Charles River Laboratories International, Inc. (NYSE: CRL) has elevated automated endotoxin cartridge manufacturing to the next level with its Endosafe® Cartridge Technology Automated Manufacturing Suite. The company has successfully rolled out the automated production suite. This allows Charles River to expand in-process inspection across cartridge manufacturing.
The technology also enhances manufacturing controls and digital traceability. Also increases production capacity for the growing demands of customers world-wide. By Q3 2026, the automated suite was fully operational. The system was built by Charles River as a major investment in leading-edge manufacturing technologies.
The initiative drives better product quality and improved manufacturing performance. And it is responding to the increasing demand for bacterial endotoxin testing products. The technology makes the test process easier by employing one disposable cartridge. All components needed for testing are included in this cartridge. Thus, customers can get the technology for real-time and quantitative endotoxin analysis.
“Bringing the automated cartridge manufacturing suite to full operation is an important milestone in our commitment to continuous improvement and operational excellence,” said Daniel Fernandes, Senior Site Director, Microbial Solutions, Charles River. “Automation and advanced inspection technologies give us greater visibility into manufacturing performance while strengthening process control and traceability.”
Automated Production Delivers Measurable Results
Charles River has improved since the deployment of the Endosafe® Cartridge Technology Automated Manufacturing Suite. The improvements are in manufacturing efficiency, quality, productivity and operational performance. Moreover, the results show the effect of automation on the whole cartridge production.
The suite opened in July 2026. Charles River has since then reported a number of important results.
- 2% reduction in scrap rates vs manual cartridge production, reducing manufacturing waste.
- 13% reduction in invalid cartridge rate, leading to better consistency of the product.
- 14% increase in Trillium™ and LAL cartridge production capacity to meet growing customer demand.
- 87% labor productivity and manufacturing efficiency improvement allowing more throughput with less manufacturing resources.
Such improvements demonstrate the value of automated manufacturing in operations. They also call for more production controls and utilization of resources. Charles River now can increase manufacturing yields while meeting demanding quality standards. Also, automation can reduce the possibility of human error in production activities.
Automation Enhances Quality and Supply Chain
The new manufacturing approach enhances precision, visibility and utilization of resources. It also allows for faster innovation and more widespread modernization across manufacturing operations.
“Automation is helping us do more than improve quality. It allows us to optimize how we deploy our talent,” said Matt Hewitt, Corporate Vice President, Chief Technology Officer Manufacturing, Charles River. “By reducing the manual effort required to manufacture cartridges, we have been able to redirect skilled employees to higher-value initiatives that contribute to continuous improvement and long-term growth.”
One of the main advantages is the automated inspection of all cartridges. Conventional manufacturing techniques often employ sampling methods. But the automated suite does test each cartridge for critical quality parameters. These checks involve imaging of cartridge thickness and reagent fill.
It also checks for package seal integrity and digital traceability. This means that Charles River has more control over the quality and consistency of the cartridge. The automation initiative also enhances supply chain quality. Charles River has automated the packaging of flat trays to minimize the need for manual handling.
The method allows to achieve better material uniformity in manufacturing. The changes have also made automated and manual manufacturing processes better. Higher quality of raw materials further boosts the manufacturing performance. Thus, the company can ensure greater standards of quality control in its manufacturing process.
Digital Traceability to Drive Long-Term Innovation
The automated suite also offers increased efficiency and scalability. Charles River can produce the same quantity but use fewer workers. This rise in productivity releases capacity to expand in the future. This way the firm can meet customer demand and still maintain strict quality standards.
Another significant advantage is digital traceability. Each cartridge is assigned a unique ID number to track its life cycle. Manufacturing teams can use this data to review images and measurements from inspections. They can look at packaging outcomes in investigations.
That visibility helps teams identify issues faster. It also contributes in continuous process optimization and improvements in manufacturing. Client feedback is another source of valuable information. Charles River leverages customer insights and manufacturing data to improve production performance.
The automated cartridge manufacturing suite is also evidence of the company’s commitment to continuous innovation. Charles River mixes automation with diligent inspections and better process insight. Together these capabilities provide a stronger foundation for future manufacturing growth. They also help to constantly improve the quality of the product and customer value.
“We view this as more than a manufacturing upgrade,” said Hewitt. “It is a platform for continuous learning and innovation that will help us deliver even greater quality, consistency, and value to our customers in the years ahead.”
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News Source: Businesswire.com
