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From CO2 incubator for cell culture and microbiological incubator to climate chamber for stability testing and laboratory oven for drying: Poly Temp Scientific supplies, installs and services thermal laboratory equipment from Thermo Scientific and Heratherm for laboratories across the Netherlands.
In any laboratory, temperature control is the foundation of reliable work. But "thermal equipment" covers a broad spectrum of fundamentally different instruments, each designed for a specific purpose. The right choice always starts with your application, not with the instrument.
A CO2 incubator controls not only temperature but also CO2 concentration and relative humidity, which is essential for culturing mammalian cells and maintaining a stable pH in the culture medium. A laboratory incubator controls temperature alone, for culturing bacteria, fungi and other microorganisms that do not require CO2 regulation. A climate chamber combines precise temperature control with regulated humidity for long-term stability and shelf-life studies. A laboratory oven operates at considerably higher temperatures for drying, sterilisation and heat treatment.
All of these instruments form part of the Thermo Scientific Heratherm programme, one of the most comprehensive ranges of thermal laboratory equipment in the world.
A CO2 incubator is indispensable for culturing mammalian cells, stem cells, primary cell cultures and established cell lines. The instrument simultaneously controls three critical parameters: temperature (typically 37°C), CO2 concentration (typically 5%) and relative humidity (approximately 90 to 95%). The CO2 reacts with water in the culture medium to form carbonic acid, stabilising the pH at around 7.4, the optimal value for cell growth. Even a small deviation in pH or CO2 level can inhibit cell growth or cause irreversible damage to a culture.
An IR sensor (infrared) uses light absorption to measure CO2 and is not affected by temperature or humidity fluctuations when the door is opened. The sensor recovers quickly and is the standard for sensitive applications such as stem cell research, IVF and primary cell cultures. A TC sensor (thermal conductivity) is less expensive but sensitive to variations in door ventilation: after the door is opened, it can take up to 30 minutes for the sensor to return to accurate readings, which in sensitive cultures may cause unwanted pH fluctuations. For reproducible cell culture work, an IR sensor is the safest choice. Both sensor types are available across the Thermo Scientific CO2 incubator range.
The latest generation CO2 incubator from Thermo Scientific. Choice of IR or TC sensor, stainless steel or copper interior (copper provides inherent antimicrobial properties). Direct heat for fast temperature recovery after door opening. Temperature range 3 to 55°C, humidity up to 93%.
Reliable CO2 incubator for routine cell culture work. TC sensor, available with stainless steel or copper interior. Temperature range 3 to 55°C, humidity up to 90%. Compact footprint for efficient use of laboratory bench space.
Compact CO2 incubator for laboratories with limited space or for small-scale cell culture applications. TC sensor, temperature range 5 to 50°C, humidity up to 90%. Fits easily on a laboratory workbench and is straightforward to relocate as needs change.
A proven workhorse for busy cell culture laboratories. Large capacity, IR sensor, adjustable humidity up to 95%. Available with polished stainless steel or electropolished stainless steel interior for superior cleanability and decontamination. Temperature range 5 to 50°C.
Water jacket design for maximum temperature stability during power outages or prolonged door openings. The water jacket acts as a thermal buffer, maintaining chamber temperature even without power. Available with TC or IR sensor. The classic choice for temperature-critical long-term cell culture work.
Free-standing high-capacity model for bioprocessing, pharmaceutical production and large-scale cell culture. TC sensor, temperature range 5 to 50°C. Accommodates multiple simultaneous projects or cell lines within a single instrument, the right choice when scalability is a priority.
Incubator shaker specifically designed for use inside a CO2 incubator. Resistant to the CO2-rich, humid environment. Suited for suspension cell culture, bacterial cultures and virus production where agitation is required throughout the incubation period.
A laboratory incubator creates a controlled temperature environment for culturing bacteria, fungi, yeasts and other microorganisms that do not require CO2 regulation. The Heratherm range offers three configurations: microbiological incubators with natural convection for sensitive specimens, advanced protocol models with dual airflow for improved uniformity under full load, and refrigerated incubators for applications requiring temperatures below ambient.
