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Incubators & Environmental Test Chambers
Overview VideoPhoto Gallery 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
Shel Lab Drosophila Undercounter Peltier Incubator
Peltier cooled models provide gentle, uniform heating throughout the incubator and specific refrigerated models with conformal coated refrigeration coils are ideal in BOD (biochemical oxygen demand) applications.
BOD Thermoelectric Peltier Cooled Incubator
Designed for use in sewage and wastewater testing, B.O.D. Thermoelectric Cooled Incubators are energy saving models that meet APHA requirements.
Thermo Fisher Scientific Precision High-Performance Incubators
Precision 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.
Thermo Fisher Scientific Midi 40 Small Capacity CO2 Incubator
Designed specifically for cell culture scientists performing personal use applications, the compact Midi 40 CO2 Incubator is ideal for small workloads. The Midi 40 is also powerful enough to deliver what bigger incubators do cost effectively.
BINDER KBWF 720 Growth Chamber with Light and Humidification
24.7 cu. ft. capacity KBWF 720 Plant Growth Chamber with light and humidification includes illumination cassettes and stainless steel racks.
Heratherm Large Capacity General Protocol Microbiological Incubator
Gravity convection 750L General Protocol Microbiological Incubator by Thermo Fisher Scientific with a temperature range from Ambient +5 °C to+75 °C.
BINDER Worldwide KBF 240 Humidity Test Chamber
KBF 240 Humidity Test Chamber with a 8.72 cu. ft. capacity provides uniform temperature and humidity conditions; 2 stainless steel shelves and 4 casters.
MK 56 Dynamic Climate Chambers by BINDER Worldwide, 2.1. cu. ft.
2.1 cu. ft. model features a stainless steel interior and a heated viewing window with LED interior lighting includes 1 stainless steel rack and 4 casters
Incubator Stability Chamber Models
BD Series Avantgarde.Line Standard Incubators by BINDER- Thermo Fisher Scientific 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 Scientific Precision High-Performance Incubators Precision 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