Applications / Clinical Lab
Expand Your Clinical Lab Capabilities with Robotic Handling & Palletizing

In today’s high-throughput clinical laboratories, automation is no longer optional, it’s essential. Yaskawa Motoman’s robotic solutions go beyond specimen sorting and processing to include advanced material handling and palletizing, helping labs streamline operations from intake to archiving.

Automate Your Workflow

Improve speed, capacity and accuracy for your current up- and down-stream processes with Yaskawa’s clinical lab solutions that are capable of:

Workflow Management

Manages workflow of specimens through the pre- and post-analytic sequence.

Component Integration

Integrates components of the automation system (sorting, conveyance, decapping, CSS, etc.)

LIS Connection

Configurable interface enables connectivity to a wide variety of LIS platforms.

Flexible Configuration

Configures to accommodate volume increases, workflow changes and additional process equipment.

Why Palletizing Matters in the Clinical Lab

While traditionally associated with manufacturing and logistics, robotic palletizing is increasingly valuable in clinical labs for managing bulk specimen containers, supply shipments, and archived sample storage. Benefits include:

  • Improved Throughput: Robots like the PL Series and GP Series offer high-speed, high-payload capabilities ideal for handling racks, boxes, and containers in busy lab environments

  • Enhanced Safety: Collaborative robots from the HC Series can work safely alongside lab personnel, reducing strain and minimizing exposure to biohazards 

  • Space Optimization: Robotic palletizers are compact and flexible, making them ideal for labs with limited floor space.
     

Integrated Handling for Specimen Workflow

Yaskawa’s clinical lab automation systems already support a wide range of specimen handling tasks, including:

  • Pre-analytic sorting and decapping

  • Post-analytic archiving

  • Bulk loading and unloading

  • Custom rack development and kitting

By integrating palletizing robots into these workflows, labs can automate the movement of specimen racks, reagent kits, and archived materials—reducing manual labor and improving traceability.

Future-Proof your System Investment

Yaskawa’s track-based process automation solutions are scalable and can easily evolve to add or change processes, throughput and configuration. Integrated systems connected by a specimen transport conveyor can manage workflow for over 3,000 specimens per hour. Each system above is highly configurable to accommodate a variety of workflows.

 
Deploying Automation in Clinical Labs Webinar - Watch Now
Deploying Automation in Clinical Labs Webinar - Watch Now

Custom Process Solutions

Life+Science+Mayo+Line3.final.pngYaskawa Motoman offers extensive process engineering and development capabilities to address unique specimen processing and other clinical lab workflow needs. Solutions include: thaw and mix, relabeling, kitting, instrument connectivity, IT solutions and custom rack development.

Benefit from our experience in designing lab automation systems for some of the world's top clinical labs and schedule a consultation today.
 

Software Tools for Easy Deployment

Yaskawa offers intuitive software platforms to simplify palletizing setup:

  • PalletSolver®: Handles complex multi-line palletizing with scalable architecture  

  • Pallet Builder™: A no-code solution for quick deployment using Smart Pendant  Bulk loading and unloading

  • Smart Pattern: Ideal for basic stacking and pattern creation  

These tools make it easy for lab managers to implement robotic palletizing without extensive programming knowledge. 

Future-Proof Your Lab 

Yaskawa’s modular systems are designed to grow with your lab. Whether you’re expanding specimen throughput or adding new analytic instruments, our robots and software adapt to your evolving needs  

System Highlights

AutoSorterTM

Yaskawa Motoman offers a variety of AutoSorter specimen processing solutions that are ideal for a range of clinical laboratory environments. AutoSorter provides improved processing accuracy, specimen traceability and relieves laboratory staff of repetitive tasks and exposure to infection. Various configurations include centrifugation, decapping and sorting to instrument racks, as well as archive consolidation. They may be standalone or linked together with aliquoters, recappers and other process-specific instrumentation.

AutoSorter XN

  • Provides pre- and post-analytic specimen processing for the Sysmex XN-Series hematology line.

  • Processes up to 1,100 specimens/hour, addressing high-volume commercial lab requirements such as bulk loading and high-speed specimen sorting.

  • Large sort deck maintains increased quantities of specimens, facilitating fully automated workload balancing for extended walk-away times.

View PDF

AutoSorter 1200

  • Processes up to 1,200 specimens/hour for rack-based pre-analytic sorting and post-analytic sorting/archiving.

  • Operates as a "standalone" sorter or as one in a series of processing stations in a conveyorized line.

  • Configurable deck features drawers and/or flow-through conveyors to feed specimens into sorter and to present racks for sort targets.

View PDF

AutoSorter 2000

  • Utilizing the AutoSorter 1200 platform, the AutoSorter 2000 addresses common requirements for high-volume commercial labs, such as bulk loading, various container types and data connectivity.

  • Processes up to 2,000 specimens/hour for bulk-handled specimens.

View PDF

 

Case Study

Sorting Through the Details of an Automation Solution

This article provides a thorough overview of Mayo Medical Laboratories' sort automation system, along with top lessons learned throughout the entire process of selecting, building, and implementing the system.
Learn more >

Download Clinical Lab Solutions Brochure

Example Videos
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Bulk Sorter

High-throughput, front-end sorter for commercial lab workflow optimization. Hopper-loaded specimens are sorted to 24 output targets, each holding up to 200 tubes. 

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AutoSorter 1200

High-speed sorting instrument for pre- and post-analytic specimen  processing. Operates as a “standalone” sorter or as one in a series of connected instruments on a puck-based track. 

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Track-based Solutions

Automate and optimize your workflow for pre-analytic, post-analytic and front-to-back clinical lab processes with a fully integrated track-based solution.

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Dual-arm Robot Demo

RBI is located in Tokyo, Japan, to develop the technology platform to serve biological research experimentation by using the dual-arm humanoid robot.

 
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Clinical Expert Feature - Read Now
 

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