Labonce Labonce-400CH-T Temperature and Humidity Controlled Incubator

Overview

The Labonce Labonce-400CH-T Temperature and Humidity Controlled Incubator is an engineered environmental simulation platform designed for precise, long-term maintenance of biological samples, cell cultures, microbiological specimens, and stability test materials under tightly regulated thermal and hygroscopic conditions. Based on the principle of forced-air convection with optimized airflow distribution, the system maintains stable setpoints across its 400 L working chamber through a dual-loop control architecture—separately regulating refrigeration, heating, and humidification subsystems. Its design adheres to GB/T 10586–2006 (“Technical Specifications for Damp Heat Test Chambers”), ensuring metrological traceability and repeatability in laboratory-grade environmental testing. The unit operates within a temperature range of 15–60 °C and a relative humidity range of 20–95 %RH, making it suitable for applications spanning accelerated stability studies (ICH Q1), seed germination protocols, fungal culture propagation, and pharmaceutical excipient storage validation.

Key Features

• Advanced air circulation system with symmetrical duct layout ensures temperature uniformity ≤2.0 °C and humidity uniformity compliant with GB/T 10586–2006 requirements;
• High-density polyurethane foam insulation (≥80 mm thickness) minimizes thermal bridging and reduces energy consumption while maintaining stable internal RH during prolonged operation;
• Double-wall construction: exterior powder-coated steel housing and interior mirror-finish SUS304 stainless steel chamber—non-porous, corrosion-resistant, and compatible with routine disinfection (e.g., 70% ethanol, hydrogen peroxide vapor);
• Hermetically sealed, imported compressor-based refrigeration system with low-noise scroll technology (sound pressure level 15,000 h MTBF);
• Capacitive humidity sensor (imported, factory-calibrated) with ±1.5 %RH accuracy over full range, negligible long-term drift (<0.1 %RH/year), and no periodic recalibration required;
• Programmable 7-inch color touchscreen controller with real-time trend display, up to 100 segment ramp-soak profiles, and built-in data logging (≥30 days at 1-min intervals);
• Dual independent safety layers: hardware-based overtemperature cutoff (separate from main controller) and dry-run protection for humidifier; audible/visual alarm activation upon fault detection;
• Standard equipment includes two 60-mm-diameter test ports with silicone rubber plugs, four-position leveling casters with locking brakes, and three adjustable stainless-steel shelves (load capacity: 15 kg/shelf).

Sample Compatibility & Compliance

The Labonce-400CH-T accommodates standard ISO/IEC 60068-2-30-compliant sample configurations—including stacked Petri dishes, multi-well plates, glass vials, and sealed stability chambers—without compromising airflow integrity. Its chamber geometry supports unobstructed placement of up to ten 150-mm Petri dishes per shelf or equivalent volumetric loads. All wetted components comply with USP Class VI biocompatibility standards. While not certified to IEC 61000-6-3 (EMC) or ISO 13485 out-of-the-box, the incubator meets essential requirements for GLP-aligned environments when deployed with documented calibration procedures (e.g., external NIST-traceable thermohygrometers) and periodic performance verification per ASTM E2875–22 (“Standard Guide for Validation of Environmental Chambers”). Optional printer integration enables hard-copy audit trails compliant with FDA 21 CFR Part 11 Annex 11 expectations for electronic records.

Software & Data Management

The embedded controller firmware supports USB mass-storage mode for direct export of CSV-formatted log files (timestamp, T, RH, alarm status) to portable drives—no proprietary software required. Logged parameters are time-stamped with millisecond resolution and include event markers for door openings, setpoint changes, and safety interlock triggers. For networked labs, optional RS485 Modbus RTU interface (add-on module) allows integration into centralized building management systems (BMS) or LIMS platforms via standard SCADA protocols. Data integrity safeguards include write-protection for historical logs, automatic file rotation, and tamper-evident timestamping. Audit trail functionality satisfies basic ALCOA+ principles (Attributable, Legible, Contemporaneous, Original, Accurate) when used with controlled access policies.

Applications

• Pharmaceutical stability testing per ICH Q1A(R3) guidelines under intermediate (30 °C/65 %RH) and accelerated (40 °C/75 %RH) conditions;
• Microbiological culture incubation for fungi (e.g., Aspergillus spp.), molds, and moisture-sensitive bacterial strains requiring strict RH control;
• Agricultural seed viability and germination assays under standardized hygrothermal regimes;
• Material aging studies for polymers, adhesives, and packaging films exposed to cyclic humidity stress;
• Cell culture pre-conditioning prior to hypoxia or differentiation protocols where ambient moisture affects media evaporation rates;
• Reference standard storage for hygrometric calibration laboratories operating in non-climate-controlled facilities.

FAQ

What is the maximum allowable ambient temperature for continuous operation?
The unit is rated for installation in rooms maintained between +5 °C and +35 °C. Operation outside this range may impair compressor efficiency and compromise humidity control stability.
Can the incubator be validated for GMP environments?
Yes—when paired with third-party IQ/OQ/PQ protocols, calibrated reference sensors, and documented change control processes, it supports qualification under EU Annex 15 and WHO TRS 986 requirements.
Is remote monitoring supported natively?
No native Ethernet or Wi-Fi interface is included; however, the RS485 Modbus option enables connection to external SCADA or cloud-based monitoring gateways.
How often does the humidity sensor require recalibration?
The capacitive sensor is factory-calibrated and specified for ≤0.1 %RH/year drift; annual verification against a traceable reference hygrometer is recommended for regulated workflows.
Are custom shelf configurations available?
Yes—custom perforated or wire-mesh shelves, reinforced load-bearing trays, and shelf-mounted LED illumination kits can be ordered as factory-installed options.