Column: EMC
The endless loop: science’s repetitive refrain
The revolutionary impact of lab automation, driving efficiency and precision in the analytical industry, as showcased at Lab Innovations 2024
E Russell Lotinga
ver feel like a broken record in the lab? It’s the endless replay of science’s greatest hits: pipetting, mixing, and repeating, on a loop that seems never-ending.
Here, Russell Lotinga, business development manager at automation technology provider and Lab Innovations exhibitor Festo, explains how automation are turning contract labs into productivity powerhouses. Festo wants to
change the tune. Instead of the
scientific equivalent of a bad karaoke night, it plans to make working in a laboratory more like on ongoing symphony of productivity and scientific progress. Within the lab, analytical scientists grapple
with many time-consuming tasks. Sample preparation and cleaning, in particular, are labour-intensive processes. Manual tasks like pipetting and mixing, especially when dealing with large sample volumes, present challenges. With an average turnaround time of 30
minutes, the accumulated hours of all these jobs translate into potential revenue losses in the thousands. Tese laborious processes inflate operational costs, directly impacting lab profitability. Meeting tight client deadlines becomes a high-stakes challenge, influencing the lab’s competitive edge in securing business opportunities. Lab automation emerges as a
transformative remedy for these challenges. Research suggests that half of all lab errors stem from routine tasks. By automating repetitive processes and optimising workflows, lab managers conserve time and minimise errors. Tis ultimately leads to significant savings for the lab and their clients.
meeting client demands effectively. Its robust detection systems and reduced sample prep time enhance reliability, aligning with client expectations. Environmentally, automation promotes
World events drive automation Te COVID-19 pandemic served as a powerful catalyst, propelling laboratories to swiſtly embrace automation. With physical constraints and social distancing measures, managing manual tasks became arduous. Tis unprecedent hurdle in scheduling experiments and ensuring staff safety fuelled a rapid adoption of automated solutions. Consequently, researchers efficiently overcame these hurdles, marking a significant leap toward streamlined and secure lab operations. Automation’s impact is profound,
by minimising human involvement, it dramatically slashed contamination and errors. Precision and consistency soared, eliminating variability introduced by human factors. Te pandemic accentuated the need for
24/7 operations. Automation met this demand, allowing labs to operate around the clock, independent of working hours. Researchers gained remote control, ensuring uninterrupted experimental progress and heralding an era of seamless scientific endeavours. Tis innovation not only overcame
pandemic challenges, but also revolutionised lab efficiency. Tedious manual tasks, once time-consuming, are now swiſtly and accurately executed, liberating researchers to delve deep into analysis and exploration, capitalising on the wealth of data generated. Automation has ushered in an era of seamless scientific endeavours, reshaping the landscape of research and discovery. Automation’s impact extends beyond
efficiency. It streamlines processes, reducing costs per sample and enhancing competitiveness. Additionally, it ensures consistent results within tight timelines,
08 September 2024
www.electronicsworld.com
responsible practices. By employing pre-formed kits and precise calibration, labs reduce waste and minimise environmental footprints, underlining a move toward sustainable laboratory management. Festo solutions are performing in laboratory
automation, combining tabletop handling systems with an ensemble of dispense and aspirate heads, including manifold duct plates, dosing valves and nozzles. We provide ready- to-install, complete solutions that simplify engineering and can be carefully adapted to customer requirements. Modular and scalable solutions are key to
successful laboratory automation. Whether identifying and checking sample carriers, opening and closing sample vials or dispensing liquids in microwell plates, Festo allows lab professionals to implement customised applications for sample preparation in the smallest of spaces. In the ongoing symphony of scientific
progress, lab automation integrates seamlessly, amplifying a harmony of efficiency and precision. As the crescendo of progress approaches, mark your calendar for Lab Innovations 2024 on October 30 and 31.
About Lab Innovations Lab Innovations has fast become the UK’s must- attend event for the entire laboratory industry. Supported by some of the UK’s top science institutions, it is a key event for powering the business of science. Te show floor is bursting with innovations
from more than 160 leading scientific suppliers and manufacturers showcasing the latest laboratory developments and equipment. Exhibitors present the most cutting-edge technology applicable to a plethora of industries including life sciences, pharmaceuticals, academia, healthcare, chemical, food & drink, cleanroom and more.
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