In practice

Microfluidics: Intro to Lab-on-a-Chip Tech"

In today’s world of scientific miniaturisation and rapid diagnostics, the term microfluidics is becoming a cornerstone of modern technology. Whether you're a researcher, engineer, or simply curious about cutting-edge science, you've likely heard about lab-on-a-chip systems and wondered what they are. So, what is microfluidics, exactly? At its core, it’s a powerful blend of fluid dynamics, chemistry, and engineering—shrunk down to a microscopic scale. From speeding up disease diagnosis to developing smarter drug delivery methods, microfluidic systems are transforming the way we conduct experiments and deliver healthcare. This guide is designed for beginners, but it dives deep into the science, applications, and future of microfluidic technology. Let’s explore how the keyword “microflui,” often seen in scientific forums and search engines, is shaping the next generation of lab tools.

In practice

Optimise Compressed Air Use in Pneumatic Systems

Lowering the energy consumption of machines, is good for the environment and good for our wallets – but is reducing the operating pressure of machines to 4 bar always the right way to achieve this? Festo has been advocating pressure reduction as a key element within an energy saving approach for more than 10 years. However, does this always make sense? Surprisingly perhaps, the answer is no! As with many things in life, the devil is in the detail. Whilst there can be very positive results, it might not be the right way in all cases.

In practice

Laboratory automation: a recipe for success

Automation can be a transformational process for clinical diagnostic and analytical testing laboratories, helping to meet increasing demand and offer rapid, reproducible, scalable, and high-quality services. However, if not implemented correctly, it can be a time-consuming and costly process. Colin Burnett of industrial automation specialist Festo offers strategic advice on how to set your laboratory up for automation success.