Automation in Practice: A Finnish Packaging R&D Laboratory Experience

 

In February 2026, our team visited a leading packaging manufacturer’s R&D laboratory in Finland to review their experience with the Labthink C840H Integrated Residue on Evaporation Testing System.

Below is a summary of the discussion presented in Q&A format.

Q1: How was the workflow before installing the Labthink C840H Integrated Residue on Evaporation Testing System?

Laboratory Response:

Before the installation of the C840H system, overall migration testing required continuous manual monitoring.

Technicians needed to:

Weigh cups every 30 minutes

Closely monitor evaporation progress

Remain present throughout the entire drying cycle

The process required significant time and manpower. Achieving constant weight was repetitive and labor-intensive.

Q2: What changes have you observed after implementing the system?

Laboratory Response:

The workflow has become more structured and efficient.

Currently, approximately two testing rounds are conducted each week, with around 20 cups processed per round, including parallel samples and blanks. The system is often scheduled to run overnight, allowing laboratory personnel to focus on other analytical tasks during the day.

Evaporation and constant weight determination are now performed automatically within a closed chamber.

The most noticeable improvement is the significant reduction in manual intervention. Automation has streamlined the process while maintaining testing reliability. In addition, the enclosed system design enhances operational safety by minimizing solvent exposure.

 

Q3: How is the system performing in daily practice?

Laboratory Response:

Since installation, multiple parallel measurements have been completed.

The system demonstrates:

Stable repeatability

Consistent results

Precision meeting internal R&D expectations

For applications ranging from new material development to product verification, the system has delivered dependable and consistent performance.

 

Q4: What are the key advantages compared with your previous manual workflow?

Laboratory Response:

The most significant advantage is automation.

Under the previous manual method, technicians were required to weigh cups every 30 minutes to reach constant weight, demanding continuous supervision and considerable labor input.

With the C840H system:

Evaporation and constant weight determination are fully automated

Manual intervention is greatly reduced

Laboratory efficiency is significantly improved

The closed system enhances operational safety

 

Overall, the automation reduces workload while maintaining reliable and repeatable results.

Q5: Are there any improvement suggestions?

Laboratory Response:

Two practical suggestions were discussed during the visit:

Waste Tank Capacity
The current 20 L waste tank can become relatively heavy when emptied daily. A smaller capacity option (e.g., 10 L) would improve handling convenience.

Combination of Different Simulants
The laboratory expressed interest in determining whether food simulants with varying volatility could be evaporated within the same testing cycle to further improve efficiency.

These suggestions have been reviewed, and corresponding optimizations have already been implemented.

 

Q6: How would you rate the overall performance of the system?

Laboratory Response:

Overall System Rating: 9 / 10

The laboratory team highlighted:

Reliable and stable performance

Good repeatability in parallel testing

Significant reduction in manual workload

Improved laboratory efficiency through automation

The C840H has been successfully integrated into their regular R&D workflow and continues to support overall migration testing in a consistent and dependable manner.

Conclusion

The visit highlighted a clear transition from manual constant weight determination to controlled automation.

Manual weighing every 30 minutes has been replaced by automated monitoring.
Continuous supervision has been replaced by scheduled operation.
Repetitive manual handling has been reduced through system integration.

For this Finnish R&D laboratory, automation is not only about efficiency, it represents improved consistency, enhanced safety, and optimized laboratory resource management.