Hanuo HZD-350S Horizontal Orbital Shaker

Overview

The Hanuo HZD-350S Horizontal Orbital Shaker is an engineered platform for precise, low-shear mixing of flat-format laboratory vessels—including Petri dishes, microtiter plates (e.g., 96-well ELISA plates), culture dishes, and slide-based assays. It operates on the principle of horizontal orbital motion—generating uniform, circular displacement with a fixed 22 mm orbit diameter—to ensure consistent sample agitation without splashing or foaming. This motion profile is particularly suited for serological assays such as RPR (Rapid Plasma Reagin), TRUST (Toluidine Red Unheated Serum Test), and VDRL (Venereal Disease Research Laboratory) tests, where controlled, gentle mixing is critical to antigen–antibody interaction kinetics and endpoint interpretation. Unlike reciprocating or vortex shakers, the HZD-350S avoids mechanical stress on fragile samples or plate adhesives while maintaining high reproducibility across repeated runs. Its brushless DC motor delivers stable rotational output across the full 40–350 rpm range, minimizing torque fluctuation and thermal drift during extended operation.

Key Features

• Transparent acrylic safety cover—meets IP21 ingress protection rating—prevents aerosol generation, liquid evaporation, and accidental contact during operation.
• Integrated four-zone anti-slip silicone mat with visual segmentation—enables simultaneous processing of up to four discrete sample groups on a single platform while preventing vessel migration or misalignment.
• Brushless DC motor drive—ensures silent operation (20,000 hours MTBF) under continuous duty cycles.
• Dual-parameter digital control interface—LCD display shows real-time rpm, remaining time, and active mode (timed/continuous); intuitive rotary encoder allows fine-grained adjustment of speed (1 rpm increments) and time (1 min resolution).
• Universal AC input (100–240 V, 50/60 Hz)—incorporates active voltage regulation to maintain consistent performance in environments with ±15% line fluctuation, eliminating need for external stabilizers.
• Compact footprint and low power draw (20 W)—optimized for benchtop deployment in BSL-2 laboratories, QC labs, blood bank serology workstations, and teaching facilities with constrained space and energy budgets.

Sample Compatibility & Compliance

The HZD-350S accommodates standard flat-bottom containers up to 2 kg total load, including 6-, 12-, 24-, 48-, and 96-well plates; Petri dishes (up to 150 mm diameter); glass or polymer slides; and shallow assay trays. Its orbital geometry ensures uniform mixing regardless of well fill volume (50 µL–5 mL per well) or viscosity (up to 10 mPa·s). The instrument complies with IEC 61010-1:2010 for electrical safety in laboratory equipment and meets EN 61326-1:2013 electromagnetic compatibility requirements. While not certified for GMP or FDA 21 CFR Part 11 out-of-the-box, its deterministic timing logic, non-volatile parameter storage, and absence of cloud connectivity make it suitable for GLP-aligned workflows where audit-ready operational logs are maintained manually or via external LIMS integration.

Software & Data Management

The HZD-350S operates as a standalone hardware device with no embedded firmware-based data logging or network interface. All operational parameters—including setpoints, elapsed time, and mode selection—are retained in non-volatile memory across power cycles. For traceability in regulated environments, users may document run conditions using paper logbooks or integrate the shaker into broader lab informatics systems via external timers, programmable relays, or camera-based activity monitoring. No proprietary software, drivers, or cloud services are required or supported—reducing validation burden and cybersecurity exposure.

Applications

• Serological screening: RPR, TRUST, and VDRL slide agglutination assays requiring standardized rocking amplitude and dwell time.
• Immunohistochemistry (IHC) and in situ hybridization (ISH): uniform reagent distribution over tissue sections mounted on slides.
• Cell-based assays: gentle resuspension of adherent or semi-adherent cultures prior to harvesting or staining.
• Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) development: plate washing step optimization and substrate incubation homogenization.
• Quality control of diagnostic kits: verification of mixing efficacy across lot-to-lot manufacturing batches.
• Academic teaching labs: demonstration of kinetic binding principles and hands-on training in standardized agitation protocols.

FAQ

Is the HZD-350S suitable for use inside a CO₂ incubator?

No—the unit is rated for ambient operation only (5–50 °C, ≤80 % RH) and lacks environmental sealing or temperature-compensated motor control required for incubator-grade deployment.
Can the shaker accommodate deep-well plates or conical tubes?

It is optimized for flat-bottom, low-profile vessels; deep-well plates (>40 mm height) or tube racks are not recommended due to center-of-gravity instability and potential toppling at higher rpm settings.
Does the timer support countdown interruption and resume?

The timer operates as a simple countdown circuit: interruption resets the count; there is no pause/resume functionality or battery-backed memory for interrupted sessions.
What maintenance is required for long-term reliability?

No scheduled lubrication or calibration is needed; periodic cleaning of the silicone mat and platform surface with 70 % ethanol is sufficient. The brushless motor requires no routine servicing.
Is the transparent cover removable for cleaning or alternative configurations?

Yes—the cover is mechanically latched and fully detachable, allowing unrestricted access to the platform for custom fixture mounting or oversized vessel loading—though safety and performance are not guaranteed in uncovered mode.