Central Research Laboratories (CRL): Engineering Safety at Arm’s Length

In the high-stakes worlds of nuclear and pharmaceutical industries, progress never hits pause. Scientific breakthroughs, evolving regulations and the constant pursuit of efficiency are on a relentless march. The path forward depends on technologies that can evolve alongside the industries they serve, ensuring precise, secure and contamination-free solutions in increasingly demanding conditions.

For more than 80 years, Central Research Laboratories (CRL) has been at the forefront of developing precision containment and remote handling solutions. From telemanipulators to transfer systems and glove ports, CRL engineers and manufactures technologies that enhance safety and efficiency for operators in the nuclear and life sciences industries.

While the use cases are complex, these tools solve a very basic human problem: performing hands-on work in places that are unsafe or must remain untouched. Telemanipulators, for instance, are long-arm tools that mimic human hand movements through thick radiation-shielding walls. Unlike robots, every movement of the device is directly controlled by a human operator from a safe distance. CRL’s first public demonstration of a telemanipulator took place in 1949, marking the start of a product line that has truly stood the test of time.

“Some of our equipment has been in service for nearly 70 years, which speaks to its quality. Many customers, especially in government nuclear facilities, still rely on us to support and maintain machines we’ve built decades ago,” says Rob Weber, manager of projects and proposals.

CRL’s strength lies in combining tried-and-tested engineering with the ability to customize everything it builds to exact client requirements. Whether it’s adjusting for a new environment, increasing load capacity or keeping things sterile, the company doesn’t offer off-the-shelf solutions. It builds what works for that specific challenge.

This adaptability has been central to CRL’s long-term success. Initially focused on nuclear containment, the company expanded in the 1970s to isolator and glove box technologies, evolving to support critical environments in labs, government facilities and pharmaceutical manufacturing.

Its glove ports—safe openings where gloves are attached to sealed environments—are known for maintaining containment even when gloves are being replaced, a common weak point in most systems. The rapid transfer ports (RTP), meanwhile, allow tools or materials to be moved in and out of those sealed environments without ever compromising the barrier between the operator and the substance.

These innovations reflect CRL’s intricate understanding of the industry. Traditionally, its equipment was designed to protect operators from hazardous materials. But in the pharmaceutical field, the goal is the opposite—protecting sterile products from external contamination.

The company partnered with pharmaceutical companies, transitioning processes into isolators. Together, they adapted CRL’s RTPs to allow sterile materials to be introduced into isolators without compromising integrity. This led to key innovations, including the integration of dry-heat sterilization and automation into what had been a manual system.

Another vital part of CRL’s offering is ongoing support. The company still services machines it built over half a century ago. It provides spare parts, technician visits, installations and maintenance services even for smaller facilities that may not have the in-house skills to manage such specialized equipment. This long-term commitment builds trust, especially with government entities and safety-focused industries that can’t afford a moment of failure.

From shielding humans in nuclear zones to maintaining sterility in pharma labs, CRL turns high-risk into high-precision. Its legacy isn’t defined by flashy breakthroughs but by the steadfast performance of machines running flawlessly for decades.