May 2021

43 www.drivesncontrols.com May 2021 MEDICAL & PHARMACEUTICAL n automated in the best possible way,”recalls Joachim Kraus, managing director of the machine-builder.“In the subsequent discussions, we worked with the customer to develop a concept for feeding and packaging the test cassettes.” This new concept was approved rapidly. Following a design review, the co-operation was expanded further. Kraus designed and built machines that are now performing the precision cutting of the test strips and their subsequent transfer and insertion into test cassettes. In the first stage of the process, the preliminary products are fed to the line. These are then separated, positioned and placed in a servo linear unit. The products are positioned under a knife and cut precisely. A robot inserts the blank into a plastic test cassette and assembles the front and back. The cassettes are then moved to a machine that packages the tests. The pre-assembled packaging pouches are separated by a friction feeder and sent to the packaging machine. Product data for the pouch is attached using a labelling machine. A robot takes the test cassette, transfers it in a special form, and inserts it into the pouch. Finally, the bag is sealed thermally and transferred to a delivery belt. Handling the 3.5-5mm blanks proved to be a particular challenge, but this was solved by making a few adjustments. Now, 30–45 rapid coronavirus tests can be cut and packaged every minute. Because the demand is so great, Senova is having to increase its capacity continuously. It is currently operating from 7am to 10pm, six days a week, and is planning to add more machines. Omron supplied a variety of automation equipment for the project including four-axis parallel robots, cobots, PLCs, drives and sensors. For example, four-axis Quattro 650 H parallel robots are used to pick up several items simultaneously, accelerating production. Omron’s TM5-700 cobots are helping to relieve pressure on Senova employees and to boost productivity by handling repetitive cutting and packaging tasks. Their built-in machine vision cameras are helping Senova to improve the reliability, consistency and precision of its pick-and-place operations. The company is nowmanufacturing its latest test kits in a new production hall. n smart plastics igus ® Caswell Road Northampton NN4 7PW Tel 01604 677240 sales@igus.co.uk plastics for longer life ® Industry 4.0: smart plastics eliminate downtime Intelligent products give a maintenance alert ahead of time and can be integrated into standard predictive maintenance; smart plas- tics allow your equipment to run continuously as well as reducing maintenance costs. igus.co.uk/smart Avoid unplanned downtime UK-1131-smart plastics 94x270N_CC.indd 1 23.11.20 16: