HANDLING WHAT MATTERS
The tubs your people still lift.
Automated.
RoboTub loads and unloads nested tubs at your filling, assembly, inspection and packaging machines. Started once, then it runs.
UP TO
6
tubs per minute
≥ 98 %
technical availability, design target
2″ to 5″
tubs, without format parts
None
signal exchange with your machine, typically
IN OPERATION AT VETTER PHARMA
“Due to the high level of automation, one single RoboTub module can reduce the number of operators down to 1. The system has already paid for itself after 1 year.”
Arno Schroff
Director Site and Plant Development, Vetter Pharma
ISPE Robotics Application of the Year Award 2024 · with Vetter Pharma
Down to 1
operator per RoboTub module.
Customer statement.
1 year
until the system paid for itself.
Customer statement.
Your machine runs by itself. Its tubs are lifted by hand.
Pallet, infeed, outfeed, pallet again: four manual steps around one automated machine. Every tub, every shift.
MANUAL TODAY
Pallet
Nested tubs arrive on US or EU pallets.
MANUAL TODAY
Infeed
Lifted off the pallet and placed into your machine by hand.
YOUR MACHINE
Filling, assembly, inspection or packaging
Runs by itself.
MANUAL TODAY
Outfeed
Taken out and stacked back onto the pallet by hand.
Loading and unloading.
One cell, both directions.
ROBOTUB PRO SHOWN
LOADING
Pallet › Vision › Gripper › Your infeed
Vision locates every tub on the pallet. One gripper for 2″ to 5″ tubs, no format parts. The tub buffer bridges the pallet exchange, so your infeed stays supplied.
UNLOADING
Your outfeed › Vision › Gripper › Pallet
Stacked in the US or EU loading pattern. Gaylord boxes and tub trays as add-ons.
Your machine stays as it is.
Even when the pallet changes.
None
signal exchange with your machine.
In a typical setup, cameras replace signals: vision detects tub position and orientation before every pick. In- or outfeed is simulated at FAT, your machine is not needed.
Zero
stops for a pallet exchange.
An integrated tub buffer bridges the pallet exchange, so RoboTub keeps running. Operators typically have several minutes. RoboTub Pro has two spots: one pallet is exchanged while the other runs.
IN ACTION · 1:38
RoboTub at work.
From pallet to machine and back, in one cell your operators start and leave running.
SHOWN: ROBOTUB PRO · 2 COBOTS
Two sizes.
One architecture.
Collaborative cells that load and unload nested tubs at your machine, from pallet to machine and back.
ROBOTUB
3 tubs per minute
ROBOTS
1 cobot · 1 material handling spot
ROBOTUB PRO
6 tubs per minute
ROBOTS
2 cobots · 2 material handling spots
ADD-ONS
One cell.
Built out for your process.
Gaylord boxes
Tubs directly from or into large-volume Gaylord boxes.
Lid assembly
Lids removed or placed automatically, for example after filling.
Divider layers
Divider layers handled and placed within the stack.
Tub trays
Tubs loaded into and unloaded from tub trays.
Syringe counting
Pharma-compliant counting of syringes in the tub.
Label scan
The tub label is scanned before processing.
Pallets
All common EU and US standard pallets.
Your process step
Tell us what happens around your tubs. We check it in the proposal.
Machine, formats, shift model. We come back with a proposal within two working days.
Mobile robots bring full pallets from the airlock to RoboTub and take empties back out. This is the flow we are building toward.
Built on the MicroFactory Ecosystem.
One MicroFactory Core under every ESSERT module: standardized baseframe, interfaces, controller, safety and software. RoboTub is the job on top, tested and qualified as a module before it ships.
SINCE 2012 · 100+ MANUFACTURERS · ISPE ROBOTICS APPLICATION OF THE YEAR AWARD, 4 YEARS IN A ROW
FAQ
Questions
we get asked.
What comes up in first calls, answered short.
The long answers we bring to the meeting.
Does RoboTub need an interface to my machine?
Typically no. Cameras detect tub position and orientation; there is no integration into machine controls or safety systems. In- or outfeed is simulated at FAT, so your machine is not needed before SAT.
Which tubs and pallets does it handle?
2″ to 5″ nested tubs without format parts, selected by HMI recipe. US and EU pallet standards, 14 to 17 tub loading patterns.
Does RoboTub stop when pallets are changed?
No. The internal tub buffer bridges the exchange and operators typically have several minutes. RoboTub Pro exchanges one pallet while the other spot runs.
Can RoboTub handle partially filled pallets?
Yes. Integrated vision recognizes pallet configuration and fill level. No manual adjustment.
Can we return to manual tub loading if needed?
Yes. Manual tub loading remains available as fallback while the cell is serviced or restarted. Production continues.
How is operator safety ensured?
Force- and speed-limited collaborative robots, soft grippers and a documented risk assessment. Depending on the application, collaborative or safeguarded mode.
Is RoboTub suitable for GMP cleanroom environments?
Yes, up to ISO 7. Cleanroom-compatible materials, smooth surfaces and controlled motion profiles minimize particle generation.
How does RoboTub help with Annex 1?
Annex 1 calls for fewer manual interventions and better contamination control. RoboTub automates tub handling and pallet logistics and minimizes direct operator contact with sterile components.
How does RoboTub support GMP validation?
Documentation built for pharmaceutical validation: traceability between URS, FS and DS, FAT and SAT protocols. Full GMP qualification package for RoboTub and RoboTub Pro.
Can the pallet exchange be fully automated?
Yes, through integration with AGVs or AMRs via standardized interfaces.