The distinction from a laboratory oven is fundamental: an incubator operates at low to moderate temperatures (up to 105°C) with precise stability and gentle air circulation, while an oven is designed for high temperatures (up to 330°C) for drying and sterilisation. The two instruments are not interchangeable.
Ultracompact incubator for basic applications: culturing bacteria and yeasts, BOD5 determination and warming culture media. Temperature range 17 to 50°C. Polymer interior, straightforward operation. The most space-efficient incubator in the Heratherm range.
Standard incubator with natural convection for routine microbiology. Stainless steel interior, temperature range 5 to 75°C. Available in five volumes from 75 to 747 litres. Well suited for food microbiology, water microbiology and basic biotechnology applications.
Incubator with dual airflow (combined natural and forced convection) for improved temperature uniformity even under full load. Temperature range 5 to 105°C, stainless steel interior. Suited for demanding microbiological protocols and applications requiring higher temperature accuracy.
Advanced Protocol variant with additional security features for GMP, pharmaceutical and diagnostic environments. Access control, audit trail logging and documentation functions in line with GMP requirements. Temperature range 5 to 105°C. Available in six volumes from 66 to 702 litres.
Refrigerated laboratory incubator for applications requiring temperatures below ambient. Temperature range 5 to 70°C, mechanical cooling, stainless steel interior. Suited for culturing psychrophilic microorganisms, BOD7 determination and cold storage of sensitive cultures.
Large refrigerated laboratory incubator with a temperature range of +4°C to +60°C. Available in four volumes from 150 to 670 litres. Mechanical cooling, powder-coated steel interior. Well suited for microbiological stability testing, photostability studies and storage of temperature-sensitive culture material.
A climate chamber combines precise temperature control with regulated relative humidity in a single instrument. This makes climate chambers essential for stability testing of pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, food products and biological materials, where samples must be stored under fixed environmental conditions over extended periods. The Heratherm Environmental Chamber programme offers four specialised types, all at 750 litres with a temperature range of 0 to 70°C and humidity range of 10 to 90% RH. Each model is available with a solid door or a glass door for visual monitoring without opening the chamber.
In the pharmaceutical industry, climate chambers are the standard for stability studies under ICH Q1A. The three most widely used ICH conditions are: 25°C/60% RH for long-term stability storage, 30°C/65% RH for intermediate conditions and 40°C/75% RH for accelerated stability testing. The Heratherm climate chambers support all three conditions. Climate chambers used for ICH registration dossiers must be periodically calibrated and documented.
Stability cabinet for long-term stability testing under ICH Q1A. Temperature range 0 to 70°C, humidity 10 to 90% RH. Supports all three ICH conditions (25/30/40°C) for regulatory submission of pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and food products. Available with solid or glass door.
Climate chamber for incubation applications requiring combined temperature and humidity stability. Temperature range 0 to 70°C, humidity 10 to 90% RH. Suited for large-scale microbiological incubation, entomological research and plant cultivation studies. Available with solid or glass door.
Climate chamber with additional CO2 regulation for applications that require temperature, humidity and CO2 concentration to be controlled simultaneously. Temperature range 0 to 70°C, humidity 10 to 90% RH. Available with solid or glass door.
Climate chamber with integrated lighting module for photostability testing under ICH Q1B and plant growth experiments. Temperature range 5 to 60°C, humidity 10 to 90% RH. The ELS750 features a solid door; the ELG750 has a glass door for visual monitoring of light effects on samples.
A laboratory oven, also referred to as a drying oven or drying cabinet, operates at higher temperatures than an incubator and is suited for drying samples and glassware, sterilising materials, heat treatment, ashing of chemical compounds and ageing studies. An oven is never a substitute for an incubator: the precise low-temperature regulation of an incubator falls entirely outside the operating range of an oven, and vice versa.
With natural convection, warm air circulates through thermodynamic movement without a fan. Suited for samples that must not be exposed to airflow, such as powder samples and ashing determinations. With forced (mechanical) convection, a built-in fan provides faster temperature distribution, shorter warm-up times and better uniformity under full load. The preferred choice for routine applications where throughput and uniformity are the priority. Both variants are available throughout the Heratherm oven range.
