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!

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.

Sheldon Manufacturing, Inc. introduces the SHEL LAB Model LI20P, the first widely available, environmentally friendly, thermoelectric cooled incubator designed for low temperature applications.

Using innovative thermoelectric cooling technology, Sheldon Manufacturing eliminates the need for a refrigeration compressor. The result: a low temperature incubator that uses 78% less power than alternative models while reducing room air conditioning loads by producing 75% less heat. “It’s cheaper to save energy than to buy it,” states Dan Sheldon, President of Sheldon Manufacturing, Inc. “Customers will save up to $450 per year on energy reductions from the thermoelectric cooling technology in the LI20P incubator.”

The LI20P features a heavy-duty shelving system. It eliminates sagging shelves with a 75-pound capacity per shelf. Tests have shown that the LI20P shelving system can hold up to three times the amount of weight as alternative models. The unit can hold up to 300 BOD bottles, and because of its superior temperature uniformity, customers can use all of the shelving space within the unit without worrying about sample degradation.

The LI20P is available through SHEL LAB distribution partners and at http://www.shellab.com.

See full product details for the Energy Efficient Thermoelectric Cooled LI20P BOD Incubator

About Sheldon Manufacturing:
Sheldon Manufacturing, Inc. is a worldwide leader in the manufacture of constant temperature equipment for the biotechnology, pharmaceutical, research and production markets. Under its SHEL LAB brand, the company’s product line includes Bactron Anaerobic Chambers, CO2 Incubators, Refrigerated Incubators, Shaking Water Baths, and Vacuum Ovens. Sheldon Manufacturing also has an extensive OEM business, working with industry leaders to design solutions for production and research needs across the entire constant temperature/environment spectrum.

Given our passion for quality anaerobic microbiology technique, you can imagine how excited we were to see the Bactron IV/900 in this news article about the new DANONE Research Centre for Special Nutrition in Singapore.  Recently we have been answering a lot of inquiries about using anaerobic techniques for food and beverage quality assurance, and would encourage you to contact us with any questions you may have about the Bactron line.

From the Article:
Danone to invest S$70m in R&D centre in Singapore

SINGAPORE : International food company Danone will be investing some S$70 million over the next five years in a specialised research and development centre in Singapore.

The global player said the Danone Research Centre for Specialised Nutrition focuses on child and maternal health and is the first of its kind in Asia Pacific.

It is targeting to have a team of 50 scientists based at the centre in the next five years.

The centre looks at areas such as the impact of nutrition on gut bacteria, immune system and the overall growth and development of babies and children.

Danone said that it hopes to provide state of the art products, and added that one of the reasons for positioning the centre in Singapore was to be close to business.

Eline Van Der Beek, research director at Danone Research, said: “Asia Pacific is very important to us, and Singapore is a very important starting place to meet the whole Asia Pacific region. The second reason is of course the scientific environment here in Singapore being very open and very mature.”

Danone is present in over 120 countries on five continents. In 2010, Danone had more than 160 production plants and around 100,000 employees, generating sales of over S$30 billion, of which 50 per cent were in emerging economies.

Julian Ho, assistant managing director at the Economic Development Board Singapore, said: “Singapore is proud to host Danone’s Asia-Pacific hub for research and innovation – the first in Asia for Danone to focus fully on science for child and maternal health.

“The new centres at Biopolis would be able to benefit from the synergies between Singapore’s world-class biomedical research capabilities and access scientific insights in Asia Pacific.”

- CNA/ms

SHEL LAB Vortex Mixer

Combine a powerful motor for INSTANT vortexing, continuous operation functioning, variable speed control from 200 to 3200 rpms, and a whole lot more, and the result is the new SHEL LAB Vortex Mixer.

With advanced Q-Drive technology, this laboratory Vortex Mixer provides smooth instant vortexing of even the largest sample sizes, including full 50ml tubes. The unique counter balance system creates maximum vortexing action, while minimizing noise and excessive vibration. This results in quieter, more efficient and longer laster operation. “The new VT1000 is a great compliment to our existing line of SHEL LAB baths, incubators, ovens, and anaerobic chambers,” said Vinnie Martorano, “it is all the things a vortex mixer should be, compact, quiet, and powerful enough to do the job.”

Come see us and all of our new units at Pittcon 2011. Visit our Events Page for more details and other industry events we will be attending this year.

Cornelius, OR, December 6, 2010 – Sheldon Manufacturing, Inc. announces the release of their latest offering to the Life Sciences, University, and Clinical Research labs with the HC6 Environmental Humidity Chamber for multiple industrial and biotechnology testing applications.

The New HC6 floor model incorporates an air-jacket design that evenly disperses air within the walls to maintain uniformity and ensure proper insulation. The expert design replicates natural conditions to determine potential limitations a sample would experience when exposed to various temperature and moisture fluctuations. The HC6 environmental chamber also offers a wide temperature and humidity range that allows users to process samples in minutes, as opposed to days in some conventional models, making life easier for lab professionals. Specifically, the HC6 is ideal for running the common 80ºC and 80% humidity test, continuing SHEL LAB’s concentration on the current demands and trends within the industry.

