Automated Micro-XRF Analysis for PSS

PSS is a Western Australian company specialising in spectral technology and mineralogical analysis. As demand for their services grew, their manual sample preparation and analysis workflow became a limiting factor. AUTONOMA worked with the PSS team to design and build a custom automation system that transformed how their laboratory operates.

The Challenge

PSS’s existing process required skilled technicians to manually load and unload samples into a Micro-XRF instrument. The work was repetitive, time-consuming, and subject to the natural constraints of manual labour. Throughput was limited to standard working hours, operator fatigue affected consistency, and there was no straightforward path to scaling capacity as client demand increased. Hiring more staff would not resolve the underlying inefficiency.

The Solution

AUTONOMA developed a fully customised robotic system designed for reliable, largely unattended operation in a laboratory environment. The key objectives were to increase sample throughput, enable continuous operation outside standard hours, free technicians from repetitive manual tasks, and build a platform that could scale with the business.

The system was built around two core components. A KUKA LBR iiwa collaborative robot was selected for its precision, contact sensitivity, and suitability for shared workspaces. It was programmed to pick, place, and remove samples from the analyser with consistent repeatability. The system was integrated with PSS’s existing Bruker M4 TORNADO Micro-XRF instrument, maximising the instrument’s uptime and analytical output.

AUTONOMA also designed and fabricated custom sample trays and handling mechanics to ensure accurate, consistent sample positioning with every cycle. The entire process is managed by a central control interface developed by AUTONOMA, allowing technicians to load sample batches, initiate runs, and monitor progress while the system handles robotic movements and instrument interaction autonomously.

The Results

The automated system delivered a meaningful shift in PSS’s operational capacity. The laboratory can now process a significantly higher volume of samples, meeting growing client demand without adding manual labour. The system runs continuously, allowing technicians to load a batch at the end of the day and return to completed results the following morning. Analysis time per sample was reduced by eliminating manual changeover delays. And technicians are now free to focus on data interpretation, quality assurance, and client engagement rather than repetitive sample handling.

Get in Touch

Contact AUTONOMA to discuss what a similar approach could look like for your operation.

Call: +61 8 6149 9801 or use our online enquiry form.