Inside the Livit Flex.
The Livit Flex is Applikon’s most advanced bioprocess control system — engineered as the successor platform to the ez2-Control, with every design decision optimised for setup speed, operator clarity and integration depth. Inside, more than 50 years of Applikon control engineering meet a state-of-the-art software stack: every sensor and actuator is exposed as its own widget on a 13.3″ LCD touchscreen, every cable is a smart Livit Link that auto-detects on plug-in, every dataset lands in a built-in historian with enhanced alarm management. Configurable as a single or dual control system, the Livit Flex covers microbial fermentation, mammalian and stem-cell culture, plant-cell systems and ATMP workflows from bench through pilot scale, with up to 8 variable-speed pumps, up to 12 mass-flow controllers and an extended dissolved-oxygen control range of 0–250 %. For laboratories already running ez2-Control hardware, the Livit Flex is the forward path; for new installations, it’s the most advanced controller currently available in the Applikon catalogue.
Built with Excellence and Experience.
The Livit Flex is engineered by Applikon, the worldwide reference in bioprocess instrumentation, with over 50 years of field-proven experience supplying universities, biotech start-ups and biopharmaceutical manufacturers. Each unit is built to the highest compliance specification in the Applikon controller family — GAMP Class 5 firmware, GAMP 4 classification, full IQ/OQ/PQ support, comprehensive validation documentation and a 21 CFR Part 11-compliant environmental capability. Resea Biotec is Switzerland’s official distributor and certified service partner — handling local sales, application support, validation, on-site installation and ongoing maintenance from our base in Recherswil.
Ease of Setup with Advanced Process Control.
The defining experience of the Livit Flex is how fast it goes from boxed to running. Setup begins by connecting Livit Links — smart USB-C cables that auto-detect their attached device the moment they’re plugged in. pH, dissolved oxygen, redox, temperature, balances, biomass probes, off-gas analysers, external pumps and analogue I/O are all recognised on connection, with no manual configuration step in between. The 13.3″ LCD touchscreen exposes every sensor and actuator as its own widget, so settings, setpoints and live readings are all reachable in a single tap rather than buried in nested menus. The integrated data acquisition keeps every measurement on file for retrospective review and powers an enhanced alarm-management layer; OPC UA compliance and Lucullus PIMS integration push the same data to plant SCADA or upstream data lakes without additional integration work. Where benchtop space is the constraint, the Livit Flex configures as a single or dual control system — one controller, one or two bioreactors, and the operator’s bench reclaimed.
Compatible Bioreactor Systems
At lab scale (2–20 L), the Livit Flex offers maximum flexibility by supporting interchangeable single‑use and multi‑use bioreactor setups from Applikon.
Multi-use bioreactors.
- 1 Applikon Glass Bioreactor — autoclavable — 2 L – 20 L.
Single-use bioreactors
- 1 Applikon AppliFlex ST — lab and pilot scale — (2 L) · 3 L · 15 L.
| Cell Type | Cell Culture and Microbial Other Cell Culture Microbial |
| Technology Platform | Both (multi-Use and Single-Use interchangeable) Multi-Use Single-Use |
| Footprint | 372 mm x 366 mm x 762.5 mm |
| Recommended bench space (depth x width) | Single set-up: 750 x 750 mm / Dual set-up: 750 x 1200 mm |
| Weight | Max 50 Kg |
| Supported bioreactor working volumes | 2L (0.3 – 1.7 L) 3L (0.6 – 2.4 L 5L (0.9 – 3.4 L) 7L (1.5 – 5.4 L) 15L (1.7 – 12 L) 20L (3.0 – 16L) |
| Agitator | Brushless Motor M14: max. 750 rpm Brushless Motor M33: max. 1000 rpm Stepper motor M02.2: max. 2000 rpm Brushless Motor M10: max. 2000 rpm Brushless Motor M20: max. 2000 rpm |
| Pumps | Up to 8 variable speed max 300 rpm Masterflex WM114 |
| Supported gas actuators | Flow control valves Mass flow controllers Mass flow meters Metering valves |
| Number of gases | Up to 8 (MFM and other gas actuator types) Up to 12 (MFC) |
| Supported gasses | Air CO₂ N₂ O₂ other non-volatile gases |
| Supported MFC Types | Bronkhorst Flexi Flow (Standard+ or Advanced) EL-Flow Base or IQ+ flow |
| Gas selection block | Electronic gas selection block |
| Gas Flow (mL/min) | 0 – 50 mL/min (calibrated) 0 – 1.5 L/min (calibrated) 0 – 20 L/min (calibrated) |
| Turn down ratio MFC | 1 : 50 (IQ+ Flow) 1 : 50 (EL flow) 1 : 500 (Flexi Flow Standard+) 1 : 1000 (Flexi Flow Advanced) |
| 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 3 – 9 (+/- 0.05) |
| pH sensor | Electrochemical / single-use |
| DO sensor type | polarographic / optical / single-use |
| DO control range | 0 – 250 % (+/- 2%) |
| Redox | Electrochemical Hamilton |
| E-Stop | opt. extern |
| 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 |
| Bioreactor (compatible) | Single-Use AppliFlex ST /3L / 15L / Celll Ready / Eppendorf BioBlu Multi-Use Applikon Bio 2 L / 3L / 5L / 7L / 15L / 20L |
| Communication protocol | OPC UA |
| PAT-Enabled | Yes |
| SCADA (Compatible) | Livit Software 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 or dual setup |
| Automated control loops | Yes |
| Control Settings | PID / Level |
| 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 system number and complexity (approx 10 -15 weeks) |
| 21 CFR Part 11 compliant | Software required System can be used in a 21 CFR Part 11 compliant environment |
| CE Certified | yes |
| GAMP 4 | Yes |
| GAMP class | 5 (Firmware) |
| UL | All used components have been selected based on conformance with the standard UL UL compatible |
| Validation documentation available | Yes |
| Power consumption | P-max = 1200 VA |
| Field of application | Process Development Research Small Scale Production |
| Qualification package level | FAT Standard IV/OV depending on needs SAT |
Research & Process Development
The Livit Flex is built for any research and development application — from microbial and cell cultures to ATMP applications including cell and gene therapy. Livit Links smart USB-C cables automatically recognise sensors and actuators the moment they are plugged in, eliminating manual configuration and reducing setup time. The built-in historian gives continuous access to historical process data alongside enhanced alarm management, while a network of multiple Livit Flex controllers can be monitored and controlled from a single PC.
