Incubators

Shaking Incubator

<h2>What Are Shaking Incubators?</h2>
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A shaking incubator is a laboratory instrument that integrates a temperature-controlled incubation chamber with a motor-driven shaking platform, enabling simultaneous incubation and agitation of liquid cultures, enzyme reactions, and biochemical assays. The shaking motion distributes oxygen and nutrients throughout the culture, prevents cell settling, and promotes faster, more uniform growth than static incubation. Orbital (circular) motion is the standard for most biological culture applications; reciprocating (linear back-and-forth) motion is used for higher-viscosity samples or applications requiring more vigorous mixing. Shaking incubators are used in bacterial and yeast suspension culture, recombinant protein expression in E. coli or Pichia, hybridization and wash steps in molecular biology protocols, and solubility studies in pharmaceutical development. Advanced models include brushless DC motors for long-term maintenance-free operation, programmable step sequences for multi-phase culture protocols, and refrigeration capability for cold-temperature protein expression down to 4 degrees C. Choose a shaking incubator over a static incubator when your culture requires aeration, cells tend to settle, or your protocol specifies a defined agitation speed in rpm.
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<h2>What You Will Find</h2>
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<ul>
<li data-section-id="7gw372" data-start="0" data-end="178">Benchtop &amp; Refrigerated Shaking Incubators: Incu-Shaker&trade; Mini, 10L, 20L, refrigerated (10LR/20LR), and CO₂ models for temperature-controlled culture incubation and shaking.</li>
<li data-section-id="aipkwp" data-start="180" data-end="320">Microplate &amp; Tube Shakers: Orbi-Shaker&trade; and Incu-Mixer&trade; systems for efficient mixing of microplates, PCR plates, and laboratory tubes.</li>
<li data-section-id="x9v3pj" data-start="322" data-end="521">MultiTherm&trade; Heating &amp; Shaking Systems: MultiTherm&trade; and MultiTherm&trade; Touch shakers with interchangeable blocks for PCR plates, cryotubes, centrifuge tubes, deep-well plates, HPLC vials, and more.</li>
<li data-section-id="rno1mp" data-start="523" data-end="696">Platforms &amp; Flask Holders: Spring platforms, microplate platforms, MAGic Clamp&trade; flask clamps, shelves, heated lids, CO₂ regulators, and other configurable accessories.</li>
<li><a href="../../equipments/temperature-control-equipment/incubators/shaking-incubator/shaking-incubator-accessories">Shaking incubator accessories</a>: Including replacement platforms, adapters, tube blocks, clamps, shelves, heated lids, and other compatible accessories to expand the functionality of your shaking incubator system.</li>
</ul>
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<h2>How to Choose a Shaking Incubator</h2>
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Orbital vs. reciprocating motion
Orbital shakers move the platform in a horizontal circular path, providing gentle, uniform agitation suitable for most cell cultures, bacterial suspensions, and biochemical assays. Reciprocating shakers move the platform in a linear back-and-forth motion at variable stroke lengths, generating higher shear forces appropriate for viscous media and dense suspensions. For general microbiology and cell culture, specify orbital motion; for high-viscosity or industrial-scale applications, reciprocating motion may be preferred.
Temperature range and refrigeration
Standard shaking incubators heat from ambient + 5 degrees C to 60 degrees C. Refrigerated models add cooling capacity, extending the range down to 4 degrees C or below, which is critical for recombinant protein expression protocols in E. coli, where low temperature reduces inclusion body formation. Confirm whether the model supports both heating and cooling, or heating only.
Speed range and orbit size
Shaking speed is expressed in revolutions per minute (rpm); most models cover 30 to 300 rpm. Orbit size (the diameter of the circular motion, typically 19 mm or 25 mm, with large-capacity models reaching 50 mm) determines aeration efficiency. Larger orbits improve oxygen transfer to cultures at lower rpm, which is gentler on sensitive cells. Smaller orbits at higher rpm are preferred for microplate-scale applications.
Capacity: flask size and platform load
Platform capacity specifies how many flasks of a given volume the unit accommodates. A common benchmark: a benchtop unit holds four 2 L Erlenmeyer flasks or twenty 125 mL flasks simultaneously. Ensure the platform accepts interchangeable clamp systems for the flask sizes used in your lab, and verify total load capacity in kg; high-speed operation with heavy flasks can stress the drive mechanism.
Control system and connectivity
PID temperature controllers are standard; advanced models add touchscreen interfaces, programmable step sequences linking consecutive temperature and speed profiles, USB or RS-232 data logging, and STEP programming for timed multi-phase culture runs. For regulated workflows, look for password-protected parameter lockout.
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<h2>Specifications Context</h2>
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Temperature uniformity in shaking incubators is harder to achieve than in static incubators because the shaking motion creates air currents inside the chamber. Forced-air circulation combined with a well-insulated chamber maintains uniformity to plus or minus 0.5 degrees C at setpoint under normal conditions. Orbit size affects flask choice: a 19 mm orbit with standard Erlenmeyer flasks at 250 rpm is a common general-purpose configuration for E. coli culture. Review the manufacturer's maximum flask volume and load per platform position; overloading a platform at high speed is a common cause of drive failure in shaking incubators.
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Do you want to cultivate your liquid cultures more effectively? View our selection of shaking incubators and <a href="https://mbpinc.net/contact-us">get in touch with the MBP team</a> for a helpful quote right now.

