Robots show healthy growth in the pharmaceutical industry
04 December 2023
Robots are bringing the same flexibility and efficiency improvements to the pharmaceutical industry as they have to more established automated production lines, such as automotive. Julian Ware, UK & Ireland Sales Manager of ABB Robotics, explains some of the benefits that are already well proven, as well as considering what the future might hold.
Faced with demand for everything from medication to vitamin supplements, pharmaceutical companies are looking for ways to transform their production processes. The aim is to become faster and more flexible, whilst still being able to meet strict regulatory requirements regarding product quality and safety.
Robots are increasingly forming a major answer to these challenges, meeting needs at all stages, from R&D to logistics. These include primary packaging, dispensing, sorting, kit assembly, and machine tending.
The COVID-19 pandemic gave a boost to the industry’s deployment of automated systems. Though the rate of adoption has now fallen slightly, there remains optimism that long-term trends are pointing the way to future healthy growth.
Statistics from the International Federation of Robotics (IFR) World Robotics 2023 report show that robotic deployments in the UK pharmaceutical sector grew by 21 percent between 2017 and 2022, indicating a growing awareness of the benefits that robotic automation can deliver.
Read the full article in DPA's December issue
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