A group of Sheldon employees served up everybody’s favorite dinner this week (hint: it involves pancakes and eggs!) to help support HomePlate Youth Services, an organization dedicated to the “positive development of young people experiencing homelessness or housing instability through community building, education, access to services and resources and youth empowerment.”

Employees are eager to regularly support this worthwhile organization and the teens and families the group works to assist. Giving back to the community is a passion shared throughout the Sheldon Manufacturing family, and the HomePlate dinners offers a chance to provide benefits to the community and enjoy quality time with each other as well. Good times!

This month our group served dinner to more than 25 teens and their families, giving us the opportunity to practice our hotcake-flipping skills while providing a nutritious, healthy meal for the teens.

HomePlate offers young people a positive environment where they can drop-in for a weekly free dinner. The goal of these events is simple: provide a meal for young people who are without a stable place to live or are experiencing homelessness.

To donate or to learn more about how to get involved, visit the HomePlate website for more information.

Sheldon employees served "breakfast for dinner" at the HomePlate Dinner

Dan Sheldon Serves Up Pancakes at HomePlate Youth Services Event

About Sheldon Manufacturing:

Sheldon Manufacturing, Inc. is a global manufacturer of constant temperature equipment for the biotechnology pharmaceutical, research and production markets. Under our SHEL LAB brand, our product lines include Bactron anaerobic chambers, CO2 incubators, vacuum ovens, refrigerated incubators, shaking water baths and more.

Over the next few months we’ll be gearing up for the 2012 trade show season, and we’re already getting excited to participate in this year’s list of great events.

Beginning in April, 2012, Sheldon will be an exhibitor at several premier industry trade shows, including the well-known analytica Trade Fair in Munich, Germany as well as events in San Francisco, Los Angeles and Portland.

Here is a list of events we will be exhibitors at this year:

• analytica 23rd International Trade Fair for Laboratory Technology, Analysis, Biotechnology and analytica Conference April 17-20, 2012, Munich, Germany
• ASM 112th General Meeting June 16-19, 2012, San Francisco, California
• Clinical Lab Expo, July 15-19, 2012, Los Angeles, California
• World Brewing Congress, July 28-August 1, 2012, Portland, Oregon

These shows are a wonderful way to get out and meet members of the industry and to share news and updates about our SHEL LAB anaerobic and CO2 incubators, vacuum ovens and other laboratory equipment. Stay tuned! We will update with new show information, just visit our SHEL LAB events page for more information and updates.

SHEL LAB Anaerobic Chamber

We’re proud to introduce the newest member of the Sheldon Manufacturing team, Engineering Manager Jeremy McDonald.

Jeremy began working with us in early November and we’re thrilled to have him join the Sheldon Manufacturing family; no surprise, really, given his impressive background in the microbiology industry. Jeremy comes to us after thirteen years as Manager of Research and Development for Anaerobe Systems, a Bay Area company providing PRAS plated and tubed culture media for use in clinical research.

As our new Engineering Manager, Jeremy will focus his considerable talents toward SHEL LAB development of new products for the clinical microbiology market—projects like the BACTROX hypoxic chamber (hypoxic chambers create an environment with controlled levels of oxygen for advanced cell culture and bacteriology research as opposed to anaerobic chambers which remove oxygen completely) as well as development of a full line of SHEL LAB anaerobic chambers. Some of the new products are slated for release as early as spring of 2012.

SHEL LAB Anaerobic Chamber

“As a scientist, I’m interested not only in the results of clinical research but also in the tools needed to conduct the testing,” says Jeremy. “At Sheldon, making sure the testing environment is reliable and cultures are protected is a huge priority. Coming from my background in microbiology research and development, a partnership with Sheldon is a great fit.”

Jeremy completed Microbiology and Biotechnology studies at California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo, California.

We’ve been hard at work planning for 2012 but that doesn’t mean we’re ready to say goodbye to 2011 just yet! In fact, 2011 was a great year for the company, from new products that deliver energy and cost savings to our customers to updates to current product features that make existing products safer and better than ever before.

We came up with a list of some of our favorites from 2011. As we get ready to head into the new year we can only hope (and plan!) for another twelve months as good as the last have been. Here is a small sample of what 2011 had to offer. Enjoy!

• Sheldon introduced the new LI20P BOD Incubator in spring of 2011. The first widely available, environmentally friendly thermoelectric cooled incubators designed for low temperature applications are so environmentally friendly they use up to 78% less power than conventional models. Sheldon customers save up to $450 a year in energy costs!

• Our ovens improved, too! In Fall of 2011, Sheldon announced new features on the SHEL LAB vacuum ovens–including fully-programmable Watlow temperature controllers, RS-485 communication capabilities and digital vacuum gauges–making our vacuum ovens easier to operate and improving durability and dependability.

• In answer to rising concern over sample contamination, we made copper shelving available on many of our laboratory incubators. Use of copper has been shown to reduce bacterial contamination of cells, achieving up to 99.9% reduction within two hours of exposure to the copper. 99.9% in two hours? Now that’s something to be excited about.

