This accomplishment showcases how HF Innovation continues to revolutionize oil testing laboratories with industrial automation.By leveraging industrial components, HF Innovation is challenging traditional sample processing methods in the laboratory. Our innovative approach fully automates various testing methods, making them reliable and robust. This system empowers laboratory technicians to focus on critical tasks while automated systems efficiently handle repetitive work.
Not only does this reduce the risk of injury from repetitive tasks, but it also eliminates human error, enhancing the precision and accuracy of results.
In this particular case, the PQ Index is used to measure ferrous wear metal particles in oil, grease, and coolants using a magnetic field. Unlike spectroscopic iron measurements, the PQ Index detects the presence of larger iron particles, such as gear teeth or metal fragments, ensuring a more comprehensive analysis.
This versatile system integrates with LIMS, automatically calibrates itself, and efficiently reprocesses out-of-specification samples. It can handle different bottle shapes and even test sample bottles placed upside down, demonstrating its flexibility.
Moreover, the PQ automation can be extended to include additional features such as photography for measuring debris settled at the bottle’s base, turbidity measurement of the oil, and colour analysis. Additionally, the system seamlessly integrates with other HF automated systems, including crackle testing, FTIR, particle counting, viscometer, ICP, Karl Fisher, and acid/base numbers.
Other customers that have benefited from the automated PQ include ALS, OelCheck and Caterpillar.
Key features and benefits of our robust PQ:
- 15 – 20 second cycle time from analysis to analysis for samples.
- Multiple bottle/container types and orientations can be analysed at the same time in the Lightning PQ.
- Optional camera system to photograph the side and base of every bottle for chain of custody verification.
- Optional AI particle recognition, quantification of colour and turbidity is also available.
- Bottles are loaded in trays and placed into the system manually or using a central robot.
- The machine typically comes with 2 x 32 position trays (each 450 mm x 225 mm), or 1 x 50 position rack (5 x 10 bottle layout). This can be customised upon request.
- The two-tray version allows for continuous operation as a complete tray can be removed and replaced while the other tray is being analysed.
- The smaller trays are also lighter in weight, making it safer and easier for operators to carry.
- Includes a small tray for priority or Ad-hoc samples.
- The Lightning PQ can self-calibrate using a 750 PQ calibration disc and 0 PQ calibration disc.
- It can also run these calibration discs before each rack, verifying the results are within the specification.
- Samples that are out of range based on their type (e.g. engine oil, coolant etc) will be highlighted at the end of the run, and the operator will be prompted to clean the bottle and reanalyse the sample.
- Should the results fall outside of the limits again, an alarm and email can be sent with the user able to select an appropriate course of action.
- Basic integration to LIMS is included as standard.
This machine can be used manually in the case of maintenance/emergencies. - The Lightning PQ Software is capable of being installed on a PC or a virtual server.
- Exceptionally safe, with all doors being mechanically interlocked while the machine is in operation.
- Modular design allows simple expansion and interfacing with HF’s full range of laboratory automation modules.
HF’s Lightning PQ can also be easily customised to include other analytical methods and sample preparation steps. This includes but is not limited to:
- Sample Mixing, Aliquoting and Solvent Dilution
- Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR)
- Viscometry
- Automated Crackle Tests
pH and Conductivity - And many more…