Twelve partners assemble the SmartLAB - the intelligent laboratory of the future

Smart, networked and automated – these will be the key features of tomorrow's laboratories. A look into the future and an overview of today's existing possibilities can be found at the smartLAB in Hannover from 6 to 8 October. “smartLAB – the intelligent laboratory of the future” is a special exhibit being shown for the first time at the new LABVOLUTION trade fair. Twelve industrial and scientific partners have been working together for nearly a year to create this realistic vision of a future laboratory. Live scenarios present how laboratory life is changing in the era of digitization, and what benefits this brings. A Laboratory 4.0 forum program is being held simultaneously in the 400-square-meter special area.

The smartLAB partners are:

Leibniz University of Hannover Institute for Technical Chemistry

The Leibniz University of Hannover Institute for Technical Chemistry (TCI) is the central coordinator for all activities contributing to the smartLAB showroom. This includes the basic blueprints for the laboratory structure as well as the design of the sample applications and the entire technical implementation for presentation of the showroom concept. Key aspects of the technical execution are the practical design of the lab infrastructure, and the digital networking of all the devices to be used with a laboratory management system as well as select backend systems. TCI coordinates the individual efforts of all partners to build a fully digitally networked and interactive laboratory environment, never before realized in this form to date. TCI is also a key contributor to the development of the smartLAB presentation materials and the smartLAB showroom exhibit at LABVOLUTION.

Eppendorf

Eppendorf is showcasing the integration of its lab machinery and consumables in digitized work processes at the SmartLAB joint stand. The customer benefits of these solutions in terms of electronic documentation, process monitoring and the automation of frequently repeated laboratory tasks are demonstrated using real-life examples. Says Dr. Jan-Gerd Frerichs, Director of Information Integration at Eppendorf: “As a premium supplier to the life sciences sector, Eppendorf keeps the focus on our customers' needs. Participating in the smartLAB at LABVOLUTION provides us with the perfect forum to demonstrate tomorrow's trends in an interdisciplinary setting. It is also an outstanding opportunity to meet with our customers directly.”

Fraunhofer IPA

The Laboratory Automation and Biomanufacturing Engineering department of the Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Engineering and Automation IPA is supporting the smartLAB with device and software networking. Fraunhofer IPA bases its approach on the SiLA standard (Standardization in Lab Automation, www.sila-standard.org), which describes standardized communication between control systems and laboratory machines that enables fast and easy exchange between devices as well as a high degree of system flexibility, just as the smartLAB requires. The Fraunhofer IPA software libraries are used for device integration, which makes it possible to rapidly generate SiLA drivers for any machine and connect them to control software or an electronic lab notebook. This means devices are automatically configured and data automatically stored in the right place, even without full automation of the lab process.

iTiZZiMo

iTiZZiMo is presenting an application on smartglasses that supports lab workers in conducting experiments while also documenting the procedures. The sample experiment on exhibit involves the effects that different types of stirrers have on the mixing behavior of chemical components. The application could work with any other process in the laboratory as well. The iTiZZiMo Simplifier offers universal deployability: complete documentation, complete replicability, and world-class safety for your most important employees: the doers. The iTiZZiMo applications reduce time-to-result, without detracting from cost-to-result. The smartglasses guide workers throughout the experiment, which is documented via video recording. In this way the experimental procedures can be recorded and checked without the need for additional human resources. Seamless documentation supports later replicability.

Köttermann

Various manufacturers showcase the future of the laboratory in the smartLAB. No matter what it will look like, one thing is certain: intelligent, flexible lab furniture and surfaces will play an important role. As the world market leader for steel laboratory furniture and with the experience of more than 1,000 successful projects completed each year, Köttermann is participating in the smartLAB with the fitting out of modular, interconnectable lab hexagons. In close cooperation with the LABVOLUTION partner companies and the University of Hannover, flexible furniture modules were developed based on the ballroom concept: furniture in the future will be more functional, more flexible and able to perform more tasks, such as data transfer and other functions. “We have more than 65 years of laboratory experience and are familiar with all lab applications in detail. We've contributed this expertise extensively to the smartLAB work group. The result is flexible laboratory countertop landscapes that adapt to the given applications for optimal work processes,” says Tobias A. Thiele, CEO of the Köttermann Group.

labfolder

Ever more incalculable volumes of data are produced in modern research and production laboratories. The labfolder digital lab notebook helps to collect this data, document it in accordance with guidelines and simplify its evaluation. “Networking players in the lab, whether they are people, machines, materials or information, is labfolder's mission within the smartLAB,” explains Simon Bungers, labfolder CEO. labfolder's digital laboratory notebook also makes it possible to implement previously designed structured processes in the lab with the help of a support system, and document them during implementation without additional effort. The individual work steps are carefully checked and automatically logged. Devices used in these work steps can be controlled directly from labfolder.

