Maker of special purpose machines for the pharmaceutical industry relies on static eliminators to remove unwanted static as part of its high-tech solutions
Horizon Instruments designs and manufactures automated special purpose machines for the pharmaceutical industry and relies on Meech Static Eliminators equipment to remove unwanted static as part of its high-tech solutions.
Horizon has many years' experience in the design and development of automated machines used in both R and D and production facilities within diagnostic, biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies.
The company has a team of designers that specialise in the field of diagnostic test kit production where, using automation processes, it has developed particular expertise in antibody/antigen depositions onto nitrocellulose, drying techniques, latex agglutination spotting, laminating materials and cutting and placing test strips into carrier housings.
Many plastic components carry an unwanted static charge at the time of their introduction into an automated system.
Additionally, a level of charge can build up as parts are manipulated through the various processes.
This static charge, if not removed, could result in difficulties during the assembly process.
For example, where medical test kits require reagents to be deposited during assembly, the presence of static can make it difficult to deposit these evenly or accurately.
Also unwanted particulates may become attracted to statically charged components.
Naturally, for pharmaceutical and medical test kits, the known reliability of the assembled kit is paramount.
It may therefore be necessary to remove the static from components before such processes as deposition of reagents or component assembly takes place.
When designing and manufacturing the automated machines where such situations could occur, Horizon integrates Meech ionising air guns to blow clean, ionised air over the components, removing the static and so obviating the problem.
Horizon projects manager Daniel Bolton explains his reasons for selecting Meech: "In our environment reliability is crucial and we have always found Meech equipment to be both reliable and effective.
"Also Meech equipment is widely known and used by our customers in their own production facilities, so they already have confidence in its capabilities. "Our business has been built on providing the highest quality automated machines to our customers.
"Naturally, we only select equipment of equally high quality to integrate into our solutions - and Meech fits the bill."
