Ideal for your laboratory processes
Complete solution
The PGVA gives you a complete solution that makes your life easy, since the compressor, the air preparation including filtration and the buffer tanks are all integrated in the pressure and vacuum generator PGVA. The pressure and vacuum supply is either individually controlled or via predefined values.
Pressure and vacuum generator PGVA-1
Regulated pressure/vacuum generation
The pressure and vacuum are generated in a closed control loop with integrated compressor, buffer reservoir, pressure sensors and proportional valve. Pressure and vacuum are supplied via the same duct at the output. The digital communication interface enables you to specify the required pressure level via the integrated GUI or a controller.
Pressure-controlled handling of liquids
You set the required volume for dispensing or aspiration at the digital output via the opening time of the valve, as well as via the pressure/vacuum level at the output of the pressure and vacuum generator PGVA-1.
Pressure and vacuum generator PGVA-2
Constant pressure/vacuum generation
The supply of pressure and vacuum is ensured via two individually controlled ducts at the output. The pressure and vacuum levels are generated on the basis of preset fixed values. This eliminates the need for a communication interface for adjusting the regulation within the pressure/vacuum generator. A 24 V power supply is sufficient to ensure generation.
Additional regulation
Precise pressure or vacuum control can be achieved using proportional pressure regulators VEAB. Both channels can be set simultaneously and individually. This design is often used in rinsing processes when the supply of cleaning liquid and the suction of contaminated liquids are to take place simultaneously.
Valuable experience from users
Some manufacturers of laboratory automation systems use the PGVA pressure and vacuum generator. Controlled pressure and vacuum generation with the PGVA-1 is appreciated by the Dutch company MolGen. It uses the pressure and vacuum generator in the PurePrep TTR. The system prepares 320 patient samples per hour for further molecular processing. The system handles liquids in an automated manner at high throughput rates by quickly, accurately and reliably transferring them from sample vials to Deep Well microwell plates.
Test platform outside laboratories
Fast MDx shows how many pathogens can be detected with unrivalled speed without the need for expensive biosafe laboratories. This London-based company developed a near-patient test system that cuts the typical waiting time of 24 to 48 hours to just one to two hours. Also on board: the decentralized pressure and vacuum generator PGVA-1 from Festo.
Fast MDx is the first fully automated, near-patient, high-throughput test system for the most common respiratory pathogens, influenza A, influenza B, RSV A, RSV B and Covid-19. The test platform is usually set up close to the patient in hospitals, clinics or doctor's surgeries – in other words often far away from laboratories. This saves time, costs and travel. Clever: To avoid having to use an external pneumatic supply, the Fast MDx test platform uses the pressure vacuum generator from Festo, which produces a pressure or vacuum and represents a self-contained solution for liquid handling in laboratory automation.
Reproducible results
Many experiments in life sciences depend on highly precise and reliable pressures. In neuroscientific research, for example, all steps – from (virus) injection into the intact brain to patch-clamp derivations – require a controlled pressure source. In the past, researchers have even generated pressure with the mouth. When higher pressures were required, syringes were used to apply pressure manually through a syringe. But even with measuring devices, neither method provides reproducible results, as the stability of the pressure application, exact timing and the actual pressure level can vary considerably.
That's why Sensapex, a Finnish company of the Acuvi Group, has developed the uMc pressure regulators to simplify and automate common tasks in life science experiments, while enabling reproducible experiments and workflows. An important component for ensuring controlled and reliable pressure generation for Sensapex is the decentralized pressure and vacuum generator PGVA-2 from Festo. Sensapex also uses up to eight VEAB piezo-based proportional pressure regulators from Festo in its uMc pressure controllers for the precise pressure and vacuum control required.
