The Lyo-Check Project will develop a fully automated industrial machine for 100% inspection of lyophiles based on innovative vision architecture — a dedicated software and optical layout combined with ancillary technology and Headspace Gas Analysis (HGSA) for testing product sterility via container integrity inspection.
The grant has been awarded within the Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) instrument framework of the EU Horizon 2020 funding scheme, with the goal of producing a disruptive inspection innovation for the pharma industry.
The SME instrument is part of the largest EU Research and Innovation Programme ever, which aims to promote breakthroughs by funding promising ideas from concept, to lab, to market.
The process is quite selective: of the more than 20000 applications in the Research and Innovation Programme’s first 2 years, less than 6% were chosen to receive funds.
Davide Sacchetti, Business Development Manager, Machines Division for Antares Vision, said: “Several multinationals manufacturing high volume parenteral products have chosen Antares solutions for combined vision inspection and leak detection due to our innovative vision architecture, which makes it possible to inspect through the types of matt plastic typical in the blow fill seal process.”
As it works to design an upgraded version of the Lyo-Check Inspection Machine, Antares Vision will apply the core research principles and criteria it uses for development of all its inspection machines, including perfect mechanical handling, dedicated optical layout (product related) and improved algorithms for consistent software judgment.
Adriano Fusco, Strategy and Development Direct for Antares Vision, said: “This EU Horizon 2020 SME Grant directly acknowledges the impressive talents of our research and development team in the visual inspection niche.”