Category Archives: Blog

Visit Us at 2022 AALAS National Meeting

October 10, 2022 Rob Hamm

Beta Star Booth #116

We’re excited to be back supporting AALAS at the 2022 AALAS National Meeting in Louisville, Kentucky from October 23rd to 26th. During our visit, we encourage you to stop by the booth to glean more:

Attend our Technical Trade Presentation on the benefits of using Control Upgrades or Rebuilds to revitalize outdated autoclaves
Get unique solutions to your autoclave problems from industry experts
Join the Technician Fun Fair and stop by for the answer to your question
Learn more about ISO 13849 as it applies to autoclave operator safety

Technical Trade Presentation | Control Upgrades and Rebuilds

Replacing existing autoclaves comes with a host of challenges. Facility disruptions, a reduction in autoclave throughput, and wasted materials are some drawbacks of replacing an autoclave before the machine has reached its end of life. With a control upgrade or rebuild, you can realize new autoclave functionality with additional features such as the Beta Connect Internet of Things (IoT) systems and upgraded user security. Come see our presentation:

Beta Star presents at 2022 AALAS National Meeting

Unique Solutions from Industry Experts

Our sales managers Bill Purvis and Lynn Johnson, industry experts with a combined 70 years of experience in sterilization, will be in the booth (#116). As in-person collaboration and problem-solving opportunities have become scarce, visiting our booth gives you the opportunity to develop solutions to your problems. Get help by addressing:

Cycle operation issues
Egress issues
Load type questions

Tech Fun Fair Questions (and Free Gift!)

If you are participating in the Technician Fun Fair, stop by our Booth (#116) during the Exhibit Hall Hours! You’ll get the answer to our question, and get a free gift. What is that gift? Well…. you’ll have to visit our social media accounts to get your answer (publishes on Thursday, October 13th)

Learn about ISO 13849 and why it matters for autoclave operator safety.

In summary, ISO 13849 is the standard for creating guidelines for operator safety on machinery with control systems. It provides an additional level of comfort for equipment operators, which guides our controls engineering team throughout the software design progress. When desired, ISO 13849 can be implemented on any existing autoclave with a control rebuild. Read our case study about implementation at a veterinary facility in the Mid-Atlantic.

Blog

Autoclave Control System Upgrades

August 5, 2022 Rob Hamm

Outdated Autoclave Control System?

As autoclaves age, their control system ages as well. Many components of the autoclave are correctly categorized as wear items, such as valves and gaskets. Consistent evaluation and replacement of these components extends autoclave longevity and prevents maintenance issues from accumulating. While not a high-wear item, the control system of an autoclave can quickly become obsolete as the speed of technological and hardware advancements increases. Control system obsolescence may not sound like a significant problem, but consider:

Troubleshooting Autoclave Control System Issues

Outdated board-based machines are complex, limiting diagnostic and troubleshooting. If the motherboard manufacturer no longer provides support or replacement parts, any issue can render the machine inoperable. Modern control systems provide flexible and easy troubleshooting options as insurance against extended downtime events.

System Updates Increase Functionality

Nearly all digital devices that exist today have annual or semi-annual updates, which deliver increased functionality and features. For autoclaves, these updates improve control, customization, and archiving of user login functionality, data storage, cycle parameters, and global parameters.

Control Upgrades vs. Rebuilds

Control Upgrades

When the chamber and mechanical systems are in good condition,
a control-only replacement is recommended.

Control Rebuilds

A complete control rebuild is recommended when the chamber is in
good condition but mechanical and control system components need
replacing. If the chamber is beyond usable life, a new autoclave is required.

What to Expect With a Control System Upgrade or Rebuild

Whether a control upgrade or rebuild is completed on your autoclave, value add features ensure you receive the assets and resources necessary to operate your autoclave control. Beta Star’s use of non-proprietary parts on new equipment extends to upgrades, which reduces supply chain issues and lifetime cost-of-ownership. Upgrading a control system provides contemporary, industry-standard software with optional Beta Connect capability. Included in each autoclave are:

Custom Drawings: provide guidance for continual maintenance of the autoclave. Each drawing package is customized to the upgrade with a P&ID, electrical drawings, and the pneumatic manifold drawing when applicable.

Operations Manuals: we equip customers with the tools to ensure proper use and functionality of upgraded autoclaves. Along with the Operators Manual and Maintenance Schedule, we include a custom P&ID and electrical schematics.

Testing Documentation: when requested by the customer, we turnover Site Acceptance Testing (SAT) Documentation with optional execution by Beta Star technicians.

Custom Fascia/Enclosure: with careful analysis of each facility, we incorporate custom fascia panels and enclosure systems into each project to give a professional look with cleanable surfaces.

Beta Star’s talented team can perform control system upgrades on nearly every autoclave, regardless of manufacturer. To read more about Control System Upgrades and Rebuilds, download the PDF here.

Blog

Autoclave Manufacturer: Door Gasket

July 14, 2021 Rob Hamm

How the machining process during the autoclave manufacturing impacts door gasket life.

For many who are in the process of considering an autoclave manufacturer, there is often little thought put to the actual manufacturing process. Instead, the focus is typically centered around the PLC control system, HMI, and service technicians. To be fair, these components of an autoclave purchase are important as the PLC and HMI operate as the brain of the autoclave with service technicians operating as the doctor whose task is to keep the autoclave running effectively and efficiently. However, one of the many components of the manufacturing process that must be considered is how machining the door gasket grooves, completed during the autoclave manufacturing process, impacts gasket longevity.

autoclave manufacturer completing gasket groove machining — Autoclave Manufacturing: Machining the Gasket Groove

In the manufacturing process, the gasket groove is cut into the door plate with a CNC machine with exact precision and tolerances measured in hundredths of an inch. The manufacturing process welds the ASME vessel (aka the autoclave chamber) to the door plate before the gasket groove(s) are cut into the door(s) plates. For small autoclaves, such as the 20” x 20” and 26” x 26” chamber sizes, nearly all autoclave manufacturers are capable of following the aforementioned process with machining centers that have the capability to cut door plates with those dimensions. For larger autoclaves, many manufacturers are not capable of following the same manufacturing process because of the limitations of their CNC machines. Instead, this part of the manufacturing process is reversed. The gasket groove is machined into the door plate first, and then the door plate is welded to the chamber.

Why does this matter in how I use my autoclave?

The reversal of the process opens the door gasket groove to subtle warping caused by welding the door plate to the autoclave chamber. As stated above, machining centers cut precise gasket grooves with tolerances down to hundredths of an inch. During the manufacturing process the accuracy of the gasket groove is one of, if not the biggest, predictor of gasket performance and longevity. With even subtle warping during the welding process, a pre-cut gasket groove can warp enough to cause faster degradation of the door gasket.

In the long-term, subtle yet additional degradation of the gasket caused by a slightly inaccurate gasket groove can cause premature gasket failure. Over the lifespan of an autoclave this would increase cost-of-ownership and create additional downtime events caused by gasket failure. Based on feedback from service technicians across the country, gasket life cycle can be cut by 50%. Costs could vary significantly depending on the size of the autoclave door, but the costs could equate to hundreds of dollars per year in unnecessary costs.

At Beta Star, machining centers are capable of machining all of the autoclave chamber sizes after door plate and chamber welding has been completed. This includes the largest chamber we’ve ever manufactured on a 64” wide x 92” height x 96” depth autoclave. By partnering with Beta Star, you can reduce gasket lifespan issues that come from manufacturing.

autoclave door gasket inspection — Inspecting an Autoclave Door Gasket