An electrophoresis console which includes within it: a capillary array with a plurality of capillaries that can be filled with an electrophoresis medium; and a fluid handling system for injecting said capillaries with said electrophoresis medium or other fluids, the console is characterized in that it further comprises: a) a plurality of externally accessible vertically stacked drawers (11, 12) for holding sample plates or buffer plates in said electrophoresis console; and b) an x-z mechanical stage motion control system built into the console that is arranged to move said sample plates or said buffer plates from any one of said drawers (11, 12) to injection electrodes and capillary tips of said capillary array and back, said stage motion control system comprising: - a stage carrier; - x-direction guide rails; - a first motor for moving the stage carrier in the x-direction along the x-direction guide rails towards and away from the drawers (11, 12); - a tray carrier for holding the sample plate or buffer plate; - z-direction guide bars; - a second motor for moving the tray carrier in the z-direction up and down the z-direction guide bars. a capillary array with a plurality of capillaries that can be filled with an electrophoresis medium; and a fluid handling system for injecting said capillaries with said electrophoresis medium or other fluids, the console is characterized in that it further comprises: a) a plurality of externally accessible vertically stacked drawers (11, 12) for holding sample plates or buffer plates in said electrophoresis console; and b) an x-z mechanical stage motion control system built into the console that is arranged to move said sample plates or said buffer plates from any one of said drawers (11, 12) to injection electrodes and capillary tips of said capillary array and back, said stage motion control system comprising: - a stage carrier; - x-direction guide rails; - a first motor for moving the stage carrier in the x-direction along the x-direction guide rails towards and away from the drawers (11, 12); - a tray carrier for holding the sample plate or buffer plate; - z-direction guide bars; - a second motor for moving the tray carrier in the z-direction up and down the z-direction guide bars. a) a plurality of externally accessible vertically stacked drawers (11, 12) for holding sample plates or buffer plates in said electrophoresis console; and b) an x-z mechanical stage motion control system built into the console that is arranged to move said sample plates or said buffer plates from any one of said drawers (11, 12) to injection electrodes and capillary tips of said capillary array and back, said stage motion control system comprising: - a stage carrier; - x-direction guide rails; - a first motor for moving the stage carrier in the x-direction along the x-direction guide rails towards and away from the drawers (11, 12); - a tray carrier for holding the sample plate or buffer plate; - z-direction guide bars; - a second motor for moving the tray carrier in the z-direction up and down the z-direction guide bars. - a stage carrier; - x-direction guide rails; - a first motor for moving the stage carrier in the x-direction along the x-direction guide rails towards and away from the drawers (11, 12); - a tray carrier for holding the sample plate or buffer plate; - z-direction guide bars; - a second motor for moving the tray carrier in the z-direction up and down the z-direction guide bars.