Platform on production and process automation
Pharmacists are also feeling the scarcity in the labor market twice over. As in industry, robots are bringing relief. Meditech Pharma is one of the jewels in the Belgian crown of machine builders. Based in Izegem, this company builds pharmacy robots that find their way all over the world. Why? Because they stock up to 60,000 boxes in a compact space and deliver them back to you very reliably. And that requires reliable components. This is why Meditech Pharma has been choosing Oriental's stepper motors, represented by Rotero, for years.
A pharmacy robot is increasingly at the heart of a pharmacy. Feel free to call him a jack-of-all-trades. "He keeps track of orders, puts everything in the right place and delivers the medication when requested. That way the pharmacist doesn't have to deal with all the logistics and can keep the focus on the patient. A win-win, because in addition to the gain in speed, the pharmacist has more time to give patients all the necessary information and more space in the pharmacy for over-the-counter products," says Marieke Vandemeulebroucke, marketing coordinator at Meditech Pharma. This Izegem-based company grew out of Studio Clement, which provides interiors for pharmacies, about 20 years ago. "The vision back then was to offer total solutions. After all, often a renovation is the time to invest in a pharmacy robot."
Meanwhile, Meditech Pharma is already firmly on its own feet. Last year it delivered no less than 350 installations, and this year around 380 will be realized. A growth that will soon result in a new building offering 10,000 m² of production space. "Then we will be able to house all our services - R&D, engineering, production and service - in one hall again. A high-tech environment, for a high-tech product," laughs purchasing manager Dirk Del'haye. He is especially looking forward to the efficiency that this improved product flow will bring. Because there is a lot involved in completing the pharmacy robot to the customer's specifications. "The standardized version offers users a limited number of choices, but with our MXTL everything is custom made. We start from a modular structure, which is completely adapted to the customer's situation. For that, we need the space to fully build and test them out in production before they leave for the customer."
And those customers are at home and abroad, as far away as Australia. Del'Haye: "From a technical point of view, we have a very strong product. The robots in general and the gripper, the heart of the system, in particular, are of high quality and extremely reliable. This means that we can also offer them for export with confidence. We know they will do what they are supposed to do, and that has earned us an excellent reputation."
For about fifteen years, Meditech Pharma has been working with Rotero. "Ever since the previous generation of these pharmacy robots," Del'haye clarifies. "Rotero supplies the Oriental stepper motors that ensure just that reliable drive of the gripper. There are a total of six types, which we select according to the desired size, power and reduction. Motors with which we rarely, if ever, have problems. They drive the grippers, the control of the turnout and certain rotary movements in the loading system. In short, they are crucial in the operation of our robots." Rotero also supplies fans, connectors and grilles, among other things.
Stepper motors have a somewhat longer delivery time. Meditech Pharma therefore opts for a contractual annual quantity, which then comes to Izegem on demand. A cooperation that runs particularly smoothly. "Even during corona and all the problems with the availability of electronics in its aftermath, Rotero has always been able to deliver enough motors so that we could continue. There is open and direct communication, there are clear agreements. So a partner to build on, and you need them for crucial components," said Del'haye.
Oriental stepper motors, meanwhile, are no longer the same as they were fifteen years ago. They are now in a new jacket, but the functionality remains just as reliable. "We too are always tinkering with our design behind the scenes to stay state-of-the-art. The more efficient our pharmacy robot operates, the faster our customers will recoup their investment. But we continue to rely on Rotero."