Standard drying oven for routine applications: drying glassware, moisture determination, drying soil sediments and standard sterilisation. Temperature range 50 to 250°C. Available in eight volumes from 65 to 774 litres, with both natural and forced convection options. Stainless steel interior.
Oven for demanding applications with a higher maximum temperature of up to 330°C and improved temperature uniformity. Suited for drying technical materials, ashing, ageing studies and heat treatment of composites and polymers. Available in nine volumes from 61 to 731 litres.
Advanced Protocol variant with security features, access control and audit trail logging for pharmaceutical, GMP and quality laboratories. Temperature range 50 to 330°C, available in six volumes from 61 to 170 litres. Available in both natural and forced convection configurations.
An overview of the four types of thermal equipment across the most critical parameters, so you can quickly identify the right direction.
| Parameter | CO2 incubator | Lab. incubator | Climate chamber | Lab. oven |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temperature range | 3 to 55°C | 5 to 105°C | 0 to 70°C | 50 to 330°C |
| CO2 control | Optional | |||
| Humidity control | ||||
| Refrigeration available | ||||
| ICH stability testing | ||||
| GMP Security variant | ||||
| Typical application | Cell culture, IVF, stem cells | Microbiology, bacterial culture | Pharma stability testing | Drying, sterilisation, ashing |
| Thermo Scientific range | Vios iDx, Forma, BB15 | Heratherm | Heratherm Environmental | Heratherm |
Not sure which type of instrument suits your application? Our specialists will advise you based on your protocol, sector and compliance requirements.
Request personalised adviceSelecting the right thermal equipment does not start with the brand or model, but with four fundamental questions about your application. Most purchasing errors arise when these questions have not been fully answered before the conversation with a supplier begins.
The most common mistake is purchasing a CO2 incubator for purely microbiological culture work: an unnecessary expense. The reverse, buying a standard incubator for mammalian cell culture, is a critical error that makes cell culture results irreproducible through pH instability. Poly Temp Scientific advises you on the basis of your specific protocol, not on general assumptions.
Cell culture: precisely 37°C. Thermophilic bacteria: up to 75°C. Stability testing: 25 to 40°C with tight tolerance. Drying and sterilisation: 50 to 330°C. Choose an instrument whose optimal working range sits in the middle of its specification, not at the extremes.
Only mammalian cells and some plant cells require CO2 control for pH management. Bacterial and fungal cultures do not. For ICH stability testing, calibrated humidity control is mandatory. Standard incubators and ovens are not designed for this and cannot reliably substitute for a climate chamber.
Heratherm Advanced Protocol Security models (incubator and oven) are the right choice for GMP environments, featuring access control and audit trail logging. Climate chambers used for ICH registration dossiers require periodic calibration with temperature mapping. Poly Temp provides IQ/OQ qualification protocols and full documentation.
For CO2 incubators used in primary cell culture or stem cell research, a model with a built-in thermal decontamination cycle is strongly recommended. The Vios iDx and Forma Steri-Cult are equipped for this. A copper interior provides additional antimicrobial protection through the inherent biocidal properties of copper.
Poly Temp Scientific serves laboratories across diverse sectors with specific thermal equipment requirements. Recognise your situation.
CO2 incubators for cell culture in drug development, climate chambers for ICH stability testing and Heratherm Security models for GMP-compliant processes. All instruments are available with IQ/OQ qualification documentation.
Microbiological incubators for bacterial culture and diagnostics, CO2 incubators for cell culture in pathology and cytology, and refrigerated incubators for blood culture at low temperatures.
A broad range is required: from the Heratherm Compact incubator for undergraduate teaching laboratories to the Forma Steri-Cult for stem cell research and Light Chambers for plant growth experiments and photostability studies.
Microbiological incubators for BOD5/BOD7 testing and food microbiology, climate chambers for shelf-life and stability studies, and ovens for moisture determination and dry weight analysis.
Incubators for germination tests, climate chambers for plant growth studies and photostability testing, and ovens for dry weight determination of soil and crop samples and soil analyses.
Refrigerated incubators for storing temperature-sensitive biological products, CO2 incubators for quality control of cell material at incoming and outgoing goods inspection points within GDP supply chains.
Answer these six questions before purchasing a CO2 incubator, laboratory incubator, climate chamber or laboratory oven. Together they determine which instrument type and model best suits your situation.
