Issue 11 • 2010
news Community edition
Vmax Special Edition Welcome to the Autumn 2010 special edition of ARX news, packed full of useful information, recent events and some very important dates.
In this issue: Vmax and Topspeed 01
In this edition, we focus on one of our newest and most popular forms of automation, the Rowa Vmax Robotic System.
A bit about the Vmax and Topspeed and... The first black Vmax is installed
To find out more about the Rowa Vmax, and the main benefits that robotic systems and channel systems could give you and your business, please have a read through this edition of ARX News.
Case Studies 02 T&E shop fitters and PharmaSys PMR
Design Award 03 The Vmax setting itself apart from the crowd Rowa Topspeed Channel (vending) systems usually use gravity to dispense packs and are capable of dropping large quantities of stock upon demand. They are a very fast and efficient way of dispensing packs and can automate 75% of your daily picking. The channel systems are a simple and cheap concept, designed for pharmacies where the key requirement is pack delivery speed for a limited range of stock. Robotic systems use a picking head to dispense packs to various drop points and have the ability to deliver multiple packs at a time if required. They also allow for space efficient storage and are capable of holding 99%+ of your daily dispensing stock. Robotic systems can easily handle part packs, tubs, bottles and ever changing ranges of parallel imports and generics that current buying patterns dictate. Robotic systems can also cater for automatic loading, automatic labelling,
Rowa Vmax refrigerated items, controlled drugs and remote dispensing.
News Roundup 03 We have been busy!
Both Robotic and Channel Systems offer you a Return on Investment (ROI) meaning that not only will these automated systems help you to push your business into the future, they should help you to increase your profits as you do so. ARX are proud to announce that we have sold 10 Topspeed systems and 29 Vmax’s in the UK so far this year, with many more pharmacies enquiring every week. This includes the very first black Vmax in the United Kingdom, which we have just installed at Wepre Pharmacy in North Wales. When asked what he thought of his new 7 metre long Vmax, pharmacy owner, Raj Morjaria, said “ The robot is fantastic, and the pharmacy looks spectacular.”
Exhibition Schedule 04 Where you can meet the ARX team over the next few months
Did you know?... The new Vmax can dispense up to 2,400 packs per hour! The sophisticated programming of this new robotic system also allows you to stock up to 1,200 new packs per hour. The new Vmax really can help to push your business into the future.
If you would like to see the new black Vmax, we will be demonstrating how it works at this year’s pharmacy show on stand F80 (See page 4 for details).
ARX Ltd • Tel: +44(0)1727 893360 • Fax: +44(0)1727 893361 • Email: sales@arx-ltd.co.uk • Web: www.arx-ltd.co.uk 01
T&E and Christchurch Pharmacy Trial and Error? Time and Effort? You may be forgiven for wondering what, or who this article is about, and how it could be of interest to you. The answer is, if you are considering automating your pharmacy, those 3 characters are worth remembering, as they could play a vital role. T&E Display Group are a team of specialist designers and manufacturers who, amongst many other capabilities, design shop refits for ARX clients. Refits for Pharmacies are one of T&E’s specialities and ARX have worked with them on many occasions.
to staff, helping to save time and space, and increase control. T&E have then built their shop refit around these direct output boxes, helping to create a clean, modern environment. Wayne Collins, Senior Sales Executive at ARX stated that, “The pharmacy looks clinical and well organised because the robot enables the pharmacy to have very few packs on shelving.”
Incorporating the robotic space-saving system with T&E’s tidy, tailored designs means that your pharmacy will have more room for meeting and advising clients, offering additional services or clinical support and generally helping your local community. If you would like to visit a pharmacy with an ARX robot, please do contact us for more information.
ARX spokesman, Luke Lowles-Hourigan stated that, “We have learnt from experience that not only have our clients wanted to automate their pharmacy, they generally want the layout and appearance of their pharmacy to match the modern idea that is automation.” One of the sites on which ARX have worked with T&E is Christchurch Pharmacy in Braintree, Essex. Christchurch Pharmacy have had a 1.6 metre long Extent robotic system installed into their pharmacy with 3 direct outputs
Christchurch Pharmacy
pharmaSys Pharmacy Management System PharmaSys is a unique web based pharmacy management system (PMR) and can allow for fast dispensing, electronic transfer of prescriptions (ETP), broadband ordering through a safe N3 connection, care home management and real time reporting. PharmaSys offer extremely competitive rates for their internet based PMR system, which is continually evolving and becoming increasingly more popular, even amongst pharmacies with automation. If you have automated your pharmacy, or have researched the possibility of automation, you will be aware that robotic systems link to your PMR system. All major PMR systems, including
PharmaSys, are compatible with ARX automated systems. PharmaSys is now being used at an increasing amount of pharmacies with ARX robotic systems. As mentioned in the opening paragraph to this article, pharmaSys have a safe N3 broadband connection. An N3 broadband connection is most commonly used by the NHS and was implemented into their systems in 2004. It is now starting to be used by pharmacies too and allows for a fast, ‘impenetrable’ connection, meaning no computer hackers can access your files. ARX are currently in the process of achieving an N3 connection on our own PMR system, Astia. We hope to bring you more news on the progress of this in the next newsletter.
