This article will discuss opportunities to improve the efficiency of cobalt-60 (Co-60) utilization within a gamma irradiator. It will show how redistributing the Co-60 within the source rack may lead to improved throughput or dose uniformity within a product. It presents examples of modifications to the equipment within the source pass; these include reduction in the carrier wall thickness and changes to the product stack size. It will discuss the process of scheduling and present ideas of how to optimize both the order of the products and transitions between the products to maximize process efficiencies.
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