In another recent interview, Associate Director, Mark Dilbeck from Eurofins agrees that automated operations are the way forward. But in his opinion, it’s not just about turnaround time. Since Covid, staff shortage has been a challenge that has impacted many laboratories. With laboratory services being heavily reliant on complex wet chemistry processes, requiring a lot of resources from highly trained operators, staff issues make daily operations very vulnerable. “Hiring people has been very hard, so the Kjeltec™ 9 Autosampler has opened our eyes a little bit to the potential of, just kind of setting it and forgetting it, and using those technicians in the other areas.” Thankfully, the staff shortage problem has improved since then, but having the flexibility to move people around is a significant improvement, explains Mark Dilbeck.
“The Kjeltec™ 9 Autosampler has opened our eyes a little bit to the potential of, just kind of setting it and forgetting it, and using those technicians in the other areas.”
Associate Director, Mark Dilbeck from Eurofins.
The best process is the one you can forget all about.
The benefit of unattended operations is that your staff is free to do other work while analysis is running. However, you still need to keep an eye on your operations, explains Associate Director, Mark Dilbeck from Eurofins. “If there is an error that comes up, then we want to know about it so that we can address it immediately, or else your machine is going to be down without you knowing it for 20, 30 minutes before you check on it again.”
With Kjeltec 9, this problem is solved thanks to a notification service that sends an alert to staff working elsewhere on other tasks, making it a good supplement to automated batch handling using the Kjeltec 9 Autosampler. Optional Alerts and Notifications provide extra confidence in your day-to-day operations and are customizable to the needs of your laboratory. You can define how to receive notifications (email or text message), which type of events should trigger a notification as well as how, and to whom notifications should be sent.
“If there is an error that comes up, then we want to know about it so that we can address it immediately.”
Associate Director, Mark Dilbeck from Eurofins.
Get the whole lab at your fingertips.
As humans, we’re better when we communicate and so are our instruments. Linking up your lab with the latest connectivity solutions lets you take full control of your lab process.
Kjeltec 9 is fully connected via networking software that collects results from different instruments all in one place for overview, traceability and reporting, down to the finest detail. During a six-month trial of the Kjeltec 9, Frank Bremmers from Nutreco experienced the value of setting up import of samples and batches with direct export to their LIMS system: “Instead of writing everything down, we can just send it to our LIMS system,” he explained in a recent interview.
At the same time new levels of integration with indirect methods promote a more sustainable use of reference testing. Screening samples with cleaner indirect methods can provide an estimate on expected values, thereby taking some of the volume of laboratory testing. Paired with easy data handling features such as automatic sample matching of reference and NIR results, this reduces the hassle and risk of error associated with manual matching of results, making it easier to exploit indirect methods in the laboratory. FOSS Sample Matching Service makes this process easy and labor free by matching the results from the two instruments automatically.
“Instead of writing everything down, we can just send it to our LIMS system.”
Frank Bremmers. Teamleader wet-chemistry routine, Nutreco Nederland BV-Masterlab.
Sustainable operations. Low cost per sample.
Upgrading to a fully automated Kjeltec 9 solution with a 60 place Autosampler, can make your daily operations more efficient, more sustainable and reduce operation costs by more than 18.000 Euro per year. Depending on the current solution, a mid-size laboratory with a throughput of 100 samples per week can save 30-40% on cost per sample by upgrading to a Kjeltec 9 with a 60 place Autosampler.
Save more than 40% when upgrading from a manual Kjeldahl solution.
Save up to 32% when upgrading from other automated Kjeldahl methods.
How have we made this possible?
- A significantly reduced use of reagents means a lower cost per sample and reduces the use of harmful chemicals.
- The consumables used with the Kjeltec 9 are considerably less costly than those used by other solutions.
- A fully automated set-up using the optional 60 place Autosampler means that you can run unattended operations, freeing up costly operator time.
How much can you save?
The Kjeltec 9 with a 60 place Autosampler running 100 samples per week/5200 samples per year at a cost per sample at 5.06 Euro amounts to a total running cost of 26.312 Euro per year.
Upgrade from a manual Kjeldahl method!
For a mid-size laboratory with a throughput of 100 samples per week at a cost per sample of 8.76 Euro, running your samples on a Kjeltec 9 with a 60 place Autosampler can amount to a yearly cost saving of
18.772 Euro.
Upgrade from other Kjeldahl methods!
For a mid-size laboratory with a throughput of 100 samples per week at a cost per sample of 7.44 Euro, running your samples on a Kjeltec 9 with a 60 place Autosampler can amount to a yearly cost saving of
12.376 Euro.