ARX News • Edited by Stephanie Dyke 02
PharmaSys are also exhibiting at the pharmacy show this year, and will be situated right by ARX at stand E100. PharmaSys will be demonstrating how their PMR system works with our robotic systems. Why not come and see firsthand how we could benefit your pharmacy.
pharmaSys
Design Award for Vmax Kelberg, Germany, 10.05.2010 – The thrilling and innovative design of the Vmax by Rowa Automatisierungssysteme GmbH has succeeded in one of the most well respected design competitions in the world. In the red dot award, product design 2010, the Rowa Vmax was awarded the "red dot" quality award for high design quality by a panel of top judges. The awards ceremony and party took place on 5 July 2010 with more than 1,000 guests at the Essen Opera house (Aalto Theatre). The Rowa Vmax is an automated storage and dispensing system for pharmacies which can store packs of medications in an extremely compact space and dispense them quickly. Rowa is the European market leader in the sector having sold over 3,000 machines. "With the Vmax we have created a clear symbol of innovation and design," says Rolf Wagner, Managing Director and founder of Rowa. "We are extremely pleased to have
been recognised with this important award. It means that for 'non-engineers' too, the technological advance which is integrated somewhat in the background has now also been recognised from a visual standpoint." "All of the products winning a red dot design award had to convince an international panel of experts. These products set themselves apart from the crowd with their excellent design and innovative applications which meant that they were able to prove their quality in one of the hardest design competitions in the world," says design expert Professor Dr. Peter Zec, founder of the red dot design award. Should you wish to view this outstanding system in action, or if you would like some more information, please contact a member of our sales team or visit us at any of the exhibitions listed on page 4 of this newsletter.
News roundup: ARX Staff get Suited and Booted for the Chemist and Druggist Magazine awards dinner, in association with the National Pharmacy Association.
Wayne Collins and Nick Piper, Sales Executives for the South West and South East of England attended the annual event, and said that the evening was, “ A fantastic chance for ARX to enjoy firsthand the successes of our clients, and the Pharmacy sector as a whole.” Nick Piper also stated, “It certainly opened our eyes to the vigour with which everybody is grasping their opportunities and really driving Pharmacy into the future.” It sounds like an enjoyable night was had by all!
Full power with even less energy consumption The Rowa Vmax is highly efficient energywise and therefore saves money at the same time. The actual electric power consumption is between 500W when on standby and 685W with one picking head in operation. These figures really stand out when one considers the fact that a standard coffee machine uses between 1,000 and 1,450W.
Rowa Vmax
ARX Ltd • Tel: +44(0)1727 893360 • Fax: +44(0)1727 893361 • Email: sales@arx-ltd.co.uk • Web: www.arx-ltd.co.uk
03
Who's who at ARX: Andrew Gill
NEC - Birmingham
Exhibition schedule Andrew Gill Andrew has recently joined ARX, leading the Projects Team as they meet the growing demands for installations in the UK and Ireland. As a Pharmacist with an impressive background in community and hospital pharmacy, Andrew stated, “I’m excited to have joined such an innovative company and I’m looking forward to bringing my programme manager experience and knowledge of pharmacy to ARX.” Andrew is used to managing complex projects, what with 3 children and the latest addition of several hens, but never quite finds enough time for his sailing hobby. Andrew has crossed the Atlantic so knows anything is possible given planning. What else would you expect from the latest addition to our Projects team!
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 staff. 7th - 10th October 2010
Expopharm, International Congress Center, Munich 10th - 11th October 2010
The Pharmacy Show, NEC Birmingham
ARX International
Call us now to discuss how ARX automation can help you: ARX Limited Unit 6, Beaumont Works, Hedley Road, St. Albans, Hertfordshire AL1 5LU
Tel: +44(0)1727 893360 Fax: +44(0)1727 893361 Email: sales@arx.co.uk Web: www.arx-ltd.co.uk
04
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 Switzerland 5, Route de Chêne case postale 6298 case postale 6298 CH-1211 GENEVE 6
ARX Ltd • Tel: +44(0)1727 893360 • Fax: +44(0)1727 893361 • Email: sales@arx-ltd.co.uk • Web: www.arx-ltd.co.uk