And product changes were just the beginning. We renewed our commitment to science education and research again in 2011 with the creation of a brand-new educational tool for both students and clinicians called the SHEL LAB Anaerobic Education Tool. This interactive tool offers a five-section course on all things Anaerobe—from an overview of common pathogens to proper culture techniques and identification protocol. Learn new skills or just brush up on old techniques!

We rounded out the year with a feature article in Lab Outlook Magazine and a new product video demonstrating SHEL LAB general purpose laboratory incubators. The video is another great tool for use in choosing a laboratory incubator. See the video at Sheldon Manufacturing’s YouTube page.

As we reflect on all that’s happened in 2011, we also look to 2012 with renewed inspiration, continuing our 40 year tradition of providing the industry’s leading laboratory equipment.

Happy New Year From All of us at Sheldon Manufacturing!

SHEL LAB Vacuum Oven

Choosing the right incubator for your research needs can be a confusing process no matter what your laboratory setup; which is why at Sheldon we do our best to guarantee customers have all the tools they need to make an informed decision when the time comes to buy. We want customers to purchase the right incubator to help keep their samples safe, contaminant free, and capable of producing reliable results every time.

And it’s also why we were so pleased when we were asked to contribute an article to Lab Outlook Magazine, a digital supplement to the popular Laboratory Equipment Magazine. The article, “Practice Safe Specimen Storage,” is featured in November’s issue of the publication and covers many of the important factors to consider when deciding which incubator to buy, including:

• Incubator size, stability and uniformity
• Antimicrobial effects of copper
• Water jacket vs. air jacket insulation

The article also incorporates a new video featuring President Dan Sheldon and Product Design Engineer Pradeep Muppala as they discuss product features of the SHEL LAB General Purpose Incubators.

Both the article and the video are great resources for anyone considering a new incubator, so be sure to read the entire article in this month’s Lab Outlook Magazine and view our new video on the Sheldon Manufacturing YouTube channel!

Sheldon Manufacturing has been building the SHEL LAB line of incubators and ovens for over 40 years. Learn more about our CO2 Incubators, forced air laboratory ovens, Bactron Anaerobic Chambers and more at our online store!

High school kids at Baltimore’s Northwestern High School are finishing up their AP Environmental Science homework this year with the help of a new drying oven from Sheldon Manufacturing.

The high school students needed the drying oven in order to complete AP-level course requirements that include experiments to estimate primary productivity of a crop grown within a laboratory environment—in this case, the school’s greenhouse facility. Students grew their own “mini-crops” of annual ryegrass; the crops then required drying  before results could be analyzed. Unfortunately, the high school didn’t have access to the necessary equipment needed to complete the experiments.

That’s when retired scientist Philip Filner contacted Sheldon Manufacturing and asked for our help.  Mr. Filner has dedicated himself to efforts to improve the greenhouse and science education facilities at Northwestern High School. He asked us if we had a drying oven that wasn’t currently being used that we could donate and, luckily, we did!

“Supporting science education programs benefits all of us,” says Amy Schulties, Director of Sales and Marketing for Sheldon Manufacturing. “Keeping kids excited and curious about science today leads to continued scientific research and discovery in the future, which is why the efforts of people like Mr. Filner are so important and why we were happy to be able to supply a SHEL LAB drying oven for their project.”

Sheldon Manufacturing has produced some of the world’s most well-known lab equipment for more than 40 years, with products that span the biotechnology, pharmaceutical, research and production markets.

Drying ovens are typically used in clinical settings where research samples must be dried quickly. The classes at Baltimore High School are operating their SHEL LAB drying oven at 90°C.

To learn more about drying ovens or any of our other laboratory ovens, visit our SHEL LAB oven pages.

Sheldon Manufacturing has spent 40 years providing high-quality vacuum ovens, lab incubators and other equipment for use in industrial, clinical and laboratory applications, and making sure our customers have the reliable tools they need is our biggest priority. Which is why at Sheldon we love to hear back from the customers who use our products every day—like Université de Montréal Professor, Dr. Roger Lippé. Dr. Lippé works in the Cell Biology Research department and recently shared his experience using the SHEL LAB 3552 laboratory incubator:

The SHEL LAB 3552 incubator is the Cadillac in tissue culture equipment. Conveniently sized, with an appealing look, a sensitive infrared CO₂ sensor and possibility to stack them, it perfectly fulfills all our needs. Unlike many competitors, it provides true sterilization with a unique 180^oC decontamination cycle. An important bonus is the ability to do so without removing the IR sensor, hence simplifying the procedure and minimizing the risk of damage. Other instruments either offer half measures (e.g. 90^oC decontamination that takes 1-2 days to complete) or complex options that are more likely to break, be expensive to repair and in some cases not as efficient (e.g. peroxide injection, plasma sterilization, UV). Moreover, these alternative sterilization techniques, designed for heat sensitive hospital equipment, are not necessary for tissue culture. Effective simplicity is always the best option.

