COVID-19 presents new challenges to the country, its economy and people. Hospitals are in urgent need of professional equipment to diagnose, treat and monitor patients. Testing demands additional capacities in the short term. As an example, cab received an express order by Nypro Healthcare.
A global leader in medical diagnostic products instructed the manufacturer of precision parts dedicated to medical tools to expand the production of micropipetier cartridges and plates. These can carry saliva samples and reagents to detect the COVID-19 virus in polymerase chain reactions. Due to the safety of patients and lab staff, each product must be traceable by a unique serial number. cab has therefore manufactured SQUIX label printers rapidly. Each printer has added a S3200 applicator to attach printed labels to microtitre plates in the same operation. A Plexiglas housing provided on the applicator protects the operator from injury.
On the S3200 applicator, a rotary and a stroke cylinder combine to attach labels to the plastic parts. By setting the supporting and suction air as well as the stroke speed, highly reliable processes are enabled. If applications are sensitive to touch, the tamping force can be reduced or labels be blown on products without contact. On the applicators manufactured for Nypro Healthcare, the product retainer is set so that two microtitre plates different in heights can be labeled without the need of adjustment. Container carriers are detected by sensors connected to the printer via an I/O box. ABC programming helps the printer identify a product. cab SQUIX printers may act as a full-fledged PC, i.e. product detection is possible also in stand-alone operation. Assigned serial numbers are read from a database by the cab Database Connector and a barcode is printed on labels. The printer on the peel-off plate transfers the labels to the applicator, which then attaches them to the microtitre plates automatically. This way of processing prevents from samples being mixed up.
Next to the S3200 applicator, cab offers further healthcare solutions. AXON enables 2D codes or linear barcodes being printed on self-adhesive labels and the printed labels applied to sample tubes in the same operation. A S1000 applicator attached to a SQUIX printer makes use of a stroke cylinder to apply printed labels on object carriers. Also a system is provided for cylindric item labeling around their entire 360° circumference. At this, products are laid onto rollers and labeling is triggered by hand or foot.