SiLA at Lab Automation 2010
Posted by dspeidel in Announcements on January 21st, 2010
SiLA exhibits on Lab Automation 2010 in Palm Springs, booth 367 from 24.-26.01.2010. The newest standardisation projects and pilot implementations will be presented on Jan 27 11:15-12:45 by Dieter Speidel, CTO of SiLA. Location: Smoketree A-D, Palm Springs Convention Center
SiLA launches Data Capture Standardisation workgroup
Posted by dspeidel in Announcements on November 27th, 2009
Microplate reader suppliers, Pharma Corporations, IT solution providers and Academia Partners have launched a workgroup within SiLA to develop a standardized data interface for microplate readers. Interested institutions are invited to participate in this effort. Contact us for more details !
SiLA develops Labware Parameter Specification Standard
Posted by dspeidel in Announcements on November 16th, 2009
The SiLA Labware Workgroup currently develops an innovative approach to specify labware parameters allowing to establish a standardized basis for suppliers to provide XML files for their labware products. These XML files can be used to configure any device using the labware freeing users from tedious parameter conversions and manual data entry.
Labware and device suppliers who would like to support this effort are invited to join our Labware Workgroup !
SiLA earns strong confirmation on MipTec
More than 70 visitors attended this year’s SiLA Luncheon at MipTec. SiLA president Peter Schleiffer and CTO Dieter Speidel presented an impressive report on deliverables developed by SiLA during the last 12 months and a brief outlook into next year’s focus activities.
Jason Meredith (Tecan) and Carsten Etzold (Hamilton) explained their motivation and involvement to support the SiLA standardisation activities. Implementations of the SiLA interface standard were shown during the luncheon and on the SiLA booth in the exhibitor’s area during the MipTec conference. Numerous representatives of supplier, system integration and applier organisations were visiting the SiLA booth to inform themselves about the SiLA program and membership.
This year’s MipTec event confirmed the increasing need of the lab automation industry for standardisation of device and data interfaces.
SiLA Status September 2009
Posted by dspeidel in Announcements on October 1st, 2009
SiLA will achieve all major goals set in the plan for the year 2009 and has even started additional activities such as standardisation of labware specifications and data capture.
The most intensive part of the work, SiLA’s General Interface Specification (Part I) has been finalized by end of August, Part II will be completed before end of this year. As a result, the SiLA standard will be ready for implementation by end of 2009 .
The 2009 SiLA success stories are as follows:
- SiLA General Interface Specification (Part I) V1.0 is released and available.
- First draft of SiLA Data Class Specifications will be ready for review in Q4 2009
- Status of SiLA Device Class Interface Specifications
- Incubators: ready for review
- Dispensers: ready for review
- Readers: under development
- Pipettors: workgroup will start during the last quarter of this year
- Robots: workgroup will start during the last quarter of this year
- SiLA Labware Parameter Settings First draft will be available by end of Q4 2009
- Research Project for Standardisation of result data structures and formats
- Pilot Projects
Several member companies started their first implementations of the SiLA interface standard in pilot projects and products development already in Q3. - SiLA Certification procedures and trainings are being prepared to allow us offering these services during the course of the first half of 2010 to our implementation partners.
Technical presentation of first SiLA Standards
Posted by dspeidel in Announcements on October 1st, 2009
SiLA invites for technical presentation of the first SiLA standards which will take place on October 14, 14:00-15:30 at MipTec in Basel.
AGENDA
14:00 Welcome and short intro
14:15 SiLA General Interface Specification V1.0: Short overview on the content of our first released version
14:30 SiLA Incubator Device Class Interface Specification: Detailed presentation and kick-off for review
14:50 SiLA Dispenser Device Class Interface Specification: Detailed presentation and kick-off for review
15:10 Discussion
15:30 Registrations for review
Attendance for the technical presentation at MipTec is limited. Registrations will be accepted in date order. Admission is free of charge (SiLA Membership required).
SiLA MipTec Luncheon
Posted by dspeidel in Announcements on September 16th, 2009
SiLA is pleased to announce its luncheon on Tuesday, October 13, 2009 (11:00-12:15) at MipTec Drug Discovery Congress in Basel (Room Nairobi). In the course of this luncheon, a presentation will be given featuring the SiLA Initiative, its mission and goals, as well as informing about the status of SiLA’s activities. Participants will get the chance to receive a registered copy of the SiLA General Interface Specification and signing up for Validation or Implementation Partnership with SiLA.
Attendance is limited. Admission is free. Contact us for receiving a personal invitation.
SiLA Implementation Partner Qualification
Posted by dspeidel in Announcements on September 16th, 2009
SiLA Companies deciding for implementation of the SiLA Interface Standard can now qualify as SiLA Implementation Partner by joining the SiLA Consortium and passing the Basic Training for the SiLA Device Interface Standard. Implementations cover development of drivers, interface converters up to native embedded SiLA device interfaces.
SiLA General Interface Specification v1.0 released
Posted by dspeidel in Announcements, Results on September 4th, 2009
SiLA has released the first version of the General Interface Specification. SiLA members can request a registered copy free of charge (Observing membership required as minimum).
