AAA Lab Service and FrieslandCampina collaborated on future-proof laboratory automation
In a microbiology laboratory, every plate counts. Especially when working with food products, high volumes, and strict quality requirements, every result must be reliable, traceable, and reproducible. Automation plays an increasingly important role in this. Not to replace the expertise of analysts, but to make recurring tasks more consistent, faster, and more manageable.
FrieslandCampina in Leeuwarden has been using laboratory automation from AAA Lab Service since the end of 2012. Within the microbiology department, products such as milk, milk powder, cheese, and infant formula are tested, among others. The department uses an Iris-Irina combination: the Iris as colony counter and the Irina as the handling platform surrounding the counting process.
What began as an existing installation grew into an intensive collaboration in which technology, process knowledge, and mutual trust came together. The challenge: making an existing 15-year-old Irina future-proof with a modern Iris colony counter, a new control system, and a scanning solution tailored to FrieslandCampina's specific way of working.
From existing installation to modern Iris-Irina combination
FrieslandCampina had been working with an Irina system for a long time. The installation had functioned well for many years, but due to changing possibilities, such as working with AI, a need for an upgrade arose. The performance of the existing colony counter no longer aligned optimally with practice in the laboratory.
AAA Lab Service therefore investigated together with FrieslandCampina how the existing Irina could be modernized. This involved not only replacing the colony counter. The control system, user interface, hardware components, and integration with the existing laboratory environment also had to be reassessed.
The Irina was retained as the base but was technically renewed. The installation was fitted with an Iris colony counter and a modern control system. Components such as motor cards, PLCs, and the controls were also included in the upgrade. This resulted in a combination that met the lab's current requirements, without completely replacing the existing machine or automation.
Custom work for a complex scanning challenge
An important part of the project was the recognition of the petri dishes. Many laboratories work with labels in a fixed location, for example on the top or side of the plate. At FrieslandCampina, this was different. The laboratory works with various formats, including manually placed labels and laser-engraved barcodes.
That combination called for a custom solution. Laser engravings can be more difficult to detect due to reflection, contrast differences, and the distance between scanner and plate. The position of the barcode also played an important role, as deviations could affect scannability. That is why the scanning process was not simply implemented as a standard feature, but tested and developed step by step.
AAA Lab Service worked with test plates, prototypes, and adapted scanner setups to arrive at a reliable solution. This involved close collaboration with FrieslandCampina's contacts and with specialists involved in IT, LIMS, and data transfer. Where necessary, technical choices were adjusted, and both sides worked together to see how the process could be improved.
The result is a custom scanning solution that fits FrieslandCampina's practice. Whether a plate has a label or a laser-engraved barcode, the system can reliably process the identification within the automated workflow.
Collaboration from engineering to acceptance testing
At AAA Lab Service, collaboration doesn't stop once a machine is built. Especially in laboratory automation, it's important that a system fits the laboratory's daily practice. That's why FrieslandCampina was actively involved throughout the project, from the initial feasibility tests to the final delivery.
An important moment in this process is the Factory Acceptance Test, also known as the FAT. During this test, the system is checked at AAA Lab Service according to a test protocol. This not only establishes whether the machine functions technically, but also whether it aligns with the customer's working methods and expectations.
This is followed by the Site Acceptance Test, or SAT. Here, the system is tested on-site, integrated into the customer's network, and connected to the existing laboratory systems. For an organization like FrieslandCampina, this is essential. The Iris-Irina combination must not only process plates and count colonies, but also fit within the broader environment of data processing, LIMS integration, and quality assurance.
Logistics sometimes require custom solutions too
Not every challenge lies in software, scanners, or control systems. The physical placement of a laboratory system sometimes also requires creativity. The Irina is a robust installation and doesn't simply fit through every doorway or elevator. At FrieslandCampina too, careful consideration had to be given to how the system could be safely moved, upgraded, and reassembled.
AAA Lab Service opted for a practical approach in which the installation was transported in parts and then carefully reassembled. This, too, shows that laboratory automation is more than delivering a standard solution. It's about collaborative thinking from the very first technical question through to actual commissioning on-site.
A collaboration based on trust and mutual understanding
The success of this project is not only due to the technical solution, but also to the way AAA Lab Service and FrieslandCampina worked together. Throughout the project, there was room for discussion, testing, adjusting, and improving. Technical issues were not approached as isolated problems, but as shared points of optimization.
For you, as a laboratory, this means: you don't get a solution that only works on paper. You get a partner who understands that automation must align with your samples, your plates, your data, your people, and your quality process. That requires technical knowledge, but also open communication and the willingness to work together toward the right solution.
The collaboration with FrieslandCampina shows how AAA Lab Service works: carefully, practically, and with an eye on the long term. The upgrade of the Iris-Irina combination is not only a technical renewal, but also an example of how existing laboratory automation can grow along with changing requirements.
Conclusion: automation that fits your laboratory
Every microbiology laboratory has its own processes, products, and challenges. Sometimes this calls for a standard solution. Often it calls for customization, integration, and a partner who looks beyond the machine itself.
The collaboration between AAA Lab Service and FrieslandCampina shows that reliable laboratory automation starts with listening, testing, and developing together. By intelligently upgrading existing equipment, solving scanning challenges, and carefully integrating the system into the laboratory environment, a solution that works in practice is created.
Would you like to know how AAA Lab Service can support your microbiology laboratory with automation, colony counting, or process optimization? Get in touch with us. We would be happy to think along with you about a solution that fits your laboratory, your working methods, and your future plans.
