PMT designed a compact dispensing and weighing robot system for small spaces.
A&D's high-precision weighing sensor was a perfect fit in both accuracy and size.
With the current serious shortage of human resources, automating research and analysis in laboratory automation (LA) is gaining attention.
PMT developed a tabletop dilution and weighing robot system as a multiple workpiece type handling system for laboratory automation. It has been well received, especially by major food manufacturers, as it can be easily installed in crowded laboratories.
Takanori Kono
Group Leader, Robot System Group
PMT Corporation
- What kind of industries utilize tabletop dilution weighing robot systems?
Mr. Kono: So far, our products have been used by major food manufacturers as well as large pharmaceutical manufacturers. However, they would be of use to any laboratory or analysis center that requires dispensing and weighing.
- What was the development concept for this system?
Mr. Kono: Accurate dispensing and weighing is paramount to our customers maintaining and improving the quality of their products. In conjunction with this, we aimed to make a compact tabletop system that can easily be installed in a confined laboratory.
- What kind of work can this system be used for?
Mr. Kono: First, the worker simply sets the sample and starts the equipment. Then, COBOTTAⓇ, a small collaborative robot developed by Denso Wave Inc., transfers the product between each process unit and fully automates cap opening and closing, product dispensing, weighing, and dilution.
- Being fully automated, it also addresses the human resources shortage.
Mr. Kono: That's right! In many laboratories, skilled staff are so busy with these tasks that they aren't able to focus on their own advanced research. Sometimes staff members spend the whole day dispensing with pipettes.
Furthermore, when humans perform these tasks, there is a risk of human error such as contamination.
When used in a clean room, volatile liquids that are harmful to the human body can be handled with this system. Customers who have used it were pleased, saying it functions as expected.
- We are honored that our high-precision weighing sensor AD-4212C has been adopted in such a cutting-edge system.
Mr. Kono: In order to build a compact system, we searched around for a small, high-precision weighing sensor, but the only company that offered the kind of small sensor we were looking for was A&D.
On top of that, their sensor was able to achieve a sensitivity of 1 mg with the pan support shaft covered with a diaphragm and therefore, mutual realization of environmental resistance (IP65) and high accuracy - I was really surprised at A&D's technological capability.
- How convenient is it to use?
Mr. Kono: A big advantage is its communication functionality (RS-232C interface) which allows data to be transferred directly to a PC or PLC.
Aside from A&D, there are also overseas manufacturers who make high-precision weighing instruments. However, with a domestic manufacturer, we can have peace of mind we'll receive immediate support in the case of any problems during use and for periodic inspections or calibrations.
Tabletop Dilution Weighing Robot System
Inside the lab Equipment: Microbiological pretreatment equipment
A&D general-purpose electronic balance
FX-1200i spotted in the lab room
FX-1200i spotted in the lab room
- This system really takes the weight off the user's shoulders.
Mr. Kono: By trusting the work that can be performed by machines to the machine, skilled staff are free to focus on advanced research, leading to greater productivity.
Laboratory automation which automates research and analysis processes will definitely become more common in the future.
- Thank you very much for sharing your valuable story with us today.
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PMT Corporation
- Head Office: 1705-1 Satani, Suemachi, Kasuya-gun, Fukuoka, Japan
- Kanto business office: 1-2-24 Sayamadai, Iruma-shi, Saitama
- Establishment: September 1991
- Capital: 50 million yen