Thermo improves Oxford Biosensor packaging
Oxford Biosensor with an inline Allen NX2 continuous motion thermal
transfer unit.
The unit, which is designed to print vital product information onto aluminium pouches used to package biosensors, has been specially configured to run at a slower speed. This enables the unit to offer quick print format change over and high print quality.
Biosensors are used extensively by food scientists in the fight against foodborne pathogens. Researchers in the US for example recently designed a new biosensor to detect the potentially deadly bacteria Listeria monocytogenes.
The antibody-based fibre-optic biosensor created by food scientists at Purdue University can detect the listeria bacteria in less than 24 hours at concentrations as low as 1,000 cells per millilitre of fluid - equivalent to the size of a pencil rubber.
Oxford Biosensor says that the main benefit of Thermo's inline thermal transfer printer is its versatility and consistent high print quality. As well as printing vital product data such as expiry date, the company also needs the NX2 to print the logo of its various global marketing partners.
To achieve this, the print format can be quickly and easily reconfigured, with no risk of contaminating the ribbon during change over.
The AllenCode NX2 Continuous Motion printer has a print width of 53mm and provides fast print speeds, short stop times and quick-change printhead - ideal for the printing of real-time, text, autocodes, graphics, Julian dates and sequential barcodes.
"We currently package our biosensor products manually and as a result required Thermo to configure the machine to run at a reduced running speed so we could keep up with it," said Oxford Biosensor process engineer Jayesh Lad.
"We will be making the transition to an automated process over the next six months and the Allen NX2 unit will be ramped up to meet our throughput targets."
Thermo's life and laboratory sciences segment provides analytical instruments, scientific equipment, services and software solutions. The group's measurement and control segment is dedicated to providing analytical instruments used in a variety of manufacturing processes and in-the-field applications.
US-based Thermo has an annual turnover of more than $2 billion and employs approximately 10,000 people in 30 countries. All the new products will be on display at K 2004 in Dusseldorf, Germany from 20 to 27 October 2004.
