In opposition to on line control, an automatic laboratory will, with the help of cartridge transport system, centralise samples coming from different sampling points along the manufacturing line.
Those samples will then be prepared (mill and/or pellet press) and analysed in a single location.
This control philosophy has several advantages :
A single system is able to prepare and analyse different tyoes of samples (raw mix, hot meal, clinker and cement for instance)
It is possible to obtain composite samples easily accessible by lab technicians for further testing (strength, etc.)
Usually less restrictive environment (noise, accessibility, dust, etc.) when compared to on line system