Some of the other important features of the HC6 include microprocessor based PID controllers, a stainless steel chamber, a steam generator that adds heat while humidifying, dual display of temperature and humidity which allows instant access to set point and operating conditions, and a digital countdown timer that displays the time remaining in a test procedure.

Sheldon Manufacturing has been heavily focusing on new product development this year with the release of three major additions to their already extensive line of equipment for industrial, clinical, and laboratory applications. The latest HC6 Environmental Chamber (also called Humidity Cabinet) rounds out the list of new equipment from the OEM for 2010; a list that also includes the popular BacBASIC Anaerobic Workstation and SI2 Mini Shaking Incubator.

The New SHEL LAB HC6 Humidity Cabinet

About Sheldon Manufacturing

Many researchers have highly specialized needs beyond temperature control. For many applications, optimal cell culture conditions also require precisely controlled cell aeration and agitation conditions. Success, in terms of more rapid cell growth, better yields and other application benefits, is highly dependent on the quality and reliability of the Shaking Incubator employed.

George Sheldon, founder of Sheldon Manufacturing Inc., recognized these special needs forty years ago when he introduced the SHEL LAB line of Shaking Incubators. It began with the SI4, and SI6, followed by the SI9 Large Capacity Incubator Shaker, and. most recently, the SI2 Mini Shaker. All of these SHEL LAB Orbital-Shaking Incubators represent dedication to meeting the needs of those who will employ them and maximize application efficacy, efficiency and convenience and validate Sheldon Manufacturing’s motto of “Constant Thinking”; the constant effort to provide a better solution for cell culturing, cell aeration, and solubility needs with creative improvements and innovative production enhancements.

Here is a list of common shaking incubator applications, and feel free to comment and ask specific questions here or in our customer support forums.

* Cell Cultures
* Cell Aeration
* Microbiology
* Increasing Solubility Rates
* Metabolism Studies
* Bacterial Cultures
* Bacteriology

Browse our SHEL LAB Shaking Incubator Family online to see unit specifications for each Shaking Incubator. We currently offer the following models, including our latest SI2 Mini Shaker:

• SI2 Mini Shaker
• SI4 Bench Top Shaking Incubator
• SI6 Floor Model Shaking Incubator
• SI6R Floor Model Shaking Incubator with Refrigeration
• SI9 Large Capacity Shaking Incubator
• SI9R Large Capacity Incubator Shaker with Refrigeration

When it comes to constant temperature equipment, Sheldon Manufacturing, Inc. has the years of experience and variety of quality equipment to suit all of your lab needs.  CO2 incubators are among the most prevalent types of laboratory equipment due to their ability to execute precise control of essential variables.   The incubators provide explicit control of CO2 level, temperature and relative humidity, in order to closely replicate the mammalian environment and allow for an ambient environment in which cells can thrive.

Sheldon Manufacturing, Inc.’s complete understanding of  the laboratory research process and what it demands has inspired the manufacturing of numerous Carbon Dioxide Incubators in order to cover multiple application requirements. Such applications covered by SHEL LAB CO2 Incubators include:

• Cell and Tissue Culture
• Immunology
• Genetic Engineering
• Protein Synthesis
• Virology
• Neurology
• Pharmacology
• In vitro Fertilization
• Human Vaccines
• Veterinary Vaccines
• Carcinogenicity Testing
• Monoclonal Antibodies

Outstanding SHEL LAB CO2 Incubator Features:

SHEL LAB Water Jacketed  CO2 Incubators provide superior temperature stability while eliminating contamination and cold spots.   Surrounded by insulation, water jacketed incubators provide precise incubation conditions.

SHEL LAB Air Jacketed CO2 Incubators use fiberglass insulation and sophisticated microprocessor controls to provide uniform conditions while eliminating condensation.

Contamination Control A HEPA filtration system, the use of copper for key components, and effective cleaning of the inner chamber have proven to be the most effective tool in the challenge to eliminate contamination. Only the SHEL LAB Select Series and Personal Series of CO2 Incubators feature a patented Copper Coated HEPA Filtration System.

Infrared CO2 Control The IR sensor is the most sophisticated technology for CO2 detection and control. Since the IR sensor is unaffected by changes in temperature and humidity it is especially ideal for applications in which the incubator door is opened frequently. The Thermal Conductivity (TC) Sensor is a more indirect method of CO2 detection and control since it measures the level of CO2 by sensing temperature difference as CO2 is introduced into the chamber. TC Sensors have been used in CO2 detection for many years. Read Sheldon Manufacturing’s whitepaper comparison of TC vs IR CO2 Sensors.

Offering multiple sizes and styles in 6 different categories, the SHEL LAB Store is serious about being the one-stop-shop for incubation requirements. Purchase your new equipment through the easy online process provided.  Shellab.com also offers complete support for all of their equipment, including manuals, brochures, tech support, and support forums.

Our available SHEL LAB CO2 Incubator Categories:

3500 Series CO2 Incubators

3552 High Heat Decontamination CO2 Incubators

Select Series CO2 Incubators

Standard Series of CO2 Incubators

Large Capacity CO2 Incubators