Inside the ez2-Control.
The ez2-Control is Applikon’s dedicated bioprocess controller for laboratories and pilot facilities that need one platform across every vessel type they own. A single ez2-Control orchestrates pH, dissolved oxygen, temperature, agitation and gas-flow strategy on stainless-steel BioBench / BioPilot rigs. The web interface puts every parameter on a clean dashboard reachable from any device on the network, while the brushless agitation motor — quieter, lower-maintenance and side-mounted — replaces the wear part that historically defined controller service intervals. For teams running batch, fed-batch, perfusion or continuous campaigns, the ez2-Control is the bridge between bench and production.
Built with Excellence and Experience.
The ez2-Control is engineered by Applikon, the worldwide reference in bioprocess instrumentation, with decades of field-proven experience supplying universities, biotech start-ups and biopharmaceutical manufacturers. Each unit is built to strict industrial standards — full IQ/OQ/PQ support, GAMP 4 compliance, comprehensive validation documentation and 21 CFR Part 11-compliant environmental capability for regulated workflows. Resea Biotec is Switzerland’s official distributor and certified service partner — handling local sales, application support, validation and on-site maintenance from our base in Burgdorf.
Ease of Setup with Advanced Process Control.
The ez2-Control speaks to operators through a clear web dashboard accessible from any device on the network — no proprietary console required. Additional analogue and digital I/O channels, fully programmable control loops, gravimetric addition and flow control and Total Gas Flow Control (which actively reduces shear stress in mammalian cell cultures) extend the platform well beyond standard PID. The brushless motor is low-maintenance and the side-mounted bracket makes day-to-day handling and cleaning straightforward; software updates are pushed through USB without scheduling a service engineer.
User management runs across three authorisation levels with up to 21 named accounts, so technician, scientist and validation roles each see the right surface. Configurations, setpoints and recipes back up via USB and copy across systems for repeatable handover between runs and labs. The ez2-Control speaks Lucullus PIMS, OPC UA and V-Control SCADA out of the box and integrates a wide sensor catalogue including ABER (capacitance), AppliSens, Hamilton ARC DO, BlueSens, Mettler ISM, Densytee, Incyte and Optek.
Compatible Bioreactor Systems.
No other controller in the Applikon range covers as much ground. The ez2-Control is the platform of choice when a single laboratory needs to drive every vessel format under one console — from small-scale single-use through autoclavable glass to stainless-steel pilot and production.
- 1 Stainless Steel BioBench & BioPilot — multi-use, SIP — 4 L – 200 L.
- 2 Stainless Steel Production Skids — multi-use, SIP — up to 5,000 L.
The ez2-Control is the only Applikon controller spanning bench-scale lab work through to 5,000 L production — same recipe model, same SCADA integration, same operator interface from the smallest single-use vessel to the largest stainless-steel production skid. Process parameters defined at lab scale transfer directly onto pilot and production hardware without replatforming the controller.
| Cell Type | Cell Culture and Microbial Other Cell Culture Microbial |
| Technology Platform | Both (multi-Use and Single-Use interchangeable) Multi-Use Single-Use |
| Footprint | 370 x 400 x 710 mm |
| Recommended bench space (depth x width) | SST setup 30L BioBench: 1590 x 800 x 1510 mm |
| Weight | Approx 40 Kg (depending on configuration) |
| Supported bioreactor working volumes | SST BioBench & BioPilot 4L – 200 L Production scale < 5000L |
| Agitator | Brushless Motor M14: max. 750 rpm Brushless Motor M33: max. 1000 rpm Brushless Motor M10: max. 2000 rpm Brushless Motor M20: max. 2000 rpm |
| Pumps | Up to 3 fix speed (1 variable speed) |
| Supported gas actuators | Mass flow controllers Rotameter |
| Number of gases | Up to 4 (+ opt. extern 4) |
| Supported gasses | Air CO₂ N₂ O₂ other non-volatile gases |
| Supported MFC Types | Brooks Bronkhorst EL-Flow Base |
| Gas selection block | Manual gas selection block |
| Gas Flow (mL/min) | 0 – 50 mL/min (calibrated) 0 – 20 L/min (calibrated) |
| Turn down ratio MFC | 1 : 50 (Bronkhorst) 1 : 100 (Brooks) |