Laser Zentrum Hannover

Laser Zentrum Hannover (LZH) is an independent, non-profit research institute that stands for innovative research, development and advice. The interdisciplinary collaboration of scientists and mechanical engineers at LZH supports innovative approaches to challenges in a wide range of fields. LZH is demonstrating at LABVOLUTION how laser additive manufacturing can shape the laboratory of the future. “With laser additive manufacturing, extremely precise components, perfectly adapted to their respective uses, can be manufactured from plastic and metal,” says Dr. Dietmar Kracht, Executive Director of LZH. LZH is contributing to the lab of the future by showing how 3D printing can be used to make specially adapted laboratory supplies available directly onsite.

Merck Millipore

Another smartLAB partner is Merck Millipore. Merck Millipore is a life sciences subsidiary of Merck Germany. In the framework of the global Merck group's life sciences businesses, Merck Millipore offers a broad portfolio of powerful and innovative products, services and business relationships that support customers in the biotech and pharma industries in their research, development and production activities. Its targeted collaboration with customers makes Merk Millipore a strategic partner in the acquisition of new scientific and technical engineering knowledge, helping to fully exploit the potential of life sciences – even more so, given that Merck is one of the three largest investors in research and development efforts in this area. Merck Millipore employs around 10,000 people in 66 countries, and registered revenue of €2.7 billion in 2014. In the USA and Canada, Merck Millipore operates under the name EMD Millipore.

PreSens

PreSens is participating in the smartLAB via the integration of a non-invasive measuring device for O2, pH and biomass monitoring. Networking through a central controller for multiple devices allows measurements to be combined with other analysis data. One of the features of fiber optic sensor technology is contactless sensor reading through culture vessel walls. “Our contactless measurement technology is an ideal match for the flexible smartLAB concept, because all the measurement electronics can be embedded in the laboratory bench. The specimen is simply placed above it,” says Dr. Gernot T. John, Director of Marketing and Innovation. Data on oxygen content, pH and biomass development in the culture vessels can thus be gathered rapidly and without the need to takes samples. In addition to significantly reducing workloads, this will make a decisive contribution to the assessment of bioprocesses. PreSens with its staff of more than 80 is a leading provider of fiber optic sensor technology for oxygen, pH and CO² measurement. The company's latest innovation in collaboration with the University of Hannover now also enables online monitoring of biomass in flask shakers. PreSens sensors have been used for research and production in the life sciences sector for more than 15 years.

Sartorius

Pharmaceutical and laboratory supplier Sartorius is also participating in the smartLAB initiative to actively shape the future of the laboratory. “Laboratory digitization presents a central challenge, which due to its dimension and complexity can no longer be solved by lab operators or lab equipment suppliers working alone. That is why we are so pleased to enter into dialogue with users and providers in research and industry at LABVOLUTION, and to discuss concepts for tomorrow's laboratory via the smartLAB presentation. One focus here will be the use of mobile devices for data integration and availability,” says Dr. Reinhard Baumfalk, Vice President Instrumentation & Control Technologies at Sartorius. The company will present a selection of its products at this special exhibit, including Cubis, the world's only modular, configurable analysis balance, the ultrapure water system arium pro, the BIOSTAT A fermenter and laboratory consumables.

Stäubli

Among the growth markets on which Stäubli focuses its manufacturing efforts is the development of robots for the medical and pharmaceutical industry. Along with speed and precision, factors such as particle emissions, easily cleanable surfaces and maximum operating time play a decisive role in laboratories. These are the areas in which Stäubli robots excel, with their enclosed design and patented drive technology. Stäubli is bringing a TX60L cleanroom robot to the smartLAB special event, which will be embedded in the honeycomb layout of the lab architecture. There the cleanroom robot demonstrates the handling of an Erlenmeyer flask. In the associated exhibit, Stäubli is also showcasing the TX40 six-axis robot in the stericlean version. The TX stericlean robot series can work over long periods in aseptic production areas, thanks to its special enclosure, the use of stainless steel for critical parts, and a special surface treatment. It represents a breakthrough for robot-assisted automation in aseptic conditions.

Deutsche Messe

With revenue of 280 million euros (2014), Deutsche Messe AG ranks among the world’s ten largest trade fair companies and operates the world’s largest exhibition center. In 2014, Deutsche Messe planned and staged 134 trade fairs and congresses around the world – events which hosted a total of over 41,000 exhibitors and some 3.6 million visitors. The company’s event portfolio includes such world-leading trade fairs as CeBIT (IT and telecommunications), HANNOVER MESSE (industrial technology), BIOTECHNICA (biotechnology), CeMAT (intralogistics), didacta (education), DOMOTEX (floor coverings), INTERSCHUTZ (fire prevention and rescue), and LIGNA (wood processing and forestry). With approx. 1,200 employees and a network of 66 representatives, subsidiaries and branch offices, Deutsche Messe is present in more than 100 countries worldwide.