NuTec Employs Epson Cleanroom SCARA Robots to Automate Medical Syringe Manufacturing, Including a COVID-19 Medical Application

CARSON, Calif., Feb. 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Epson Robots, the #1 SCARA robot manufacturer in the world, today announced that NuTec Tooling Systems, an architect of custom automation solutions, has built a syringe coating machine, including four Epson Cleanroom SCARA robots for a pharmaceutical OEM. The robots are employed at various stations within the machine to provide precise, efficient, and cost-effective automation to the customer's syringe manufacturing process. The concept phase of the project started in 2018, and the machine was ready for operation in November 2020, enabling the OEM to work with government agencies at a critical time to develop a cost-effective process for manufacturing mass quantities of syringes to use in the fight against COVID-19.

The OEM customer asked NuTec to develop a new machine to automate syringe manufacturing using a proprietary coating process, which gives plastic syringes properties similar to glass. Historically, the OEM's competitors produced syringes from glass, which is more costly than plastic. The process, especially when automated, helps reduce costs and makes mass production feasible. 

"Epson's high-speed G6-Series SCARA robots with Epson RC+^® software enable precision processes with exceptional repeatability assembly pick and place capabilities," said Brent Martz, director of Sales and Marketing, NuTec Tooling Systems. "The ease of use and application versatility within the Epson RC+ development environment plus an ISO-3 rating and compliance with cleanroom standards makes them ideal for this project and the medical sector in general where speed and precision are vital to the manufacturing process."

Within the machine, the first Epson G6 Cleanroom SCARA robot removes syringes from a tub in preparation for the coating process. After the syringes are coated at a rate of 38 parts per minute, they pass through various inspection stations. Next, the syringes are siliconized, temporary caps are changed to final caps, and then x-ray inspected before being added back into a container by a second SCARA robot. A third SCARA robot picks up a full container of syringes, applies an inner and outer cover, and seals it before releasing it to the fourth and final Epson SCARA robot that applies a label with a laser marker. NuTec chose to synchronize the third and fourth Epson SCARA robots within the same envelope, reducing a production step and creating greater production efficiency.

"At Epson, we innovate to solve today's challenging automation needs, and our partners play an instrumental role," said Scott Marsic, group product manager, Epson Robots. "NuTec's breadth of experience and talented staff help provide customers with a clear vision of custom automation projects. Together, we deliver the perfect blend of innovative, high-performance solutions and design expertise for complex assembly applications in the medical sector, including COVID-19."

About NuTec Tooling Systems
Located in Meadville, PA, NuTec Tooling Systems (Tessy Automation) designs and manufactures an extensive range of electro-mechanical automation solutions. Founded in 1983, they specialize in solving the unique challenges of contract manufacturers and manufacturers of complex components. As Automation Architects, NuTec's team of experienced engineers and project managers provide customers with a clear vision of custom automation projects. For more information, please visit https://nuteccustomautomation.com/

About Epson Robots
Epson Robots is a global leader in PC-controlled precision factory automation, with well over 100,000 units sold worldwide¹ and a product line of hundreds of models of easy to use SCARA, Cartesian and 6-Axis robots based on a common PC-based platform. Building on a four decade heritage, Epson Robots delivers solutions for precision assembly and material handling applications in the aerospace, appliance, automotive, biotechnology, consumer product, electronics, food processing, medical device, pharmaceutical, plastics, semiconductor, and telecommunication industries. For more information, visit www.epsonrobots.com 

About Epson
Epson is a global technology leader dedicated to becoming indispensable to society by connecting people, things and information with its original efficient, compact and precision technologies. The company is focused on driving innovations and exceeding customer expectations in inkjet, visual communications, wearables and robotics. Epson is proud of its contributions to realizing a sustainable society and its ongoing efforts to realizing the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals.

Led by the Japan-based Seiko Epson Corporation, the worldwide Epson Group generates annual sales of more than JPY 1 trillion. global.epson.com/

Epson America, Inc., based in Los Alamitos, Calif., is Epson's regional headquarters for the U.S., Canada, and Latin America. To learn more about Epson, please visit: epson.com. You may also connect with Epson America on Facebook (facebook.com/Epson), Twitter (twitter.com/EpsonAmerica), YouTube (youtube.com/epsonamerica) and Instagram (instagram.com/EpsonAmerica).

¹ Epson internal sales data through 2021.

Note: EPSON and Epson RC+ are registered trademarks and EPSON Exceed Your Vision is a registered logomark of Seiko Epson. All other product brand names are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of their respective companies. Epson disclaims any and all rights in these marks. Copyright 2021 Epson America, Inc.

SOURCE Epson America, Inc.