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!

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!

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.

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.

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

Unfortunately for Dan Sheldon, our owner, we have kept quite a few pictures proving how long we’ve been in the Life Sciences industry and lab equipment business. We couldn’t help but share some of these images from what seems like decades ago. That might be because it was.

Dan Sheldon - Sheldon Manufacturing, 1988

After forty years of manufacturing constant temperature equipment, we have grown quite a bit. Founded in 1970, Sheldon Inc. started out with just a few different types of incubators. Those incubators have had the luxury of 4 decades of advancements in engineering, design, and productivity with the Shellab quality remaining constant. Check out the difference below.

Sheldon Manufacturing Incubator from the 70's

Shellab Incubator -Today

Our line of equipment has expanded exponentially over the years as well.  We now manufacture hundreds different types of units ranging from water baths, to vacuum ovens, lab ovens, and every type of incubator on the market.  Such progress as a company is largely due to enhancing our manufacturing processes to stay both relevant and efficient with current components and technology.  Below is part of our powder-coat painting process for our incubators from way back when.  Not too far off from some modern abstract art installations.

We like to think of ourselves as wise when it comes to Laboratory equipment.  We enjoy our work daily and hope that it shows in our products as much as our experience and industry wisdom. We hope you liked these vintage photos we stumbled upon.

One of our first logos …

An early Shellab Brochure

Early Shellab Logo

Cornelius, OR, January 27th, 2010 – Dan Sheldon, president of Sheldon Manufacturing, Inc., is establishing a cooperative of Laboratory Product Manufacturers to donate vital lab equipment, such as freezers and incubators, to re-establish labs in Haiti in the aftermath.

As the emergency recovery period continues in Haiti following the recent earthquake disaster,  looming large in its wake is the Long-term reconstruction and rebuilding of an entire country.  According to Mark L. Schneider, former Peace Corps director in the Clinton administration, “Long-term reconstruction will last more than a decade and involve billions of dollars in aid.” In the front and center of the reconstruction period is the glaringly obvious need to build essential structures like schools, government buildings, and hospitals. But with a disaster of this magnitude – the worse national disaster in the history of the Western Hemisphere – it’s hard to imagine every aspect of what will be needed to get a third world country like Haiti at least back to where it was as a nation.

One necessity is in the Clinical Laboratory arena.  Laboratory equipment is essential for blood banking, vaccine storage, infectious disease control, waste water treatment and testing, diagnostics and treatment. All things that are extremely sensitive, both socially and relative to time, when most of the population is living close to each other in tents with little or no sanitation.  Dan Sheldon and his Laboratory Manufacturing company, Sheldon Manufacturing, are leveraging  industry contacts to collect donations of capital equipment, lab consumables and technical expertise for the Haiti relief efforts.

“We are working with teams on the ground to identify the state of the current infrastructure and supply any immediate need for equipment and supplies. As the recovery efforts move to rebuilding projects, we hope to work hand-in-hand with government and the private sector to supply state of the art equipment and supplies to the people of Haiti. Initial response from my industry contacts has been very receptive and I am optimistic that we can fully outfit a number of labs over the next 12-18 months.”

It is estimated that outfitting a laboratory with supplies and equipment can cost anywhere from $100,000 to $150,000.  Knowing that there is pledged support for new labs during this chaotic time that will directly result in treatment and prevention of infectious disease is just one small step of many that will be required to help rebuild Haiti.

CEM Corporation is also supporting Haiti Relief efforts with their Hats for Haiti fundraiser.  The Company will be offering its trademark Crazy Dave Beanies, which have become a tradition at the exhibition, for a 1 dollar contribution. All proceeds from the beanies will benefit the American Red Cross Haiti Relief Fund and CEM will match every dollar contributed to Hats for Haiti. Learn more about Hats for Haiti

Please stop by the CEM booth #2669 and get your Crazy Dave Beanie for a minimum $1 donation to the American Red Cross Haiti Relief Fund.

Our water baths have been complaining that they don’t get any press lately, so we thought we would extend some holiday spirit and make a video about them.

Being an Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) for more than 40 years has its benefits.  We have the advantage of designing equipment based on years of feedback from customers, colleagues, and competitors - in addition to honing our manufacturing processes along the way.   The latest family of Shellab Water Baths has benefitted from and evolved with such evaluation and sentiment in mind.  Some of the features include coved corners within the chamber for efficient and simple cleaning, a drip free cover holster, and over temperature protection, to name a few.   But alas, what’s the point of the video if we talk about everything here.  See for yourself.