Screening & Optimization
Configurable as a single or dual control system for both single-use and multi-use bioreactors — including the AppliFlex ST and Applikon glass bioreactors from 2 L to 20 L — the Livit Flex adapts to the demands of intensive screening and optimization workflows. Its PAT-enabled architecture, support for up to 12 gases and 8 variable-speed pumps, and extended DO control range of 0–250% provide the measurement and control depth required for complex process optimization work.
GMP Transition
The Livit Flex carries the highest compliance specification in the Applikon controller range — GAMP class 5 firmware, GAMP 4, 21 CFR Part 11 compliant environment capability, full IQ/OQ/PQ support, and complete validation documentation. Full OPC-UA standards compliance ensures secure and reliable data exchange, while Lucullus PIMS integration provides the process data management infrastructure required for GMP bridging work — including ATMP development under regulated conditions.
Compatible bioreactors
- Applikon Autoclavable Glass Bioreactor The Applikon Autoclavable Glass Bioreactor is a stirred tank bioreactor designed…
- Applikon BioBench Stainless Steel Bioreactor The Applikon BioBench is a stainless steel bioreactor system designed for simple…
- Applikon BioPilot Stainless Steel Bioreactor The Applikon BioPilot is a stainless steel bioreactor system for simple and reli…
- AppliFlex ST Single-Use Bioreactor The Applikon AppliFlex ST is a fully customizable single-use stirred tank biorea…
Compatible sensors
- AppliSens Smart pH Sensor
- AppliSens DO₂-Sensor
- AppliSens Smart DO₂ Sensor
- AppliSens LumiSens Optical DO₂ Sensor
- Hamilton EasyFerm Plus Arc
- 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
Compatible software
Mammalian Cells
Mammalian cells have become the linchpin in the production of recombinant glycoproteins such as hormones, enzymes, cytokines, and antibodies, all of which play pivotal roles in human therapy.
Learn MoreStem Cells
Stem cells represent a pioneering achievement in biomedical research and therapy, offering unprecedented opportunities for regenerative medicine, including tissue engineering and the treatment of various diseases.
Learn MoreMicrobials
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
Learn MorePlant Cells and Algae
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
Learn MoreInsect Cells
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.
Learn More
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.
Learn MoreBiotherapeutics
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.
Learn MoreCell and Gene Therapy
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.
Learn More
Watch the Applikon Livit Flex overview.
Applikon Livit Flex — Next-generation bioprocess controller.
The next generation of bioprocess control is here.
The Livit Flex is not another controller upgrade — it’s a complete reconception of what a bioprocess control system should be. Built on more than 50 years of Getinge Applikon engineering and powered by a state-of-the-art software stack, the Livit Flex delivers a level of speed, flexibility and intuition no previous Getinge Applikon controller has reached. At its core, the Livit Flex is engineered to remove the barriers that slow bioprocess research down: setting up a new experiment used to mean hours of manual sensor configuration, cable management and parameter entry — with the Livit Flex, you plug in your Livit Links, the controller auto-detects every sensor and actuator, and within minutes the run is ready to start.
The reconception runs deeper than installation speed. A 13.3″ touchscreen with a widget-based HMI puts every sensor reading and every actuator setpoint one tap away from the operator — no nested menus, no firmware-layer configuration, no waiting for a workstation to boot. Up to 12 mass-flow controllers and 8 variable-speed pumps on a single unit deliver actuator depth no previous Applikon lab controller could match, and an extended DO control range of 0–250 % opens up oxygen-enriched gas strategies for high-OUR microbial campaigns that earlier-generation controllers had to compromise on. Single- or dual-bioreactor configurations on the same console, plus networked supervision of multiple Livit Flex units from a single PC, scale the platform from a one-vessel research bench to a full parallel-bioprocess pilot plant.
