- Charles River Laboratories has reached full operational capacity of its Endosafe® Cartridge Technology Automated Manufacturing Suite, expanding production capacity and digital traceability.
- The automated system has delivered a 14% increase in production capacity and an 87% improvement in labor productivity and manufacturing efficiency.
Charles River Laboratories International, Inc. has reached full operational capacity of its Endosafe® Cartridge Technology Automated Manufacturing Suite, expanding bacterial endotoxin testing cartridge production while increasing in-process inspection, digital traceability, and manufacturing controls. The suite became fully operational in July 2026 and reached full capacity in the third quarter of 2026.
The automated manufacturing system consolidates essential components into a single disposable cartridge designed to provide real-time, quantitative endotoxin analysis. Charles River said the technology has delivered a 2% reduction in scrap rates and a 13% reduction in invalid cartridge rates compared with manual cartridge production. It has also increased production capacity across Trillium™ and LAL cartridges by 14%.
The suite performs inspections on every cartridge across parameters including cartridge thickness, reagent fill through imaging, package seal integrity and digital traceability. Each cartridge receives a unique identification number, allowing manufacturing teams to access inspection images, measurements and packaging results throughout its lifecycle. The company said these capabilities support investigations, process optimization and continuous improvement.
Automation has also enabled Charles River to use flat-tray packaging, reducing manual handling and improving material consistency. The company reported an 87% improvement in labor productivity and manufacturing efficiency, allowing production volumes to be maintained with fewer labor resources while redirecting skilled employees toward higher-value initiatives.
“Bringing the automated cartridge manufacturing suite to full operation is an important milestone in our commitment to continuous improvement and operational excellence.”
Daniel Fernandes, Senior Site Director, Microbial Solutions, Charles River
The company said the automated suite is intended to support scalability, product quality and customer demand while providing a foundation for continued manufacturing improvement.
