Who are iLab, and why are they important?
iLab Solutions is a Milton Keynes-based, independent specialist founded in 2014 that provides maintenance, repair and servicing for FPLC (Fast Protein Liquid Chromatography) systems, including AKTA systems and Biacore SPR instruments.
We also offer services such as free service support, column re-packing, as well as the purchasing and exchange of instruments and parts.
We are the leading UK based company specialising in the repair and maintenance of FPLC systems, from bench to full production capacity. What this means is that we stand out in our field because our customers trust us to support and maintain their laboratory equipment to the highest standard, all in a timely and polite manner.
iLab understand how important our customers are to our business, which is why we will always put our customers first. We value their wants and needs and will always do our very best to reach and exceed their expectations of us as both a business and as engineers.
If you believe iLab are the right business for you, why not contact us, or alternatively read more about our service plans to see what we could do to support you and your lab.
What is Chromatography and FPLC?
Chromatography is a laboratory technique that separates complex mixtures into their individual components by passing them through a stationary phase (fixed substance such as solid silica or liquid film) carried by a mobile phase (liquid or gas).
This separation system allows scientists to identify, analyze, or purify different substances for the purpose of use in food science, medicine, and environmental analysis to separate dyes, drugs, pollutants, and more.
FPLC (Fast Protein Liquid Chromatography) is a scientific technique used to separate, purify and analyse biomolecules such as proteins, peptides and nucleic acids by controlling the flow of a liquid mobile phase (liquid solvent or solvent mixture) through a column packed with a stationary phase (resin).
It uses automated systems, often with biocompatible materials and aqueous buffers, to achieve high-resolution, reproducible separations based on properties like charge (ion exchange), size (gel filtration), or affinity, making it ideal for large-scale protein purification.
What is column regeneration and re-packing?
Column regeneration or column repacking is the process of removing old or degraded stationary phase material from a chromatography column and replacing it with fresh, uniformly packed, new material to restore performance.
This is a necessary process when the packed bed develops defects like cracks, voids, or channels, which lead to decreased separation efficiency, increased pressure, and poor results. The columns used for FPLC eventually become clogged with salts and disallow the separation process to work as smoothly as when the column were new.
iLab offer a service that allows our customers to send their columns to us to be repacked and sent back to them as if their columns were brand new. If this is something that you believe could be of interest to you or your lab, please feel free to read more about this service and get in contact with us for a no-obligation free quote.
What is an AKTA, and what are "Reds" and "Greys"?
An AKTA is a protein purification machine used in laboratories designed for the rapid purification of biomolecules like proteins, peptides, and nucleic acids in pharmaceutical and academic research. These machines were developed by Cytiva (formerly GE Life Sciences).
"Reds" and "Greys" are the names we at iLab use to distinguish which group of AKTAs we are dealing with - the colours are depicted via the colour of the machines themselves. "Greys" are older models, meanwhile "Reds" are newer models that are typically red and white.
Cytiva no longer produces the older "Grey" AKTA chromatography systems, such as the AKTA PrimePlus or AKTA Micro, as they have been discontinued and replaced by the newer "Red" models.
Due to this lack of support for the older systems, our purpose at iLab is to help laboratories continue the maintenance of all their AKTA models (both Grey and Red), to avoid our customers worrying about the costly expense of having to replace or update their systems.
Our engineers are highly trained professionals with years of hands-on experience dedicated to keeping your machines running at their best. Through continuous training and deep technical expertise, they understand how to maintain, service, and troubleshoot equipment to maximize performance and longevity.
Their focus is not just on fixing issues, but on preventing them—helping ensure your machines remain reliable, efficient, and productive for as long as the equipment is capable of operating. If you'd like to know more about our service plans or have some questions and would like to speak to a professional, please don't hesitate to contact us.