Laboratory technology with a little head: Universal Robots presents clever automation solutions in the laboratory environment

Robot cell for sample handling © robominds

Robot cell for sample handling ©robominds

Andrea Alboni (c) Universal Robots

From June 21 to June 24, 2022, Universal Robots (UR) welcomed interested visitors at analytica in Munich. In Hall B2, Stand 314A, the market leader for collaborative lightweight robots presents, among other things, a modular, customized robot cell for automated handling of laboratory samples. The special feature: The motorized complex gripping and sorting of analysis samples by robot hand is achieved effortlessly and reliably.

Making the “Smart Lab” a reality – thanks to automation

"We are very much looking forward to our premiere at analytica, after all, this trade fair stands like no other for the presentation of innovative laboratory technology and forward-looking biotechnology. Technology and innovation are terms with which we at Universal Robots fully identify ourselves. For more than 15 years, we have been supporting companies in implementing their automation projects quickly and cost-effectively, thereby establishing their production on a secure footing," explains Andrea Alboni, General Manager Western Europe at Universal Robots. "Our cobots score with a lot of dexterity and precision, which is particularly relevant in the laboratory environment," Alboni continues.

The goal: Use resources more intelligently and improve the working environment

Such challenges are increasingly in focus, especially as many logistical and motor challenges also exist in the area of sample logistics. This problem has been known since before the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, which, for example, led to a much higher volume of tests, further straining already limited laboratory capacities. Equally important is demographic change, which manifests in two ways. On the one hand, society is aging. As a result, the customer base for laboratories is growing because older people more frequently depend on lab results. On the other hand, this increased demand coincides with medical personnel who, statistically, are also reaching increasingly advanced ages. Today, more than two-thirds of laboratory medicine specialists are at least 50 years old. Society faces a labor shortage that will reach catastrophic proportions within ten years at the latest. Given such a thin staffing cover, it is difficult to accurately record and assign countless unsorted tissue, blood, urine, and stool samples daily.

The good news: Automation can quickly and reliably provide relief – and improve the working environment. Holistic solutions such as a robot cell specifically designed for automated sample handling, which requires no special robotics knowledge to operate, are available. This cell was developed by Universal Robots together with its long-standing partner Robominds. The companies are proud to present this solution to the trade fair audience for the first time.

Maximum output in microplate handling: the Lab Hand

The Lab Hand also demonstrates true dexterity, helping to insert titers into laboratory devices. It is a tool for safely gripping SBS microplates for the processes of capping and decapping. The advantage: a separate automatic decapping station is not necessary. Equipped with mechanical adapters and interfaces, the microplate handler can be intuitively mounted on most robot types, such as UR models UR3e and UR5e. The Lab Hand enables laboratory robots to easily grip microplates. Another benefit is that errors in user configuration, such as missing or misaligned plates or collisions, are detected by the hand and reported to the robot system. This allows for safe execution of laboratory automation tasks.

Cleaning by robot hand: Blue® Bench

Blue® Bench also ensures safe operation. This combined application includes, among other things, a user-friendly software interface, a collaborative UR robot, and a modular base plate. The solution automates plate handling for the Blue® Washer directly on the workbench with minimal footprint. Designed for cleaning laboratory tools, the Blue® Washer primarily targets pharmaceutical companies. They particularly appreciate the enormous benefit of contactless media exchange in 2D cell-based samples, known as assays. These involve the plates mentioned earlier. Such innovative procedures help further increase purity levels in laboratory environments – a central aspect in a workspace where maximum cleanliness guarantees highly reliable test results.

The versatility of the robot arm and grippers allows handling of stacked, covered, or sealed plates in any configuration – no protective enclosure is necessary. The cobot works side by side with the user, which is also made possible by 17 advanced safety features.

Universal Robots also at automatica

Universal Robots is also present at automatica, the world's leading trade fair for intelligent robotics and automation, which runs concurrently with analytica. In Hall B4, Stand 303, the company, together with other UR partners, offers a variety of robotics highlights – from the cobot screwdriving application to a training cell and the impressive SINA tower, which will stand in the East entrance area.