SCIENCE BREAKTHROUGH: Stäubli Delivers Robot-Based Automation In Germ-Free Environment At PACK EXPO

Stäubli – an industry leader in automated solutions for the life sciences including medical, pharmaceutical, biotech, laboratory customers and more – will demonstrate how its industry-defining Stericlean series improves accuracy, efficiency and patient safety at PACK EXPO (booth #N4848). The event will be held at McCormick Place in Chicago, October 14-17.

At PACK EXPO, Stäubli will simulate packaging medical devices in a germ-free, controlled environment. The company’s 4-axis and 6-axis cleanroom robots – just a few of Stäubli’s full range of robots serving the life science and pharmaceutical industries – will be picking and placing a glucose meter in a sealed, hygienic environment.

Stäubli robots are used in a wide variety of tasks including in laboratory settings for cell culturing and microplate screening; in hospitals for IV bag or syringe compounding; in drug manufacturing for the filling and packaging of vials and syringes; and in medical device assembly, machining, coating and inspection.

“Because of their special enclosed design, unique surface coating and the use of stainless steel in specific areas, the Stericlean robots are able to undertake a wide range of complex tasks and work uninterrupted in aseptic production areas,” said Sebastien Schmitt, Robotics Division Manager, Stäubli North America. “This has opened up new possibilities for robot-based automation in germ-free environments. All of our six-axis TX2 robots are available in Stericlean versions compliant with strict Good Manufacturing Practice guidelines.”

This year marks the tenth anniversary of the launch of the company’s first-ever Stericlean series, which has revolutionized the way automated solutions are implemented in a variety of complex medical tasks. First launched in 2008, Stäubli’s Stericlean series was the world’s first robot designed to operate in aseptic production areas. With the development of the world’s first Stericlean robot, Stäubli allowed for automating aseptic processes in VHP (Vaporized Hydrogen Peroxide) environments.

The company recently launched a partnership with ARxIUM, a leading developer of pharmacy automation, inventory, workflow and consulting solutions. One of ARxIUM’s best known products is RIVA™, a fully automated IV compounding system that is used by hospital pharmacies to automatically and accurately prepare IV syringes and bags.

RIVA must operate in an ISO class 5 or better environment, so the company came to Stäubli to leverage its Stericlean series to automate the process. Stäubli’s Stericlean TX-60L robot provides the central means of moving products from station to station through the RIVA compounding cell as each medication product is processed.

By automating the preparation of IV syringes and bags, RIVA addresses the issues of safety for the patient and the pharmacy technician, creating a more efficient and effective pharmacy to address the challenges of a changing regulatory environment.