Description
The Solaris ONE is a 2 L total volume, single-wall, autoclavable benchtop fermenter designed to provide reliable process control in a simplified, cost-effective platform. It is particularly well suited to colleges, universities, start-ups, and research groups requiring dependable fermentation capability without the complexity or cost of more advanced development systems.
Designed for closed, aseptic operation, the ONE supports aerobic or anaerobic microbial processes in batch, fed-batch, or continuous modes. The system offers accurate control of key process parameters including agitation, temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, gas flow, and feeding strategies. Thermoregulation is achieved using an electrical heating blanket and cooling finger with PID temperature control, while agitation is provided through a direct-drive brushless motor capable of up to 1900 rpm.
Unlike other Solaris benchtop platforms such as IO, Jupiter, and Genesis, the ONE uses a simplified automation architecture focused on accessibility and ease of use. The compact PCS includes four integrated Watson-Marlow peristaltic pumps and Siemens PLC-based automation, while the Leonardo software is accessed remotely through a web-based interface from any PC, laptop, tablet, or smartphone. This removes the need for a dedicated touchscreen HMI while still providing real-time monitoring, trends, calibration tools, workflow management, and data export capability.
The ONE is intentionally designed for straightforward processes where reliable control, repeatability, and affordability are more important than extensive configurability. With parallel operation of up to 24 units, integrated Wi-Fi connectivity, and a compact footprint, it is ideal for teaching laboratories, routine R&D, process optimisation, and early-stage process development.
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Features and Benefits
Standard Configuration
Each ONE system is supplied with a comprehensive standard specification to enable immediate operation:
- 2.0 L total volume, single-wall borosilicate glass vessel and stainless steel headplate (9 available ports)
- High-precision agitation system with a direct drive brushless motor (0-1900 rpm), equipped with process specific impeller (e.g. Rushton, marine, or pitched blade)
- PID controlled thermoregulation using an electrical heating blanket and recirculating cooling finger
- Thermal Mass Flow Controller (TMFC) for accurate air delivery, supplied with a 0.22 μm filter and process specific sparger (Toro or Sintered Type)
- Sensors (with cable and software) included:
- PT100 temperature sensor
- pH measurement via Hamilton EasyFerm digital sensor
- Dissolved Oxygen (dO2) measurement via Hamilton VisiFerm digital optical sensor
- Compact (35 cm3) stainless-steel Process Control System (PCS) cabinet with 4 × integrated peristaltic pumps (type: Watson-Marlow 114FD/DV).
- Fixed speed (regulated on/off), with 60 rpm max speed.
- Software-assignable functions for feed, acid, base, or antifoam addition.
- Leonardo software platform, using integrated Wi-Fi connectivity for remote access from PC, laptop, tablet, or smartphone (Wi-Fi connection required).
- Other accessories included:
- Dip tube for sampling or harvest
- 4- way multi-feed port for nutrient addition, pH control, antifoam control, or inoculation
- Gas out condenser to minimise evaporation.
- 2 × removable baffles for microbial configuration (no baffles for cell culture) with baffle plugs
Starter kit: tubing and connectors, 0.22 μm gas filters, FDA silicone tubing, Polyurethane utility tubing, spare port plugs, stabilising leg support
- Packaging for transport
The ONE platform also supports parallel operation of up to 24 systems managed through Leonardo software.
Solaris ONE software
- Light version of LEONARDO 3.0 software licence included in the equipment supply (USB flash key), to be installed on customers’ personal computers (Optionally Solaris can provide a PC).
- Data extraction in .csv format.
Optional Extras
he Solaris ONE can be expanded with a range of optional accessories to support more advanced workflows and process requirements:
- Antifoam and level control via Solaris conductivity probe (fixed or adjustable length)
- METIS exhaust gas analyser available in 2, 4, 6, or 8 channel configurations
- External recirculating chiller for enhanced cooling capability
- Septum-based inoculation port for sterile needle and syringe additions
- LEDA reusable sterile sampling system, JUNO sterile sampling connector, HIMALIA sterile syringes with non-return valve technology
- Autoclavable feed bottles (250 mL, 500 mL, 1 L, and 2 L) complete with filters and connections
- Spare parts kits including O-rings, pH buffers, electrolyte solution, FDA grease, and maintenance tools
These optional additions allow the ONE platform to be adapted for more advanced process monitoring, improved sampling workflows, and enhanced long-term operation while maintaining the system’s core simplicity and accessibility.
Leonardo: Supervisory Control Software
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.
More on Solaris
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.
