UK-Made Precision General-Purpose Incubator – Model INC-80

Overview

The UK-Made Precision General-Purpose Incubator (Model INC-80) is a benchtop, air-jacketed incubation system engineered for stable, reproducible thermal environments in life science laboratories. It operates on convection-based temperature regulation—utilizing microprocessor-controlled heating elements and precision Pt100 sensors—to maintain setpoint accuracy across the full operational range of 0–50 °C. Designed for non-humidified applications such as bacterial culture, enzyme assays, cell line maintenance (under ambient humidity conditions), and reagent equilibration, this incubator delivers high thermal stability without integrated humidity generation or monitoring. Its robust stainless-steel interior chamber and double-glazed insulated door minimize thermal drift and external interference, supporting ISO/IEC 17025-aligned routine performance verification protocols.

Key Features

• Microprocessor-driven PID temperature control with real-time digital display and adjustable setpoint resolution of 0.1 °C
• High-reliability Pt100 platinum resistance thermometer (PRT) sensor mounted at chamber center for representative thermal feedback
• Stainless-steel interior (304 grade) with rounded corners and seamless welds to support routine decontamination using ethanol, hydrogen peroxide vapor (HPV), or validated liquid sporicides
• Double-wall insulation with low-conductivity mineral wool and vacuum-sealed door gasket to reduce energy consumption and improve thermal recovery after door opening
• Over-temperature safety cut-off (independent mechanical thermostat) compliant with IEC 61010-1 for laboratory equipment safety
• Front-accessible calibration port for external reference probe validation—enabling traceable adjustment per ISO 17025 requirements

Sample Compatibility & Compliance

The INC-80 accommodates standard microbiological and cell culture vessels including Petri dishes (up to 150 mm), multi-well plates (6–96-well), culture flasks (T25 to T175), and glass serum bottles. Its 80 L internal volume allows simultaneous processing of ≥12 standard Petri dish stacks or four stacked shelf levels with 120 mm vertical clearance per tier. The unit complies with key international safety and electromagnetic compatibility standards: IEC 61010-1 (2010), IEC 61326-1 (2013), and meets CE marking requirements for laboratory equipment within the European Economic Area. While not certified for GMP manufacturing environments, it supports GLP-compliant workflows when paired with documented calibration records, user access logs, and periodic performance qualification (PQ) testing per ASTM E2500-13 guidelines.

Software & Data Management

This analog-digital hybrid incubator does not include embedded data logging or network connectivity. Temperature setpoint and current chamber reading are displayed via a dual-line LCD interface. For regulatory traceability, users may integrate optional third-party USB or RS-232 data loggers (e.g., Omega OM-DAQPRO-5300 series) via the rear-panel analog output (0–5 V DC proportional to chamber temperature). All calibration and maintenance activities—including sensor verification, uniformity mapping, and alarm response testing—must be recorded manually or in laboratory information management systems (LIMS) to satisfy FDA 21 CFR Part 11 audit readiness requirements where electronic records are employed.

Applications

• Bacterial and fungal cultivation under aerobic or ambient CO₂ conditions (e.g., E. coli, S. aureus, C. albicans)
• Enzyme activity studies requiring precise thermal stabilization between 4 °C and 45 °C
• Antibiotic susceptibility testing (AST) using Mueller-Hinton agar plates
• Pre-incubation of immunoassay reagents and ELISA plates prior to assay initiation
• Long-term storage of temperature-sensitive biological standards at controlled sub-ambient conditions (e.g., 4 °C or 8 °C)
• Supporting ISO 11133:2014-compliant microbiological media performance testing through defined incubation cycles

FAQ

Does this incubator support CO₂ or humidity control?

No. The INC-80 is a dry, non-humidified, ambient-air incubator. It lacks both CO₂ gas blending hardware and water reservoir-based humidification systems. For CO₂-dependent mammalian cell culture, a dedicated CO₂ incubator is required.

Can the temperature uniformity specification (±0.5 °C) be verified independently?

Yes. The unit includes a dedicated calibration port for insertion of an NIST-traceable reference probe. Users may perform spatial uniformity mapping using a 9-point grid (per ISO 15265:2021 Annex B) during IQ/OQ qualification.

Is the incubator suitable for use in cleanroom environments?

It meets ISO 14644-1 Class 8 (100,000) particle emission limits when operated with HEPA-filtered room air, but no internal HEPA recirculation is provided. Integration into higher-class cleanrooms requires external air handling and static pressure monitoring.

What documentation is supplied with the unit?

Each shipment includes a Declaration of Conformity (DoC), factory calibration certificate (with Pt100 offset values), user manual (EN/FR/DE), and spare fuses. Full technical drawings and RoHS/REACH compliance statements are available upon request from the authorized UK distributor.