| Controllers Heating system | Heating blanket Cooling valve Water Thermocirculator (Jacketed Bioreactor) |
| Offgas heating | Filter heater Offgas Condenser |
| Pressure Switch | Yes |
| Temperature control range | + 5 °C up to 70 °C (with cooling water) |
| Temperature sensor | 0 – 150 °C (+/- 0.1 °C) pt-100 |
| pH control | Control range pH 2 – 14 (+/- 0.05) |
| pH sensor | Electrochemical / single-use |
| DO sensor type | polarographic / optical / single-use |
| DO control range | 0 – 120 % (+/- 2%) |
| Redox | Electrochemical AppliSens |
| E-Stop | intern |
| Level/foam | Height adjustable conductivity sensor |
| Additional supported IO actuators | Alarm connection External variable speed pumps |
| Supported sensors | ABER Futura Analog In (4- 20 mA / 0 – 10V) Balances BlueSens BlueInOne, BlueVary, BCP Mettler ISM pH, DO, CO₂ Optek Others Hamilton ARC DO, pH, Redox, CO2, Incyte, Densytee, Glucose |
| Sensors | Balances Cell Density DO Foam Other Offgas pH Temperature |
| Communication protocol L2 | OPC UA / OPC DA Server / fcode |
| Bioreactor (compatible) | Single-Use AppliFlex ST /3L / 15L / Celll Ready / Eppendorf BioBlu Multi-Use Applikon Bio 2 L / 3L / 5L / 7L / 15L / 20L Stainless Steel > 15L |
| Communication protocol | OPC UA / OPC DA Server / fcode |
| PAT-Enabled | Yes |
| SCADA (Compatible) | Lucullus other via OPC UA V-Control |
| Sensors (compatible) | ABER Futura AppliSens pH / DO Balances BlueSens BlueInOne, BlueVary, BCP Hamilton ARC DO, pH, Redox, CO2, Incyte, Densytee, Glucose Hamilton ARC DO Optek Others LumiSens Mettler ISM pH, DO, CO2 |
| Single setup / Dual Setup | Single setup |
| Automated control loops | Yes |
| Control Settings | PID / Level / External / Adaptive PID |
| Recipes (step chain) | Lucullus Control required Yes |
| IQ/OQ/PQ support | Yes |
| Recommended service interval | 12 months |
| Warranty period | 12 months (can be extended with service) |
| Lead time | Depending on bioreactor type and number of systems |
| 21 CFR Part 11 compliant | System can be used in a 21 CFR Part 11 compliant environment |
| CE Certified | yes |
| GAMP 4 | Yes |
| GAMP class | 2 (firmware) |
| UL | UL compatible, all used components have been selected based on conformance with the standard UL 60950 UL compatible |
| Validation documentation available | Yes |
| Power consumption | P-max = 2000 VA for SIP |
| Field of application | Pilot Process Development Production |
| Qualification package level | FAT Standard IV/OV depending on needs SAT |
Research & Process Development
The ez2-Control delivers precise and reliable control of all key bioprocess parameters — pH, DO, temperature, agitation, and gas flow — across cell culture and microbial applications in Batch, Fed-Batch, Perfusion, and Continuous cultivation modes. Its web interface provides a clear overview of all process parameters remotely from any device, while gravimetric feed and flow control and total gas flow management support the accuracy demanded during early-stage process development.
Scale-Up
The ez2-Control is the dedicated controller across the entire Applikon scale-up series — compatible with single-use systems from 500 mL, glass bioreactors from 2 L, stainless steel BioBench and BioPilot from 4 L to 200 L, and production-scale stainless steel systems up to 5,000 L. A single, consistent control platform across every scale reduces process transfer risk and keeps your team working in a familiar environment from bench to production.
GMP Transition
Built for use in 21 CFR Part 11 compliant environments with GAMP 4 classification, full IQ/OQ/PQ support, and validation documentation, the ez2-Control is a reliable foundation for GMP bridging work at any scale. Advanced user management supports up to 21 users across three authorization levels, with configuration back-ups and predefined settings shareable via USB — simplifying the documentation and handover requirements of the GMP transition phase.
GMP Manufacturing
With SIP support for stainless steel BioBench and BioPilot systems, compatibility with production-scale bioreactors up to 5,000 L, and integration with Lucullus PIMS and OPC UA, the ez2-Control is fully equipped for regulated manufacturing environments. Its UL-compatible components, 21 CFR Part 11 compliance, and brushless motor design — requiring less maintenance and reducing long-term operating costs — make it a production-grade control solution.
