Issue 13 • 2011
news Automating Pharmacies
Community edition
Happy New Year from all at ARX In this issue: We’ve reached that festive time of year again, where mulled wine and christmas dinners have been enjoyed, gym memberships are purchased, and the antacids and weight loss tablets fly off the shelves! This festive edition of ARX news is jam packed full of interesting news and facts about automation, and how we can help you to store your medicine packs with the upmost efficiency. What more could you wish for this New Year!
Do you think automation is too expensive?... Well think again! Have you ever thought about the possibility of automation, but the anticipation of finding out that it comes with a large price tag has stopped you from enquiring?
The Select automation system has been the most reliable form of automation in pharmacies for the last 15 years and is suitable for any pharmacy who dispenses over 4,000 packs per month. Your machine will also be supported after installation by one of our 43 technical and service team.
Recent Installs in Ireland McLernon’s PMR System
Automation Updates 03 Self Cleaning Robot Store RX
News Roundup 03 Pharmacy Show 2010 CIISafeTM
Who’s Who at ARX 04 Karl Murfitt - Service Engineer
Well, now there really is no need to worry as ARX are giving you the opportunity to invest in an automation system, at a fraction of the usual price. Recently some of our customers have upgraded to the new Vmax system for additional speed and space benfits, which has lead to the creation of a 2nd hand market for the Select system. These Select systems are carefully un-installed by our engineers, reconditioned and then installed in their new homes, providing all the functionality of a brand new system, without the price tag!
Case Studies 02
Exhibition schedule 04 Where you will find ARX in the up and coming months
Did you know?... Rowa Select Of the 419 pharmacies in the UK and Ireland who have chosen to automate with ARX, 12 of them have installed reconditioned machines.
•We have over 40 innovative patents on the Vmax picking head!
•An average of 1.3 pharmacists choose to automate with ARX every day.
There have already been 2 reconditioned Selects installed in Ireland with more scheduled for early 2011. These systems are very suitable to the Pharmacy model in Ireland and give the majority of pharmacies the opportunity to avail of the benefits of automation.
ARX Ltd • Tel: +44(0)1727 790446 • Fax: +44(0)1727 893361 • Email: sales@arx.ie • Web: www.arx.ie 01
Better Stock Control with MPS Criofan Shannon, the ARX trailblazer in Ireland, switched software vendors to McLernons MPS system some time after installation of his robot. The reason he did so was clear – the two-way communication between the robot and MPS. “I now have greater visibility on the stock that is in the robot – we are no longer second guessing if the stock is in the robot, in the queue, or simply not there. The constant stock synchronisation ensures that MPS is kept up-to-date.” “Initially on switching to MPS, the enhanced communication meant that I reduced my stock levels by between €15 €20,000, a reduction which is hugely significant in these financially straitened times!” Robin Hanna, sales director at McLernons, pointed out that further stock reductions were not uncommon for ARX sites which use the MPS dispensing suite of products. “All sites note an immediate drop in stock levels, and further fine-tuning can lead to
even greater reductions. An ARX robot is an extremely efficient storage and retrieval system and, when coupled with MPS, greater improvements can be effected.” “Another benefit of using MPS with ARX is the option to keep stock in multiple locations – which is particularly useful for large items which are bought in bulk. The dispensing system allows you full sight of your stock at all times, both inside and outwith the robot, allowing for efficient stock rotation, purchasing, etc,.” He added, “Over 80% of ARX sites in community pharmacies in Ireland use MPS, which is surely testament to the way in which the two systems work well together. Criofan was the first, but not the only pharmacist to swap software vendors after installing ARX. McLernons are very proud of their record for innovation and ability to design not simply a ‘bolt on’ interface with other systems such as ARX, but design something that will enhance both systems, speed up
workflow, tighten up stock control and the possibility of error and duplication.” Both ARX and McLernon’s work very closely with customers in advance of the installation date of their robot in order to ensure that they fully understand the capabilities of both the ARX and MPS systems. This is followed up with extensive on-site training from both companies. McLernons say with confidence that they have the best trainers in the business. Coupled with the best robotics engineers at ARX, we would say that you are definitely in safe hands!
Criofan Shannon
The Best Just Got Better ! Customer feedback on the market leading Select robot has been used to develop the award winning Vmax. With its faster performance and improved efficiency, the Vmax has taken pharmacy automation to a new level. The new Vmax system has been installed in several pharmacies across Ireland in recent times. In this edition, we catch up with a few of the Vmax owners to see how they are getting on with their new robots and the Time, Space and Control benefits they have received. Paul Savage, Proprietor of Woodbourne Pharmacy in Belfast, is very happy with his recent Vmax installation. They have noticed a significant reduction in stock while spending less time to send orders. Paul stated that his robot “has a quiet kind of efficiency.” Woodbourne’s Vmax is unique because
the end has an eye catching glass window allowing customers to view the robot in action and the machine looks like it was part of their original shop refit. Paul has also designed the outputs from the Vmax so that they can dispense at the front counter, allowing them to communicate with their customers throughout the dispensing process.
Brian already has a channel system in another of his shops but stated “the Vmax is a real robot!”. O’Donoghue’s have experienced an increase in dispensing speed, improvement in the ordering process and improved efficiency in their stock management. Brian stated that the robot “gives a clear picture of exactly what stock we have, and gives us more time to talk to patients.”
