Vendor Lock-In
Proprietary membranes, cassettes, and software tie you to one ecosystem. Switching costs can exceed EUR 65K and require full hardware replacement.
QB Systems — Flexible. Innovative. Limitless.
The open-architecture filtration platform for R&D and pilot-scale bioprocessing. No vendor lock-in. Any membrane. Full automation.
The Challenge
Single-modality systems force trade-offs that slow research and inflate cost. QB replaces proprietary lock-in with modular hardware and unified control.
Proprietary membranes, cassettes, and software tie you to one ecosystem. Switching costs can exceed EUR 65K and require full hardware replacement.
Many systems optimize for one modality. Cross-process flexibility often means buying multiple platforms at significant capital expense.
Annual consumable and software licensing costs of EUR 4K–15K per system, plus mandatory service contracts, compound total cost of ownership.
Real-time monitoring is fragmented across incompatible sensors and software. Data silos block a single view of the process.
The Solution
Modular hardware, open consumables, and QB Control as one orchestration layer.
Snap-together QB modules — pumps, sensors, valves, agitators — via a single EDGE hub. Add, remove, or swap components in minutes.
Use membranes and cassettes from any major manufacturer — Millipore Pellicon, Sartorius Hydrosart, Repligen KrosFlo, and future formats.
QB Control runs pre-built services and recipes with 21 CFR Part 11 support: audit trail, electronic signatures, and automated batch records.
Hardware
Eleven modular components configure from a streamlined nine-module basic setup to a full PAT-enabled advanced system.
Central controller with 7 PoE ports. Connects all modules into a unified system.
Cross-flow recirculation. 0.1–5 L/min. Low-shear design protects cell viability.
Diafiltration buffer addition. Bi-directional with accurate volumetric dosing.
Permeate withdrawal. Precise flow control for TMP management.
2-channel each: feed + retentate, permeate. Real-time TMP calculation.
Automated flow path control. Proportional valve for TMP regulation.
Gravimetric mass balance. Tracks VCF, permeate volume, and retentate mass.
pH, DO, temperature, conductivity, OD, turbidity. Full PAT integration.
Vessel mixing for homogeneous feed during operation.
Foam and level detection. Reduces overflow and air entrainment risk.
Nine modules for UF/DF with pressure-based TMP, mass-balance concentration, and automated diafiltration.
Software included. No license fees.
Eleven modules adding PAT: temperature-corrected NWP, conductivity-driven DF endpoint, OD-based concentration, breakthrough detection.
Start Basic, upgrade anytime
Add modules in under 2 minutes. No rip-and-replace.
Competitive Advantage
Open consumables, full modularity, multi-modality support, and integrated PAT in one platform.
| Capability | QB Filtration | Cogent M1 | Repligen KrosFlo | Sartoflow Smart | XCell ATF |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open consumables | Yes | No | No | No | No |
| Modular hardware | Yes | No | Partial | No | No |
| Multi-modality (all modes) | Yes | Concentration only | Concentration only | Concentration only | Perfusion only |
| Built-in PAT (6-sensor) | Yes | Limited | Limited | Partial | No |
| Recipe automation | Yes | Manual | Partial | Yes | Partial |
| 21 CFR Part 11 | Yes | No | No | Yes | Partial |
| Cost (CAPEX est.) | < EUR 35K | EUR 40K+ | EUR 22K+ | EUR 55K+ | EUR 65K+ |
| Annual OPEX | Minimal | EUR 8K+ | EUR 5K+ | EUR 10K+ | EUR 12K+ |
Freedom of Choice
Open architecture means your process defines consumables — not the equipment vendor.
Millipore Pellicon, Sartorius Hydrosart, Repligen KrosFlo hollow fibers, Pall Centramate — or future membrane technologies.
Competitive sourcing of membranes and cassettes. No mandatory service contracts. Software updates included in the base offering.
New chemistries, single-use formats, or media — adapt without full capital replacement.
QB Control
Pre-built control services orchestrate cross-flow, TMP, mass balance, and PAT endpoints automatically.
Centrifugal pump speed via PID from feed pressure.
Pinch valve and pump coordination for target transmembrane pressure.
Gravimetric tracking of permeate, retentate, and buffer volumes.
Real-time NWP with viscosity-corrected flux (J20).
Automated DF stop at target conductivity.
UV280 or turbidity for product leakage alerts.
Applications
From screening through pilot-scale optimization — same software and control logic across scales.
Cell retention with alternating flow, automated bleed and media exchange. CHO, HEK293, hybridoma up to ~50M cells/mL.
Protein concentration (up to ~50× VCF) and buffer exchange for mAb, vaccine, and gene therapy workflows.
Screen membranes, flow rates, and TMP. DoE-friendly parameter sweeps and batch comparison.
Scale from 0.5 L to 50 L with proportional membrane area. Tech-transfer documentation aligned to control logic.
Value by stakeholder
Budget owners, lab managers, and operators each get a clear reason to standardize on QB.
Perfusion challenges
Automation tuned to fouling, shear, bleed control, campaign length, scale-up, and data integrity.
Automated NWP monitoring with viscosity-corrected flux (J20). Backflush sequences and alerts below threshold.
Low-shear centrifugal recirculation (~100–200 s⁻¹). Configurable cross-flow setpoints for viability.
Gravimetric mass balance (loop C) with automated bleed. Target VCD without manual intervention.
Six interlocked loops for 30+ day steady-state. Disturbance rejection on TMP, flow, and temperature.
Same control logic from 0.5 L to 50 L; membrane area scales linearly.
21 CFR Part 11: e-signatures, audit trail, automated batch records, full recipe-to-report traceability.
Experience it
Three ways to evaluate the QB Flexible Filtration System with your team.
We bring a complete system to your lab. Run your protocol on your feedstock and compare to your current setup.
Schedule a lab visit90-minute live session: QB Control, recipes, P&ID visualization, and batch reporting.
Book a remote demo30-day evaluation with support. Run full UF/DF or perfusion and benchmark against your KPIs.
Apply for evaluationQuestions
Yes. The platform supports open consumables from major suppliers (e.g. Millipore Pellicon, Sartorius Hydrosart, Repligen KrosFlo, Pall) and is designed so your process — not the hardware brand — dictates membrane choice.
Up to eleven modular components connect through the EDGE hub. Basic configurations implement three loops (cross-flow, TMP, mass balance). Advanced configurations add permeate pumping and multisensor PAT for six loops total.
QB Control includes 21 CFR Part 11-oriented features such as audit trails, electronic signatures, and batch records. Final validation is always site-specific.
Yes. Modules are added in minutes without replacing the entire system. Start with the nine-module UF/DF workflow and expand when you need PAT analytics.
Request a demonstration, workshop, or evaluation. We will help you map modules and loops to your process.
Contact QB Systems →