Fully automated sterilization

In Etten-Leur in The Netherlands, Isotron Nederland B.V. sterilises in a fully automated process and on a 24/7 hours basis, packaging materials for several industries and end-users.
Especially for the pharmaceutical industries, for manufacturers of medical supplies like towels and waste cans for OR's and for the horticulture industry, where i.e. plastic cans and trays are re-used but without carrying mildew or bacteria.

No human interference

These sterilisation processes take place without any human interference. Consafe Logistics' software SattStore controls the whole storing and picking process and ABB's SattLine controls all internal transport.

Cranes and conveyors

Isotron Nederland receives pallet loads with materials from their customers in a non-sterilised condition. These pallets are placed on a conveyor system, which brings them to pallet shelves, where these pallets are stored by means of automatic cranes. The conveyors and cranes are PLC-controlled.
All pallets are identified by bar codes and the bar code scanners inform the also being used Consafe Logistics' SattStore database. SattStore decides on which of the 1,440 pallet shelve places each one is stocked.

Software knows

The software also 'knows' for which customer what pallet on what time needs to be treated. This information is received from the host computer, where a planning & scheduling programme organises the sterilisation processes.
The choice of a pallet is given to the PLC as a picking order. This SattLine-PLC than controls the moving of the pallet into the sterilisation room and its return to the shelves.
The right place is chosen on a free storage basis. When sterilised materials are transported to the end users, SattStore also informs SattLine and this software organises again a picking order but for external distribution.

A continuous process

Isotron Nederland handles about 50.000 units per year in a continuous process. Since its implementation the Consafe Logistics software operates without any delay or technical fail-out.
Consafe's Project Manager John Heere says that this is exactly the purpose of SattStore and SattLine.
Mr. Naud Groeneveld, Operations Manager of Isotron Nederland B.V., states that Isotron probably could not operate the way they do without these solution. "It is vital for our organisation, to have a fully reliable control system and SattStore as well as SattLine answers these demands", he concludes.
On the moment both software and hardware are upgraded. For example the SattStore software will be upgraded into the actual MS Windows version.

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