SPM HD – OEM syringe pump for ultra-low flow control
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Aug 2025

New SPM HD: OEM-ready syringe pump with unmatched low-flow stability

A new chapter in OEM fluid control

Ultra-low flow control has always been a challenge for OEM instrument makers working with microfluidics. Fluctuations at low speeds, flow instability, and inconsistent dosing often lead to wasted reagents, unreliable results, or overly complex setups.

At AMF, we’ve solved this with our new HD models, first introduced in the LSPone HD, our benchtop syringe pump designed for laboratory environments. The good news? This same technology is now available in an OEM format with the launch of the SPM HD.

Built on the proven SPM base, the SPM HD is designed specifically for instrument manufacturers: no casing, no interface, full control via your own protocol. It combines OEM-friendly integration with a major innovation in microfluidic fluid handling: stable, smooth, and precise flow rates, even at nL/min.

Whether you’re designing a diagnostic device, a biochip platform, or a compact liquid handling module, the SPM HD gives you both high performance and full integration flexibility.

What makes the SPM HD different?

The SPM HD isn’t just a stripped-down lab pump. It’s a purpose-built OEM component developed for precise liquid control at the core of microfluidic systems.

It gives instrument makers a solution that delivers stable ultra-low flow, reliable reproducibility, and microfluidic-grade performance, all in a form factor that’s ready for integration.

Ultra-low flow, finally stable and predictable

At the heart of the SPM HD is AMF’s new HD plunger control system, enabling precise and smooth displacement of the syringe plunger, even at extremely low speeds. This ensures fluid movement that is linear, pulse-free, and reproducible, well beyond what conventional entry-level syringe pumps can achieve.

Where standard systems often lose control below ~100 µL/min, the SPM HD maintains stable flow down to sub-microlitre per minute levels. This makes it especially suited for sensitive applications like cell perfusion, controlled enzymatic reactions, or the metering of high-value reagents, where even slight inconsistencies can affect outcomes.

To validate this performance, we mapped the flow stability across a wide range of flow rates and syringe sizes. The heatmap below shows the coefficient of variation (CV%), confirming the SPM HD’s ability to deliver precise, ultra-low flow with exceptional consistency.

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Flow stability heatmap: coefficient of variation (CV%) for various syringe sizes and flow rates. Low CV values across the range confirm excellent repeatability, even in the sub-µL/min zone.

Designed for the most sensitive protocols, the SPM HD ensures unmatched stability at ultra-low flow rates.

Precision in numbers

To back this up with concrete values, here are the measured flow rates achieved using the HD system, showing high accuracy and low deviation, even at very low setpoints.

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Designed for OEM integration from the start

The SPM HD isn’t a repurposed lab tool, it’s built on the proven, robust SPM platform, fully tested under OEM operating conditions and developed with integration in mind.

  • Compact size: Easily fits into benchtop instruments
  • No interface, no casing: You control it directly via I2C, serial, or a custom protocol
  • Flexible programming: Compatible with Python, LabVIEW, MATLAB, or embedded systems
  • Robust design: Supports continuous operation in automated systems

Causeway_Sensors_TITAN_Bioprocess_analytics
Shown here: AMF’s SPM is integrated inside the TITAN platform by Causeway Sensors, a compact benchtop instrument for real-time biosensing. This is a real example of how the SPM fits directly into an OEM device, delivering precise, automated liquid handling within a tight footprint and fully embedded workflow. View the TITAN platform here.

Why OEMs choose the SPM HD

When developing a microfluidic instrument, flow control isn’t just about moving liquid, it’s about moving it with absolute stability, especially at very low volumes where performance often breaks down.

This is exactly where the SPM HD stands out.

Its HD system enables ultra-stable flow from nanoliters per minute, delivering the consistency OEMs need for:

  • Handling fragile biological samples
  • Avoiding drift in sensor signals
  • Controlling reactions with tight tolerances

Here’s why instrument makers choose it as the backbone of their fluid handling system:

1. Precise delivery at ultra-low flow rates

 

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With its high-definition plunger control, the SPM HD ensures stable flow from nL/min, critical for:

  • Single-cell analysis
  • Chip perfusion
  • Reagent injection with limited sample volumes

You no longer need to overdesign your instrument to compensate for pulsation or variability. The SPM HD handles that by design.

2. Protects your reagents and samples

 

In microfluidics, every microliter counts, especially when working with rare or high-value reagents. The SPM HD is engineered to limit losses at every step:

  • Low internal volume to reduce fluid waste
  • No dead volume between the valve and the syringe
  • Extremely low carryover = no cross-contamination between reagents

This is especially important for OEMs in diagnostics or therapeutics, where fluid purity and consistency are non-negotiable.

3. Integrated valve for automated fluid switching

 

Unlike systems that require separate valves and connections, the SPM HD includes a built-in microfluidic rotary valve. This allows your instrument to:

  • Select between multiple reagents or buffers
  • Control flow paths automatically
  • Execute complex protocols with a single component

Fewer parts mean simpler fluidic paths, faster development, and lower risk of leaks or failures.

