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Incubators & Environmental Test Chambers
Overview Video Gallery Learn More: Gravity vs. Mechanical Convection 
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Gravity vs. Mechanical Convection Incubators
Incubators have traditionally been a mainstay for biological and life science laboratories, whether to grow or sustain biological cultures, reproduce germ colonies or breed/grow insects. The most basic incubators allow researchers to recreate precise temperature conditions for optimal growth, development and/or maintenance of finicky cells. Temperature homogeneity is also critical, as fluctuations in the living environment can be deadly.
As the fields of biotechnology and biopharmaceuticals have expanded, the demand for higher-precision incubators has increased. In addition, regulatory requirements regarding good-laboratory and -manufacturing practices (GLP and GMP) have been refined and intensified. Among other things, this has resulted in increased sophistication for cell culture control and monitoring. Additional instrument features bring additional cost, leaving many lab managers wondering if all the bells and whistles are really necessary for their applications
Gravity Convection
Heated air (less dense compared to cooler air) is introduced into the bottom of the incubator and gravity, causes the warmer air to rise and be distributed throughout the incubator. This airflow eliminates the need for a fan because gravity provides the force needed to distribute the air. Since less air is being displaced in the process of heating the instrument, samples are heated gently. This prevents them from drying out during incubations. Gravity convection technology is ideal for incubation of bacterial and eukaryotic cell cultures, but is limited by the degree to which air can be heated and the time it takes for an incubator to recover after the door is opened.
Mechanical Convection
Mechanical convection utilizes a fan to force heated air throughout the incubator, resulting in uniform temperature distribution throughout the unit. This method provides optimal temperature uniformity and stability due to the rapid distribution of air, which is ideal for bacterial cultures. In addition, mechanical convection can quickly warm samples that have been transferred directly from the refrigerator to the incubator. Since the movement of warm air over samples can lead to the evaporation of growth media, many laboratories utilize mechanical convection incubators to dry samples.
Dual Convection Technology
Dual Convection Technology combines the function of gravity convection and mechanical convection systems to create a high-performing, efficient and widely adaptable incubation platform. This adjustable fan speed allows users to specify operating parameters to optimize their individual experiments. When the fan is switched off, the evaporation occurring in the incubator is at its lowest. When the fan is set to 100%, the temperature stability and uniformity are optimized. Depending on the application, the speed can be adapted to provide optimal air flow for your valuable samples.
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- CO2 and Microbiological Incubators by Thermo Fisher, Sheldon, Binder and Benchmark ScientificIncubators Features Overview
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- Environmental Test Chambers, Growth Chambers, and Stability Chambers by Thermo Fisher Scientific and BinderTest Chamber Features Overview
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- Shelves, stands, rolling bases and stacking kits for Thermo Fisher, Sheldon and Benchmark incubators
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Incubator and Test Chamber Features
Reach-In
29.0 cu. ft. Large Capacity Reach-In CO2 Incubators by Thermo Fisher Scientific with heated triple-pane glass doors for high-throughput labs working with large volumes of culture samples for bacterial growth and short-term growth studies
Stackable
Incu-Shaker 20L and 20LR Stackable Shaking Incubators by Benchmark Scientific are ideal for small labs that want to double their incubation space; models feature an 18" by 18" non-slip rubber mat platform and stainless steel chamber for temperature uniformity
Copper Chamber Material
Copper Chamber Material of select Heracell 150i and 240i CO2 Incubators by Thermo Fisher Scientific provides maximum contamination protection and facilitates non-stop bactericidal and fungicidal protection during door openings
ICH-Q1B Compliant
KBF LQC Humidity Test Chambers by BINDER feature illumination cassettes with an ICH-Q1B compliant UV/Vis light source and the light dose control features a patented light photometry for homogeneous light distribution in photostability tests
Efficient Data Management
KBWF Plant Growth Chambers by BINDER Worldwide feature a state-of-the-art intuitive touchscreen controller with time-segment, real-time programming and internal data recording for efficient data management
Inner Door
KBF Humidity Test Chambers by BINDER feature a tight-sealing, corrosion-resistant ESG safety glass inner door for sample viewing, and the double-sided airflow inside the chamber delivers maximum parameter uniformity during stability stress testing
Incubator Stability Chamber Models
BD Series Avantgarde.Line Standard Incubators by BINDER- Thermo Fisher Precision High-Performance Incubators
- ST-180 Plus CO2 Incubator by Benchmark Scientific
- Heratherm Microbiological Incubators by Thermo Fisher Scientific
- Large Capacity Microbiological Incubators
- Plant Growth Chambers by Thermo Fisher Scientific
- BINDER Humidity Test and Growth Chambers
- Benchmark Scientific SureTemp Precision Digital Incubators
Gravity convection models in four capacity sizes with a 100 °C disinfection routine for use in gentle incubation or organisms and heat sensitive media | 2828-PP-06 displayed BD Series Avantgarde.Line Standard Incubators by BINDER BD standard incubators with an ambient temperature range of 5 °C to 100 °C are stackable in BD 56 and BD 115 models; all models include chrome-plated racks
Precision High-Performance Incubators from Thermo Fisher are designed for large scale culturing of bacteria (hot plates and beakers not included) Thermo Fisher Precision High-Performance Incubators High-Performance Incubators are designed for maximum usability and sample protection. Ideal for labs culturing bacteria on a large scale, units provide a high degree of temperature uniformity, stability and accuracy.
ST-180 Plus CO2 Incubator by Benchmark Scientific features high heat decontamination, digital humidity control and a split inner door ST-180 Plus CO2 Incubator by Benchmark Scientific Models include adjustable stainless steel shelves; custom options include a copper chamber, oxygen control, Peltier cooling and UV lighting
General, Advanced and Security Protocol Microbiological Incubators by Thermo Fisher Scientific in gravity, mechanical and dual convection models Heratherm Microbiological Incubators by Thermo Fisher Scientific Microbiological incubators by Thermo Fisher Scientific available from 14.3L to 194L capacities; models include removable shelves
Heratherm Large Capacity Microbiological Incubators heat up to 105°C. Capacities from 13.4 to 24.8 cubic feet. | 5324-PP-01 displayed Large Capacity Microbiological Incubators Heratherm Microbiological Incubators also available in General Protocol, Advanced Protocol and Advanced Protocol Security models
Precision Plant Growth Chamber for plant growth and seed germination features programmable temperature and cycle times; 17.8 cu. ft. capacity | 5321-66 displayed Plant Growth Chambers by Thermo Fisher Scientific Plant Growth Chambers control heating, lighting, and humidity; programmable cycling over 7 days replicates ideal growth conditions.
Humidity Test and Growth Chambers by BINDER provide excellent climate conditions for growing plants and organisms; stainless steel interior on select models | 1410-PP-04 displayed BINDER Humidity Test and Growth Chambers KBF 115 Humidity Test Chambers (shown) from 3.6 to 36.0 cu. ft. capacities provide uniform temperature and humidity conditions; models include two SS shelves and 4 casters
Economical SureTemp Digital Incubators in 40, 70 and 130 liter capacities in mechanical and gravity convection modes include two adjustable SS shelves | 2823-PP-08 displayed Benchmark Scientific SureTemp Precision Digital Incubators Models feature a stainless steel chamber, SureCheck software for data viewing in .txt files, fast ramping times and independent heating elements