Heratherm Compact Microbiological Incubator

The Thermo Scientific™ Heratherm™ Compact Microbiological Incubator is a small-footprint, benchtop incubator engineered to deliver reliable temperature control and uniform incubation for microbiology, academic, clinical, and analytical lab applications. Designed to occupy minimal bench space while maintaining precise environmental conditions, this incubator is ideal for laboratories with limited room and small sample volumes.

Built on Thermo Fisher Scientific’s established Heratherm platform, the unit features accurate temperature stability and uniformity measured at 37 °C, straightforward digital control, and an interior observation window for convenient monitoring. The mechanical convection system ensures gentle, reliable airflow throughout the chamber, supporting consistent incubation results. Its efficient LED display and intuitive interface make setting and tracking incubation conditions easy, while compliance with cCSAus and CE standards supports safe, dependable operation across global markets. 

Features

• Temperature Range: Ambient +17 °C to 50 °C

• Temperature Stability: ±0.2 °C (at 37 °C)

• Temperature Uniformity: ±1.2 °C (at 37 °C)

• Capacity: 18 L

• Display: Digital LED control panel

• Convection: Mechanical airflow system

• Shelving: 2 adjustable shelves (expandable)

• Observation: Interior light and door viewing window

• Footprint: Compact benchtop design

• Compliance: cCSAus and CE safety certified

• Power: 100–240 V, 50/60 Hz

• Warranty: Manufacturer 2-year warranty
  
  
  
  

Brochure
Manual

FAQ: Thermo Scientific Heratherm Compact Microbiological Incubator (IMC18)

1) What is the Thermo Scientific Heratherm IMC18 used for?
The IMC18 is a compact, forced-air (mechanical convection) incubator designed for consistent incubation in microbiology, clinical, research, and QC settings where stable temperatures like 37°C are required.

2) What is the chamber volume and why does it matter?
The Heratherm IMC18 has an 18 L chamber. This is ideal when you need reliable incubation but have limited bench space, or when running smaller batch volumes (plates, tubes, small flasks).

3) What temperature range does the Heratherm IMC18 support?
The IMC18 is designed for incubation from 17°C up to 50°C, supporting typical microbiology setpoints including 20°C, 25°C, 30°C, and 37°C.

4) Can the IMC18 run below ambient temperature?
Yes. The IMC18 is built to operate down to 17°C, which can be below typical room temperature. Actual performance depends on your room conditions and airflow around the unit.

5) How stable is the temperature at 37°C?
The IMC18 is specified for ±0.2°C stability at 37°C, supporting repeatable incubation conditions for routine microbiology workflows.

6) How uniform is the temperature inside the chamber?
With mechanical convection airflow, the IMC18 is designed to improve temperature uniformity across the chamber compared with passive systems, helping reduce hot/cold spots that can affect results.

7) Does the IMC18 have a fan, and why is that important?
Yes. Mechanical convection (fan-assisted airflow) promotes faster recovery after door openings and helps maintain uniform incubation temperature throughout the chamber.

8) What types of samples fit best in a compact 18 L incubator?
This unit is well suited for Petri dishes, culture plates, small bottles, tubes, and small flasks, especially when you need a dedicated incubator for one protocol or temperature.

9) How many shelves come with the IMC18, and can I add more?
The IMC18 typically ships with two shelves and supports additional shelves depending on configuration. If you need maximum shelf capacity, confirm the shelf kit options at time of quote.

10) Is the Heratherm IMC18 appropriate for clinical or regulated environments?
It is commonly used in clinical, research, and QC labs. If your application requires documentation, validation, or regulated workflows, you should confirm your internal requirements for calibration records, SOPs, and ongoing verification checks.

11) What power requirements does the IMC18 use in Canada?
Most IMC18 configurations support 100–240 V, 50/60 Hz operation. Always verify the exact plug type and electrical configuration on your quote to match your facility.

12) Does the IMC18 have safety approvals suitable for Canada?
Heratherm incubators are commonly supplied with recognized electrical safety certifications (often including cCSAus depending on configuration). Confirm the exact certification markings for your model at time of purchase.

13) How do I verify the incubator temperature is accurate over time?
Best practice is to use a calibrated reference thermometer or data logger and perform routine verification at your setpoints (commonly 37°C and any other critical temperatures). Many labs document periodic checks as part of QC.

14) What is the warm-up and recovery behavior like after opening the door?
A compact chamber plus mechanical convection generally helps the IMC18 recover faster than larger chambers. Recovery time still depends on door-open duration, ambient conditions, and load size.

15) What’s the difference between a microbiological incubator and a refrigerated incubator?
A microbiological incubator like the IMC18 focuses on stable incubation in the common microbiology range (e.g., 25–50°C with support down to 17°C). A refrigerated incubator is designed to actively cool well below ambient for cold incubation needs.

16) Is this incubator suitable for CO₂ incubation (cell culture)?
No. The IMC18 is a temperature incubator only. For mammalian cell culture you typically need a CO₂ incubator (and often humidity control).

17) Can this incubator be used for BOD testing?
Many labs use incubators around 20°C for BOD workflows. Confirm the required temperature control performance, uniformity, and documentation requirements for your specific method before selecting an incubator.

18) What should I consider before ordering the IMC18?
Confirm: your target setpoint(s), required shelf space, bench footprint constraints, electrical configuration, documentation/calibration needs, and whether you need any accessories (extra shelves, validation tools, monitoring probes).