SHZ-28A (formerly Model 300) Water-Bath Orbital Shaker

Overview

The SHZ-28A (formerly Model 300) Water-Bath Orbital Shaker is a benchtop incubation shaker engineered for precise temperature-controlled agitation of aqueous samples in biological and chemical laboratories. It operates on the principle of orbital shaking—generating uniform circular motion at the liquid–air interface—to ensure consistent oxygen transfer, suspension homogeneity, and thermal equilibration across culture vessels. Unlike air-jacketed shakers, this unit employs a water bath as both thermal mass and heat-transfer medium, delivering superior temperature uniformity (±0.5 °C) and minimal thermal gradient across the platform—critical for sensitive applications such as microbial growth kinetics, enzyme reaction profiling, and cell-based assay development. Its stainless-steel interior chamber resists corrosion from repeated exposure to saline solutions, buffer washes, and sterilizing agents, supporting long-term reliability under GLP-compliant lab routines.

Key Features

• Benchtop design with compact footprint (680 × 530 × 480 mm), optimized for space-constrained biosafety cabinets and shared core facilities.
• Microprocessor-based PID temperature controller with LED digital display for real-time monitoring of bath temperature (ambient to 98 °C).
• Brushless DC motor drive system ensures stable rotational speed control (40–250 rpm) with low mechanical drift and extended service life.
• 300 × 400 mm stainless-steel platform fitted with spring-loaded universal clamps and adjustable mesh rack (50 mm vertical travel) to accommodate Erlenmeyer flasks (50–5000 mL), test tubes, and multi-well plates without adapter reconfiguration.
• 30 mm orbital diameter provides balanced mixing intensity—sufficient for aerobic bacterial cultures yet gentle enough for fragile mammalian cell suspensions.
• Acoustically damped housing maintains operational noise below 50 dB(A), meeting ISO 7779 requirements for quiet laboratory environments.
• 2500 W heating capacity enables rapid thermal recovery after door opening or sample loading, minimizing process interruption in time-sensitive protocols.

Sample Compatibility & Compliance

The SHZ-28A accommodates standard laboratory glassware and polypropylene vessels up to 5 L volume per position. Its water-bath geometry supports immersion depths suitable for both submerged and partially immersed configurations—ideal for water-jacketed flask cultures requiring thermal stability over extended durations (e.g., 24–72 h fermentations). The unit complies with IEC 61010-1:2010 for electrical safety in laboratory equipment and meets CE marking requirements for electromagnetic compatibility (EMC Directive 2014/30/EU). While not certified for Class II microbiological containment, its sealed bath chamber and non-porous stainless-steel construction facilitate routine cleaning and validation per ISO 14644-1 cleanroom maintenance protocols. Documentation includes factory calibration certificates traceable to NIM (National Institute of Metrology, China) standards.

Software & Data Management

This analog-digital hybrid instrument features local setpoint control only—no onboard data logging, USB export, or network connectivity. All operational parameters (temperature, speed, runtime) are manually entered and retained via non-volatile memory during power cycling. For labs requiring audit trails or electronic records, integration with external environmental monitoring systems (e.g., DeltaTrak, DicksonOne) is supported via 4–20 mA analog output (optional retrofit). The absence of embedded software aligns with FDA 21 CFR Part 11 compliance strategies where instrument qualification focuses on hardware performance verification rather than software validation—reducing validation burden in regulated QC/QA environments.

Applications

• Microbial cultivation: Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, and yeast propagation under controlled aeration and thermal profiles.
• Biochemical assay preparation: Uniform dissolution of lyophilized reagents, protein dialysis, and antigen–antibody binding optimization.
• Pharmaceutical stability testing: Accelerated degradation studies per ICH Q1A(R3) guidelines using elevated temperature (e.g., 40 °C/75% RH simulated conditions via bath control).
• Agricultural research: Seed germination assays, soil suspension homogenization, and pesticide residue extraction kinetics.
• Clinical diagnostics: Serum/plasma sample agitation prior to centrifugation; ELISA plate pre-incubation steps.
• Environmental microbiology: Wastewater BOD testing, activated sludge respiration rate measurement.

FAQ

What is the maximum flask size supported on the platform?
Erlenmeyer flasks up to 5000 mL may be secured using the spring clamp system; optimal stability is achieved with vessels ≤3000 mL at speeds >180 rpm.
Can the unit operate continuously for 72 hours or longer?
Yes—rated for unattended operation under nominal load (≤4 kg total platform mass) and ambient room temperature ≤30 °C, provided proper ventilation clearance (≥10 cm on all sides) is maintained.
Is the water bath resistant to corrosive media such as 10% sodium hypochlorite?
The 304 stainless-steel bath chamber withstands intermittent exposure to diluted disinfectants; however, prolonged contact with chlorine-based solutions requires post-use neutralization and drying to prevent pitting corrosion.
Does the shaker include a timer function?
No—the SHZ-28A lacks an integrated countdown timer; external mechanical or programmable timers must be used for fixed-duration runs.
What calibration documentation is supplied?
Each unit ships with a Factory Calibration Report verifying temperature accuracy (±0.5 °C at 37 °C and 60 °C) and speed stability (±2 rpm at 150 rpm), traceable to national metrological standards.