Store is being supplied to clients as a fully integrated package, with internal picking robotics, cold room and liquid handling stations
RTS Life Science launched its Sample Store as the store that could be made to fit into almost any space.
With pharmaceutical companies understandably reluctant to commit to large capital building projects, the store had an instant appeal.
Now the Sample Store is being supplied to clients as a fully integrated package, with internal picking robotics, cold room and liquid handling stations.
The main store robot has been specially designed to operate in the narrowest possible space reducing the overall width of the store.
The Sample Store's shelves take the form of trays on runners that can be arranged at any pitch to accommodate mixed container types.
David Harding, RTS Life Science's business development manager, explained: "In recognition that most companies seek flexibility in storing different types of samples, we have designed the store to be easy to reconfigure.
We can stack plates on trays to increase the density of storage still further.
Four shallow well plates on top of one another takes up the same space as three stacked in the traditional manner.
The system's picking robot is able to select the desired plate by setting the others aside and restacking.
"A typical Sample Store holds 5000-10,000 plates to over 50,000 at temperatures down to -20C and its configurable nature means that it is especially well suited to being linked to other screening or storage facilities.
Most Sample Store customers are major pharmaceutical companies operating satellite screening centres, or biotech firms.
RTS's latest Sample Store project involves building into a restricted headroom basement.
RTS is managing the interface of both the software and hardware of the Store as well as the client's other pre-existing facilities."
