Data 2020–2026 · Ongoing · Client: CEAB (Centre d’Estudis Avançats de Blanes, CSIC) — group of Dr. Helena Guasch · Responsible: Francesc Xavier Gómez
The challenge
The research group of Dr. Helena Guasch at CEAB needed to identify and characterise microplastic particles in environmental samples through systematic, repeatable microscopy capture across large sample sets — well beyond what manual imaging can sustain for an ongoing research programme.
The solution
Winkoms designed and built PFREE, a dedicated epifluorescence motorised microscope for CEAB’s microplastics research, with a custom-engineered Z focus and removal of all plastic parts to prevent contamination. This device includes a USB3 5440×3648 camera, Z-stack capture, ISO 25178 roughness analysis, and up to four selectable objectives (5x, 10x, 20x, 50x) to match different particle sizes. The line has been maintained and re-engineered continuously from 2020 through the 2026 generation, starting with a monochrome camera and later adding an RGB camera and a new ISO 25178 roughness module.
The results
Six years of dedicated capture infrastructure (2020–2026) supporting CEAB’s ongoing microplastics research programme, with a custom-engineered sample-holder line and a purpose-built capture application kept current through 2026.