In alignment with the cold storage needs of academic, biobanking, clinical, and pharmaceutical laboratories, the new series of standard performance (STP) ultra-low temperature (ULT) freezers from Thermo Fisher Scientific, Waltham, Mass, offers a powerful solution: optimal sample protection, lower energy usage, significant operational savings, and quieter operation. Together with the company’s energy-star certified TSX ULT freezers, the new STP series provides a complete portfolio of cold storage equipment to meet the requirements of ultra-low temperature applications.

Designed with sample safety at their core, Thermo Scientific STP –80° C ULT freezers provide temperature stability and uniformity throughout the internal chamber, reliably preserving valuable samples. The freezers feature rapid door-opening recovery to minimize fluctuations in sample temperatures during normal use. Powered by Thermo Fisher’s unique H-drive technology, the systems use environmentally-friendly hydrocarbon refrigerants, meeting the industry’s most stringent sustainability objectives from the EPA’s Significant New Alternatives Policy and the European Union’s F-Gas Regulation, which calls for the abolishment of ozone-depleting refrigerants by 2020.1,2

Laboratories using the new freezers can also benefit from considerable operational savings, as the products use 25% less energy. The products emit 25% less heat into the room, thus reducing heating, ventilation, and air conditioning needs by 25%. At the same time, the systems’ low noise output of less than 53 dBA allows for convenient in-lab positioning without disturbing the working environment, saving scientists time and effort walking to and from the freezers.

“Sample protection, energy savings, and cost efficiencies are the key capabilities laboratory managers look for when choosing cold storage solutions that could help drive the next scientific breakthroughs,” says Mitch Coyne, vice president and general manager for controlled temperature technologies at Thermo Fisher Scientific. “With this in mind, we have developed the STP ULT freezers to offer our customers a reliable and cost-effective solution that can safeguard the integrity of the most challenging samples. Not only can laboratories reap the productivity gains enabled by such powerful systems, they also benefit from a readily available after-sales support service and market-leading 5-year warranty.”

STP ULT freezers are available in four storage capacities with variable internal cabinet configurations, making them suitable for laboratories of all sizes. For added security, the systems have been equipped with a seven-point contact silicone gasket that reduces heat leaks and prolongs sample protection in the event of power failure. A set of built-in diagnostic sensors monitors the health of the freezer and prompts corrective action when needed to minimize downtime, while a key-lock and padlock hasps restrict stored sample access to authorized personnel only. Furthermore, a user-friendly touchscreen display simplifies navigation for experts and novices alike, while the systems’ advanced networking capabilities simplify data input and output for enhanced laboratory management.

For further information, visit Thermo Fisher Scientific.

References 

  1. Significant new alternatives policy (SNAP) program [online]. Washington, DC: Environmental Protection Agency, 2018. Available at: www.epa.gov/snap. Accessed May 14, 2019.
  2. EU legislation to control F-gases [online]. Brussels: European Commission, 2019. Available at: https://ec.europa.eu/clima/policies/f-gas/legislation_en#tab-0-1. Accessed May 14, 2019.

Featured image: Thermo Scientific STP –80° C ULT freezer.