Mammalian cells, stem cells and cell lines require a CO2 incubator with temperature, CO2 and humidity control to maintain pH stability. Bacteria, yeasts and fungi can be grown in a standard laboratory incubator. This is the most fundamental distinguishing question and should always be the starting point.
Drying materials, glassware or samples at elevated temperatures: choose a laboratory oven (50 to 330°C). Incubating living specimens at low, controlled temperatures: choose an incubator. Both instruments are fundamentally different in design and purpose and are not interchangeable.
Only climate chambers and CO2 incubators provide reliable humidity control. For ICH stability testing (25/30/40°C at defined relative humidity), a climate chamber is mandatory. Standard incubators and ovens are not designed for this function and cannot reliably substitute for a climate chamber.
Applications requiring cooling below ambient (BOD7 testing, psychrophilic organisms, cold storage of cultures) are only possible in a refrigerated incubator or climate chamber. CO2 incubators and standard ovens do not provide active cooling.
Heratherm Advanced Protocol Security models (incubator and oven) are equipped with access control and audit trail logging for GMP environments. Climate chambers used for ICH registration dossiers require periodic calibration and temperature mapping. Poly Temp provides IQ/OQ qualification protocols and full supporting documentation.
The Thermo Scientific and Heratherm range covers an extensive volume spectrum: from 18 litres (Heratherm Compact) to 821 litres (Large-Capacity CO2 incubator) and 750 litres (all climate chambers). Choose sufficient capacity for your workload but avoid oversized instruments that consume unnecessary energy.
Thermal laboratory instruments are subject to a range of national and European standards and regulatory frameworks depending on their application. Understanding the relevant requirements helps you select the right equipment and demonstrate compliance during audits and inspections.
DIN 12880 sets requirements for temperature accuracy, uniformity and safety of laboratory ovens and incubators. The standard describes test methods for temperature uniformity, recovery behaviour after door opening and safety requirements. Heratherm instruments are certified in accordance with DIN 12880.
ICH Q1A specifies the environmental conditions under which pharmaceutical products must be tested for stability: 25°C/60% RH (long-term), 30°C/65% RH (intermediate) and 40°C/75% RH (accelerated). Climate chambers used for ICH registration dossiers must be periodically calibrated and documented. ICH Q1B applies additionally to photostability testing.
In pharmaceutical and diagnostic laboratories, thermal instruments must be qualified: Installation Qualification (IQ), Operational Qualification (OQ) and Performance Qualification (PQ). Temperature mapping of the interior chamber is a standard part of the OQ phase. Poly Temp provides the complete qualification process including all supporting documentation.
NEN 3140 is the Dutch standard requiring periodic electrical safety inspection of electrical equipment in the workplace, including all thermal laboratory instruments. Poly Temp carries out NEN 3140 inspections as part of the preventive maintenance contract, for Thermo Scientific and all other brands.
Poly Temp Scientific handles the complete qualification and maintenance process for your thermal equipment, for Thermo Scientific and Heratherm as well as all other brands.
Poly Temp Scientific provides maintenance and service for Thermo Scientific and Heratherm equipment as well as incubators and ovens from all other brands: Memmert, Binder, Sanyo/PHCbi, Esco, Boekel and more. Our certified service engineers carry out NEN 3140 electrical inspections, temperature mapping, CO2 sensor calibration and all other preventive maintenance tasks.
Independent advice on the right instrument type, model and configuration based on your application, sector and compliance requirements
Professional placement and commissioning including CO2 gas line connection where required, instrument training and initial test run
Installation and operational qualification including temperature mapping for pharmaceutical, diagnostic and GMP environments where full documentation is required
NEN 3140 inspection, temperature calibration, CO2 sensor calibration, humidity verification and cleaning on all brands and models
Multi-point interior measurement in accordance with ICH requirements, with a complete report for your pharmaceutical or GMP dossier
Rapid response to failures in incubators, climate chambers and ovens to minimise disruption to laboratory operations, for all brands and models
Poly Temp Scientific is the official Thermo Scientific dealer for the complete Heratherm range of incubators, climate chambers and ovens in the Netherlands.
