Published: 06 Jun 2025(Updated: 18 Jul 2025)

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Enhance lab productivity and ensure reliability: Shaking incubator proactive service

The success of your laboratory hinges on the reliability and efficiency of your equipment. Imagine ending your workday with complete confidence, knowing your incubator shaker will deliver uninterrupted performance overnight. Professional preventive maintenance not only protects your invaluable cultures but also ensures your research stays consistently on track.

Understanding the importance of shaking incubators

Shaking incubators are widely used for microbial cultivation, cell culture, and recombinant protein production. They combine accurate temperature control with consistent agitation, providing conditions essential for reproducible results. Laboratories rely heavily on shaking incubators for applications involving bacteria, yeast, insect, and animal cells, each with unique temperature, CO₂, and humidity requirements.

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Common challenges faced by shaking incubators

Despite their reliability, shaking incubators occasionally encounter operational challenges. One prevalent issue is temperature uniformity, where internal variations affect experimental consistency. Regular temperature mapping and sensor calibration can effectively address this issue, ensuring uniform incubation conditions. Another common challenge involves mechanical wear from handling larger flask capacities, sometimes exceeding 55 kilograms. Heavy workloads can increase mechanical strain, emphasizing the importance of routine inspections and preventive maintenance to avoid downtime and ensure consistent productivity.

Prevent contamination issues in your incubator shaker

How do service programs differ across providers and how can users choose the best option?

Selecting appropriate shaking parameters significantly impacts incubator performance. Matching shaking orbit size ("throw") to flask volumes is essential—smaller flasks (25 mL to 2 L) typically require a 25-mm throw, while larger flasks (2 L to 7 L ) perform best with a 50-mm throw. High-throughput applications, like 96-well plates, require smaller orbits (around 3 mm) at high speeds exceeding 1000 rpm. Proper shaking parameters enhance oxygen transfer rates and mixing efficiency, vital for robust cell growth.

Routine preventive maintenance further addresses mechanical and calibration issues, including motor wear, shaking mechanism integrity, and sensor accuracy (temperature and CO₂). Regular inspections, detailed equipment evaluations, thorough cleaning, and timely replacement of worn parts are fundamental to maintaining reliable operation.

Optimize your incubator shaker performance

What to consider when purchasing a shaking incubator

When selecting a shaking incubator, laboratories should evaluate their specific requirements, including flask capacity, shaking speed, temperature range, CO₂ and humidity control, and space availability. Additionally, long-term reliability, ease of maintenance, and the availability of professional service support are important considerations.

Upgrading incubators becomes necessary when persistent mechanical issues arise, or technological advancements offer notable improvements in efficiency, functionality, or essential features like enhanced humidity and advanced CO₂ regulation.

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The importance of long-term reliability and compliance

Long-term reliability is critical for laboratories, particularly those operating under regulated conditions. Equipment compliant with Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) standards ensures durability, operational consistency, and regulatory adherence. Ongoing calibration verification and validation protocols are essential to maintaining compliance with these regulatory standards and ensuring accuracy and reproducibility. Financially, long-term reliability minimizes unexpected downtime, reduces maintenance costs, and protects labs from costly experimental delays or data loss. Regular preventive maintenance, including calibration and validation, extends equipment lifespan, safeguards productivity, and enhances overall laboratory efficiency.

INFORS HT shaker services: Your partner for reliable incubator performance

INFORS HT offers comprehensive shaking incubator services , including preventive maintenance, calibration, repairs, and priority support. Our expert service plans help laboratories maintain reliable equipment, minimize downtime, and maximize productivity. Contact our experienced team today to secure your laboratory's continued success and performance reliability.

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This content was inspired by an interview style article originally written by LabX.

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