SmartMonitoring for Liebherr Laboratory Refrigerators – Secure, Auditable Temperature Management

Maximum security and documented temperature monitoring

With laboratory refrigerators and freezers, the greatest risk is often not the equipment failure itself, but that a temperature deviation is not detected in time. For pharmaceutical samples, vaccines, diagnostic reagents or research materials, even a deviation lasting only a few hours can have serious consequences.

The Liebherr SmartMonitoring system offers a structured and documented solution to this problem.

Cooling alone is not enough—monitoring is also essential

In addition to maintaining stable temperatures, Liebherr laboratory refrigerators and freezers—particularly the Perfection and Performance series—also offer integrated or retrofittable digital monitoring capabilities.

The SmartMonitoring system continuously records temperature data from the equipment and makes it traceable through a central platform.

This is not merely a convenience feature, but also a documentation and risk-management tool.

How does the system work with Liebherr equipment?

Liebherr's new-generation Perfection series comes with a factory-integrated SmartModule. For the Performance series, the SmartModule can also be retrofitted.

The SmartModule connects to the SmartMonitoring platform via LAN or WiFi, making equipment data available in real time.

If the laboratory operates an older Liebherr model or even equipment from another manufacturer, these can also be integrated into the system using external data loggers.

This is particularly beneficial for institutions with mixed equipment fleets.

More than temperature logging

The SmartMonitoring system is more than just data collection. The platform:

• automatically documents temperature compliance
• sends an alert in the event of a deviation
• reduces the need for manual checks
• enables multiple appliances to be monitored simultaneously

In a larger laboratory, this can provide a significant operational advantage, as the system continuously monitors storage conditions instead of relying on daily manual checks.

Special applications – ULT– freezers

Liebherr SmartMonitoring also offers dedicated data logger solutions for ultra-low-temperature (ULT) applications, even at temperatures down to -200 °C.

This may be particularly important for:

• biobanks
• pharmaceutical development laboratories
• long-term sample storage

The three-channel data loggers also support a door sensor and an additional temperature sensor, further enhancing safety.

Documented compliance and auditability

In regulated environments—such as pharmaceutical or clinical laboratories—documenting temperature compliance is a fundamental requirement.

The SmartMonitoring system provides automated documentation, making it easier to prepare for audits. Events, alerts and measured data can be retrieved, significantly reducing the administrative burden.

Summary

The Liebherr SmartMonitoring system is not merely an add-on software package; it is an integral part of laboratory refrigeration safety and documentation.

When stored materials are valuable, sensitive or kept in a regulated environment, continuous monitoring and automated documentation are no longer optional but essential requirements.

Selecting the appropriate configuration—SmartModule, data logger or integrated solution—depends on the laboratory's operational requirements and compliance requirements.

If you would like to determine which SmartMonitoring solution provides the highest level of data security and traceability for your Liebherr appliances, the system should be designed based on professional considerations.

This blog post was prepared based on the Liebherr SmartMonitoring system's manufacturer documentation, technical specifications and official product information.

Photostability testing in accordance with ICH Q1B using POL-EKO KKS ICH chambers

Photostability testing is a critical area of pharmaceutical development and quality assurance. The ICH Q1B guideline precisely defines the light-exposure conditions under which the stability of preparations/products must be tested.

The POL-EKO KKS ICH series is a photostability climate chamber solution specifically designed to meet these requirements.

ICH Q1B compliance in practice

KKS ICH chambers are designed to enable complete photostability testing in accordance with ICH Q1B under controlled conditions. According to the documentation, the system can deliver the required light exposure within as little as 29 hours, enabling time- and energy-efficient operation.

The chambers:

• use a combined UVA and visible-light (VIS) system
• provide uniform illumination through an optimised optical design
• use premium lighting components (Osram, Philips)

The light has a near-natural spectrum (CRI > 90, 6500K), which is particularly important for reproducibility.

