Healthcare logistics
- Key feature
- 3 s loading
- Key feature
- 8–12 s dispensing
- Key feature
- Up to 2 grippers
On order
Price on request
Updated
USE CASE · HEALTHCARE AND ELDERLY CARE
Hospital pharmacy robot: store, prepare and deliver medicines automatically
The robot stores packs, prepares doses and carries medicines to the wards. Pharmacists and technicians keep validation, advice and control.
IN BRIEF
Updated
Hospital pharmacy automation combines pack storage and dispensing robots, unit-dose packaging systems and secure delivery robots that serve the care units.
The BD Rowa Vmax loads a pack in about 3 seconds and dispenses in 8 to 12 seconds, with one or two grippers, according to its manufacturer.
Robot Distribution delivers it, installs it, trains your teams and maintains it, to buy, rent or as RaaS.
WHY
Hospital pharmacy automation
In a hospital pharmacy, receiving, storing, finding packs, preparing doses and getting them to the wards keep pharmacists and technicians on repetitive manual tasks. Every handling step is also a chance of a product or batch error.
The robots read pack codes, store and dispense on demand, package unit doses and carry them in locked compartments. The pharmacy team keeps prescription validation, advice to the wards and stock control.
HOW IT RUNS
How medicines move with the robots.
Receiving and loading
Packs are loaded into the robot, which reads their CIP, EAN or 2D codes and stores them: the BD Rowa Vmax loads a pack in about 3 seconds, according to its manufacturer.
Dispensing
When the software asks, the robot sends a prescription's packs by conveyor to the preparation station: the BD Rowa Smart picks up to nine per pass, according to its manufacturer.
Unit doses
The Swisslog PillPick Octave packs blisters, vials and ampoules into labelled unit-dose bags, stores more than 50,000 doses and dispenses each patient's doses bundled on a ring, according to its manufacturer.
Delivery to wards
The Aethon ZenaRx carries medicines in four locked compartments, opened by code and fingerprint, and rides the lifts on its own; the Aethon T3 hauls carts of up to 340 kg, according to their manufacturer.
THE ROBOTS
Pharmacy and hospital logistics robots in our catalogue.
Healthcare logistics
- Key feature
- 3 s loading
- Key feature
- 8–12 s dispensing
- Key feature
- 9 packs per pick
On orderPrice on request
Swisslog Healthcare
Healthcare logistics
- Key feature
- 50,000+ doses stored
- Key feature
- Unit-dose bagging
- Key feature
- RFID canister reading
On orderPrice on request
Healthcare logistics
- Runtime
- 10 h
- Key feature
- 164 L secure cabinet
- Key feature
- Biometric access
On orderPrice on request
Healthcare logistics
- Payload
- 340 kg
- Runtime
- 12 h
- Key feature
- Omnidirectional drive
On orderPrice on request
BEFORE INSTALLING
What the site survey checks before installation.
Location and dimensions
The BD Rowa Vmax is built from 2.68 to 15.17 m long and up to 3.52 m high, the BD Rowa Smart in 24 sizes 1.63 m wide, according to their manufacturer: floor area, ceiling height and floor load are recorded.
Flows and formats
Lines dispensed per day, pack formats, share of unit doses and peak hours set the type and number of systems.
Information systems
The interface with the pharmacy software and the prescribing workflow is scoped with the hospital's IT department.
Routes and lifts
For delivery, routes, doors, lifts and network coverage are walked with the technical services: Aethon robots call and direct lifts through a dedicated integration, according to their manufacturer.
FAQ
Hospital pharmacies' questions about automation.
Which packs can a pharmacy robot store?
The BD Rowa Vmax and BD Rowa Smart store square or round packs up to 230 × 140 × 145 mm, from 5 g to 1 kg for the Vmax, according to their manufacturer. Odd-sized products are still stored by hand.
What is a unit-dose system?
It repackages each dose into an individual labelled bag. The Swisslog PillPick Octave handles blisters, vials and ampoules, stores more than 50,000 doses and dispenses each patient's doses bundled on a labelled ring, according to its manufacturer.
How can medicine transport to the wards be secured?
The Aethon ZenaRx has four independently locked compartments, about 164 litres in total, opened by PIN and fingerprint; it runs 10 hours and recharges in 3.2 hours, according to its manufacturer.
Must the robot be on the same floor as the pharmacy?
No: the BD Rowa Vmax can be installed on any floor and linked to the dispensing point by conveyors, according to its manufacturer. The survey checks the conveyor route.
Is the robot noisy?
The BD Rowa Smart is rated at 48.8 dB(A) and the BD Rowa Vmax at 48.3 to 50.9 dB(A), according to their manufacturer.
USE CASES
Hospital deliveryMedicines to the wards, samples to the lab, supplies and linen between floors: the robot runs the shuttles, locks its compartments and logs every delivery.
Hospital disinfectionThe robot disinfects rooms by airborne dry fog and UV, following the hospital's protocol. Cleaning staff still clean surfaces by hand; the robot adds a regular, scheduled step.
Robotic gait and upper-limb rehabilitationThe robot carries part of the patient's weight and repeats the movement. The physiotherapist sets the goals, adjusts the assistance and leads the session.
Robot-assisted patient transferThe robot lifts and moves the person between bed, wheelchair and toilet. The carer guides the transfer and keeps their attention on the person.
Robotic transport of hospital cartsThe robot takes the heavy kitchen, laundry and waste carts, calls the lift and delivers them to the wards. Logistics staff keep loading, checks and urgent requests.
Tell us about your pharmacy and its flows. We size the solution.
Robots, acquisition mode and delivery terms, in one written proposal.