system integration

We have been building laboratory automation workcells for over a decade.

We have experience in offering small workcells, such as cost effective plate loading systems for plate readers & washers, to large multi-robot systems than have included a 7m x 5m workcell with 3 pipetting workstations, 4 robots and multiple peripheral laboratory workstations.

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Robot controlled work cells

SOFTWARE: paa have a fully range of laboratory automation workcell control software including event-drivern and time-driven schedulers, more information about laboratory automation software

HARDWARE: paa have a fully range of laboratory automation equipment for integration into highly reliability laboratory automation workcells, more information about laboratory automation hardware

PAA can get you to the position where you can confidently place an order, quickly, with the minimum cost by providing a professional design study.

• Reduce the cost of the final system, the requirement for contingency is greatly reduced
• Avoid getting a system that fails to fully meet your requirements
• Get the most cost effective system performance
• When you come to place your order for the system you will get improved delivery times, as the design work is already done

In case after case, money is saved and systems are delivered quicker and more reliably if investment is made at the design phase.

Invariably each work cell has a unique set of user requirements. As with buying any other complex bespoke system the risk factors are high. Design and careful selection of components are critical in achieving the performance that you require.

A PAA design study addresses: user requirement specification, enclosure system design, safety systems (interlocks/screens/light curtains), sample tracking, the use of barcodes, selection of robotic arms, 3D modeling of robot reach envelope, grippers, stacks, racks, instruments, scheduling software, the development of instrument drivers (not found in existing libraries), interfacing to LIMS or database, estimation of achievable throughput and provides a detailed costing.

PAA has ten years of experience designing and delivering small, medium and large automation works cells (hardware and software).

If you are considering an automation project, of any size, project contact us now.

More information about our Consultancy service ...

We offer a full professional system integration service. Our aim is supply you with the system you require.

Independent Service
Unlike most suppliers, we offer the system that is tailored to your needs. We will integrate ANY piece of equipment into your system, not just those pieces of equipment that we manufacture. We are happy to advise on any aspect of the system as we have installed most pieces of equipment on the market.

Unlike most suppliers, we offer full data handling facilities with all our systems, with any data manipulation completed without user interaction.

More information about data handling...

Unlike most suppliers, we offer full interaction with YOUR database or LIMS system.

More information about Databases, Data handling & LIMS...

We follow a simple life-cycle documentation process, which we find to be valuable but not time consuming.

What Do You Want To Do?
This is described in the User Requirement Specification (URS) which you will write (with our help if you have never done it before). This document describes what you would like the system to do, examples of sample preparation or analysis methods you would like to use, documentation of a standard operating procedure (if you have one) and any other information we need to understand what you want to do and how you want to do it.

How Would We Do It?
This document describes the equipment and the methods we intend to use to complete your project. This is the Functional Design Specification (FDS). A key area of this document will describe the data in to the system and data out from the system and any data handling that needs to be done with the results prior to reporting. This can be connection to a database or just the production of a simple flat data file. Please our section on data handling to find out more.

How Do We Know We Have Done It?
Once the system is built, we need to know if it meets your requirements, so very early on in the project we will work with you to produce the Factory Acceptance Test (FAT) document. This describes a series of key tests that will be performed on the system prior to shipping to you, to determine if the system reliable, does it perform the method in the correct sequence, etc. You are invited to oversee and sign off these tests. This will be usually done dry or with water.

How Do We Know It Works And We Can Leave It At Your Site For You To Use?
The Site Acceptance Test (SAT) document describes how the full system will work, often repeating the FAT with extra tests with real samples.

URS Document
If you tell us what you want to do, we are more likely to deliver it the first time.

FDS Document
If we tell you what we are going to do, you are more likely to spot our knowledge gaps in your process.

FAT Document
If we test it to your satisfaction before it leaves us, we will spend a minimum of time disturbing your lab on installation.

SAT Document
If we complete what you asked for, the project is complete.