Gentronix - Contronics

Posted on: 16/09/22

CUSTOMER BACKGROUND

Gentronix is a specialist contract research organisation based at Alderley Park, Cheshire. Gentronix is focused on delivering predictive toxicology products and services to global chemical sectors. Working with companies from early screening through to regulatory safety assessment, they deliver innovative solutions for both genetic toxicology and skin/ocular toxicology.

WHY A SYSTEM WAS REQUIRED

Gentronix’s previous monitoring system offered only limited insights. It could provide current readings and daily minimum and maximum values for temperature, humidity, and CO₂ levels, but it lacked the scalability needed to support the organisation’s growth ambitions. The company required a more comprehensive system that could monitor a wide range of equipment, including fridges, freezers (ranging from -20°C to -80°C), incubators, and ambient spaces.

With plans to expand into additional, non-adjacent laboratory locations, Gentronix needed a flexible and easily scalable solution. That’s when they turned to Contronics.

WHY CONTRONICS

In 2016, Gentronix contacted Contronics following a recommendation from Alderley Analytical, one of Contronics' existing customers at the time.

Glyn Colley, Facilities Manager at Gentronix, reflected on their previous approach:

“Before we started using the Contronics system, all we could get for temperatures, humidity, and some CO₂ incubators was the current reading. We’d check it at the start and end of the day, record it, and rely on the minimum and maximum values from the previous day.”

Matthew Simner, Head of Operations at Contronics, described the early days of the partnership:

“We installed the system for Gentronix in 2016 in a very small format. From memory, it was just four or five fridges in a single room.”

THE SOLUTION

The new Contronics monitoring system allows the Gentronix team to access live data both onsite and remotely via a dedicated portal. This enables Glyn and his colleagues to check that everything is functioning correctly at any time, wherever they are.

The system’s ability to store historical data has proven invaluable, allowing the team to identify trends and review audit logs. Alarm notifications can be scheduled for specific days and times, which is particularly helpful when equipment is turned off during nights and weekends.

An integral feature of the system is InfoPoint – Contronics’ interactive dashboard. With its colour-coded visual display, any excursions are immediately visible and audible. The team can view graphs, assess issues, and clear alarms quickly and efficiently.

RESULTS

Reflecting on the impact of the system, Glyn said:

“The most important thing is that we can see when equipment is starting to have problems. I’ve replaced ageing equipment based on the 24/7 data available and can adjust temperatures more easily than with max/min readings. The alarms also highlight issues more quickly than manual checks, so we can act before problems escalate.”

Since the original installation of just five sensors, Gentronix has undergone significant growth. Matthew noted:

“Since the initial setup, Gentronix has grown considerably. We’ve expanded the system from five sensors to now monitor approximately 70 points.”

Thanks to the enhanced monitoring capabilities, the Gentronix team can identify and respond to issues immediately upon arriving at the lab. Glyn explained:

“You can walk in in the morning, and straight away see where there are problems. You can address them immediately without needing to check each lab individually.”

Contronics continues to support Gentronix with ongoing system maintenance, calibration, and validation. This includes calibration for temperature, humidity, and CO₂ sensors.

When asked if he would recommend Contronics to others, Glyn replied:

“I would recommend using Contronics for your laboratory monitoring system.”