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!

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

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

On May 14th, 2009 A United States Bill was proposed to the House of Representatives similar to the European Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS), which, among other restrictions, bans the placing on the market of new electrical and electronic equipment containing more than agreed levels of lead, cadmium, mercury, hexavalent chromium, polybrominated biphenyl (PBB) and polybrominated diphenyl (PBDE) flame retardants.

As a worldwide manufacturer of constant temperature products, we are adamant about staying ahead of the game for the quality, safety, and environmental impact of our products. (Check out Sheldon Green Here!)In this case, we are ahead of the law and our competitors as we have been RoHS compliant for years and will be ready for the US version when it goes into effect.

The US version, which may be cited as the “Environmental Design of Electrical Equipment Act” (EDEE ACT), would be implemented on all products manufactured after July 1st 2010.

The details and exemptions are still being worked out.  Check back in for updates and further details.