Astell Scientific Supports Imperial College London with Advanced Autoclaves in Major Laboratory Upgrade

05/11/2025

Imperial College London has recently completed a significant refurbishment of its Sir Alexander Fleming Building (SAF), which included the upgrade of its high-level Containment Level 3 (CL3) research facilities. As part of the project, Astell Scientific was selected to supply seven state-of-the-art autoclaves, ensuring safe, efficient, and compliant sterilisation across the site.

World-Leading Research Hub

Founded in 1845, Imperial College London is consistently ranked among the world’s top universities and is renowned for pioneering work in science, engineering, and medicine. Within the Faculty of Medicine, the Department of Infectious Disease stands as one of Europe’s largest centres of excellence, with more than 70 principal investigators leading research across multiple hospital and campus sites.

The department’s research portfolio is broad, spanning fundamental studies in disease biology through to the development of innovative therapies and vaccines. Areas of particular strength include human immunology, retrovirology, molecular microbiology, tuberculosis research, and the study of oncogenic viruses.

Upgraded CL3 Facilities

The Sir Alexander Fleming Building at the South Kensington Campus plays a central role in this work. In 2022, the building underwent an extensive refurbishment to modernise its research environment. The upgraded CL3 facility now houses eight laboratories, equally split between pathology and virology, offering researchers cutting-edge spaces in which to pursue vital work on infectious diseases.

Ensuring the laboratories met strict CL3 safety and sterilisation standards was a priority for the project team. Dominic Smith, Laboratory Operations Manager for the Faculty of Medicine, together with Sam Tolhurst, User Co-ordinator for Capital Projects, oversaw the specification and installation of sterilisation equipment. Having worked with Astell previously, they turned to the company once again for a robust and compliant solution.

Tailored Sterilisation Solutions

Astell provided seven autoclaves designed specifically for use in CL3 environments. Each system was fitted with CATIII filtration to ensure maximum containment and regulatory compliance. The installation included two 63-litre AMB Classic Fill Benchtop Autoclaves, ideal for smaller loads such as media, liquids, and glassware, alongside five 120-litre AMA260 Top-loading Autoclaves capable of handling larger volumes, including porous loads, wrapped fabrics, and waste materials.

“The autoclaves really do deliver on their promise of plug-and-play functionality,” commented Dominic Smith. “It’s a practical solution that makes day-to-day operations far more straightforward, and Astell’s support throughout the process has been excellent.”

All Astell Cylindrically Chambered Autoclaves Feature: