Practical automation in a medium-sized AI center: feedback on the GTB 500

In porcine artificial insemination laboratories, filling and sealing semen doses manually can quickly become a bottleneck. The process is time-consuming and highly dependent on operator handling, which can lead to variability in dose volumes and production efficiency.

At Essonne La Colombière, a medium-sized AI center in France, Line Gobet manages both the pig unit and the laboratory. Like many similar operations, the team was looking for a way to simplify production while ensuring consistent dose quality.

“Our main challenge was that we were filling the doses manually. I needed a machine that could automate the process while remaining precise for both filling and sealing,” explains Line Gobet.

To address this need, the center integrated the GTB 500, an automatic filling and sealing machine designed for porcine semen doses.

Simple setup and intuitive operation

According to Line Gobet, the installation and first use of the system were straightforward.

“At first start-up, the machine was very simple to install. You just place the bags at the front of the machine and once the first bag is engaged, the GTB 500 runs automatically.”

The machine quickly became part of the daily workflow in the laboratory. With automatic filling and sealing, the team can now produce homogeneous doses with consistent volumes.

“With this machine, all doses are uniform. They contain the same volume and are easy to tear and store afterwards in the cooling room.”

Improved consistency and time savings

Before the GTB 500 was introduced, dose weights were checked frequently during production to ensure correct volumes.

“Before, we weighed doses regularly during production to make sure the volumes were correct. Now we only check once at the beginning of production and we know that every dose will have the right volume.”

The touchscreen interface allows operators to easily control production parameters such as dose volume, number of doses, or machine speed.

“The touchscreen is very intuitive. I can easily adjust the volume of the doses, the number of doses I need, and the machine speed.”

Because the system runs automatically, operators can also carry out other tasks during production.

“As the GTB 500 works automatically, it allows me to do other tasks in parallel while the production continues.”

Reliable and safe production

Another benefit mentioned by the team is the reliability of the process. The GTB 500 includes sensors that stop the machine automatically if an issue occurs.

“Thanks to the sensors, if there is any problem during production, the machine stops automatically. That makes me feel confident during production.”

Support and service

For AI centers, reliable technical support is also an important factor when investing in new equipment.

“At our laboratory, we work with several partners including IMV Technologies. When we chose the GTB 500, we knew their after-sales service was very responsive. I had a question and they answered within two hours.”

A practical solution for medium-sized AI centers

Today, the GTB 500 is used daily at Essonne La Colombière and has integrated smoothly into the laboratory environment.

“For a medium-sized AI center like ours, the GTB 500 meets our needs perfectly: precision, automation, and time savings. It fits naturally into our laboratory and we use it every day.”

For farms and medium boar studs looking to standardize semen dose production while improving efficiency, this type of automation can provide a practical step toward more reliable and consistent workflows.

Discover more about the GTB 500