example solution
Flex

Automated home care formulation

FLEX FORMAX home care
Two blue chemspeed robotic platforms in metal sitting in a white hallway
Overview

Chemspeed's solution

A typical FLEX FORMAX Home Care deck consists of up 6 precision formulation vessels in 1 formulation module, 3 overhead gravimetric dispensing robotic tools, a variety of racks with vials, syringes, heated and disposable pre-formulation vessels and much more.

As alternative a deck with 12 precision formulation vessels (150 ml) in 2 formulation modules is feasible without additional racks.

The FLEX FORMAX Home Care has the unique capability to exchange Robotic Tools and therefore change it's functionality on the fly, resulting in:

  • Several tools on one single platform
  • A cost effective robotic platform with a smart footprint
  • Easy programming
  • The robot brings functionalities as dispensing, analytics and actions to the precision formulation vessels
  • Add solids, powders, liquids, highly viscous materials to the milligram resolution while the formulation is being processed
  • On the working area FLEX FORMAX has up to 2 formulation modules

The formulation module is a working entity consisting of 6 individually controlled, high precision formulation workstations. Each workstation with its own vessel / blender, feed vessel and syringe pump can be customized and controlled to match almost any formulation workflow.

  • Up to 6 formulation vessels / blenders (150 mL volume) with independent stirring, scraping, heating and cooling
  • Up to 6 feed vessel (50 mL volume) with magnetic stirring and jacket temperature control (up to 90 °C); These can be used e.g. for the preparation of low-viscous pre-mixes
  • Easy integration of pH probes

Workflow

Example workflow

FLEX FORMAX - Home care

Benefits

Powerful advantages

  • Decrease in cost per sample up to 45%.
  • Increase in productivity by a factor of 5.
  • Up to 12 formulations per run.
  • Gravimetric dispensing (solids, powders, liquids, highly viscous materials, pastes, creams and waxes) into precision formulation vessels.
  • 4-Needle Head for volumetric liquid handling and sampling.
  • The balance moves to the destination, increasing speed and efficiency.
  • Balance resolution of 0.1 mg, or 0.01 mg.
  • A large dispensing range, from a few mg up to several grams.
  • Continuous real-time monitoring and control of all formulation parameters, inc. internal and jacket temperature, shear rate and viscosity, scraping speed, reflux and pH in an inert atmosphere if desired.
  • Flexible adjustment of scraper positioning / orientation.
  • Choice of scraper material e.g. PTFE, PEEK.
  • Dispensed amount, mixing speed, temperature, time..., and other data are stored in a read only log file.
  • Easy access to data with a convenient interface to pull results into Excel or virtually any other software.
  • Interface to DOE / AI.
Software
Chemspeed AutoSuite Software laptop screen