Environmental control and temperature protection

KKS ICH chambers are not merely lighting systems; they are fully functional climate chambers. The temperature range is 10–50 °C, while relative humidity can be controlled within the 10–90% RH range.

The system has temperature protection class 3.3 in accordance with DIN 12880, which is an important safety parameter in pharmaceutical environments.

The combination of uniform illumination and stable climate control ensures that test results meet ICH Q1B requirements.

SMART PRO control and data management

The KKS ICH series is available with SMART PRO control and a 7” colour touchscreen

This enables:

• precise parameter management
• programmable test cycles
• detailed data logging

Of particular importance in pharmaceutical environments, the system can be integrated with LabDesk CFR software, which supports 21 CFR Part 11 requirements.

Who is the KKS ICH series recommended for?

POL-EKO KKS ICH photostability chambers are a purpose-designed solution primarily for:

• pharmaceutical development laboratories
• stability testing laboratories
• quality control departments

where testing in accordance with ICH Q1B is not optional but mandatory.

Summary

The POL-EKO KKS ICH series is not a general-purpose climate chamber but a system specifically optimised for photostability testing. UVA and VIS lighting technology, uniform illumination, precise climate control and SMART PRO control work together to ensure compliance with ICH Q1B.

In regulated environments, the reliability and traceability of test results are crucial. A properly configured system provides genuine added value in this respect.

This blog post was prepared based on the official manufacturer documentation for POL-EKO KKS ICH photostability chambers.

Automated Colony Counting – Scan 1200 Performance Evaluation

One of the most time-consuming tasks in microbiology laboratories is manually counting colonies on Petri dishes. However, the question is not simply whether automated systems are faster, but whether they can match the accuracy of the manual method.

The performance of the Scan 1200 colony counter was evaluated in a comprehensive study comparing manual and automated counting in accordance with ISO 7218:2007.

How was the comparison conducted?

During the study:

• 6 different microorganisms were examined (E. coli, Bacillus cereus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Penicillium roqueforti, Lactobacillus casei var. rhamnosus)
• 502 Petri dishes were evaluated on 7 different culture media:
• PCA (Plate Count Agar)
• MacConkey agar
• VRBL (Violet Red Bile Lactose agar)
• EMB (Eosin Methylene Blue agar)
• TBX (Tryptone Bile X-glucuronide agar)
• MRS (de Man, Rogosa and Sharpe agar)
• Sabouraud agar
• more than 45,000 colonies were counted both manually and automatically

The aim was to compare the results of the two methods on a statistically sound basis.

Results?

The study results showed an exceptionally strong correlation between the manual and automated methods.

The lowest correlation coefficient (R²) was 0.9787, indicating a strong linear relationship.

In most cases, the mean log difference represented a deviation of only a few percent. Across the entire study, the average difference between automated and manual counting was 2.35%.

Based on the 95% confidence interval specified in ISO 7218:2007, the automated result fell outside the permitted range in only 8 cases (1.59%).

In practical terms, this means that the Scan 1200 provides reliable colony detection under standard laboratory conditions.

The document also included a time analysis. When counting a single Petri dish, the automated system was significantly faster than the manual method, particularly for medium and high colony counts

On a daily basis—in a laboratory with one user and dishes containing 50–150 colonies—the Scan1200 can provide time savings of up to 80%.

This is not merely a matter of convenience. With high sample volumes, it can deliver a significant increase in capacity.

Traceability and data storage

The system saves every counting result in “session” files containing images of the Petri dishes and the counting data

This provides full traceability, which is particularly important in audited or documentation-intensive environments.

Summary

The performance evaluation of the Scan 1200 shows that automated colony counting is not only faster but also demonstrates good statistical agreement with the manual method.

Strong correlation, low deviation and significant time savings—together, these factors may justify the introduction of automated colony counting in laboratories that need accuracy and efficiency when handling high sample volumes.

This blog post is based on the manufacturer's official application note for the Scan® 1200 entitled “Evaluation des performances” (version 2, 2021.03.30.).