McGuire’s pharmacy in Listowel, County Kerry had their Vmax installed in the Summer of 2010 and John is “delighted with the machine. The robot has helped staff with accuracy of prescriptions and also with stock control.” Mr McGuire agrees that the ARX automation system is definitely more efficient. Brian O’Donoghue of O’Donoghue’s pharmacy in Virginia, County Cavan said that he “wouldn’t go back to not having automation.”
Vmax
ARX Ltd • Tel: +44(0)1727 790446 • Fax: +44(0)1727 893361 • Email: sales@arx.ie • Web: www.arx.ie 02
Self Cleaning Robots Rowa have recently announced a new addition to their Red Dot Design Award winning Vmax automation system, and we can guarantee it’s a solution to a job you wouldn’t enjoy doing yourself! The Vmax now has a housekeeping mode where the robot will clean its own glass shelving. The user will simply choose the self cleaning functionality from the housekeeping menu on the visualisation screen, and the picking head in the Vmax will set to work moving packs from a particular shelf at a time. A cleaning attachment is then picked by the picking head and moved across the empty shelf to clean it. The packs are then placed back on the clean shelf and the process is repeated again with the rest of the shelves in the machine.
new and existing customers.
News roundup: We recommend that usually housekeeping functionalities are run out of pharmacy hours, throughout the night for instance, so that your medicine packs are in optimum positions for your working day. During quiet times, your robot will also rearrange packs into optimum positions to make room for new deliveries, and put stock nearer outputs to further reduce dispensing times in busy periods.
This new self cleaning functionality was only announced by Rowa at the beginning of October 2010. ARX are looking forward to installing it into the machines of both
CIISafe™ ARX are now able to distribute the CIISafe™! The CllSafe™ improves the storage and management of controlled drugs, whilst creating detailed tracking reports for each transaction. This secure system ensures that controlled substances can be managed centrally and that any users must be registered, with the correct privilages chosen, in advance of using the machine. Using the CllSafe™ saves staff time as information which would normally be kept in handwritten folders is now automatically stored as a report on the system. It is easy to track patient information on the CllSafe™, as well as tracking items which are nearing, or have reached, their expiery date. If you would like more information about the CIISafe™, please give us a call.
The Pharmacy Show
Efficient Prescription Storage Store RX is the most space efficient way of storing your customers prescriptions inside the robot. It enables accurate tracking of completed prescriptions, which is ideal for prescriptions with several bags and also for monitoring those which have not been collected.
with the majority of pharmacies that are purchasing new machines, also looking to add this time saving option. For more information, please contact Johnny or Andy (contact details on page 4).
The Pharmacy Show, held annually at the Birmingham NEC, was once again a huge success. If the promise of a glass of bubbly on the ARX stand wasn’t enough for visitors, we also brought along many of our robots, from fully automated systems to basic channel systems. Dave Harper, Sales and Marketing Director at ARX, summed up the event by stating, “The Pharmacy Show is always a fantastic way of not only meeting new pharmacists, but also catching up with many familiar faces. We look forward to next year, and an even bigger and better display of robotics from ARX!”
The white and brown medium grade e-flute cardboard boxes come in 2 different sizes, Large and Small. Both are easily recognised and efficiently stored by the robot. Prescriptions can be stored and located using the patient name, as opposed to looking up the required packs, making the prescriptions easier to locate during busier periods. The Store RX boxes are fully recyclable and bio degradable, but of course, these robust boxes can be re-used again and again.
10th - 11th October 2010
Store RX boxes
Many sites are currently using Store RX,
ARX Ltd • Tel: +44(0)1727 790446 • Fax: +44(0)1727 893361 • Email: sales@arx.ie • Web: www.arx.ie
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Who's who at ARX: Karl Murfitt Service Engineer
NEC - Birmingham
Exhibition schedule Karl Murfitt Karl has been with ARX for just over 2 years now and is the Service Engineer for the Republic of Ireland, as well as covering Northern Ireland when required. Karl’s main role is to respond to customer driven service issues or queries, and also takes the time to get to know his customers as well as possible. He has developed good working relationships and friendships with pharmacists across Ireland.
ARX will be present at a variety of exhibitions across Europe over the next few months. This is your opportunity to take a closer look at some of the latest equipment and to talk about your requirements with our experienced members of staff. 1st - 3rd March 2011
24th - 26th March 2011
Expofarma - Lisbon 25th - 27th March 2011
Interpharm - Hamburg 26th - 28th March 2011
Pharmagora - Paris
In his spare time, Karl builds radio controlled aircraft and cars and races them... Sounds like the perfect hobby for an engineer!
Call us now to discuss how ARX automation can help you: ARX Automating Pharmacies Ltd 72 O’Connell Street, Limerick, County Limerick
Tel: +44(0)1727 790446 Fax: +44(0)1727 893361 Email: sales@arx.ie Web: www.arx.ie
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Belgium - Luxemburg Avenue Henri Jaspar 99 1060 BRUXELLES France ARX SAS La Petite Periche Route de Navrans 72200 BAZOUGES-SUR-LE-LOIR Spain C/ Camino de Casabermeja, 118, bajo 29014 MALAGA
Karl enjoys his job because, “each day is a new challenge. There are so many disciplines involved in this role, including electronics, software and mechanics.” Having been with ARX for over 2 years, Karl has seen many sites grow their businesses since having automation installed, and enjoys watching his hard work pay off.
ARX International
Infarma - Barcelona
ARX News • Edited by Stephanie Dyke • Happy New Year!
Switzerland 5, Route de Chêne case postale 6298 case postale 6298 CH-1211 GENEVE 6