Inside the Applikon BioBench.
The Applikon BioBench is a high-performance stainless-steel bioreactor system built for bench-scale fermentation and cell culture — the smallest member of the Applikon stainless-steel scale-up family and the natural scale-up from glass bioreactors when your process evolves to larger scales. The BioBench is available as a cGMP and non-GMP version and can be configured accoding to your needs. Designed for simple, reliable control in a footprint that occupies less than 1.3 m² of bench space, the BioBench delivers reproducible results at every stage of bench-scale bioprocess development — from media optimization and feeding-strategy refinement through to first-stage process characterisation and the technical readiness work that precedes a pilot transfer. It supports microbial fermentation and mammalian cell culture across Batch, Fed-Batch, Perfusion and Continuous modes, in dedicated cell-culture and microbial vessel geometries.
Built with Excellence and Experience.
The BioBench is engineered by Getinge Applikon, a leading stainless-steel fermenter manufacturer with decades of experience designing bioreactor systems for the global biopharmaceutical industry. Every BioBench is built to the latest hygienic processing standards with a cGMP-compliant design and full documentation (if required) — simplifying validation from day one. The compact 1590 × 800 × 1510 mm footprint makes it ideal for labs with limited bench space, and consistent engineering design with the BioPilot ensures seamless process transfer to the next scale up.
Ease of Setup with Advanced Process Control.
The BioBench is built on Getinge Applikon’s modular architecture and configured with a range of standard add-on packs — including pressure control, weight control, feed control, biomass sensors and perfusion systems — letting you tailor the system precisely to your application. All vessels feature an electropolished interior surface finish of Ra ≤ 0.4 µm, minimising biofilm adhesion and simplifying cleaning and sterilisation across long-running bench-scale campaigns. Operating parameters cover up to 2.5 bar pressure and 150 °C sterilisation temperature, with full SIP/CIP capability integrated.
The BioBench integrates with Applikon’s ez2Control bioprocess control platforms, paired with Lucullus PIMS process management software for advanced data acquisition, recipe management and audit-trail-ready records. The system accepts sensors from AppliSens, Hamilton, Mettler Toledo, BlueSens and ABER sensor families — covering pH, dissolved oxygen, temperature, biomass, off-gas analysis and more. Sampling runs through an optional re-sterilisable sample system in a DN25 port in the lower side wall, with a re-sterilisable bottom-mounted bellows drain for harvest — meeting the standards required stainless steel processes.
Available BioBench Volumes
The BioBench is available in 2 vessel sizes to suit your bench-scale requirements. Working volumes range from 4 L to 22.5 L across all configurations.
Cell-culture geometries
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1
BioBench 20 L — working volume 4–15 L (3 : 1 aspect)
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2
BioBench 30 L — working volume 7–22.5 L (2 : 1 aspect)
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BioBench 20 L — working volume 4–15 L (3 : 1 aspect)
Each BioBench is designed for direct scale-up to the Applikon BioPilot — same impeller and sparger geometry families, same controller stack — so process knowledge transfers seamless from bench to pilot scale.
