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GMP Automation, Industrial Networking, and Other Lucid Automation Articles
Who would have guessed that taking a handful of commercial-off-the-shelf, proprietary bioreactors for cellular agriculture and unifying them under a single automation platform for data analytics would be such a major step toward a hybrid “dim factory”?
The high-level, non-confidential case study is now live on Automation World.
Without changing code or re-architecting the network, we deployed our rugged FAT infrastructure kit preconfigured with Rockwell Automation FT View, Software Toolbox Top server (withdrivers), FT Historian SE, and AVEVA PI Vision.. [more…]
Life is too short for poor batch implementations. Many organizations are purchasing equipment—especially bioreactors—with an inappropriate batch philosophy, resulting in systems that can produce but are frustratingly inefficient and cumbersome to operate.
This isn’t about dressed-up sequencers masquerading as batch systems; it’s about major vendors supplying batch systems intended for a Process Development (PD) environment into commercial settings. [more…]
Finally got the go-ahead to upgrade a system I installed back in 2014, and the results are sweet. Zero downtime, more speed, less resources for the plant thanks to some clever application of tools that avoided a full re-validation.
This virtual infrastructure was Phase 1 to clear the way for new equipment and retrofitting existing equipment with modern PLCs. The whole site is shooting for upgrades to be completed in 2026. [more…]
Wildtype Foods, a leader in cultivated seafood, engaged Lucid Automation to validate whether real‑time data capture and remote visualization could push their new San Francisco pilot plant closer toward an autonomous, lights‑out manufacturing model.
This historian pilot proves that cultivated meat facilities can achieve immediate gains in visibility, compliance, long-term market viability, and labor efficiency without a plant-wide retrofit. By combining Lucid’s automation expertise with Wildtype’s vision for sustainable protein, the team has taken a concrete step from theory to practice on the lights-out journey.
In a two‑week sprint Lucid delivered a mobile, rugged, self-contained server that bolted onto Wildtype’s network to pull bioreactor data into a FactoryTalk Historian SE / PI Vision stack. These components generated electronic batch reports (EBRs), dashboards, and trends for engineers monitoring production runs. [more…]
Automation gains are often realized on the back end of a project. Having a strategy upfront increases the effectiveness, cost, and maintenance of your equipment. Automation seems to get attention only when things go poorly, so let us highlight some non-obvious gains you have likely experienced but didn’t notice because it “just worked”.
The non-obvious gain from reducing duplicated effort is costs, effort, and [more…]
In GMP life sciences, upgrades are tricky with all the legacy validation to consider. Swapping out a reporting solution, the core of GMP quality systems, at end-of-life is rough…
With FT VantagePoint reaching end-of-life, we’ve spent years evaluating alternative solutions. [more…]
Are you still relying on outdated HMI screens in your manufacturing setup? It’s time to switch to PI Vision dashboards – a decision that goes far beyond mere aesthetics.
Why Upgrade to PI Vision? [more…]
Dive into the heart of innovation with our latest video. Discover the cutting-edge methods and ingenious tactics that set Lucid Automation apart in the realm of biotech and pharmaceutical manufacturing. We take you behind the scenes of one of our most complex and successful projects, spotlighting the seamless integration of new technologies into established systems[more…]
Technology and Application of AI/ML in Pharmaceutical Production Conference.
The presentations promise to be exciting and informative as we take, “A unique look into the innovative technology/applications implemented utilizing AI technology in pharmaceutical production.” [more…]
AI In My PID Loops? It’s More Likely Than You’d Expect
Some wonder if AI will replace PID control loops. The reality is that, instead of replacing PID, AI is stepping in to help keep things running smoothly without upending regulatory trust. Think of AI as an extra set of eyes on your process data, nudging you in the right direction rather than taking over the controls. [more…]
Lucid Automation CEO awarded CSIA Rising Star award in 2022
The Rising Star Award honors members who are new to the industry but have displayed traits of a future leader, innovative approaches, and commitment to the industry. [more…]
The Secret to Elevating Your HMI Designs to Elite Status
Applying heuristic usability principles is a great strategy to evaluate the usability of your industrial interface graphical design without swapping existing graphical assets. [more…]
Infrastructure in a Box: An Answer to Costly Equipment Integration
How a portable operations station can contain all the automation technologies needed to for a GMP life sciences facility to produce quality-controlled products.[more…]
Validating Automation Machine Learning Models – The Oracle Problem
Unless commissioning protocols are updated, automation control software may become difficult to perform validation testing on as machine learning and AI become more common.[more…]
Needed a vertical, 90‑degree DIN‑rail mount to retrofit a machine from a crappy PV+1000 to FT View SE thin client. While I searched online suppliers, our intern sketched, printed, and got nine installed in the field.[more…]
Lucid Automation’s new online store is live, your one-stop shop for GMP biotech control panels hardware, software control systems, validation tools, and branded swag. Browse ready-to-install UL 508A control panels, PRO Stations for FAT and training, and complete Open-Platform skid packages: bioreactor/fermenter modules, three-pump gradient chromatography & TFF skids, media mixers, CIP systems, and BMS/EMS interface panels.[more…]
Have you ever wondered why some projects in the Life Science sector smoothly sail to success while others struggle to find their footing? One critical factor that often makes the difference is a Front End Engineering Design (FEED) study.
Unlike standard engineering studies that focus on the ‘what’ of a project, FEED delves deep into the ‘how’ and ‘why’. It’s not just about planning; it’s about strategic foresight.[more…]
