Dematic, a global leader in supply chain automation, has partnered with life science and clinical diagnostics pioneer, Bio-Rad, to implement a purpose-built modular conveyor system (MCS), transforming its warehouse operations through intelligent automation.
Bio-Rad Laboratories supplies critical equipment and products to hospitals, laboratories and research facilities across the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region. Due to increasing demand, Bio-Rad recognised the need to modernise its Singapore distribution centre, which serves as a critical hub for its APAC operations, responsible for timely and regulatory-compliant delivery across multiple countries.
To eliminate manual decision-making and minimise the risk of errors in the packing and shipping process, Bio-Rad required a solution that could address the complexity of handling a diverse product range with a high number of stock-keeping units (SKUs). Rather than automating a single component, the entire workflow needed to be reimagined to achieve meaningful efficiency and accuracy.
For Bio-Rad, automation was especially critical for cold chain logistics, where even minor delays between storage, packing, and shipping could compromise product quality and regulatory compliance. Ensuring speed and precision throughout this process was critical to maintaining both standards and customer trust.
Dematic’s modular conveyor system was purpose-built to address this complexity, including intelligent sortation and cloud-based controls engineered to eliminate bottlenecks and manual decision points.
“Once items are picked and placed on the conveyor, everything is managed automatically,” says Terence Chan, Senior Sales Manager, Dematic Asia. “The system diverts each product to the correct packing station, using the appropriate packing materials based on real-time data. From there, finished cartons are routed to the correct shipping lane for outbound processing.”
One of the key innovations was the use of powered right-angle transfer (RAT) technology in place of compressed air systems. “This not only reduces capital expenditure (CAPEX) but also lowers ongoing maintenance requirements, making the solution more sustainable and cost-effective for Bio-Rad,” Chan adds.
Cloud-based controls gave Bio-Rad remote flexibility from day one. “With Dematic’s system architecture, authorised users can access diagnostics and make adjustments from anywhere with an internet connection,” explains Chan. “This capability proved invaluable during the commissioning phase and remains a huge advantage for ongoing support.”
The project was a complex rollout involving a wide variety of products, from tiny vials to large diagnostic equipment, all requiring an exceptionally high level of precision at every stage, from picking to packing and sorting. During testing and commissioning, the team worked closely with Bio-Rad to fine-tune the system, making small adjustments to optimise each piece of equipment for accuracy and efficiency.
Since going live, the automated conveyor system has brought measurable improvements to Bio-Rad’s distribution operations. Packing times have dropped, accuracy rates have climbed, and the cold chain process is now faster and more controlled.
“The system has had a significant impact on Bio-Rad’s operations by streamlining and simplifying key processes. With the technology now managing all sorting and packing decisions, errors have been reduced, and workflows have become noticeably smoother. This has allowed the team to concentrate on maintaining high levels of quality and efficiency,” concluded Chan.