Another strong advantage of SHEL LAB incubators is the unusually long warranty on the incubator (5 years) and IR sensor (7 years). No competitor offers such an excellent warranty. This is particularly important in view of the high costs of labor to repair scientific equipment, potentially saving hundreds to thousands of dollars. Another important characteristic is the quick recovery following the opening of the door. This provides for a more stable environment, a critical aspect of cell culture that reflects a very careful design of the instrument. Naturally, a constant and uniform temperature and humidity throughout the incubator is equally important when the door is closed.

-Dr. Roger Lippé, Université de Montréal

Thank you, Dr. Lippé! We always love to hear stories from our customers—and we’d love to hear from you, too. What do you think about your SHEL LAB vacuum oven, incubator, or humidity cabinet? Have you had a noteworthy experience using a SHEL LAB product? How about during the purchase process? We want to hear about it! If you would like to share your SHEL LAB experience with us, drop us an email today, we may just share it with our other customers! Stay tuned for more stories from real-life SHEL LAB customers!

Protect your cells!  Minimize the threat of surface contamination with copper’s natural bactericidal and fungicidal properties: SHEL LAB now offers copper shelves for use in our CO2 incubators.

Laboratory testing has shown that when cleaned regularly, Antimicrobial Copper surfaces:

1. Continuously reduce bacterial* contamination, achieving 99.9% reduction within two hours of exposure;
2. Kill greater than 99.9% of Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria* within two hours of exposure;
3. Deliver continuous and ongoing antibacterial* action, remaining effective in killing greater than 99.9% of bacteria* within two hours;
4. Kill greater than 99.9% of bacteria* within two hours, and continue to kill 99% of bacteria* even after repeated contamination; and
5. Help inhibit the buildup and growth of bacteria* within two hours of exposure between routine cleaning and sanitizing steps.”**”

*Testing demonstrates effective antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Enterobacter aerogenes, Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecalis (VRE), Escherichia coli O157:H7, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

**The use of an Antimicrobial Copper surface is a supplement to and not a substitute for standard infection control practices; users must continue to follow all current infection control practices, including those practices related to cleaning and disinfection of environmental surfaces. The Antimicrobial Copper surface material has been shown to reduce microbial contamination, but it does not necessarily prevent cross contamination.

Copper shelves are now available on SHEL LAB incubator models:  3503, 3517, 3524, 3552, 2406, 2406/2, and 5215

Built with stainless steel chambers for exceptional durability, SHEL LAB Ovens are already known as some of  the most rugged Vacuum Ovens available on the market today. And now we have even more to be proud of with the addition of several new features to our Digital 1400 Series Vacuum Ovens, making our vacuum ovens more durable and more dependable than ever before.

New vacuum oven features include:

• Fully programmable Watlow temperature controllers
• 40-step ramp and soak profile or 4 files with 10 steps per file capabilities
• Digital vacuum gauges – making vacuum readings easy-to-read and more accurate.
• RS-485 Communication Capable on C Models – now you can easily program from your personal computer.

We’ve also made selecting the right gasket for our ovens easier than ever with our new gasket guide.

Doors with positive latch handles and spring-loaded glass ensure a tight vacuum seal, without hinge binds that shorten gasket life. Solid brass vacuum valves with Teflon seats prevent leaks, and our unique cross-flow ventilation forces inert gas to fill the entire chamber. And the double plenum design of our ovens meets UL, CSA and CE safety requirements—meaning our ovens maintain a cool outer surface at all times.

SHEL LAB has produced industry favorite products for over 40 years, ranging from water baths to lab incubators. Take a virtual tour of our facility to see how we manufacture our SHEL LAB line of laboratory equipment.

Students and clinicians alike have a shiny new tool in their educational toolbox this week. Whether they are learning new skills and knowledge relating to anaerobic bacteria or merely brushing up on anaerobes, Sheldon Manufacturing has just made it easier to do—with the first release of the SHEL LAB Anaerobic Education Tool. This new interactive educational tool offers a five-section course specially geared to professional clinicians or to students who are just starting out. It includes a slideshow and 22-question quiz designed to help students and professionals learn new material, review concepts and test their new knowledge. Some features of the slideshow include:

•    An overview of common pathogens

•    Proper culture techniques

•    Anaerobic media characteristics

•    Culture, isolation and identification protocol

Anaerobic Microbiology Tool

“Sheldon wanted to create a tool that benefits both clinicians and students,” says Amy Schulties, Director of Sales and Marketing at Sheldon Manufacturing. “We wanted to find a way to keep students interested and engaged while learning about these organisms, and this website offers just that while still providing a tool for learning and evaluation.”
The SHEL LAB Anaerobic Education Tool includes nearly 50 slides, but students and professionals can easily move through sections at their own pace, skipping sections if they are already comfortable with the material or going back to chapters that need additional time for review . Correct answers to quiz questions are provided immediately following a student’s answer choice for quick review of any questions missed, and you can email yourself the results to impress your Microbiology Professor or Lab Supervisor.

You can test your knowledge at – http://anaerobe.shellab.com