Product Literature

Block, combination 15 x 0.5 and 20 x 1.5ml

Block, 24 x 2ml HPLC/ Autosampler Vials (12 x 32mm)

Block, custom drilled, for tubes/vials up to 40mm tall

Block, multipurpose for liquids, beads, etc. Chamber dimensions: 4 x 2.6 x 1"

MultiTherm™ Shaker Series

H5000-HC by Benchmark Scientific is the heating/cooling MultiTherm thermoshaker, combining 200–1500 rpm orbital mixing with active temperature control from ambient −20 to 100°C (±1.0°C), 5.0°C/min heating, 2.5°C/min cooling, 3mm orbit, and universal 115/230V input — in a compact 8.25" × 11.5" footprint. Accepts all H5000-series exchangeable blocks (0.2–50 ml, sold separately). 2-year warranty.

Speed

Orbit

Temp. Range (H5000-HC)

Temp. Range (H5000-H)

Temperature Increment

Temp. Accuracy

Capacity

Speed Increment

Heating Rate

Cooling Rate

Dimensions

Weight

Timer

Electrical

Warranty

Manufacture

MultiTherm™ Shaker with heating and cooling, 115V

MultiTherm™ Shaker with heating and cooling, 230V

MultiTherm™ Shaker with heating only, 115V

MultiTherm™ Shaker with heating only, 230V

MultiTherm™ Touch Shakers

H5100-HCT by Benchmark Scientific is a temperature-controlled microplate and tube shaker with a –20°C to 105°C range (±0.5°C), 200–3000 rpm speed, 3 mm orbital diameter, and a large colour touchscreen for ramp-rate and preheat programming. Fifteen interchangeable block formats cover 0.2 mL tubes through 50 mL tubes and 96/384-well plates. Note: blocks are sold separately. Contact MBP at customerservice@mbpinc.net for pricing and block selection guidance.

MultiTherm Touch Vortex Mixer, 100-240V with US cord

MultiTherm Touch Vortex Mixer, 100-240V with Euro plug

MyTemp™ 65HC Digital Incubator, with heating and cooling

H2265-HC by Benchmark Scientific is the MyTemp™ 65 Digital Incubator with heating and cooling, providing thermoelectric temperature control from 0°C to 60°C (±0.5°C accuracy, ±1.0°C uniformity at 37°C) in a 65-liter stainless-steel chamber. Two adjustable stainless-steel shelves and a 30-bottle BOD capacity make it suitable for environmental testing, Drosophila research, and standard cell culture. Power: 120V, 385W.

Temperature Range

Temperature Accuracy

Temperature Uniformity

Temperature Increments

Capacity of BOD bottles

Refrigerant

MyTemp™ 65HC Digital Incubator, with heating and cooling 115V

MyTemp™ 65HC Digital Incubator, with heating and cooling 230V

CO2 Incubator

MyTemp™ Mini CO2 Digital Incubator

H2300-HC2 by Benchmark Scientific is the MyTemp™ Mini CO2, a compact 20 L benchtop CO2 incubator with digital temperature control (ambient +10°C to 55°C, ±0.25°C at 37°C) and CO2 control (0–20%, ±0.1% accuracy) via a dual-beam infrared sensor. Two removable stainless steel shelves accommodate flasks up to 2 L. Exterior dimensions 13.2 × 14.5 × 18.7 in; 15 lbs; universal 100–240 VAC input. Audible and visual CO2 drop alarms included.

