Norgen Biotek

Norgen Biotek

Improving automating process at leading biotech firm

Project Type

Automation and Advanced Manufacturing Techniques

Challenge

Norgen Biotek is an award-winning company that creates sample kits for DNA, RNA, and protein purification. Norgen wanted to improve its processes to create greater efficiency in production, but did not have the time or resources to devote to research.

Solution

The research team assisted in the development of tools and processes to uniformly distribute their patented silicon carbide resin on a silica sheet; not an easy task, as silicon carbide has a density of more than three times that of water, and is therefore difficult to keep in uniform suspension in water for spraying on a silica sheet. The team applied fluid dynamic principles in the design of a mechanism to accomplish uniform spray distribution and silica carbide dispersion. This technology will increase the range of nucleic acids that can be purified by Norgen kits, increasing kit yields and quality.