Laboratory incubators are essential tools for maintaining controlled temperature environments required for microbiological, pharmaceutical, food, and research applications. Unlike specialized incubators designed for CO2 control or agitation, general laboratory incubators focus on stable, uniform heating for routine incubation tasks. The laboratory incubators offered by Hogentogler span compact benchtop models to large-capacity floor units, giving labs the flexibility to match chamber size, temperature range, and airflow type to their specific workflows. This guide walks through the key factors to consider when selecting a laboratory incubator based on the models available on Hogentogler.com.
TL;DR
• Laboratory incubators provide stable, uniform temperature control for routine lab applications
• Hogentogler incubators typically support temperature ranges from ambient +5°C up to 70–80°C, depending on model
• Chamber volumes range from small benchtop units (~14–20 liters) to large-capacity floor models up to ~750 liters
• Gravity and forced convection designs support different sample sensitivity requirements
• Ideal for microbiology, pharmaceutical, food, and research laboratories
Laboratory incubators are designed to maintain consistent temperatures over extended periods, making them critical for culture growth, sample conditioning, and general incubation tasks. Selecting the right model depends on understanding how temperature control, chamber size, and airflow design align with your lab’s daily needs.
Temperature Range and Control
The laboratory incubators sold by Hogentogler typically operate from ambient +5°C up to 70°C or 80°C, covering the majority of routine incubation protocols. Digital PID controllers are common across these models, providing precise temperature regulation and fast recovery after door openings. Tight temperature stability is especially important for microbiological cultures and pharmaceutical testing where even minor fluctuations can impact results.
Chamber Size and Volume
Hogentogler’s laboratory incubator lineup includes a wide range of chamber volumes. Compact benchtop incubators may offer approximately 14–20 liters, making them ideal for personal workstations or low-throughput applications. Mid-size models support larger sample loads, while large-capacity floor incubators provide volumes of 400 liters to 750 liters, accommodating high-throughput environments or oversized samples. Flexible shelving systems help labs maximize usable space within the chamber.
Airflow: Gravity vs. Forced Convection
Gravity convection incubators use natural air circulation to minimize sample dehydration and are well suited for sensitive cultures. Forced convection incubators use internal fans to promote faster temperature uniformity and recovery, which can be beneficial for heavily loaded chambers or applications requiring consistent conditions across all shelf levels. Hogentogler offers both airflow styles to match different incubation priorities.
Construction and Interior Materials
Most laboratory incubators available on Hogentogler.com feature corrosion-resistant stainless steel interiors, supporting easy cleaning and long-term durability. Inner glass doors are common, allowing users to monitor samples without disrupting the chamber environment. These design elements help protect samples while supporting consistent, repeatable incubation conditions.
Controls, Safety, and Monitoring
Modern laboratory incubators include user-friendly digital displays and intuitive control panels for setting and monitoring temperature. Safety features such as automatic overtemperature protection and alarms help safeguard valuable samples, particularly during extended incubation cycles or overnight operation.
Typical Applications
Laboratory incubators are commonly used for:
• Microbiological culture growth
• Pharmaceutical testing and stability studies
• Food and beverage quality testing
• Research and educational laboratory incubation
• Sample conditioning and holding
FAQs
What is the difference between a laboratory incubator and a CO2 incubator?
Laboratory incubators provide temperature control only, while CO2 incubators also regulate carbon dioxide and humidity for cell culture applications.
What chamber size should I choose?
Smaller labs or individual users may prefer compact benchtop incubators, while high-throughput labs benefit from mid-size or large-capacity floor models.
Is gravity or forced convection better?
Gravity convection is ideal for delicate samples, while forced convection offers faster temperature recovery and uniformity for heavily loaded chambers.
How accurate are laboratory incubators?
Most models provide tight temperature stability, often within a fraction of a degree at common setpoints such as 37°C.