Compatible Bioreactors
Compatible software
Compatible sensors
- AppliSens Smart pH Sensor
- AppliSens pH-Sensor
- Hamilton EasyFerm Plus Arc
- AppliSens DO₂-Sensor
- AppliSens LumiSens Optical DO₂ Sensor
- AppliSens Smart DO₂ Sensor
- Hamilton VisiFerm DO₂ Arc Sensor
- Hamilton Incyte Arc Intelligent capacitance sensor for real-time viable cell density (VCD) measureme…
- Hamilton Dencytee Arc The Hamilton Dencytee ARC is an intelligent optical sensor for total cell densit…
- Hamilton CO₂NTROL Arc Sensor
Mammalian Cells
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In the field of industrial microbiology, the cultivation of microorganisms through bioreactor fermentation stands as a cornerstone technique for producing a broad spectrum of microbial products, from antibiotics, biofuels to food and beverages
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At the forefront of sustainable biotechnology, the cultivation of plant cells and algae within bioreactors presents a revolutionary approach to producing valuable biochemicals, pharmaceuticals, and biofuels
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In the rapidly evolving landscape of biotechnology, the Baculovirus Expression Vector System (BEVS) with insect cells stands out as a versatile and powerful tool for protein production.
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Cellular Agriculture
Cellular agriculture represents a groundbreaking shift in food production, centering around the concept of cellular food solutions. This innovative field harnesses biotechnology to cultivate animal and plant cells for food, directly in a controlled environment, bypassing traditional farming methods.
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Discover biologicals, where innovation meets healthcare to revolutionize treatment methodologies and patient care. Biotherapeutics include a broad range of biologically derived products, such as monoclonal antibodies (mABs), viral vectors, and vaccines, each playing a pivotal role in targeted disease treatment and prevention.
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Cell and gene therapy is revolutionizing modern medicine. For the safe development and manufacturing of these therapies, Resea Biotec bioreactors provide the ideal controlled environment, guaranteeing precision, scalability, and efficiency in the production process.
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Simplify your bioprocess — from lab to production
The ez2-Control is built around a single idea: one controller, every vessel. The same dashboard that runs an autoclavable Glass Bioreactor at 3 L drives a BioBench at 30 L, a BioPilot at 200 L and a stainless-steel production skid pushing 5,000 L. Same parameter set, same recipe model, same data structure. Process knowledge built at the bench transfers cleanly upward through pilot and into production — without an operator-training pivot at each scale break, without a new HMI to learn, and without a controller swap-out at the boundary between glass and stainless.
What makes that scale-span workable is the controller’s active-lever depth: gravimetric addition and flow control for substrate-uptake-driven feeding strategies; Total Gas Flow Control for the high-OUR microbial fermentation campaigns that single-MFC controllers can’t keep up with; SIP support for the autoclavable-to-stainless transition; PAT-grade sensor integration across the full Hamilton ARC range and AppliSens family. Each lever is built into the platform, not bolted on as the process grows. Adaptive PID with autotuning carries those levers through changing process conditions — viscosity rising in a fed-batch run, gas demand shifting as cell density climbs, foam-break interventions during late-stage cultivation.
The economic payoff is in the consolidation. One controller platform replaces three or four single-purpose units across the lab-to-pilot-to-production path — one validation lineage, one SOP set, one operator training programme, one set of qualification documents to maintain. For laboratories whose research programmes scale through the Applikon family, that consolidation is often the strongest single argument for the platform.
Advanced regulation for every bioprocess parameter
The ez2-Control delivers precise, reliable regulation of every key bioprocess variable across the full lab-to-production vessel range. pH from 2 to 14, dissolved oxygen from 0 to 120 %, temperature from +5 to 70 °C, plus agitation, foam and level — each on a dedicated control loop sized to the vessel and the process. Up to four mass-flow controllers drive gas strategy across O₂, N₂, CO₂ and air, with Total Gas Flow Control for the high-OUR microbial campaigns single-MFC controllers can’t keep up with. Up to four variable-speed pumps handle liquid additions for acid, base, antifoam and feed; gravimetric addition with integrated balance input drives substrate-uptake-based feeding strategies that conventional pump-rate control can’t deliver.
