04 - Laboratory Automation Hardware - HiTec Zang GmbH

4
Laboratory Automation Hardware
Economic Feasibility Analysis
The economic feasibility analysis is conducted
using the example of a polymerisation process in the
laboratory reactor.
I. Manual Operation Mode
Test:
Operation Hours
Weighing out 1
Heating 1
Dosing 4
Secondary Polymerisation 4
Emptying and Cleaning 1
Total 11
Start of test,e.g. at 7:30a.m., test completed at
6:00p.m.
According to this, only one test per day is possible!
II. Automated Test Control with the
LabManager
Unattended procedure with:
� Temperature Control
� Dosing
� Torque Monitoring
� Recording of Test Data
� Online Evaluation
� Cleartext Protocol
� Remote Alarming etc., if required
Day Routine:
First test start, e.g. at 8:00a.m., test completed at
7:00p.m. In the meantime, the laboratory technician
is free for the evaluation of last night's automatic run
and the preparations for the next tests.
Second test start, e.g. at 7:30p.m.
Test completed at 6:30a.m. (unattended).
According to this, two tests per day are now possible
instead of one as before!
The laboratory utilisation is improved by 100%.
Cost Factors EUR
Direct costs of the laboratory
automation
25,000.00
Planning, familiarisation, plant
upgrade
10,000.00
User Schooling 3,000.00
Total Cost 38,000.00
The amortisation period is evaluated out of the cost
of one laboratory day (e.g. 750 Euro) and the total
cost:
Amortisation Period = 50 days!
Even in the worst case scenario, assuming an
improvement laboratory utilisation of merely 15%,
which accords to a saving of 21,000 Euro annually,
the amortisation period is still below one year!
Additional beneficial Effects:
GLP-conform mode of operation by a significant
improvement of the documentation, the quality and
reproducibility.
A further Pay-Off Calculation for Chemistry
Laboratories
Catalyst Research Laboratory
Test series (savings due to unattended night
operation):
Amortisation Period = 3 months!
Colour R&D Laboratory
Frequently changing recipes (savings due to
simplified parameterisation via HiBatch recipe
control and unattended night operation).
Amortisation Period = 6 months!
Naturally, similar results are achieved in continuous
operation, if, instead of having personnel directly at
the location, it is only necessary to have an on-call
duty and remote alarming.
It is a known fact that one day a product is launched
on to the market earlier can result in six to sevendigit
additional revenue.
This clearly indicates how much laboratory
automation is nowadays a must!!
Using project moduls shortens the process of
creating projects significantly.
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