Underneath the operator-facing improvements sits a regulatory architecture built for production. GAMP Class 5 firmware, GAMP 4 system classification, 21 CFR Part 11-compliant environment and full IQ/OQ/PQ documentation carry the Livit Flex from research-bench characterisation into clinical and commercial GMP manufacturing without a controller swap-out at the boundary. The integrated historian logs every parameter continuously across the full campaign; historical data and alarm management are always one tap away in the dashboard — and the same data flows natively into Lucullus PIMS, and any OPC UA-compliant SCADA layer.
Intuitive software, powerful results
At the heart of the Livit Flex is the Livit Software platform — a modern bioprocess control environment built around three architectural choices that earlier Applikon controllers couldn’t make.
Plug-and-play sensor recognition. Every Livit Link cable carries its own identifier, so the controller knows exactly what’s connected the moment you plug it in — no driver setup, no firmware mapping, no parameter library to import. Add a Hamilton ARC pH sensor mid-campaign and it appears as its own widget on the dashboard, with calibration history already populated from the sensor’s own memory.
Composable widget HMI. Every sensor reading, every actuator setpoint, every alarm condition gets its own widget on the dashboard. The operator drags the layout to match the workflow — pH and DO in one cluster for cell culture, gas-flow and substrate-feed strategy in another for fermentation, off-gas analytics in a third for high-OUR campaigns. No nested menus, no firmware-layer screen configuration, no waiting for a workstation to recompile.
Recipe-as-process-file authoring. A campaign isn’t a sequence of manual SOPs and operator interventions — it’s a structured recipe file that defines control loops, time-and-event-triggered setpoints, conditional logic, alarm chains and data-logging cadence in one place. The same recipe runs on a single Livit Flex or replicates across a networked fleet, and the calibration data the recipe expects travels with it through every transfer.
The combined result: the Livit Flex collapses the gap between thinking about a bioprocess and running it.
What is the Livit Flex workflow?
The Livit Flex workflow runs across three phases.
Install. Plug in your Livit Links — USB-C cables that auto-detect every sensor and actuator on connection — and the system recognises the bioreactor configuration automatically. No manual driver setup, no firmware mapping. The Livit Flex ships in single- or dual-bioreactor configurations, so the same physical unit can drive one vessel or pair two side-by-side on the same bench. Within minutes of connection, the system is ready for inoculation.
Configure. Build the campaign through the 13.3″ touchscreen or any browser on the network. The widget-based interface puts every sensor reading and every actuator setpoint one tap away. Define the recipe — PID loops, mass-flow and pump assignments, alarm chains, sample plans, data-logging cadence. Map the controller into the wider lab software landscape: Lucullus PIMS for structured data and batch reporting, OPC UA for plant-level SCADA.
Operate. Launch the campaign and run from the recipe. The integrated historian logs every parameter continuously, so historical data and alarm management are always one tap away in the dashboard. For parallel campaigns, network multiple Livit Flex controllers and supervise the whole set from a single PC. GAMP 5 firmware, GAMP 4 classified, 21 CFR Part 11-compliant environment with full IQ/OQ/PQ documentation — the regulatory posture production demands is built in from day one.
Why use the Livit Flex?
- Next generation of Applikon bioprocess control — built on 50+ years of Applikon engineering, with Livit Links plug-and-play USB-C auto-detection on every sensor and actuator.
- 13.3″ touchscreen with widget-based HMI — every sensor reading and actuator setpoint one tap away, with single- or dual-bioreactor configurations on the same console.
- Deepest actuator and parameter range in the Applikon controller family — up to 12 mass-flow controllers, up to 8 variable-speed pumps, and an extended DO control range of 0–250 %.
- Integrated historian and enhanced alarm management — continuous data logging across every campaign, with historical data and alarms always one tap away in the dashboard.
- Full-range vessel compatibility — research to production — drives Applikon Autoclavable Glass Bioreactor, BioBench, BioPilot and AppliFlex ST on the same controller.
- Regulatory posture out of the box — GAMP 5 firmware, GAMP 4 classified, 21 CFR Part 11-compliant environment, full IQ/OQ/PQ documentation.
Livit Flex — engineered to exceed expectations.
The Applikon Livit Flex is the most advanced bioprocess control system currently available in the Applikon catalogue — fast, intuitive, individually configurable, and engineered to take research and development to the next stage. Whether you’re configuring a single benchtop system, a dual-bioreactor lab unit, or a network of parallel bioprocesses spanning bench through 250 L production, the Livit Flex adapts to your workflow.
Resea Biotec is Switzerland’s official Applikon distributor and certified service partner — talk to our specialists in Recherswil and we’ll spec the right Livit Flex configuration (single or dual, networked or standalone), coordinate IQ/OQ/PQ where required, and stay on hand for application and maintenance support over the full system life. Whether you’re building out a dual-bioreactor screening platform, networking a multi-controller lab-scale development, or scaling a development programme into scale- out GMP single-use production at 2 L – 15 L — we’ll help you spec the right combination end to end.
