AFC 900 Fermentor and Bioreactor Control
The ILS AFC 900 series provides stand-alone and networked
control of fermentors and bioreactors. The AFC 901 control
system works with existing or new fermentors and
bioreactors.
Benefits
- Direct replacement for New Brunswick BioFlo 110, III,
3000, and MicroFerm control units. Simply plug in
existing reactor, stirrer, and instruments.
- Can acquire data and control a variety of reactors
including B.Braun, Sartorius, Applikon, etc. Suitable for
bench-top to pilot-scale. An affordable, fully-functional
means to refurbish or replace existing reactors,
hardware and instruments.
- Separate cooling/heating water unit. Water lines are
separated from control hardware.
- Includes a variety of control loops and instruments (DO,
pH, temperature, serial RS232/422/485, analog 4-20
mA/0-10V).
- The system can include the option for direct
communication to Mettler Toledo ISM probes. ISM
probes provide direct digital communication and do not
require an external transmitter. The AFC can
communicate with pH, ORP, DO, and/or optical DO
(ODO). The AFC will collect measured values including
temperature. In addition the AFC can read the probe
serial # and perform probe calibration. Traditional
analog probes can coexist with the ISM digital probes
on the same AFC control box.
- Includes 4 or more user-controllable pumps. Users can
assign the pumps to the pH controller or simply control
the pumps through the HMI or remote OPC interface.
User can choose from fixed or variable speed pumps.
- The system can include optional gas-mixing valves for
both microbial and cell-culture applications. Similar to
the pumps, the gas-mixing valves are fully controllable
through the HMI or the remote OPC interface.
- AFC 900 is Ethernet-enable and complete external data
access is provided through Kepware® OPC servers. ILS
provides detailed documentation describing the
interface and PLC data registers. Computer-based
SCADA and HMI systems can easily access data. The
interface includes complete remote access to PID control
loops, pumps and valves.
- In addition, the control system can include additional
analog and serial interfaces. This allows for the addition
of external scales, analyzers, sensors, etc. ILS provides
the services to integrate such equipment.
- ILS provides can provide documentation and services to
meet FDA compliance for development, installation and
qualification. This includes validation documentation
services to meet FDA validation requirements for cGMP
applications.

Copyright © 2009 ILS
Cost-Effective Retrofitting of
Fermentation & Bioreactor
Control Systems
Do you have an existing installed
based of fermenters, such as
Sartorius/B. Braun Biostat/DCU
series, New Brunswick BioFlo Series,
Applikon 1010/1030, BioEngineering
NLF, or other brand and your vessels
and peripherals are in good shape
but the electronic controllers need
replacement or enhancement? The
AFC 901/903 control cabinet has
been designed to make retrofitting
easy at a lower cost than buying new
fermenter systems. As an added
bonus, the AFC 901/903
replacement provides much more
useful control functionality than you’
ve ever had before.

System Integration
Do you have a need to control
bench-top temperature loops,
sampling systems, separation
systems, valve
sequencers/multiplexers, or other
process control loops and tie these
together into one package with
data acquisition and your own
control algorithms? ILS can quickly
understand your needs and will
design and install a neat and
affordable automation package for
you.