Robotic TGA System

The Automated Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA) System is a cutting-edge solution engineered by HF Innovation to transform the way laboratories conduct TGA workflows. Delivered to Cawood, one of the United Kingdom’s most respected environmental laboratories, this system automates the entire TGA process—from sample dosing and weighing to heating, analysis, and post-processing—significantly increasing productivity, repeatability, and safety in laboratory environments.

Thermogravimetric Analysis is a widely used method for measuring the changes in mass of a material as a function of temperature or time. It is essential for understanding moisture content, volatile components, decomposition temperatures, and ash content in a variety of materials, particularly in environmental, agricultural, and industrial applications. Traditionally, the TGA process is time-consuming and highly reliant on manual handling, which increases the risk of operator error and limits scalability. The Cawood TGA System eliminates these challenges through intelligent design, robotic automation, and precision engineering.

At the heart of the system is a fully integrated robotic arm that handles sample crucibles with speed and accuracy, moving them seamlessly between dosing stations, weighing scales, furnaces, and output trays. Advanced weighing technology ensures each sample is measured with high precision, while the automated dosing unit delivers consistent sample volumes across hundreds—or even thousands—of samples per batch. This consistent workflow guarantees reproducible results and minimizes variability, a critical factor in regulatory and quality assurance laboratories.

With the ability to manage thousands of samples per day, the Cawood Automated TGA System is ideal for high-throughput laboratories that demand efficiency without compromising analytical integrity. This level of automation dramatically reduces the need for manual labour and frees up skilled technicians to focus on higher-value tasks such as data interpretation and method development.

In addition to performance, the system prioritizes operator safety and ergonomic design. By minimizing direct human interaction with high-temperature furnaces and repetitive weighing and dosing tasks, the system reduces the risk of burns, repetitive strain injuries, and contamination. The enclosed design with integrated safety interlocks ensures a secure operating environment, meeting international standards for laboratory safety and automation.

• Fully Automated Sample Handling: Processes over 2,300 samples daily through seamless integration of robotic arms, dosing systems, and TGA furnaces.

• High-Speed Robotic Operation: Equipped with an XYZ robot and 6-axis ABB robotic arm to manage dosing, crucible handling, and oven loading with precision and reliability.

• Precise Dosing Accuracy: Samples are dosed by mass to four decimal places into ceramic TGA crucibles, ensuring consistent and repeatable analysis.

• Multi-Oven Capability: Up to six TGA ovens can be utilised simultaneously, each capable of operating at independent temperature settings for multi-point analyses.

• Expandable System Design: Furnaces can be upgraded to accommodate higher temperature ranges as analytical requirements evolve.

• Post-Analysis Cleaning: Integrated cleaning system prepares crucibles for immediate reuse, enhancing throughput and reducing downtime.

• Dust Extraction: Built-in extraction unit for safe and clean disposal of spent samples, with the option to connect to a larger external facility unit.

This Automated TGA system is ideal for environmental laboratories, mineral processing, material science, and industrial automation settings requiring high-throughput thermogravimetric analysis. It is particularly suited for organisations seeking to:

• Improve efficiency in thermogravimetric analysis

• Eliminate repetitive manual tasks such as weighing, dosing, and sample transfer

• Reduce the risk of sample contamination or mix-up

• Minimise occupational hazards, including repetitive strain injuries (RSI)

• Reallocate skilled personnel to higher-value, safer tasks within the laboratory

The system is controlled through a user-friendly software interface that allows operators to:

• Register trays containing up to 1,000 sample vials via a vertical stacking magazine (10 trays of 100 samples each)

• Automate the sample tracking process from dosing to final weighing

• Export sample weights and final results directly to the client’s Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS)

• Set and monitor temperature profiles for each TGA oven

• Manage system performance, error handling, and maintenance alerts in real time.

• The software supports seamless integration into existing laboratory infrastructure and complies with modern data management protocols.

Specifications