Langbo ZHWY-211C Programmable Temperature- and Humidity-Controlled Orbital Shaker

Overview

The Langbo ZHWY-211C is a programmable, full-temperature, humidity-controlled orbital shaker engineered for precision cell culture, microbial fermentation, biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) testing, and long-term suspension-based assays requiring strict environmental stability. It operates on the principle of controlled orbital motion—generating uniform, low-shear agitation ideal for aerobic cultivation of sensitive eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells. Unlike basic incubator shakers, the ZHWY-211C integrates dual independent climate control loops: a P.I.D.-regulated refrigeration/heating system (R134a, air-cooled, frost-free) maintains temperature between 4 °C and 60 °C with ≤±0.1 °C setpoint accuracy and ±1 °C chamber uniformity; a dedicated external humidification module sustains relative humidity from 50% to 95% RH with ±3% RH accuracy and ±1% RH stability—critical for preventing medium evaporation during multi-day experiments. Its forced-air convection architecture ensures rapid thermal equilibration and minimizes vertical gradients across the 970 × 480 mm stainless-steel electro-polished platform.

Key Features

• Microprocessor-based PID control with environmental scanning chip enables adaptive response to load changes, ambient fluctuations, and door openings—ensuring stable setpoint adherence under variable operational conditions.
• Multi-segment programmable curve control supports complex experimental protocols: temperature/humidity ramps, stepwise gradients, cyclic profiles, and hold-to-stability modes—each segment configurable up to 100 hours, with up to 999-hour total runtime.
• Brushless AC drive delivers consistent torque across the full 40–280 rpm range (±1 rpm resolution), eliminating carbon brush wear and enabling silent, maintenance-free operation over extended service life.
• Triple-layer safety architecture includes hardware-independent thermal cutouts (adjustable over-temperature limiter + fixed over-rise protector), electrical isolation monitoring, ground-fault circuit interruption, and compressor overload sensing—meeting IEC 61010-1 requirements for laboratory equipment safety.
• Power-fail resilience: automatic restart with parameter retention and seamless resumption of interrupted programs upon utility restoration—eliminating manual reconfiguration and data loss risk.
• Ergonomic design features a tempered glass front window, static-dissipative epoxy-coated steel enclosure, and detachable stainless-steel tray compatible with standard Erlenmeyer flasks, culture bottles, and multi-well plates.

Sample Compatibility & Compliance

The ZHWY-211C accommodates standard microbiological and cell culture vessels—including 500 mL to 5 L flasks (with optional spring clamps or universal bottle holders), deep-well plates, and roller bottles—on its single-tier platform. Its humidity management system mitigates evaporative loss in open-vessel applications such as yeast propagation or algae growth studies. The unit complies with ISO 13485-aligned manufacturing practices and supports GLP/GMP workflows via audit-trail-capable parameter logging (via RS-232), password-protected configuration access, and calibration traceability for temperature and humidity sensors. While not FDA 21 CFR Part 11–validated out-of-the-box, its embedded data export functionality and parameter encryption enable integration into validated laboratory information management systems (LIMS) when paired with compliant software middleware.

Software & Data Management

The integrated backlit LCD interface provides real-time visualization of setpoints and measured values for temperature, humidity, speed, and elapsed time. All user-defined programs—including ramp rates, dwell durations, and alarm thresholds—are stored non-volatily. The RS-232 serial interface permits bidirectional communication with host PCs for remote monitoring, batch programming, and raw data acquisition (e.g., CSV export of time-stamped environmental logs). Optional firmware upgrades may extend compatibility with LabVIEW™ or Python-based automation frameworks. Embedded thermal printer support enables immediate hard-copy documentation of start/stop events, alarm triggers, and calibration verifications—satisfying internal QA documentation requirements without third-party peripherals.

Applications

• Mammalian and insect cell line expansion under tightly regulated O₂/CO₂-independent conditions where humidity preservation is critical to osmolarity stability.
• Environmental microbiology assays—including activated sludge respiration tests (ISO 8192), nitrification kinetics, and biodegradability screening (OECD 301 series)—requiring simultaneous temperature and moisture control.
• Enzyme kinetics and protein expression studies using shake-flask bioreactors, where shear-sensitive recombinant strains demand precise oscillation amplitude (Φ26 mm) and smooth acceleration profiles.
• Seed germination and plant tissue culture under controlled hygrothermal stress regimes for phenotypic screening.
• Quality control testing of pharmaceutical excipients and sterile formulations where moisture content directly influences dissolution behavior per USP and .

FAQ

Does the ZHWY-211C support CO₂ supplementation?
No—this model is designed for ambient-air operation only. For CO₂-controlled applications, consider Langbo’s parallel incubator-shaker series with gas manifold integration.
Can the humidity system operate independently of temperature control?
Yes—humidity setpoints can be configured and maintained across the full 4–60 °C temperature range, including at refrigerated setpoints (e.g., 8 °C/75% RH for psychrophilic cultures).
Is the external humidifier included or optional?
The high-capacity external humidifier is supplied as a standard component and connects via integrated quick-coupling ports—no field installation required.
What is the maximum flask size supported on the platform?
With standard spring clamps, the unit accommodates up to five 2 L Erlenmeyer flasks or two 5 L vessels. Custom tray configurations are available upon request.
How is temperature calibration performed?
The system supports two-point calibration (offset adjustment) using NIST-traceable reference probes; procedure details are documented in the operator manual and require no firmware modification.