The Biostream Laboratory Bioreactor from Apex Scientific is a compact Benchtop system designed to make Fermentation, Bioprocess development, Microbial Cultivation, and Cell Culture more Accessible for research laboratories, universities, biotechnology companies, and pilot-scale production facilities. With true Plug & Play operation, Low CAPEX, and a flexible Volume range: 0.75lt – 7.5lt, this Laboratory Bioreactor provides an efficient solution for laboratories seeking professional performance without the complexity or cost of large production systems. As a trusted supplier of laboratory equipment in South Africa, Apex Scientific delivers reliable solutions backed by technical expertise and local support.
Designed for Efficient Bioprocess Development
The Biostream Laboratory Bioreactor has been engineered to simplify microbial and cell culture workflows while maintaining the flexibility required for research and process optimization. The compact Benchtop design integrates sensors, pumps, and electronic controls into a single control cabinet, creating a clean, organized workspace that reduces setup time and simplifies daily operation.
Because the system shares a common software platform across the Biostream product range, users can confidently develop processes on a small scale before transferring them to larger production systems. This provides an economical pathway for laboratories requiring future scalability while keeping initial investment costs low.
Suitable Applications
The system also supports multiple cultivation strategies, including batch, fed-batch, continuous, and perfusion processes. This Laboratory Bioreactor is suitable for a wide range of Fermentation and Bioprocess applications, including:
- Process development
- Expression optimization
- Scale-up and scale-down studies
- Seed culture expansion
- Small-scale production
- Protein production
- Microbial Cultivation
- Cell Culture
Flexible Vessel Options
The Biostream Laboratory Bioreactor supports interchangeable glass vessels with a Volume range: 0.75lt – 7.5lt, allowing laboratories to select the most appropriate working volume without changing operating software.
Each high-borosilicate glass vessel features a stainless-steel headplate and rounded vessel geometry that promotes excellent mixing efficiency across both low and high agitation speeds. Universal vessel dimensions simplify scale-up and scale-down studies while reducing the need for operator retraining.
Several impeller configurations and mixing options are available to accommodate different biological applications, including microbial fermentation and sensitive Cell Culture processes.
Reliable Agitation and Gas Control
High-speed mechanical agitation delivers efficient oxygen transfer for demanding microbial cultivation applications while maintaining quiet operation through a gearless drive system. Multiple gas control configurations can be selected to suit individual process requirements, providing flexibility across a broad range of research applications.
The standard configuration includes one mass flow controller for air, with optional controllers available for oxygen, nitrogen, and carbon dioxide where advanced process control is required.
Integrated Pump and Sensor Control
Four integrated peristaltic pumps are supplied as standard to automate feeding, acid addition, base addition, and antifoam dosing. Pump operation can be configured directly through the control software, allowing flexible control strategies throughout the fermentation process.
The standard package includes:
- 0.75, 2, 5 or 7.5lt vessel
- Mechanical motor drive
- Rushton impellers with baffles
- Air mass flow controller
- Four peristaltic pumps
- pH sensor
- Antifoam sensor
- Sampling tube
- Sparger
- BOS 3.0 EZ software package
- Optional accessories include dissolved oxygen sensors, starter kits, additional gas mass flow controllers, chillers, and laptop control.
Advanced Software and Data Management
The integrated BOS 3.0 software has been developed specifically for laboratory fermentation applications. Users can configure process parameters, monitor live experiments, and automatically record all operating data throughout each run.
Historical process data can be retrieved at any time, while customised reports can be exported for documentation, validation, or regulatory requirements. Consequently, laboratories can maintain complete traceability while improving workflow efficiency.
Local Support from Apex Scientific
As the authorized Biostream supplier in South Africa, Apex Scientific provides expert application advice, installation support, and ongoing technical assistance to help laboratories maximize the performance of every Laboratory Bioreactor. Whether you are establishing your first Fermentation workflow or expanding an existing Bioprocess facility, our team can help you select the right configuration for your application.
Learn more by visiting the Apex Scientific Insights page for educational articles on fermentation and bioprocessing, or explore the complete Biostream product range and technical resources on the Biostream website.