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NEWS


        Mobile robots streamline the transport of


        medical vials in pharmaceutical clean room


        After searching extensively, pharmaceutical company Norman
        found autonomous mobile robots produced by OMRON, a leader
        in industrial automation, to be ideal for work in its clean rooms.



        Robots boosted production reducing transport   after building a similar work area, and it
        time by 40% meeting FDA regulations  was here where a fine tuning to fulfil all
        Established in 1937, Madrid-based company,   the performance and safety requirements
        Normon, has been manufacturing high-  was done, highlighting that was very easy
        quality medicines for over 80 years, serving   from the Normon point of view to make the
        customers in the pharmaceutical and   commissioning in just one week working in
        healthcare sectors throughout Europe and   production mode.
        in the US. The company prides itself in its   Normon was pleased with the help
        advanced technology and innovation, and its   and advice provided by both OMRON and
        ability to produce affordable medicines in a   Mipelsa, including a redesign of a tray holder
        sustainable way.                     to include a slight bend in one of the tubes
           Normon was using automated guide   holding the structure, which resulted in a
        vehicles (AVGs) within the production   more robust construction, this being the
        process. However, following a change   most relevant in the application to reduce   As the OMRON robots have exceeded
        in the environment in which the robots   the presence of humans in an “A class”   Normon’s expectations, additional future
        needed to be deployed, the company   working area as specified by the FDA in   implementations are being planned. Miguel
        discovered that the AGVs were too large   their requirements. No modifications in the   Ángel Esteban concludes: “Intralogistics
        to be used in certain clean rooms. Robots   environment were needed when integrating   solutions such as this are key to meeting
        used in this environment must meet   the robots, which were ready for trials within   the needs of our pharmaceutical customers,
        stringent requirements to prevent them   a week.                          especially in clean room environments. With
        for acting as a source of contamination. A   OMRON’s project manager, Miguel   the newest additions to our mobile robot
        different type of robot would be required   Ángel Esteban, says: “Since the first   fleet, including mobile robots capable of
        for the clean room application, as without   implementations of OMRON mobile robots   transporting heavy loads, we can offer a
        robots, highly trained and qualified   in 2018 and 2019, Normon now operates   solution to a wide range of applications.”
        operators would have to transport the   one of the first and largest mobile robot   As a leader in industrial automation,
        products within the clean rooms, instead   fleets in Europe, with 18 mobile robots in   OMRON has extensive lines of control
        of focusing on their own tasks.      service. According to Normon, the project   components and equipment, ranging from
           Normon’s head engineer, Jose María   was a huge success when the robots have   vision sensors and other input devices to
        Urdillo, comments: “We were looking at   demonstratively boosted production after   various controllers and output devices
        the different solutions in the market and   one month in operation.”      such as servomotors, as well as a range
        particularly interested in autonomous   This proved to be the case- productivity   of safety devices and industrial robots.
        mobile robots (AMRs), but these were not   improved significantly, as 111 000 vials could   By combining these devices via software,
        able to meet our criteria. However, we then   be transported in 40% less time than before,   OMRON has developed a variety of unique
        came across an impressive AMR produced   reducing the length of stay in the plant’s “A   and highly effective automation solutions
        by OMRON, which was suitable for work in   class” area. This means that the production   for manufacturers worldwide. Based on
        clean rooms.                         process that previously took one and a half   its reservoir of advanced technologies
           The OMRON LD mobile robot could be   shifts can now be completed in less than a   and comprehensive range of devices,
        personalised to meet Normon’s specific   shift. The FDA regulations require no people   OMRON set forth a strategic concept
        needs and was very easy to install in the   to be present in an “A class” area, and this   called “innovative-Automation” consisting
        plant. The whole implementation process   has been made possible thanks to OMRON’s   of three innovations or “I”’s: Integrated
        took just three days and was carried out   mobile robots.                 (control evolution), Intelligent (development
        by Mipelsa, an integrator that specialises   Following the introduction of the robots,   of intelligence by ICT), and Interactive
        in the implementation and maintenance   employees can perform more specialised   (new harmonization between people and
        of electronic products, including those   tasks and functions within the clean room,   machines). OMRON is now committed to
        involved in industrial automation. OMRON   adding more value to their work and   bringing innovation to manufacturing sites
        worked closely with the system integrator   ultimately the company. What is noteworthy   by materializing this concept.
        throughout the whole process.        about this specific project is that not one
           The installation and start up in the   employee has been re-deployed or made   Contact Omron Electronics,
        Normon factory, was extremely fast,   redundant by the introduction of the robots   Tel 011 579-2600, info_sa@omron.com,
        previously tested in the Mipelsa laboratory   in the “A Class” area of Normon.   www.industrial.omron.co.za



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