Each IO system is supplied with a comprehensive standard specification to enable immediate operation:

• Single-wall borosilicate glass vessel (200 mL or 1000 mL) with a stainless steel headplate (8 ports on 200 mL; 10 ports on 1000 mL)
• High-precision agitation system with a brushless motor, offering accurate control down to 1 RPM, equipped with process specific impeller (e.g. Rushton, marine, or pitched blade)
• Peltier thermoregulation system for both heating and cooling, removing the need for an external water supply or recirculating chiller
• Dip tube for sampling or harvest
• 3-way multi-feed port for nutrient addition, pH control, antifoam control, or inoculation
• Thermal Mass Flow Controller (TMFC) for precise air delivery, supplied with a 0.22 μm filter and sparger
• Process Control System (PCS) with 24” touchscreen Human Machine Interface (HMI), running the latest Leonardo supervisory control software

The system also includes four integrated Watson-Marlow peristaltic pumps:

• 2 × WM 114 (up to 60 rpm)
• 2 × WM 400 F/A (up to 35 rpm)

Digital Modbus sensors are included to ensure fast response times and reduced signal noise, including:

• pH and temperature measurement via Hamilton EasyFerm sensors
• Dissolved oxygen measurement via Hamilton VisiFerm optical sensors

A starter kit is provided as standard, including tubing, connectors, gas filters, silicone feed lines, and spare headplate fittings.

For more advanced applications, the IO platform can be expanded with a wide range of optional features:

• Parallel operation of multiple units (up to 24 bioreactors from a single HMI) for higher-throughput and process development work.
• Different gas mixing strategies with up to 5 TMFCs, including N₂ for anaerobic processes, O₂/CO₂ for cell culture applications, or a dedicated overlay line.
• Expanded measurement capabilities, including redox, conductivity, total and viable cell density, CO₂, antifoam, and weight (vessel or feed bottles)
• Upgrade from fixed-speed to variable-speed pumps (0–100 rpm) for improved control of feeding strategies
• Integration of external modular pumps (e.g. stepper-driven or brushless peristaltic pumps)
• Gas outlet condenser with Peltier cooling to minimise evaporation losses
• Analogue input/output options (0–10 V, 0-20 mA, 4–20 mA) for integration with third-party devices
• Exhaust gas analysis (O₂ and CO₂) for automatic calculation of OUR, CER, and RQ. Data can be fed directly into Leonardo.

Additional practical options include reusable sterile sampling systems, septum-based inoculation ports, additional dip tubes, and autoclavable feed bottles (from 250 mL to 2 L).

To support long-term operation, spare parts kits are also available, including O-rings, buffers, electrolyte solutions, and essential maintenance tools.

Leonardo is the Process Control System (PCS) software installed across the full Solaris product range, including benchtop bioreactors and fermenters, pilot and industrial systems, and tangential flow filtration (TFF) platforms. Using a common software environment across all scales helps simplify training, day-to-day operation, and process scale-up.

The software is web-based and supplied on a 24” all-in-one touchscreen interface running a Linux operating system. Leonardo communicates with one or more Siemens PLCs to control, monitor, and record all relevant process parameters throughout cultivation or filtration runs.

Real-time process data is displayed clearly to the user, providing immediate visibility of key operating conditions and system performance. Historical data logging, trend analysis, and process records are also available to support development work, optimisation, and batch traceability.

Leonardo is designed to be intuitive and easy to navigate. Pages are clearly structured around their relevant functions, allowing users to access controls, trends, recipes, calibration tools, and alarms efficiently. An integrated context-help manual is included within the software, explaining the purpose of each on-screen function and helping new users become confident quickly.

The result is a powerful yet user-friendly control platform that supports both routine operation and advanced process development, while maintaining a consistent user experience from benchtop scale through to production systems.

LEM_1 is Solaris’ advanced Process Control System (PCS) for benchtop bioreactors and fermenters from 200 mL to 20 L, developed to deliver reliable automation, efficient operation, and straightforward scalability. It is integrated across Solaris benchtop platforms including IO, Jupiter, and Genesis, providing a consistent control environment across multiple systems.

Its compact, stackable cabinet design helps maximise valuable laboratory space while housing all core automation functions within a single, organised platform.

Key features include:

• Siemens S7 PLC-based control for stable communication, dependable performance, and simple integration of external accessories or future expansions.
• Leonardo 3.2 software operated through a 24” touchscreen interface, capable of managing up to 24 parallel processes from one control station.
• Modbus communication protocol for fast, accurate data acquisition with reduced signal noise and dependable sensor integration.
• Integrated Watson-Marlow pumps with software-assignable functions for feeds, acid/base dosing, antifoam, and other process requirements.
• Service-friendly design, including rear-facing utility connections and a sliding access panel for easier installation, maintenance, and routine servicing.

LEM_1 provides a robust and user-friendly automation platform that simplifies day-to-day operation while giving users the control and flexibility required for modern bioprocess development.

Solaris Biotech ​benchtop fermenters and bioreactors​ ​offer efficient platforms for R&D and product development applications. Their broad range of products are flexible and easy to use, ensuring there is always a solution specific to your needs and requirements – from research scale of a few hundred ml up to cGMP production of > 2000L.

Benefits include compact and user friendly designs, parallel software platform, up-to-date and open communication protocols.

The product range is used in universities, schools and research centres, as well as in pharma, nutraceutical, cosmeceutical, chemical, agricultural, and food and beverage industries, not to mention bioplastics and biofuels applications.

Solaris Tangential Flow Filtration (TFF) systems, fully automated within the ​Kronos​ product line, combine industrial elements and a compact design. For larger scale TFF applications open to customisation, consider the Tytan platform.