FLSmidth has a +30 year track record as supplier of fully automated sample preparation solutions to diferrent industrial applications. Our solutions have over the years been developed into a variety of solutions and options targeting the different automation requirements and traditions in different industries. Close to 200 project installations document the industry acceptance of FLSmidth’s competence with regards to automated sample preparation.

A distinction can be made between two main categories of automated laboratories:

• Automated equipment systems: Laboratories in which the sample preparation units and the analysis equipment are automated and linked together in a linear configuration by conventional transport belts or alike. This approach is also referred to as linear automation.

• Robotics systems: Laboratories in which automation is achieved by robotics. The equipment units serviced by the robot(s) may be fully automated, semi-automatic or manual.

These types of sample preparation concepts provide in principle equally high quality in sample preparation and analysis. Quality not only meets the performance of “the very best laboratory technician”; it is highly consistent over time. Thus there are no fluctuations from shift to shift in analytical levels due to small differences in the practical procedures undertaken by human operators.

Another distinction can be made between central laboratories and at-line or satellite laboratories. For first mentioned concept all samples are brought to a central – typically large - labororatory facility, where a part of the sample preparation and anlysis tasks are fully automated. It is typically the high priority 24-7 samples from a continuosly operating process which are automatically prepared and analysed. For the at-line or satellite laboratory approach a smaller dedicated lab facility is installed in a process section very close to the sampling point(s) for high priority samples.

The choice of automation concept depends on the complexity of a particular laboratory method, the volume of sample throughput, the cycle time requirements, the quality control objectives and of course the cost of a given solution. In general the automated equipment solution is to be preferred for high sample throughput and/or low complexity. F.ex for a low complexity “X-ray powder preparation only” configuration this means in that a linear type arrangement is the more cost effective of the two concepts.
Robotics solutions are preferable if the procedures are more complex or if more tests are to be made on the same sample. This is because the robotics approach requires less adaptation of the requirement serviced and less expensive automation of a wider range of standard laboratory components. Another factor in favour of the flexible robotics concept is its high flexibility in terms of future modification. In the past, robotics solutions were recommended, when several equipment units were to be operated or there was a higher preparation complexity. However, over the years robots have become steadily less expensive, making the robotics concept more attractive economically also for smaller project configurations.

FLSmidth’s QCX/RoboLab and the QCX/AutoPrep products provide the automated preparation solutions for cement & minerals & base metals production laboratories as well as for general service laboratories. The automation concepts are based on sample preparation and laboratory equipment arranged in suitable linear or circular configurations. Analytical instruments are located in an adjoining room, separated by a glass wall or integrated in the same room next to the preparation units. FLSmidth group companies produce a wide range of the sample preparation equipment integrated in a specific QCX/RoboLab or QCX/AutoPrep project, but both concepts allow for sub-supply of other preparation equipment brands. Analysis instrumentation (XRF, XRD, OE, particle sizing …..) is typically sourced from leading instrumentation suppliers. FLSmidth is the system integrator and designs and engineer the overall automation solution and produces the appropriate QCX software modules, integrated and engineered to the project specific configuration. Pending the automation specifications existing equipment may be integrated in the set-up. The system is software wise delivered as a completely integrated system, with efficient commissioning in mind.

Samples arrive either via the connected automatic sample transport system or via manual/semi-automatic transfer points from the outside to the robot cell/linear equipment arrangement. Bar code or RFID tag scanning for identification of incoming samples are available options. A wide range of sample preparation and analysis tasks can be automated by the QCX/RoboLab or QCX/AutoPrep concepts.

Often applied preparation & analysis disciplines are: 

crushing (and drying)	particle sizing by laser or traditional sieving		surface milling (grinding) of metal samples for OE spark and XRF analysis	punching of sample portion for combustion analysis
splitting & dosing	colour analysis		image analysis of OE spark positions	preparation tasks related to automatic re-calibration and re-standardisation for OE analysis
pressed powder and/or fused bead preparation for X-ray analysis	combustion analysis for C/S/H – determination		ink jet or label attachment for sample identification	archiving of samples
XRF and XRD analysis	composite sample collection		OE spark analysis
specific surface analysis (Blaine)	archiving of sample portions

Cement and Minerals solutions

QCX/RoboLab for production laboratories	QCX/RoboLab for general service laboratories	QCX/AutoPrep	Preparation equipment list

Base Metals solutions

QCX/RoboLab for central laboratories	QCX/RoboLab container labs	QCX/AutoPrep	Preparation equipment list