Written by Jeroen TheeuwesSoftware Manager

Breda, 2 March 2022
PlateButler® is the software of your future! Lab Services has made PlateButler® so powerful that you simply must learn more about it! Read on and discovery why PlateButler® can be made to measure to suit your needs, regardless of the market you operate in, the applications you desire or the number of systems you want to incorporate.The PlateButler® Manager is the perfect example of how we meet the specific, individual needs of our valued clients. The software does not control the process; you do. 

PlateButler® Manager: monitoring your SafetySystem

PlateButler® robots are unique and distinctive. Allow us to explain why!Lab Services lets you set up the system however you want. We can specify exactly how a robot should respond in the event of an alert from the SafetySystem.
Do you want the robot to stop what it's doing immediately after every alert? It can! Alternatively, we can tell your robot to operate at a slower speed when it receives an alert from the SafetySystem. Depending on the nature of the alert, the work does not have to come to a complete halt. 

What was thus far missing in the event of an alert was the fast interface between our SafetySystem and PlateButler®. This interface ensures that the smart SafetySystem immediately sends an alert to PlateButler®, which then forwards the alert to you.
This interface now opens a window that clearly shows you as the operator where the malfunction is located. If you have left one of your system's doors or drawers open, causing the robot to operate slower (or not at all), PlateButler® Manager will immediately notify you of this.

You can take quick and effective action with this new update, so your system's activities can resume as soon as possible and your assay can continue without a hitch. 

PlateButler®: provides you with visible feedback before starting an assay

Of course, it is all too easy to make a typo while writing the script for an assay. PlateButler® used to inform you this had happened once the assay was initiated, but you had to find the error on your own.  

That is now a thing of the past! With the upgrade to the feedback system, PlateButler® will now not only inform you that the script contains an error, but it will also show you exactly where this error is located. Errors are clearly marked in red in your script, so you can resolve the issue quickly and effectively and resume your assay in no time.
This unique upgrade leads to greater trust and an improved workflow!

Another unique update that will have a positive impact on your workflow is the fact that any changes to variables or e.g. renamed variables will be immediately implemented throughout the entire assay. This means you will no longer have to go over your entire script manually to make the necessary changes yourself! PlateButler® is happy to do that for you.     

Dynamic Scheduling meets Static Scheduling

The foundation of PlateButler® consists of Dynamic Scheduling. PlateButler's scheduling algorithm determines the most efficient way to have the robot perform its tasks, based on your assay. Everything revolves around the current status of the available equipment, combined with the priorities recorded in the algorithm. If any problems should arise during the run, the remaining actions for the affected plates are automatically calculated again by PlateButler®. 

Lab Services has now also added a static variant. The plan for the assay is drawn up in advance and presented to you, the operator. You can make any last-minute changes, e.g. by modifying the incubation times to suit your exact wishes. The plan is then executed in accordance with the specifications. When you select this option, PlateButler® will not seek out alternative solutions on its own. PlateButler® does exactly what you ask and nothing more.
In the future, you get to choose whether you want to use Dynamic or Static Scheduling. Everything is possible with PlateButler®. 

Clear overview in your Gantt diagram

This is a very interesting development, specifically for incubations. Once a plate is retrieved from a machine, this is clearly shown in the Gantt diagram. You can also see at a glance how much time the plate spent in the machine in question. Another upgrade that will positively affect the workflow! 

PlateButler® make-over of the user interface

Besides the many upgrades to the PlateButler® functionalities, we have also overhauled the system's entire look and feel. Our software has been given a sleek, modern design that perfectly matches the recognisable Lab Services corporate style. PlateButler® is now also fully compatible with Windows 11 and its design has been updated to reflect this. This was done to take PlateButler® to the next level in terms of its visual presentation and ease of use.  



PlateButler® is ready to get to work for you.
Curious? Of course you are! Contact us! We are happy to help.