What is a CO2 Incubator?
A CO2 incubator is a chamber with temperature, CO2 and humidity control (active or passive). CO2 incubators are mainly developed for the purpose of cell culturing. Cells in culture (for example mammalian) need a good temperature-controlled environment to grow. Also, the conditions of the culture medium have a large impact on the growth of the cells. CO2 concentration in the chamber air has a large impact on the pH of the culture medium, which is an important condition for the growth. Also, humidity is important to prevent moisture loss from the culture medium.
When do I need oxygen control on my CO2 incubator?
Some cell cultures require anaerobic conditions because they cannot grow in the presence of oxygen. In that case oxygen control is required on the CO2 incubator. This is typically done by injecting nitrogen gas inside the chamber to reduce the O2 concentration.
When do I need active humidity control on my CO2 incubator?
Most CO2 incubators use passive humidity control. This means that there is a tray with water on the bottom of the CO2 incubator to passively humidify the air in the chamber. This is sufficient for most applications. Active humidity control means you have an external water tank and a moisture generator actively generating humidity inside your CO2 incubator. In this case, the humidity concentration in the chamber can be actively controlled. This has 2 advantages over passive humidity control:
- Having a heated water source inside your chamber increases the risk of bacterial growth and contamination of your cell culture. Active humidity control eliminates this risk.
- Active humidity control will more quickly re-humidify the air to the required condition after opening the door.
Our products
Key features
- CO₂ & humidity resistant (up to 20% CO₂, 95% RH)
- Magnetic direct drive: maintenance-free, no belt wear
- Speed range 20–350 rpm (±1 rpm accuracy)
- Adjustable orbit 3–50 mm (10 levels)
- Remote handheld controller for operation without opening incubator
- Dual mode: fixed and programmable (up to 9 steps)
- Low energy consumption (18 W)
Applications
The Memmert ICO105 CO₂ Incubator is meticulously engineered to provide a stable and contamination-free environment, essential for the cultivation of cell cultures, bacterial cultures, and tissue cultures. With a chamber volume of 107 liters, this advanced CO₂ incubator features a standard sterilization program that also sterilizes the humidity and CO₂ sensors inside the chamber, ensuring uncompromised safety and sample integrity.
High-Precision CO₂ Incubator for Cell Culture Applications in Belgium, Netherlands, and Luxembourg
Specifically designed to meet the high demands of laboratories in the Benelux, the ICO105 offers industry-leading accuracy, intuitive operation, and certified sterilization—making it the ideal choice for research laboratories, clinical environments, and pharmaceutical development facilities across Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg.
Key Features:
- Precise Temperature Control: Operating within a range of 5 °C above ambient temperature up to +50 °C, the ICO105 ensures uniform temperature distribution with minimal fluctuation, safeguarding sensitive samples.
- Advanced CO₂ Regulation: Equipped with a digital electronic CO₂ control system utilizing a dual-beam NDIR sensor, it maintains CO₂ concentrations from 0 to 20% with high accuracy, ensuring optimal growth conditions.
- Active Humidity Control: With the optional active humidity control (option K7), the incubator offers a setting range of 40 to 97% relative humidity, minimizing evaporation and preventing contamination.
- Comprehensive Safety Features: The ICO105 includes an integrated over- and under-temperature protection system (AutoSAFETY), visual and acoustic alarms, and a battery-buffered ControlCOCKPIT to ensure continuous operation even during power failures.
- Efficient Sterilization: A standard sterilization program allows for sterilizing the interior, including all sensors, at 180 °C for 60 minutes without removal, ensuring a contamination-free environment.
- User-Friendly Interface: The TwinDISPLAY system provides intuitive control over all parameters, complemented by the AtmoCONTROL software for programming and data logging, facilitating compliance with FDA regulations.
Whether you're in academic research, hospital-based laboratories, or industrial quality control, the Memmert ICO105 delivers consistency, traceability, and trust. Contact our experts today for more information or to request a quote.
