A freeze dryer, or lyophiliser, removes water from a frozen product by sublimation under controlled vacuum and temperature, turning a liquid or wet material into a stable, dry solid without the heat damage conventional drying would cause. Pharmaceutical formulation scientists, biotech process engineers, laboratory directors, and procurement teams across research, clinical, and manufacturing organisations rely on this equipment to stabilise proteins, vaccines, diagnostic reagents, and other sensitive biological products for long-term storage at ambient temperature. Browse new and used freeze dryers and lyophilisers from verified sellers on Machinery Masters.

What Is a Freeze Dryer?

A freeze dryer first freezes a product solid, then lowers the surrounding pressure so the frozen water sublimates directly into vapour without passing through a liquid phase, a process called primary drying. A secondary drying stage then raises the temperature slightly under continued vacuum to remove any remaining bound moisture, leaving behind a dry cake that retains its original structure far better than heat-dried material would. Because the product never experiences the heat and mechanical stress of conventional drying, lyophilisation is the standard method for stabilising proteins, live vaccines, and other biological products that would lose activity or structure under direct heat.

Scale is the main practical difference between freeze dryers. A laboratory unit might process a handful of small vials for research purposes, while a production-scale pharmaceutical freeze dryer handles thousands of vials per batch under full GMP documentation and control. Many pharmaceutical-scale freeze dryers also include in-situ stoppering, which seals each vial with its rubber stopper inside the sterile drying chamber before it is unloaded, avoiding any exposure to the outside environment between drying and sealing.

Freeze Dryer (Lyophiliser) Brands

Martin Christ, known for its Alpha and Epsilon freeze-dryer ranges
SP Scientific (SP Industries), known for its Hull LyoConstellation pilot and production-scale freeze dryers
VirTis, whose Genesis and Ultra ranges remain widely used at research and pilot scale
GEA, known for its LYOVAC range of pharmaceutical freeze dryers
Telstar, known for its GMP freeze dryers and its modular Lyozeta range
IMA Life, known for production-scale pharmaceutical freeze dryers
Millrock Technology, which supplies freeze-dryers from laboratory through to production scale
Labconco, known for its FreeZone range of benchtop freeze dryers
Cuddon Freeze Dry, known for commercial and industrial-scale freeze drying equipment
Buchi, known for its Lyovapor range of freeze dryers

Please verify this brand list against current Machinery Masters marketplace inventory before publishing, as available stock changes over time.

Freeze Dryer (Lyophiliser) Product Types

Freeze dryers divide into a handful of formats depending on batch scale, regulatory requirements, and how the product is loaded into the chamber.

Laboratory and Benchtop Freeze Dryers

Laboratory freeze dryers are compact units suited to research work, processing a modest number of flasks or vials at a time. Academic and research and development labs rely on this format for preserving samples, developing new formulations, and general small-scale freeze-drying work.

Pilot-Scale Freeze Dryers

Pilot-scale freeze dryers bridge the gap between laboratory research and full production, processing enough product to support clinical trial batches or early process development while still allowing the detailed monitoring a formulation team needs to refine a drying cycle.

Production-Scale (GMP) Freeze Dryers

Production-scale freeze dryers handle thousands of vials per batch under full GMP documentation, validated cycles, and automated control, and they form the backbone of commercial vaccine, biologic, and pharmaceutical manufacturing.

Manifold Freeze Dryers

Manifold freeze dryers connect multiple flasks directly to ports on a central drying chamber rather than using shelves, which suits chemistry applications and smaller-scale biological sample preparation where flask-based drying is more practical than vial-based drying.

Shelf Freeze Dryers with In-Situ Stoppering

Shelf freeze-dryers hold vials on temperature-controlled shelves and, in many pharmaceutical-grade models, include in-situ stoppering that seals each vial before it leaves the sterile chamber. This format is standard for commercial vaccine and injectable biologic production, where maintaining sterility right through to the sealed vial is essential.