MyTemp™ Mini CO2 Digital Incubator, 115V

MyTemp™ Mini CO2 Digital Incubator, 230V

Shaking Incubator Accessories

<h2>What Are Shaking Incubator Accessories?</h2>
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Shaking incubator accessories are platform attachments and replacement components that secure culture vessels to the shaking deck, expand the range of vessel types a single incubator can accommodate, and maintain safe operation at high agitation speeds. The primary accessories are flask clamps (spring-type or magnetic-attachment systems) for Erlenmeyer flasks of specific volumes, tube racks for culture tubes and centrifuge tubes, microplate holders for 24-well, 96-well, and deep-well plate formats, universal platforms with non-slip surfaces for various container types, and adhesive mats for securing irregularly shaped vessels. Accessories are not universally interchangeable: platform slot patterns, clamp arm geometry, and attachment mechanisms vary by manufacturer and model, so confirm compatibility with the specific shaking incubator before ordering. Always match the flask clamp size to the exact flask volume in use; undersized clamps allow movement that damages cultures, and oversized clamps do not seat correctly in platform slots.
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<h2 dir="ltr">What You Will Find:</h2>
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<ul>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">MultiTherm Touch blocks offer specialized holders for cryotubes, PCR plates, and centrifuge tubes up to 5ml.</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Microplate blocks provide secure, uniform agitation for standard and deep-well 96-well plates.</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Universal spring platforms offer a flexible solution for holding various bottle and flask sizes on a single surface.</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Precision tube adapters allow you to mix 0.2ml to 2.0ml tubes with perfect stability and heat transfer.</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Stainless steel shelves help you maximize your incubator&rsquo;s internal capacity for static or upright samples.</li>
</ul>
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<h2>How to Choose Shaking Incubator Accessories</h2>
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Flask clamp size and type
Flask clamps are specified by flask volume: 50 mL, 125 mL, 250 mL, 500 mL, 1 L, and 2 L are the standard sizes. One-piece stainless steel clamp construction is preferable to spot-welded or riveted designs for durability at high agitation speeds. For flasks 2 L and above, clamps with a secondary girdle ring provide additional security during prolonged shaking at 200 rpm or above. Magnetic clamp systems (such as MAGic Clamp-style designs) allow tool-free, rapid exchange between flask sizes without loosening bolts.
Tube racks
Tube racks for shaking incubators accommodate standard 10 mL, 14 mL, 17 mL, 50 mL, and culture tube formats, slotted into the platform deck. Adjustable tube racks that fit multiple tube diameters offer more flexibility than fixed-diameter designs. Confirm the number of tube positions and whether the rack base fits the specific platform slot pattern of your incubator.
Microplate holders
Microplate holders secure 96-well, 24-well, deep-well (2 mL per well), and skirted PCR plate formats to the shaking platform. Platforms designed for microplates typically operate at smaller orbit sizes (19 mm) and higher speeds (up to 400 rpm) compared to flask platforms. Confirm that the holder is rated for the plate format and the speed required by your protocol.
Universal platforms and adhesive mats
Universal platforms with rubber-coated surfaces provide a non-slip base for tissue culture flasks (T-25, T-75), Petri dishes, staining trays, and containers that do not fit standard clamps. Adhesive mats function similarly and are useful for microcentrifuge tube arrays or multiple small containers. Replace adhesive mats periodically as tackiness degrades with repeated use and autoclaving.
Platform compatibility
Before purchasing accessories, identify the platform slot pattern (tab-and-slot vs. screw-mount vs. magnetic) specific to your shaking incubator model. Accessories from the same manufacturer as the incubator are the safest choice; third-party platforms may fit universal tab-and-slot patterns, but should be verified before high-speed use.
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<h2>Specifications Context</h2>
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Stainless steel flask clamps are the preferred material for autoclavability and chemical resistance. Verify whether accessories can be autoclaved at 121 degrees C; not all rubber or plastic components on tube racks and mats withstand repeated steam sterilization. The load capacity of the platform (in kg per position) limits the total mass of vessel plus culture volume that can be safely agitated; exceeding this limit at high speed stresses the drive bearings. For heavy-use labs running continuous 24-hour shaking protocols, select clamps with single-piece construction and check the drive belt or brushless motor specifications for continuous-duty cycle ratings.&nbsp;
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Ready to optimize your incubator&rsquo;s capacity? Browse our accessories collection and <a href="https://mbpinc.net/contact-us">reach out to the MBP team</a> for a friendly quote today.

