How do Incubator Shakers work?
An incubator shaker places an orbital drive inside an insulated, temperature-controlled chamber. The motor turns an eccentric bearing that moves the platform in a circle, with orbit diameters of 19 to 50 mm and speeds of 20 to 400 rpm, set and held by closed-loop control. The chamber is heated by elements and, in refrigerated models, cooled by a compressor, both managed by a PID controller, while air circulation keeps temperature uniform around the vessels. Platforms accept flask clamps, tube racks or trays, and the load must be balanced so the drive does not vibrate. Door interlocks stop the platform when opened, and timers or programmed profiles run the cycle. Some models add CO2 control, humidity or HEPA filtration for cell work.
Which Incubator Shakers variants are available?
- Benchtop Incubator Shaker — A benchtop incubator shaker fits an agitated heated chamber into a compact unit for small culture volumes.
- Refrigerated Incubator Shaker — A refrigerated incubator shaker adds compressor cooling so it can hold setpoints at or below room temperature while shaking.
- Floor-Standing Incubator Shaker — A floor-standing incubator shaker provides a large agitated chamber for many flasks at once.
- Stackable Incubator Shaker — A stackable incubator shaker is built to be stacked two or three high, multiplying agitated culture capacity in one footprint.
- CO2 Incubator Shaker — A CO2 incubator shaker adds carbon dioxide and humidity control to an agitated chamber for cell culture in suspension.
How do I choose the right variant?
Choose an incubator shaker when a culture needs both temperature control and agitation, since a static incubator plus a separate shaker cannot match the uniformity or convenience. Set the temperature range first and choose a refrigerated model if the setpoint is at or below ambient. Match orbit and speed to the organism, often 200 to 300 rpm with a 25 mm orbit for bacteria, and lower speeds for mammalian suspension cells. Size the chamber and platform for vessel count and the largest flask, and check the load rating at the working speed. Decide between benchtop, floor-standing or stackable for capacity, and confirm clamps, door interlock, alarms and data logging.
Where are Incubator Shakers used?
Incubator Shakers are specified in bacterial and yeast liquid culture, protein and plasmid expression, fermentation and bioprocess development, cell suspension culture, enzyme reaction incubation with mixing and solubility and dissolution studies.
Which standards and certifications apply?
Work with Incubator Shakers is commonly governed by IEC 61010-1, IEC 61010-2-051, IEC 61010-2-010, DIN 12880 and ISO 9001. Instrument certifications such as CE marking are confirmed per configuration and never assumed.
What are the key considerations before purchase?
Balance the platform by loading flasks symmetrically, since an unbalanced load causes vibration, noise and bearing wear. Do not exceed the load rating at the chosen speed, and keep clamps tight. Place the unit on a level, stable surface with clearance for ventilation and door swing, away from heat sources, and confirm the room can handle the heat rejected by a refrigerated model. Clean spills promptly, because medium corrodes the chamber and clamps. Check belts, bearings and clamps on schedule, and verify temperature with a reference probe, pausing shaking for the check. Log rpm and temperature for regulated culture work.