Thermo Scientific and the sub-brand Heratherm offer one of the most comprehensive portfolios of thermal laboratory equipment in the world: from the Vios iDx CO2 incubator for advanced cell culture, through the complete Heratherm incubator range for microbiology, to the Heratherm Environmental Chambers for ICH stability testing and the Heratherm oven range for drying and heat treatment. In addition to Thermo Scientific and Heratherm, Poly Temp also provides maintenance for thermal equipment from all other brands.
Answers to the most common questions about selecting, using, maintaining and complying with standards for thermal laboratory equipment.
A CO2 incubator controls temperature, CO2 concentration (typically 5%) and relative humidity (90 to 95%) simultaneously, which is essential for maintaining the correct pH in culture media for mammalian cells. A standard laboratory incubator controls temperature only, for culturing bacteria, yeasts and fungi that do not require CO2 regulation. Purchasing a CO2 incubator for purely microbiological culture work is an unnecessary cost.
Choose an IR (infrared) sensor for sensitive applications where reproducible CO2 levels are critical: stem cell research, IVF, primary cell cultures and cell lines sensitive to pH fluctuations. The IR sensor is unaffected by temperature and humidity changes after door opening. A TC (thermal conductivity) sensor is appropriate for a smaller upfront investment in less sensitive routine cell culture work where the incubator door is not opened frequently.
A water-jacketed incubator such as the Forma Series 3 surrounds the inner chamber with a layer of water that acts as a thermal buffer. During a power outage or prolonged door opening, the water maintains the chamber temperature, whereas an air-jacketed incubator cools down rapidly. This makes water-jacketed models the better choice for long-term cell culture work where temperature stability over extended periods is a priority.
A laboratory incubator operates at low to moderate temperatures (5 to 105°C) with precise stability and gentle air circulation for culturing living organisms. A laboratory oven operates at high temperatures (50 to 330°C) for drying, sterilisation and heat treatment of materials. An oven can never substitute for an incubator and vice versa; they are fundamentally different in design and intended use.
Choose a refrigerated incubator when your protocol requires temperatures below ambient: BOD7 determination (10°C), culturing psychrophilic microorganisms, storage of sensitive cultures at +4°C, or stability testing requiring alternating high and low temperatures. The Heratherm refrigerated incubators achieve temperatures from +4°C to +70°C.
A climate chamber combines temperature control with regulated relative humidity. In the pharmaceutical industry, a climate chamber is required for stability testing under ICH Q1A: drug products must be tested under fixed combinations of temperature and relative humidity (25°C/60% RH, 30°C/65% RH and 40°C/75% RH). Standard incubators cannot reliably perform these functions.
The Heratherm Environmental Chambers support all three standard ICH Q1A conditions: 25°C/60% RH for long-term stability storage, 30°C/65% RH for intermediate conditions and 40°C/75% RH for accelerated stability testing. The temperature range of 0 to 70°C and humidity range of 10 to 90% RH provide sufficient margin for all standard ICH protocols.
With natural convection, warm air circulates through thermodynamic movement without a fan, suited for specimens that must not be exposed to airflow such as powder samples and ashing determinations. With forced (mechanical) convection, a fan provides faster temperature distribution, shorter warm-up times and better uniformity under full load. Forced convection is preferred for routine applications where throughput and uniformity are the priority.
For climate chambers used in ICH stability testing, annual calibration with temperature mapping is the standard; depending on GMP requirements this may be more frequent. CO2 incubators in critical cell culture environments are typically serviced every six months for CO2 sensor calibration and temperature uniformity checks. Standard incubators and ovens are serviced annually. Poly Temp draws up a maintenance schedule tailored to your specific situation.
Yes. Poly Temp Scientific provides maintenance and service for thermal laboratory equipment from all brands, including Memmert, Binder, Sanyo/PHCbi, Esco and Boekel. The maintenance contract covers NEN 3140 electrical safety inspection, temperature calibration, CO2 sensor calibration (for CO2 incubators), humidity verification (for climate chambers) and cleaning. Contact us for a tailored maintenance contract.
From CO2 incubator for your cell culture laboratory to climate chamber for ICH stability testing and laboratory oven for drying: our specialists will advise you on the instrument that matches your application, protocol and compliance requirements.
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