Optional Adapter, 20 x 0.5 ml for microplate shakers

The BT1500-A05 by Benchmark Scientific is a 20 × 0.5 mL microtube adapter for the BT1500 Orbi-Shaker MP and H6004 Incu-Mixer MP4 microplate shakers. Enables orbital mixing of 0.5 mL microtubes on an existing microplate shaker platform.

Optional Adapter, 20 x 1.5/2.0 ml for microplate shakers

BT1500-A1520 by Benchmark Scientific is a 20 × 1.5/2.0 ml microtube adapter for the Orbi-Shaker MP (BT1500) and H6004 microplate shaker platforms, converting the microplate footprint to accommodate standard microtubes without changing instruments. Ideal for DNA/RNA extraction, bead-based assays, and enzymatic incubations in microtube format. Procurement teams at academic and research institutions can order through MBP using catalog number BT1500-A1520.

Optional CO2 gas regulator

The H2300-REG by Benchmark Scientific is a CO2 gas regulator accessory for the H2300-HC2 MyTemp Mini CO2 benchtop incubator. It regulates cylinder pressure down to incubator-safe inlet pressure and is required when connecting to a bottled CO2 supply without an existing line regulator. Available from MBP Inc. for cell culture labs across the USA and Canada.

Incubators Accessories

Extra Shelf, stainless steel, for H2505-40

Extra Shelf, stainless steel, for H2505-70

Extra Shelf, stainless steel, for H2505-130

Additional shelf for 45 liter incubators, 1 each

Additional shelf for 180 liter incubators, 1 each

Stacking kit for 180 liter incubator (height of top display approximately 135cm)

IncuView Integrated Microscope Shelf, 45L (For H3565-45 Only)

IncuView Integrated Microscope Shelf, 180L (For H3565-180, 180HD and 180HDO2 Only)

Optional O2 gas regulator

H3565-O2REG by Benchmark Scientific is an optional O2 gas regulator for SureTherm™ CO2 incubators (H3565 series), enabling tri-gas incubation with controlled O2, CO2, and N2. Connects to CGA580 O2 cylinders; 1/4 in tubing adapter included. Used for hypoxia cell culture (1–5% O2), stem cell protocols requiring sub-atmospheric oxygen, and hyperoxia studies. Confirm N2 supply availability for sub-atmospheric O2 control before ordering.

Orbi-Shaker™ MicroPlate Shakers

BT1502 by Benchmark Scientific is the Orbi-Shaker™ MP Microplate Shaker, a high-speed orbital shaker optimized for microplates with a 3 mm mixing orbit and a speed range of 200–1,500 rpm (max 1,000 rpm with deep-well plates). The included 4-position platform holds up to four standard, deep-well, or PCR plates simultaneously with no clamps or tools required. Timer: 1 min to 99 hrs or continuous. Operates from +4°C to +65°C (cold-room and incubator safe). Universal voltage 100–240 V. 2-year warranty.

Speed Range

Load Capacity

Ambient Operating Temp.

Dimensions (in)

Dimensions (cm)

Orbi-Shaker™ MP with 4 position micro plate platform, 100-240V (US Plug)

Orbi-Shaker™ MP with 4 position micro plate platform, 100-240V (European 2 prong plug)

Platform, holds 6 standard micro plates (max. 1)

The H1010-P-MP by Benchmark Scientific is a microplate orbital shaker platform holding 6 standard SBS-format microplates, compatible with the Benchmark Incu-Shaker 10L, Incu-Shaker 10LR, and Orbi-Shaker XL. Maximum 1 platform per shaker unit. Suited for cell culture, ELISA, compound screening, and protein binding assays. Available from MBP Inc. for US and Canadian research labs.

Shelf, 14 x 5.5" for Petri dishes, plates, trays, etc.

The H1010-SH by Benchmark Scientific is a 14 × 5.5 in optional shelf for the Incu-Shaker series, designed to hold petri dishes, microplates, trays, and other flat-format laboratory vessels during orbital shaking incubation.

H3550-180-SK by Benchmark Scientific is a stacking kit for 180-liter Benchmark Scientific incubators (ST-180 / SureTemp 180 L series), enabling two 180 L units to be stacked vertically to double incubation capacity without additional floor footprint. The top display sits at approximately 135 cm when stacked. Sold separately from the incubators.