WALTHAM, Mass. — Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. has introduced the Applied Biosystems PowerFlex Thermal Cycler, a next-generation polymerase chain reaction (PCR) system designed to improve flexibility, precision, and productivity in modern molecular biology laboratories.
The new instrument builds on the company’s Applied Biosystems platform and is aimed at helping laboratories manage increasingly complex workflows while maintaining accuracy and efficiency.
PCR remains a core technique in life sciences research, applied testing, and DNA identification. As laboratories face growing pressure to deliver faster, more reliable results—often using shared equipment—demand has increased for systems that combine performance with adaptability and ease of use.
“Today’s labs are being asked to run more complex PCR workflows, often across shared instruments and under increasing time pressure. That’s where traditional systems start to fall short,” said Pawan Singh, vice president and general manager of molecular biology at Thermo Fisher Scientific. “With the PowerFlex Thermal Cycler, we’ve reimagined flexibility and performance together so researchers don’t have to choose between speed, accuracy and ease of use. We’ve also added support for fully skirted plates to enable lab automation.”
The PowerFlex Thermal Cycler incorporates new block technology intended to deliver precise thermal control and improved workflow efficiency.
Maria Lung, a research scientist at Xpress Genomics AB, highlighted the system’s flexibility. “We especially value the flexibility of running three independent experiments simultaneously, as well as the ability to set precise ramp rates in °C per second to optimize our protocols,” she said. “The intuitive interface and the option to easily share log files provide additional confidence and support.”
The system offers several key features designed to support laboratory operations.
It provides fast and precise thermal performance, enabling shorter run times while maintaining reproducibility across both routine and complex PCR workflows.
A 10.1-inch touchscreen and user-friendly interface simplify protocol setup and navigation. Built-in simulation tools and AI-assisted Smart Help features are designed to guide users through setup and troubleshooting, reducing training time and minimizing disruptions.
The instrument is available in multiple configurations to accommodate different lab needs. A 96-well format supports standard workflows, while a 3×32-well configuration includes independently controlled VeriFlex blocks, allowing multiple experiments to run simultaneously on a single device.
The PowerFlex Thermal Cycler is intended for a wide range of applications, including life sciences research, academic and core laboratories, biotechnology and pharmaceutical development, food and environmental testing, and human identification. The platform is also designed to support future expansion as laboratory requirements evolve.
