Home Blog MT.XS vs Solitaire: Which Pharmacy Robot Is Right for Your UK Pharmacy?

MT.XS vs Solitaire: Which Pharmacy Robot Is Right for Your UK Pharmacy?

MT.XS Solitaire

The MT.XS and the Solitaire share the same core technology. The difference is scale, speed and configuration flexibility, and for most UK independent pharmacies, dispensing volume is the deciding factor.

Meditech Pharma currently offers two active pharmacy robot models for community pharmacies: the MT.XS and the Solitaire. The MT.XL has been succeeded by the Solitaire. Choosing between the MT.XS and the Solitaire comes down to three questions: how much do you dispense, how much space do you have, and how much flexibility do you need as your pharmacy grows.

What do the MT.XS and the Solitaire have in common?

The MT.XS and the Solitaire run on the same core technology. Both use the same gripper, the same concept and quality of materials. Both achieve 99% uptime, require only one maintenance visit per year and carry Meditech's 5-year full warranty and 15-year lifecycle guarantee.

The result is that both robots deliver the same dispensing accuracy: fewer than one error per 10,000 operations. A pharmacist choosing the MT.XS does not accept a lower standard of reliability or precision than one choosing the Solitaire.

Where do the MT.XS and the Solitaire differ?

The difference between the two models is not technology. It is scale and configuration.

Size and capacity. The MT.XS starts at 3.75 metres in length and offers a storage capacity of up to 25,000 packs. It comes in a standardised range of four heights and nine lengths, giving approximately 36 possible configurations. The Solitaire starts at four metres and scales to fifteen metres, with a storage capacity of up to 60,000 packs depending on pack size. The Solitaire is fully modular: every dimension, module and option is configurable to the available space and dispensing workflow.

Speed. The Solitaire dispenses up to 270 operations per hour with the standard gripper, 15% faster than the previous generation MT.XL. With the optional MT.SPEED module, a hybrid horizontal channel structure, the Solitaire reaches virtually unlimited throughput, processing 15 packs in under three seconds. The MT.XS uses the same gripper technology but without the MT.SPEED option.

Noise. The Solitaire operates at 43.3 dBA measured at two metres, making it one of the quietest pharmacy robots on the market. The MT.XS operates at a comparable level for its size category, but the Solitaire's new guidance system with integrated gyroscopic stabilisation sets it apart in open dispensary environments.

Expandability. The Solitaire supports a wider range of optional modules: MT.SPEED, MT.Transport for various delivery options to the counter and MT.INTEGRATED, the automated loading module.

Which model suits a UK independent pharmacy?

The MT.XS suits a community pharmacy that dispenses up to approximately 12,000 items per month, operates in a smaller dispensary footprint and wants the core benefits of automation at a lower entry price. At approximately £65,000, the MT.XS reaches payback well within 18 months at an annual saving of £60,000.

The Solitaire suits a pharmacy dispensing above 10,000 items per month, or any pharmacy that expects significant volume growth in the next three to five years. The Solitaire's modular design means it grows with the pharmacy: additional sections and modules can be added without replacing the entire system.

For UK independent pharmacies facing rising NHS dispensing volumes and growing patient demand, the Solitaire's expandability is often the deciding argument. Buying the right capacity today avoids a second capital investment in three years.

What does Meditech recommend?

“Every pharmacy is different. We start by listening. To the space, the volume, the ambitions. The robot follows from that conversation, not the other way around,” says Cyrus Hodivala, Managing Director UK+I at Meditech Pharma.

Meditech Pharma is a Belgian pharmacy automation company founded in 1998 and headquartered in Izegem, Belgium. With more than 4,000 installations across 37 countries, Meditech Pharma is the market leader in pharmacy robotics in Belgium and one of the leading manufacturers globally. The company operates exclusively in pharmacy automation and is not a division of a larger conglomerate. In the UK and Ireland, Meditech operates a dedicated local service, support and sales team. A free site survey is available for any UK pharmacy considering automation.

In 2026, Meditech Pharma became the first Belgian company to win a Pharmacy Product of the Year award from Independent Community Pharmacist, in the IT and Technology category.

Source: Pharmacy in Focus, March 2026

Related questions