A biotech company required a large-scale, automated diagnostic testing lab to process COVID-19 tests at high throughput. The facility needed to integrate industrial automation principles with laboratory equipment to create a smart, connected solution that would increase testing capacity, reduce costs, and minimize manual labor while maintaining accuracy and flexibility as testing protocols evolved.
The Details
Industry
Medical and Robotics & Industrial Automation
CAPABILITIES APPLIED
The project presented multiple technical and operational challenges:
Accelerated Timeline: The standard 18-month implementation schedule was compressed to 9 months due to pandemic urgency, requiring expedited equipment procurement and installation without compromising quality or budget.
Industrial-Lab Integration: Laboratory environments traditionally rely on manual processes and standalone equipment. The solution required designing automated workcells that combined robotics, vision inspection systems, and both automated and manual lab equipment into process-specific stations, then connecting these workcells through an intelligent conveyance system to create factory-like throughput in a lab setting.
Multi-Organizational Coordination: Multiple design firms and stakeholders contributed different system components. Orchestrating the process flow around a central smart conveyance system required collecting and integrating input from various parties while maintaining design cohesion.
Evolving Process Requirements: The scientific testing process and requirements changed continuously as understanding of COVID-19 testing evolved. The automation solution needed to adapt to frequent protocol modifications without requiring complete system redesigns.
Re:Build delivered a fully integrated, high-throughput automated diagnostic lab within the 9-month timeframe.
The solution implemented multiple automated workcells, each performing specific testing functions through integrated robotics, automated equipment, and vision systems. A MagneMotion® intelligent conveyor system connected the workcells, enabling automated sample transport, handling, sorting, and distribution throughout the facility.
The modular design allowed rapid reconfiguration of the conveyor pathway to accommodate evolving process requirements. This flexibility enabled the lab to adapt to numerous testing protocol iterations without disrupting operations.
The automated workflow significantly increased testing throughput and capacity while reducing manual labor requirements and operational costs. The system’s integration of industrial automation principles with laboratory equipment created a scalable diagnostic testing solution that supported reopening strategies during the pandemic response.
