An automated instrument for processing liquid samples, comprising: a sampling area for receiving said samples and reaction vessels; an analytical area provided with a first device resource comprising at least one analytical device for analyzing said samples; a reaction area comprising a conveyor provided with a plurality of holders for storing reagent containers for containing reagents and an incubator configured for receiving one or more of said reaction vessels for incubating said samples contained therein, wherein the holders are arranged in an annular row surrounding a central region, wherein the incubator is disposed in the central region, and wherein the incubator is stationary with respect to the reaction area so that the conveyor can be moved with respect to the incubator; a second device resource comprising first functional devices comprising a first gripper for gripping said reaction vessels and a first pipettor for pipetting liquids, said first functional devices being adapted to have access to said sampling area and said reaction area so as to transfer said reaction vessels from said sampling area to said incubator and to pipette samples and/or reagents into said reaction vessels; a third device resource comprising second functional devices comprising a second gripper for gripping said reaction vessels and a second pipettor for pipetting liquids, said second functional devices being adapted to have access to said reaction area and said analytical area so as to transfer reaction vessels from said incubator to said analytical area and to dispense and/or withdraw one or more liquids to/from said reaction vessels transferred to said analytical area; a first transfer arm movable in a first direction and being provided with a first transfer head movable in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction for mounting the first functional devices (50, 51), and a second transfer arm movable in the first direction and being provided with a second transfer head movable in the second direction for mounting the second functional devices (50', 51'); a controller, configured for operating said first to third device resources for processing one sample wherein at least two of said device resources are at least temporarily operated in parallel for processing two or more samples. a sampling area for receiving said samples and reaction vessels; an analytical area provided with a first device resource comprising at least one analytical device for analyzing said samples; a reaction area comprising a conveyor provided with a plurality of holders for storing reagent containers for containing reagents and an incubator configured for receiving one or more of said reaction vessels for incubating said samples contained therein, wherein the holders are arranged in an annular row surrounding a central region, wherein the incubator is disposed in the central region, and wherein the incubator is stationary with respect to the reaction area so that the conveyor can be moved with respect to the incubator; a second device resource comprising first functional devices comprising a first gripper for gripping said reaction vessels and a first pipettor for pipetting liquids, said first functional devices being adapted to have access to said sampling area and said reaction area so as to transfer said reaction vessels from said sampling area to said incubator and to pipette samples and/or reagents into said reaction vessels; a third device resource comprising second functional devices comprising a second gripper for gripping said reaction vessels and a second pipettor for pipetting liquids, said second functional devices being adapted to have access to said reaction area and said analytical area so as to transfer reaction vessels from said incubator to said analytical area and to dispense and/or withdraw one or more liquids to/from said reaction vessels transferred to said analytical area; a first transfer arm movable in a first direction and being provided with a first transfer head movable in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction for mounting the first functional devices (50, 51), and a second transfer arm movable in the first direction and being provided with a second transfer head movable in the second direction for mounting the second functional devices (50', 51'); a controller, configured for operating said first to third device resources for processing one sample wherein at least two of said device resources are at least temporarily operated in parallel for processing two or more samples.