Comparison Guide: Lab Incubators, Orbital, and Refrigerated Shakers

A - Lab Shaker and Mixer Format
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A1 - Open Platform Lab Shakers

Traditional orbital shakers, like Thermo Fisher’s Solaris line, feature open platforms, commonly made of stainless steel, for easy access to load and unload samples and reagents. Ideal for busy, high-throughput labs or shared-use spaces, open-air shakers allow researchers to quickly mix samples without the hassle of opening and closing sample covers. However, open-air shakers leave samples and reagents exposed to possible cross-contamination, so samples must be mixed in screw-cap or pop-top tubes and flasks must be covered in Paraffin. As open-air shakers don’t include a sample cover, they are compatible with taller vessels, such as graduated cylinders, reagent troughs, and 4L flasks.

A2 - Incubated Lab Shakers

Specific shaker models, such as Thermo Fisher’s MaxQ 4000 and MaxQ 4450, include integrated incubators for mammalian and bacterial cell culture sampling.

Incubated shakers commonly include an orbital-shaking platform enclosed in an insulated cover, driven by an onboard controller capable of adjusting temperature and mixing speed.

Incubated shakers, such as Benchmark Scientific’s Incu-Shaker, feature a heavy cover that mitigates cross-contamination more effectively than open-air shakers. However, the sample platform is more restricted, making incubated shakers incompatible with taller sample vessels.

A3 - Refrigerated Lab Shakers

Refrigerated shakers, such as Thermo’s MaxQ 6000, include an enclosed platform and on-board controller capable of adjusting the temperature in the sampling area from 37°C down to -15°C. Ideal for temperature-sensitive samples and reagents, refrigerated shakers include over-temperature alarms and safety kill switches connected to the sample cover. As high shaking speeds impact the temperature set point maintained within the sampling area, refrigerated or incubated shakers commonly don’t exceed speeds of 500 rpm.

A4 - High Capacity Shakers

High-capacity shakers, such as Benchmark Scientific’s Orbi-Shaker XL and Thermo Fisher’s MaxQ 3000, feature larger platforms (up to 36” wide x 24” deep) to house larger quantities of samples or larger sample vessels. Ideal for high-throughput labs, high-capacity shakers accommodate up to 25 x 250 ml flasks or 8 microplates during a single run. As high-capacity shakers feature a heavy, bulky platform, they cannot maintain shaking speeds above 500 rpm. Common applications for large-capacity models include sequencing labs, high-throughput screening (HTS), and core facilities.

A5 - Compact Shakers

Compact shakers, such as ITL Virginia Co-Mix and Benchmark Scientific’s Orbi-Shaker Jr., feature a small footprint, with a platform size under 10” wide x 8” deep, for crowded labs with precious open benchtop space. Ideal for teaching labs or academic research, economical compact shakers rarely include temperature control, access security, or high-speed mixing options. However, compact shakers are often extremely durable and low-maintenance, boasting a longer lifespan than their sophisticated counterparts.

A6 - Microplate Shakers for PCR | DNA

Benchmark Scientific’s Orbi-Shaker MP microplate shakers include platforms designed to accommodate deep-well, skirted, and semi-skirted PCR plates (in 96-well and 384-well formats). Microplates often contain smaller sample volumes (under 10 ul), so microplate shakers are designed to maintain high shaking speeds (up to 1,500 rpm) to ensure sample homogeneity.

Featuring smaller footprints than larger orbital shakers, microplate-compatible models are designed to operate in cold rooms, incubators, test chambers or walk-in refrigerators.

What is a Microplate Shaker Used For?

Common applications for microplate shakers include DNA sequencing labs, forensics, whole-genome sequencing centers, environmental research, genetic testing labs, and clinical diagnostics.

B - Maximum Shaking Speed
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Laboratory shakers are designed to maintain fixed or adjustable shaking speeds to accommodate different sample types and protocols. Rockers, rotators, and blotters, like Benchmark Scientific’s Orbi-Blotter, maintain low shaking speeds (down to 70 rpm) for gel staining, Western and Southern Blotting, and reagent thawing.

Conventional shakers, like Thermo Fisher’s MaxQ 4000 or MaxQ 4450, maintain shaking speeds between 300 rpm and 500 rpm for applications such as bacterial cell culture, PCR prep, and chemical synthesis.

High-speed shakers maintain shaking speeds between 1,000 rpm and 3,000 rpm for ELISA sample prep, bacterial protocols, and enzymatic reactions.

• ITL Virginia Ther-Mix
• Benchmark Scientific’s MultiTherm Touch
• Perkin Elmer’s TriNEST

C - Lab Shaker and Mixer Controllers
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C1 - Analog Lab Shakers and Mixers

Benchmark Scientific’s Orbi-Blotter lab shakers feature analog controllers with on/off switches, speed control dials, and touch-start/manual-start toggles.

C2 - Lab Shaker and Mixer Voltage

Digital lab shakers and mixers, like Benchmark Scientific’s Incu-Shaker, feature digital controllers with speed adjustment, temperature control, run timers, password protections, data exports, and stored user-defined programs.

D - Lab Shaker and Mixer Voltage
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120-volt connections are suitable for standard laboratory power outlets in the United States, Canada, Mexico, and South America. 240-volt connections, common in Mainland Europe and throughout Asia, require less current (amperage) and smaller conductors than equipment designed to operate at 120-volt.

E - Lab Shaker Special Features
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E1 - Incubator-Safe Orbital Shakers

Thermo Fisher’s Solaris models are designed to operate in incubation conditions (37°C) for bacterial cell culture and human tissue culture studies.

E2 - Refrigerator-Safe

Thermo Fisher’s MaxQ Series, designed to operate at 4°C in cold rooms or walk-in refrigerators, are ideal for processing temperature-sensitive samples, certain shakers, like, are.

E3 - Stackable Shakers

High-volume shakers, like Thermo Fisher’s MaxQ 6000, include platforms that stack vertically to allow a larger quantity of samples to be mixed during a single operation.

E4 - Remote-Controlled Lab Mixers & Shakers

Certain models, like Thermo Fisher’s MaxQ 8000, include optional remote control and remote alarm systems with BMS integration, secure user access, password protection, and real-time monitoring of sample conditions

E5 - Integrated Vortex Mixers

ITL Virginia Co-Mix Shakers include an integrated vortex mixer installed adjacent to the shaking platform, allowing for simultaneous vortex mixing and orbital shaking of samples and reagents.

Where Can I Buy Laboratory Rockers and Mixers Online?
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Shop online to compare pricing, features, and selection for a wide variety of lab mixing equipment including rockers, shakers, and stirrers. Browse a curated list of products for applications including general laboratory, research, PCR, DNA/RNA techniques, ELISA, protein analysis, and cell culture.