FORMULAX- The Formulation System. (Click on picture for larger image)
Applications	Development platform for consumer products formulations research and development with specialized viscous liquid handling and mixing and gravimetric liquid and powder handling.

Originally developed for the pharmaceutical industry, Zinsser Analytic have developed an automatic workbench which enables you to execute a workflow to test a formulation conditions in parallel. The reactor is based on the microplate format for 8 to 24 vials with different compounds or different testing parameters. Tools for pH-measurement and adjustment, precision dosage, weighing & mixing (even of highly viscous media) are provided. Optical control, evaporation, filtration, HPLC- /LC-MS integration can be provided enabling you to carry out your well proven formulation methods and solubility tests on a single platform.

Now with the new Overhead Stirring tool it is possible to automate the mixing of even very viscous liquids such as shampois, lotions, soaps and so forth. This capability brings the realm of automated formulations research and development to the consumer products industry.

The Overhead Stirring tool is software-controlled and is mounted directly on the base of the robotic liquid handler. The stirring motor simulataneously spins 8 individual sitting rods that are lowered into the sample containers. The stirring rods can be interchanged, allowing a custom rod and blade design to be used for specific applications.

• Software-controlled reaction block with integrated active stirring
• 80-300 rpm
• 8 x 25 ml reactors
• Liquid can be added or removed even while stirring through top access ports
• Heated based plate and cooled top plate
• Sealed lid prevents evaporation

These pictures show the mixing of two different liquids (shampoo consistency), one white and one red. The mixing speed is 800 rpm and the elapsed time is 2 minutes. Complete mixing is achieved in a matter of a few minutes with the overhead stirring tool.

The overhead stirring can be configured into an automated formulations platform with any or all of the following options from Zinsser:

Spreadsheet Input of Experiment Design

The Zinsser Winlissy software can import a spreadsheet with the formulations experiment design and translate the entered parameters into the necessary commands to perform everything automatically on the instrument. This simplifies programming and allows offsite design of experiment.

Other data formats can also be imported, such as results fro Design of Experiment software packages.

Proven reliable X,Y,Z-platform with 4 independent Z-drives for liquid and powder handling and an integrated robotic arm for gripping vials, tubes, plates and pick-up tools, which can then be placed in any position of the workbench area.
Unique new hardware approach The precision balance is positioned outside the workbench still within reach of the robotic arm. The balance stand avoids any mechanical distortion, minimizing the settling time, improving the sensitivity and therefore increasing the throughput.
Designed for customization To meet individual requirements, it can be equipped with vortexers, hotplates, cooling plates, stirrers, reactor blocks, incubators or other modules from our extensive range of tools. The unique software allows the customer to even integrate his own modules. For special applications we offer the service of integration of custom modules.