A next-generation PCR system designed to help labs manage increasing workflow complexity with greater flexibility, speed and confidence in reproducible results

Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., the world leader in serving science announced the Applied Biosystems™ PowerFlex™ Thermal Cycler, a next-generation polymerase chain reaction (PCR) instrument designed to help deliver enhanced flexibility, precise thermal performance and improved productivity for modern molecular biology laboratories. Building on the trusted legacy of Applied Biosystems™ instruments, this solution is designed to help laboratories run complex PCR workflows with greater confidence and efficiency.

The Applied Biosystems PowerFlex Thermal Cycler (3 x 32-well configuration shown) is a next-generation PCR system designed to help labs manage increasing workflow complexity with enhanced flexibility, precise thermal performance and improved productivity.

PCR remains a foundational technique across life science research, applied testing and DNA identification. As labs face increasing pressure to generate accurate results faster — often while sharing instruments across teams — there is growing demand for thermal cyclers that combine performance, adaptability and ease of use in a reliable platform. Featuring our latest block technology, the PowerFlex Thermal Cycler was developed to help address these evolving needs.

“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, molecular biology, 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.”

“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,” said Maria Lung, a research scientist at Xpress Genomics AB. “The intuitive interface and the option to easily share log files provide additional confidence and support.”

The PowerFlex Thermal Cycler is designed to help laboratories achieve more reliable PCR results, with benefits that include:

• Fast, precise thermal performance: With advanced thermal technology engineered for speed and precision, the system helps laboratories shorten run times while maintaining the accuracy and reproducibility researchers depend on. Its optimized performance supports confidence across routine and complex PCR workflows alike.

• Intuitive operation: A large 10.1-inch touchscreen and user-friendly interface make protocol setup and instrument navigation straightforward. Built-in simulation capabilities and AI-assisted Smart Help features guide users through setup and troubleshooting, helping reduce training time and minimize workflow disruptions.

• Flexible configurations: The PowerFlex Thermal Cycler is available in two models to accommodate different throughput and workflow requirements. A 96-well configuration provides broad plate compatibility to integrate easily into existing lab environments. For labs running multiple assays, the 3x32-well configuration features independently controlled VeriFlex™ blocks, enabling different protocols to run simultaneously on a single instrument and helping maximize bench space and efficiency.

The PowerFlex Thermal Cycler is intended for use across a wide range of applications, including life science research, large academic and core laboratories, biotechnology and pharmaceutical research, food and environmental testing and human identification workflows. The platform is also designed to support future expansion and evolving lab needs.