Grifols Engineering develops a new line of plasma thawing and removal from bottles at the Instituto Grifols plant in Parets del Valles

08/10/2009

Robotic automation of manufacturing lines minimizes possible external contamination and offers the best guarantee for product integrity.

Grifols Engineering has designed, developed and patented a system for handling plasma safely in the initial stages of the production process: the ABO^® (Automated Plasma Bottle Opener). This machine handles 4 units at a time with discrete movements and includes areas for loading, surface thawing, washing, drying, cutting and unloading. The production and maintenance departments at Instituto Grifols were consulted and worked closely with Grifols Engineering to develop this innovative concept.

This machine empties bottles through robotic movements with 6 axes made from stainless steel and verifies that units have been correctly emptied through a weighing system. Empty bottles are unloaded directly into a plastic shredder.

The Profibus network and touch screen form part of an integrated control system.

The operator enters the parameters, data and values to configure the work mode of the fully automated line. The operator loads the bottles at the beginning of the tunnel and the machine then performs the different functions until the frozen plasma is deposited into the thawing tank.
This master-slave system does not perform any movement without first receiving an order or prior consent from a PLC. The robot always begins and ends the complete cycle in the standby position.
The touch screen offers complete automation which activates an automated self washing through the CIP tunnel.

With the screen the user can adjust and calibrate the machine, which is necessary while performing maintenance and adjustments.
The screen can select the destination reactor for plasma which the robot will empty.

The robot system is designed according to norms about CE Machinery. The ABO complies with the strictest GMP requirements.

The automated plasma thawing and bottle emptying offers maximum safety as plasma is not handled by the operator which the bottles are open, thereby minimizing possible outside contamination and also reduces costs.