AutoLAB

Fully customisable automated lab reactor — 0.5 to 20 L

AutoLAB is a highly flexible automated reactor system designed to meet specific process and application requirements. Its modular architecture allows users to configure the system for a wide range of reactor types, including stirred vessels up to 20 liters and custom continuous flow systems under pressure. This adaptability ensures the platform can evolve alongside changing research and development needs.

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Modular
Fully customisable
0.5–20 L
Vessel volumes
−50 to 250 °C
Temp (−90–350 option)
Up to 2000 rpm
Agitation
FTIR / Raman
Probe-ready
High-pressure
& vacuum options

Overview

Versatile applications for scale-up & process development

The AutoLAB supports a broad range of chemical process development activities — polymerization, crystallization, chemical synthesis and continuous flow processing — suitable for both high- and low-pressure reactions. Designed to bridge the gap between laboratory experimentation and kilo/pilot or production-scale processes, it enables reliable data generation and process optimization for efficient scale-up.

Key specifications

Vessel types & volumesGlass or metal, 500 mL to 20 L
Temperature control−50 to 250 °C standard (circulator dependent); options −90 to 350 °C
Pressure & vacuumHigh-pressure configuration for elevated-pressure reactions; vacuum options
StirringUp to 2000 rpm / 400 Ncm; wide range of materials and designs (max speed reactor-dependent)
SamplingActive pumps, manual dip tubes, automated level control or multisampling units
Reagent additionAutomated liquid and gas feeds, plus volumetric syringe pumps (high & low pressure)
SensorsTemperature, pressure, pH, turbidity, conductivity; third-party probes (in-situ FTIR, particle sizing, Raman)
ControlAll inputs logged; automated monitoring and feedback control

Applications

PolymerizationCrystallizationSynthesisHigh- and low-pressure reactionsProcess optimizationKilo-pilot / production-plant scale-up

Software, control & safety

Integrated with H.E.L’s WinISO software, AutoLAB provides precise control, automation and data acquisition across all experiments — data logging, multi-step recipes, parameter control and feedback loops — ensuring repeatability, safety and efficient workflow management.

Automatic, user-configurable reaction limits and shutdown procedures protect the operator, and automatic hardware and software fail-safes are installed on every system.

See our application notes for worked AutoLAB examples.

Frequently asked questions

What is AutoLAB used for?
A highly flexible, modular automated reactor platform for chemical process development — polymerization, crystallization, chemical synthesis and continuous-flow — from laboratory to kilo/pilot or production scale.
What vessel sizes are available?
Stirred vessels from 500 mL to 20 L in glass or metal, plus custom continuous-flow systems under pressure.
What temperature range does it cover?
−50 to 250 °C as standard (circulator dependent), with options extending the range from −90 up to 350 °C.
Can it run high-pressure reactions?
Yes — a high-pressure configuration supports reactions at elevated pressure, with vacuum options also available.
What sensors and probes can it use?
Temperature, pressure, pH, turbidity and conductivity as standard, plus integration of third-party probes such as in-situ FTIR, particle sizing and Raman.
Is it customisable to my process?
Yes — a modular architecture and 30+ years of bespoke reactor engineering mean the system is configured to your process and can evolve with your needs. Customisation is central to H.E.L’s approach.

Selected publications

Measuring the Particle Packing of l-Glutamic Acid Crystals through X-ray Computed Tomography for Understanding Powder Flow and Consolidation BehaviorT. D. Turner et al. · Crystal Growth & Design · 2020Concentration and Separation of Heavy Rare-Earth Metals at Stripping StageCheremisina et al. · Metals · 2019Fast Method for Testing the Photocatalytic Performance of Modified GypsumJanus et al. · Catalysts · 2019

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“The versatility of the automated lab reactors (AutoLAB)… made my work much easier and accurate. This readiness to accommodate each customer’s specific needs gives H.E.L the edge over their competitors.” — Theravance Inc, USA

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