Robotic Arm Replaces Manual Processes in Production at Agilent
Automating Processes
Optimising production with a UR robot has helped the medical company streamline its liquid production and increase the amount of blood extracted during its blood-draining process.
Increases productivity
Improves work environment
Simple and efficient
Drains 1000 containers daily
Challenge
At Agilent, the focus was on streamlining and simplifying processes. Several products were relocated from the USA to the Danish production site, leading to more shared work for local lab technicians. It was essential to make work processes more varied and less hectic.
Solution
In close collaboration with BILA, Agilent found the right solution for simplification—two cobots from Universal Robots. One is a UR3 robot used in a fume hood, and the other is a UR5 robot for liquid blood drainage.
Profit
Before the two new robotic assistants arrived, the task required four lab technicians who had to empty 1,000 containers of liquid each week. Now, the robotic arm handles this task, freeing up employees to focus on other duties that add more value to Agilent.
Two New Robotic Employees
Agilent is a leader in life sciences and diagnostics, supplying laboratories worldwide with instruments, services, consumables, applications, and expertise. The company focuses on six key markets, helping customers achieve their goals.
In collaboration with BILA, Agilent implemented two cobot solutions from Universal Robots. One solution involves a UR5 robot for draining liquids, while the other employs a UR3 robot for the fume hood.
Automation is a Major Step Forward
“We are constantly looking to optimise production and eliminate manual tasks to increase automation. Automation is the way forward,” says Allan Alstrup, Manager – Manufacturing Engineering, Technical Support in Denmark.
Every Friday, 1,000 containers of liquid are drained—a task previously performed by four lab technicians. With the robot arm now handling the job, the process has become more efficient, extracting more liquid from each container as they can drain for longer. As an added bonus, employees are freed up to take on other tasks in production.
Simpler and More Efficient
The company is focused on making production simpler, allowing manpower to be allocated to other tasks. This solution has made the lab technicians' work more varied and less hectic.
“More products are being moved from the USA to our production in Denmark, which means more employees and more shared work. It was important for us to streamline production to simplify our processes and boost productivity,”
Allan Alstrup, Manager
Agilent will continue to focus on automation and digitalisation in the future. Additionally, the plan is to integrate the UR3 robot for the fume hood into production once it has been validated and qualified. In the medical and pharmaceutical industries, strict validation requirements must be met before solutions can be implemented.
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