Freeze Dryer (Lyophiliser) Applications and Uses

Freeze drying supports a wide range of pharmaceutical, biotech, and research applications, with the right scale and format depending on batch size and regulatory requirements.

Pharmaceutical and Vaccine Stabilisation

Pharmaceutical manufacturers freeze-dry vaccines, monoclonal antibodies, and other biologics to give them a stable shelf life at ambient or refrigerated temperatures rather than requiring frozen storage and transport throughout their distribution.

Diagnostic Reagent and Enzyme Preservation

Diagnostic kit manufacturers freeze-dry enzymes, antibodies, and other reagents to extend shelf life and simplify shipping, since a dried reagent generally tolerates storage and transport conditions far better than the equivalent liquid formulation.

Research Sample Preservation

Research laboratories freeze-dry cell lines, microbial cultures, plasmids, and other biological samples for long-term storage or shipping between collaborating labs, since lyophilised material is far more stable and easier to transport than a frozen or liquid equivalent.

Cell and Gene Therapy Product Stabilisation

Cell and gene therapy developers increasingly use freeze-drying to stabilise therapeutic components that would otherwise require continuous cold chain storage, simplifying distribution logistics for advanced therapies.

Food and Nutraceutical Freeze Drying

Food and nutraceutical manufacturers use industrial-scale freeze dryers to preserve ingredients, supplements, and speciality food products, retaining flavour, nutritional content, and structure far better than heat-based drying methods.

How to Choose a Freeze Dryer

A handful of practical factors determine which freeze dryer suits an organisation's workflow.

Match the scale to your batch size, choosing a laboratory unit for research work, a pilot-scale system for process development, or a production-scale system for commercial manufacturing.
Confirm whether in-situ stoppering is required, since pharmaceutical vial-based products generally need this feature to maintain sterility through to the sealed vial.
Check condenser capacity and temperature against the moisture load and eutectic point of your specific product, since an undersized condenser will limit drying performance.
Consider whether a manifold or shelf configuration better suits your container format, since flasks and vials generally call for different chamber designs.
For used equipment, verify the vacuum system's condition, check the condenser and refrigeration system's performance, and request full qualification and service history for regulated applications.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a freeze dryer used for?

A freeze dryer removes water from a frozen product by sublimation, and organisations use it to stabilise pharmaceuticals, vaccines, diagnostic reagents, and biological research samples for long-term storage without the heat damage conventional drying would cause.

What is the difference between a laboratory, pilot-scale, and production-scale freeze dryer?

A laboratory freeze dryer processes a small number of flasks or vials for research purposes, a pilot-scale freeze dryer handles the larger batches needed for process development or clinical trial supply, and a production-scale freeze dryer processes thousands of vials per batch under full GMP control for commercial manufacturing. Organisations typically move through all three scales as a product progresses from early research to commercial production.

What is in-situ stoppering, and do I need it?

In-situ stoppering seals each vial with its rubber stopper inside the sterile freeze dryer chamber before it is unloaded, avoiding any exposure to the outside environment between drying and sealing. Pharmaceutical products intended for injection generally need this feature, while research and non-sterile applications typically do not.

What is the difference between new and used freeze dryers?

New freeze dryers come with a manufacturer warranty and current control software, while used freeze dryers offer meaningful cost savings and suit organisations that can confirm the vacuum system's condition, condenser performance, and full qualification history. It is worth running a validation cycle on any used freeze dryer before relying on it for regulated pharmaceutical work.

How can I find freeze-dryers and lyophilisers on Machinery Masters?

Browse the Machinery Masters marketplace for new and used freeze dryers and lyophilisers from verified sellers, and use the filters to narrow results by brand, scale, and configuration. Contact a seller directly to confirm specifications, service history, and pricing before you buy.

Freeze Dryers (Lyophilizers)

Freeze Dryers (Lyophilizers)