademark of Greiner Bio-One International GmbH. Axygen is a registered trademark of Corning Incorporated.

Meet Our Management Team

Shown left to right: Sean Leen and Tom Leen.

Tom Leen began his career at Eastman Kodak Company. He was part of the design team for the Ektachem^® Clinical Chemistry Analyzer, the leading clinical chemistry instrument used in hospital labs at that time. Later, as Audit Supervisor, Tom was accountable for testing and evaluation of each Ektachem^® instrument before its delivery to the customer. As Senior Field Service Engineer for the company’s clinical chemistry and radiology instruments, Tom managed high-profile accounts such as Duke University Medical Center. Tom gained his extensive knowledge of FLIPR^® systems working at Molecular Devices^® . He later accepted a position with Astra Zeneca^® Pharmaceuticals, where he managed instrumentation for their Lead Discovery Labs. These and other labs at Astra Zeneca were equipped with nine FLIPR^®  instruments. Tom applied his experience with assured quality systems from his days at Kodak, integrating service and design changes to the FLIPR^® instruments at Astra Zeneca. The design modifications improved reliability and performance. Each of the FLIPR^® systems processed at least 200 plates daily and consistently delivered quality data. Tom recognized a need in the industry for quality instrumentation service providers; he founded Black Dog Technical Services™ to provide the type of service that customers need and expect. Tom continues to hold himself and his staff to the highest standards.

Sean Leen
Co-Founder, Black Dog Technical Services

Sean is a graduate of North Carolina State University and played a key role in launching Black Dog Technical Services. While providing quality field service for FLIPR^® instruments, Sean helped to research and integrate new technologies into the FLIPR^® platform. Black Dog customers routinely commend Sean for his strong understanding of their individual requirements and exceptional dedication to their needs. Sean has deep knowledge and technical expertise with FLIPR^® fluorescence microplate readers, FLIPR^TETRA® and FLIPR^® Penta cellular screening systems. Sean prides himself on excellence, and always keeps in mind Aristotle’s quote “Quality is not an act, it’s a habit”.

Marian Leen
Co-Founder, Black Dog Technical Services
Marian co-founded Black Dog Solutions after a successful career as a Registered Nurse. Her extensive organizational and management skills, in addition to her capabilities to react in critical situations, have added another dimension to Black Dog.