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Custom automation
 
Custom automation - an overview
A multi-disciplined skillset and proven expertise - custom automation
TAP's custom automation solutions deliver a step change to customers' businesses, as well as providing benefits beyond those first conceived. By combining extensive life science applications and process knowledge, with context-sensitive engineering, design and project management skills, TAP is the dependable choice for an organisation’s custom engineering project.
  TAP’s sample management systems, projects and installations are rarely “off-the–shelf” and often require some element of customisation. We are adept at helping users to define their requirements and transform these into a customer specific system specification. Increasingly, these solutions must accommodate existing investment in equipment, established choices of labware, and linkages across multiple sites.
 
UK Biobank project demanded
ultra-low temperature storage of biological specimens
magnetic mixing which has been proven to homogenise DNA solutions without damage through shearing
 
  • Handling viable cells and human derived biological samples
  • Aseptic conditions
  • Air-handling
  • Decontamination
  • U ltra low temperatures (liquid nitrogen)
  • Humidity control
  • GMP and GLP applications
  • Logistics
  • Precision and bulk liquid handling
  TAP can supply as appropriate: self-contained subsystems such as automated stores or liquid handling work cells, overarching software for inventory management and process fulfilment controlling third party equipment, or a complete fully integrated suite of hardware and software.
Recent custom automation projects include:
 
  • Automated vial weighing
    To replace the customer’s laborious manual process and so improve efficiency and accuracy, TAP developed a robot weigh station to ‘check weigh’ and ‘tare weigh’ large numbers of individual bar-coded compound vials.
  • Non-contact compound QC
    The customer’s need was to monitor water content in their compound library of DMSO solutions held in microtubes. As part of an upgraded storage facility, TAP developed a novel NIR system to automatically confirm sample quality each time a tube returns to the store.
  • Homogenising DNA samples held in storage
    As part of a biological sample management project for AstraZeneca, TAP developed a novel implementation of magnetic mixing which has been proven to homogenise DNA solutions without damage through shearing.
  • Sample storage at -80°C for up to 25 years
    The prestigious UK Biobank project demanded Ultra-low temperature storage of biological specimens at a scale beyond what had ever been automated previously. TAP undertook a design study, system prototype and implementation programme, which overcame the many complex challenges of safely storing samples whilst permitting reliable robotic accessibility. This phased approach allowed the UK Biobank to proceed with confidence and has resulted in an exceptional engineering solution
  • Fully integrated discovery suite
    Wyeth chose TAP to supply a complete suite of ultra high-throughput screening, compound management and cell culture automation platforms for their new uHTS facility. This incorporated unique features to maintain the purity of samples and reagents during processing, and customised liquid handling to support the customer’s specific protocols through all stages of assay preparation and execution.
  Once the project is delivered, site tested and signed off, TAP’s Partnership Services Group is available to support your installation and ensure continued maximum performance and return on investment.
  For more information on Custom Automation:
  Get more detail on custom automation in Key Applications
  Discuss your requirements with Ian Ransome, Sales Director
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