4. Compact and OEM-ready

 

The SPM HD is designed to be invisible inside your system:

  • Minimal mechanical footprint
  • No interface, no casing, just raw, plug-in performance
  • Easy to mount in tight enclosures or modular racks

Whether your instrument is handheld, benchtop, or part of a multi-module system, the SPM HD adapts.

5. Flexible, protocol-based control

 

You control the SPM HD from your own system, not ours. That means:

  • Use serial, I2C, or custom protocols
  • Integrate with Python, LabVIEW, or microcontroller firmware
  • Program sequences, loops, and real-time changes with zero UI dependency

This gives your engineering team full autonomy and simplifies regulatory validation (no GUI updates, no firmware locks).

Use cases and application

The SPM HD is already being evaluated or integrated by OEMs working on compact, high-precision systems across biotech, diagnostics, and analytical chemistry. Its built-in rotary valve, combined with ultra-low flow precision, makes it ideal for instruments that need fluid switching, metering, and dispensing, all in one unit.

Here are a few typical applications:

Reagent selection in cartridge-based diagnostic devices

Point-of-care instruments often require multiple reagents to be delivered in sequence, but space is limited, and fluid paths must stay clean.

The SPM HD handles reagent selection using its internal rotary valve, draws each liquid precisely with minimal dead volume, and delivers it directly to the reaction chamber. No external switching or large tubing arrays needed.

On-chip perfusion in organ-on-chip or cell culture platforms

For cell biology systems, stable perfusion at very low flow rates is critical to mimic physiological conditions. Sudden pressure changes or pulsation can damage cells.

With its HD system, the SPM HD delivers continuous flow from nL/min, allowing for gentle, reproducible perfusion. Its compact format fits easily into stacked or modular chip platforms.

Automated buffer exchange in DNA/RNA prep stations

In life science instruments, switching between buffers without cross-contamination is essential to avoid sample loss or protocol failure.

Thanks to its very low carryover and no dead volume design, the SPM HD enables clean, automated buffer transitions, reducing manual handling and improving throughput.

Precise liquid metering in sequencing or sample prep systems

Fluid volume matters, especially when dealing with limited DNA/RNA samples or expensive enzymes.

The SPM HD delivers microliter-level accuracy with each stroke, ensuring sample integrity while minimizing reagent usage.

 

Embedded fluid handling in portable or miniaturized instruments

Space, autonomy, and simplicity are key in compact systems.

By integrating both the pump and valve, the SPM HD reduces the number of components needed, simplifies wiring and fluidic layout, and enables more compact instrument design.

More than a component: tailored microfluidics for your instrument

At AMF, we know that no two OEM systems are exactly alike. Whether you’re developing a compact diagnostic platform, a biotech analyzer, or an integrated research tool, your fluidic needs are unique.

That’s why the SPM HD isn’t just a standalone component, it’s part of a broader offer: tailored microfluidic solutions designed around your specifications.

Need a custom valve layout? Let’s design it together.

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The SPM HD integrates a rotary valve by default, but AMF’s strength lies in adapting this valve to match your exact requirements:

  • Specific number of ports
  • Custom port angles or bore dimensions
  • Optimized materials for chemical compatibility
  • Modified fluidic channels to reduce dead volume even further

Our engineering team regularly co-develops custom valve configurations for OEMs in need of precise control over switching, isolation, or multiplexing.

Build a complete system, or a single smart block

In many projects, we support OEMs beyond just a syringe pump. Depending on your integration needs, we can:

  • Combine valve + pump + manifold in a single housing
  • Adapt mechanical dimensions for a tight mechanical fit
  • Provide ready-to-wire units with custom harnesses or connectors
  • Match firmware behaviors to your control sequence or regulatory constraints

Whether you’re building one module or a complete microfluidic subsystem, we’re able to adapt our designs to your environment, mechanically, fluidically, and electronically.

Work directly with our engineers

From feasibility to integration, our R&D and sales engineers work hand-in-hand with your team to:

  • Review your protocol and propose solutions
  • Create custom 3D designs and prototypes
  • Support testing, iterations, and validation

We’re used to working under NDA and long development cycles, with the reliability and responsiveness that OEMs expect.

 

Ready to integrate the SPM HD?

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If you’re developing an instrument that requires precise, reliable, and low-volume fluid handling, the SPM HD is ready to be part of your solution.

Whether you’re still in the design phase or already validating components, we’re here to support your integration with:

  • Sample units for bench testing
  • Technical documentation and 3D files
  • Protocol guides for serial and I2C communication
  • Direct access to our engineering team for customization or feasibility review

You bring the idea. We’ll help bring it to life.

From standalone pumps to fully custom liquid handling assemblies, AMF works side-by-side with OEMs to turn complex fluidics into robust, manufacturable systems.

Please fill the form and one of our experts will get back to you with details.

Ready to bring your microfluidic vision to life? Fill the form:
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