BÜCHI Frontloader: A New Drying Chamber for Bulky Sample Containers
Published on: 07.09.2026
BÜCHI has expanded its Lyovapor™ portfolio with the new Frontloader drying chamber. Its square shelves and front-opening door simplify the handling of larger sample quantities and bulky containers, including deepwell plates, 96-well plates, Petri dishes and blister packs.
Explore the Lyovapor™ L-210 and Lyovapor™ L-250.
The Frontloader is compatible with the Lyovapor™ L-210 and L-250 and is available in two configurations:
- 4 to 6 heatable shelves for Pro instruments
- 4 to 12 non-heatable shelves for Basic and Pro instruments
The heatable configuration supports controlled drying using programmable methods. The non-heatable configuration accommodates up to 12 shelves, providing more space for processing larger sample quantities. IQ/OQ qualification is also available for pharmaceutical applications.
Freeze-Drying Samples in Deepwell Plates
The Frontloader was tested with deepwell plates containing a 5% maltodextrin solution in water. Up to six deepwell plates could be placed on each shelf, facilitating the simultaneous processing of numerous individual samples.
Throughout the test, the sample temperature remained below the collapse temperature. The process produced homogeneous, non-collapsed sample cakes without product fly-out.
The use of deepwell plates is relevant to workflows involving large numbers of samples, including DNA extraction, cell cultures and protein screening.
Download Application Note No. 910/2026: Freeze-Drying with Deepwell Plates Using the Frontloader
Protection of Sensitive Samples
Bags and containers with a hydrophobic membrane fit into the Frontloader as well. The membrane acts as a sterile barrier against contamination, keeps any product fly-out inside the bag and lets water vapour from sublimation pass through.
In a test with a 5% mannitol solution, residual moisture was 3.91% in a membrane bag and 3.84% without it, with a near-identical temperature profile.
Download Application Note No. 912/2026: Contamination-Free and Sterile Lyophilization
Do you need help selecting a suitable Lyovapor™ instrument and Frontloader configuration for your samples? Contact us to discuss your application.
