How much a bioreactor costs is a critical factor to potential buyers. However, there is no generalized answer to this, without some definitions in the form of a User Requirement Specification (URS). This defines what you need in detail to meet specific goals and the criteria for success. These factors must be decided before you can look for possible solutions.
A lot of different factors have an influence on the final cost of a bioreactor, including the type of organism to be cultured, the desired working volume, the level of process monitoring and control needed, the sterilization method as well as ongoing costs (such as service or consumables). All these factors should be included in your list of requirements.
Basic elements of a bioreactor user requirement specification. Abbreviations used: DQ – Design Qualification; OQ – Operational Qualification, FAT – Factory Acceptance Test; IQ – Installation Qualification; SAT – Site Acceptance Test.
Having mentioned the creation of a URS the focus moves to what a manufacturer has to have in place to fulfill an order. Much will be the same for any company, but the different parts of a bioreactor add some specific considerations. The nature of the equipment means that a high standard of designers, document creators, engineers and quality specialists are needed to only get an item out of the factory’s door. The support from service teams and application specialists is additional to these demands.
Furthermore, you might find it important to consider how manufacturers approach to meet these needs:
Another vital component is the element of trust you have in the chosen supplier. This is a blend of your experiences of that supplier, their expertise and knowledge plus the value they add to your working life e.g. it’s not just about the hardware.
After purchasing a bioreactor, ongoing costs will be incurred. Costs must be included for recurring items over the lifetime of the equipment. These include:
When you start comparing prices from different manufacturers make sure you always compare apples with apples. The created list of requirements will help you keeping your focus on all essential elements. Some manufacturers try to lower the initial price by supplying minimal value. However, on the long run this will likely result in increased future costs and lower efficiency and working productivity. In general, the cost of laboratory space, infrastructure and staff exceed by far the initial acquisition costs of a bioreactor. Which in the end justifies the truth that quality matters and comes with a price.
Fortunately, most details will not directly trouble the purchaser and end user of a bioreactor. They see an end-price for a system to meet their needs. The price of such a system is not the most important factor, although budget limitations cannot be ignored. A low-cost bioreactor may be fine for undemanding, occasional use but will be a as a regular workhorse or an adaptable development platform.
The key element to focus on is the value provided in having such a system. This can be defined in several ways:
The message is that knowing the price is a long way from knowing the value of buying a bioreactor from one manufacturer or another.
Optimize your lab bench space with INFORS HT's bench-top bioreactors, designed for laboratories aiming to maximize bench space and drive efficiency without compromising their quality and scalability.
Elevate your process development and small-scale production with INFORS HT's pilot bioreactors—offering consistent scale-up, flexibility, and advanced data management in compact, easy-to-use systems.
Maintain optimal performance and longevity in your bioreactors with a range of services and support.
Optimize your lab bench space with INFORS HT's bench-top bioreactors, designed for laboratories aiming to maximize bench space and drive efficiency without compromising their quality and scalability.
Elevate your process development and small-scale production with INFORS HT's pilot bioreactors—offering consistent scale-up, flexibility, and advanced data management in compact, easy-to-use systems.
Maintain optimal performance and longevity in your bioreactors with a range of services and support.
Stefan Sperling is an industrial designer at the Meyer-Hayoz Design Engineering Group in Switzerland. He is part of the specialist team who was responsible for designing the award-winning INFORS HT Minifors 2 as well as the Multitron and Minitron. In this interview, Mr. Sperling shares his view on what constitutes good product design.
As demand for sustainable food sources surges, Daisy Lab is revolutionizing dairy production with precision fermentation technology. By using INFORS HT bioreactors, this New Zealand-based startup is producing animal-free milk proteins like whey and casein. Discover how the innovative process at Daisy Labs, now set to scale with EPA approval, is paving the way for a more sustainable future in dairy.
Stefan Sperling is an industrial designer at the Meyer-Hayoz Design Engineering Group in Switzerland. He is part of the specialist team who was responsible for designing the award-winning INFORS HT Minifors 2 as well as the Multitron and Minitron. In this interview, Mr. Sperling shares his view on what constitutes good product design.
As demand for sustainable food sources surges, Daisy Lab is revolutionizing dairy production with precision fermentation technology. By using INFORS HT bioreactors, this New Zealand-based startup is producing animal-free milk proteins like whey and casein. Discover how the innovative process at Daisy Labs, now set to scale with EPA approval, is paving the way for a more sustainable future in dairy.