ANTARES VISION IS A PIONEER IN THE FULLY AUTOMATIC INSPECTION OF FREEZE-DRIED PRODUCTS
The patented and innovative solution LYO CHECK paves the way to artificial intelligence and was therefore the focus of the Freeze-Drying Technology Summit in Vienna.
Vienna, 14.02.2020 – Antares Vision is a leader in the process of protecting products throughout their lifecycle and offers the most comprehensive and scalable global solution for inspection systems, track & trace and smart data management. Driven by competence, energy and passion, the Italian company enjoys providing innovative technologies and building strong partnerships with customers to create added value together.
Therefore, Antares Vision was part of this year’s Freeze-Drying Technology Summit in Vienna, an event for industry leaders to discuss process innovations and technical aspects of lyophilisation for the pharmaceutical, food and cosmetics industries. The focus was on practical considerations for freeze dried formulation development, process optimization, validation and control. The importance of liquid pharmaceuticals, in the form of infusions or injections, is increasing. Freeze drying is used to extend the shelf life of these often very expensive products.
“We are proud to participate in the summit for freeze drying technology and to underline our presence in a challenging market: Here we have drawn attention to our multi-technological approach to visual inspection and integrity testing of container closures for freeze-dried pharmaceutical products” says Carlo Marconi, General Manager BU Inspection Machines of Antares Vision. The LYO-CHECK system, a fully automated industrial inspection system for lyopilisates developed in the EU research project “Horizon 2020”, was the focus of the event. A technology that was developed to check freeze-dried products for foreign particles contained or adhering to them and also to inspect product containers for cosmetic and functional defects.
The patented solution has two inspection carousels: In the first carousel, the Top-Grip technology not only inspects for deposits on the floor, but also checks the edges of containers. Then the side inspection is performed to detect deformations and foreign particles. The most demanding and image-analytically most difficult inspection is the Upper Inspection, where the lyophilisate cake is visually inspected. In addition, the tightness of the containers can be checked using head space gas analysis by examining the vessel volume above the lyophilisate for the presence of oxygen molecules. The machine can check up to 600 containers per minute and is based on the “fail-safe” system. Finally, before the vial leaves the first carousel, the stopper check is performed. In the second carousel, the vials are placed on small turntables and the container lids are checked for mechanical defects and correct printing. This not only ensures 100% inspection and thus minimizes risk, but also saves time and money thanks to easy format changeovers and fast cleaning and maintenance.
The many advantages of lyophilisates can best be exploited when there is a quality inspection system for this special type of pharmaceutical that is as safe, fast and reliable as there is for liquid preparations. The LYO-CHECK project has successfully demonstrated that innovative technical solutions allow a significant improvement and increase in performance of automated testing systems. Thus, Antares Vision will continue to contribute to the technological development of fully automated quality control. First results for the extension with artificial intelligence (AI) based software are expected soon.
ABOUT ANTARES VISION
Antares Vision offers the most comprehensive and flexible solution in the world in Visual Inspection Systems, Track & Trace and Smart Data Management, taking care of the process of protecting products during their life cycle and developing hardware and software solutions for the most demanding industrial sectors, from pharmaceutical to medical devices, from cosmetics to food & beverage. Antares Vision is present in the world in over 60 Countries (with a workforce of over 580 units) and can count on 4 Italian branches (Brescia, Parma, Latina and Piacenza), 9 foreign branches (Germany, France (2), USA (2), Brazil, South Korea, India, Russia), as well as a Research Center dedicated to Innovation in Ireland (Galway). With 20 years of experience in vision technologies, Antares Vision is supplier of 10 of the 20 leading pharmaceutical Companies in the world with more than 25.000 vision systems, that ensure every day product safety and quality, 6.500 inspection checks on production lines and more than 2.500 serialization lines installed all over the world to guarantee the tracking of more than 5 billion products across the whole supply chain. To support and accelerate the strategic growth path undertaken since its foundation until today, Antares Vision has decided to proceed with a business combination operation with ALP.I, SPAC promoted by Mediobanca, which in April 2019 led the multinational to the listing on the Italian Stock Exchange in the AIM Italia, the alternative market segment dedicated to dynamic and competitive SMEs. At the end of September 2019 Antares Vision acquired 100% of FT System, leader of the control and inspection in the beverage sector. In November 2019, an agreement was signed for the 37.5% stake in Orobix, a company specializing in applications with artificial intelligence. In 2019, Emidio Zorzella and Massimo Bonardi have been awarded with the Best Entrepreneur of The Year Award for innovation by Ernst & Young.
For further information:
Antares Vision PR Specialist
Davide Antonioli, davide.antonioli@antaresvision.com, T. +39 030 7283500
Antares Vision Press Office – Twister Communications Group
Elisa Lissoni, elissoni@twistergroup.it, M. +39 3406486083
Viola Brambilla, vbrmbilla@twistergroup.it, T. + 39 02 438114611