Sensor depth matches the regulation depth. Analogue inputs read the classical sensor stack — pH, DO, redox, temperature, pressure — across both single-use Smart sensors and conventional electrochemical probes. Digital channels accept Hamilton ARC sensors directly: EasyFerm Plus for pH, VisiFerm for optical DO, Incyte for viable cell density, Dencytee for total cell density, CO₂NTROL for dissolved CO₂. Optical DO via LumiSens covers the response-time-sensitive applications conventional polarographic DO can’t keep up with. Every input — analogue, digital, balance, off-gas — lands in the same structured data record at sub-second resolution.
The platform runs the campaign from a recipe rather than a manual SOP. Time-and-event-triggered setpoints, conditional logic and alarm chains execute against the locked process file; native integration with Lucullus PIMS carries that data into downstream batch reporting, DoE analysis and audit-trail-ready logging, so the ez2-Control’s measurements stay queryable and reviewable long after the campaign closes.
What is the ez2-Control workflow?
The ez2-Control workflow runs across three phases.
Install. Connect the controller to your bioreactor — glass autoclavable, stainless-steel SIP, single-use or a mixed-fleet pairing — and attach the sensor stack through the analogue and digital inputs. Run the IQ/OQ qualification sequence where the regulatory posture requires it. The same physical controller drives every vessel format in the Applikon family, so a new installation at one scale lays the groundwork for the next scale break without a platform change.
Configure. Build the campaign through the touchscreen or any web browser. Define the recipe — control loops, mass-flow and pump assignments, alarm chains, sample plans and data-logging cadence — and lock it as the process file. Set up user accounts across three authorisation levels so operators, scientists and QA each see the right view of the same campaign. Map the controller into the wider lab software landscape: Lucullus PIMS for structured data and batch reporting, OPC UA for plant-level SCADA integration. Back recipes up via USB and replicate them across units for run-to-run consistency between vessels.
Operate. Launch the campaign and run it from the recipe. Monitor and adjust live from the lab bench, a desk in the office or off-site — every reading landing in the same structured data record at sub-second resolution. The platform is GAMP 4 classified with an optional 21 CFR Part 11-compliant environment and full IQ/OQ/PQ documentation, so campaign data carries the regulatory posture downstream validation work requires.
Why use the ez2-Control?
- One controller, every vessel format — same console drives Applikon Glass (2–20 L), AppliFlex ST, Millipore Mobius® CellReady, Eppendorf BioBlu, BioBench, BioPilot and stainless-steel production skids up to 5,000 L.
- Wide sensor catalogue — ABER, AppliSens, Hamilton ARC (EasyFerm Plus, VisiFerm, Incyte, Dencytee, CO₂NTROL), BlueSens, Mettler ISM and Optek across analogue and digital inputs.
- All four cultivation modes on one platform — Batch, Fed-Batch, Perfusion and Continuous.
- Multi-user access — up to 21 user accounts across operator, scientist and QA authorisation levels, so the same controller serves the whole team without role conflicts.
- Software-ready for the Applikon ecosystem and beyond — native Lucullus PIMS integration, OPC UA for plant-level SCADA, V-Control for DeltaV environments.
- Regulatory posture out of the box — GAMP 4 classified, optional 21 CFR Part 11 environment, IQ/OQ/PQ documentation.
- Brushless side-mounted motor — low-maintenance design with no top-mounted drive train to service.
Spec your ez2-Control with Resea Biotec
The Applikon ez2-Control is a multi-vessel, multi-format bioprocess controller — built to drive every vessel type in the Applikon range from one console. BioBench, BioPilot and stainless-steel production skids up to 5,000 L all run on the same dashboard, the same recipes and the same audit trail. GAMP 4 classified, 21 CFR Part 11-compliant environment optional, IQ/OQ/PQ documentation included — the regulatory posture production demands is built into the platform from day one, not retrofitted later.
One controller, every scale. The ez2-Control is the platform most labs choose when bench glass, single-use bags and stainless-steel pilot rigs all need to run from the same console, with one validation lineage, one operator-training programme and one set of qualification documents to maintain. Resea Biotec is Switzerland’s official Applikon distributor and certified service partner — based in Recherswil, supporting customers across Switzerland and the wider DACH region with local stock, German-language technical support and on-site service.
Talk to our team and we’ll spec the right ez2-Control configuration for your lab, plan the integration across your existing bioreactor fleet, coordinate IQ/OQ/PQ documentation where required, and stay on hand for application and maintenance support throughout the system’s life. Whether you’re consolidating three single-vessel controllers into one platform, building out a new pilot plant from scratch, or bridging your bench-scale process onto a production skid — we’ll help you get there.