BMG LABTECH joins SiLA
Posted by dspeidel in Announcements on August 6th, 2009
SiLA welcomes BMG LABTECH (Offenburg, Germany) as supporting member.
SiLA News Update JUNE
Posted by dspeidel in Announcements on July 3rd, 2009
A lot of activities have been going on during the last weeks. The General Interface Standard Specification is currently under review. The review will be closed by mid July so we can expect the first release of this spec already in August.
The first device class interface spec for incubators has been finalized as well and will be reviewed shortly.
After the vacation break in July, activities will focus on dispensers, readers and labware specifications. These workgroups are still open for additional members, so call us to join in !
Corning and RTS join SiLA
Posted by dspeidel in Announcements on June 29th, 2009
SiLA welcomes RTS Group (Manchester, UK) and Corning Life Sciences Europe (Amsterdam, Netherlands) as new supporting members.
Design Review of SiLA General Interface Specification (Part I)
Posted by dspeidel in Announcements on June 15th, 2009
SiLA General Interface Specification (Part I) has been submitted today to the SiLA Membership for review. A team of 12 specialists from 8 different SiLA member companies have joined their efforts to develop this specification within a relatively short timeframe. The General Interface Specification covers all 7 ISO/OSI levels from physical connection up to the application layer. Part II will cover basic and complex data types and be ready for review in just a few weeks.
Cybio and CTC Analytics join SiLA
Posted by dspeidel in Announcements on June 12th, 2009
SiLA welcomes Cybio AG (Jena, Germany) and CTC Analytics AG (Zwingen, Switzerland) as new supporting members.
Toolpoint CEO Event at Novartis in Basel
Posted by dspeidel in Announcements, Events on June 3rd, 2009
Toolpoint’s annual CEO Event at Novartis Campus in Basel on 29.05.2009, was dominated by the SiLA standardisation project. Novartis was hosting 35 attendees, mostly CEOs or top management representatives of Toolpoint member companies and -this year for the first time- guests from the SiLA members circle.
Novartis’ global head of the Center for Proteomic Chemistry, Sylvain Cottens and Peter Fürst, Head of Lead Finding Platform Basel, were pointing out the criticalityof standardisation allowing rapid integration and flexibility in adaptation to new application or workflow requirements. Looking at the complexity and the high number of different lab automation systems Novartis was building for their lead finding platform, the need for standardisation becomes more than obvious.
Fürst and Cottens both appealed to the managers of lab automation equipment manufacturing companies to strongly support the SiLA project and thereby making sure that new products will meet the true needs of the pharma industry for being able to build and maintain reliable, flexible and cost effective systems.
Peter Schleiffer, managing director of Toolpoint and SiLA’s president, and Dieter Speidel, CTO of SiLA, promised Novartis to keep up and even increase the strong pace in which SiLA is moving forward towards establishing the global standard for rapid integration.
Thermo Fisher joins SiLA
Posted by dspeidel in Announcements on May 22nd, 2009
SiLA is happy to announce that Thermo Fisher decided to sign up for Core Membership with SiLA and join SiLA’s first technical work groups.
The SiLA consortium has grown up to 21 member companies since January 2009, further companies have shown interest during the last weeks, so we are expecting further growth.
SiLA presents at Toolpoint CEO Meeting
Posted by dspeidel in Announcements on May 22nd, 2009
SiLA will present the status of the consortium’s standardisation efforts and current projects at the annual Toolpoint CEO Event on May 29 at Novartis Campus in Basel.
SiLA presentation at SBS in Lille
Posted by dspeidel in Announcements, Events on May 11th, 2009
SiLA’s scope and actual work-in-progress status were presented and discussed April 27 on the 15th annual SBS conference in Lille during a session organized by the Special Interest Group Automation Quality Control. The presentation was held by Dr. Carsten Etzold, Director Marketing and Customized Solutions at Hamilton Bonaduz and Board Member / Chair Supplier Committee of SiLA.
More than 60 attendees were informed about SiLA’s mission, scope, roadmap and current work-in-progress status.
Participants confirmed the need for standardisation in lab automation and appreciated the fact that competitors like e.g. Tecan and Hamilton can cooperate in SiLA supporting a future common standard without losing their unique product features.
Representatives of applier (pharma) companies requested SiLA shall foster the interface standardisation specifically for devices providing new technologies.
All comments and suggestions collected through this meeting were reported and discussed on SiLA’s recent core team meeting May 09. We like to thank the SBS organisators for having provided us with this forum.
Draft SiLA General Interface Standard ready for review
Posted by dspeidel in Announcements, Events, Results on May 1st, 2009
The draft specification on the SiLA General Interface Standard will be ready for review by June 12 2009. All SiLA members are invited to participate in this review. A Review Kick-Off Meeting was held on May 28, 15:00 (GMT+1) via WebEx.
SiLA’s first technical workgroups initiated
Posted by dspeidel in Announcements, Workgroup Meetings on February 24th, 2009
During the last few weeks SiLA initiated several technical workgroups for the specification of the general interface and for the definition of common command sets for different device classes such as microplate washers, dispensers, readers, and incubators. Several supplier companies are involved in these activities, first drafts can be expected by end of may.
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