Cell culture CO₂ incubators - manufacturer review, comparison and models

Below we have compiled a comparison of manufacturers and an overview of the technical data available to us. Information on the purchase criteria for areas such as research, pharma, ATMP and GMP can be found under purchase criteria for CO₂ incubators.

This InCelligence page includes:

Eppendorf (formerly New Brunswick incubators)
Binder
BioAir S.p.A. - CellCare incubators
Memmert
Additional manufacturers of cell culture incubators

InCelligence courses on this topic:

Eppendorf (formerly New Brunswick incubators)


Production site	Germany
QMS	ISO 9001:2015
Models	CellXpert C170 / C170i (170 L, successor models to the Galaxy series)
Contamination prevention	Fully deep-drawn inner chamber, rounded corners, no welding seams. Only a few inner parts, therefore easier to clean Filters in the gas supply tubing Condensation trap in the water tub Divided inner doors optional
Ventilator	+ No.
Vibrations	+ None to little, as there is no fan/ventilator.
Jacket	Fan-free direct heating of all 6 chamber sides. Condensation trap in the water tub through a separate heating circuit.
Door heating	Yes.
Surfaces (GMP relevant)	Inner chamber seamlessly deep-drawn from one piece of stainless steel, no welding seams, few inner parts that can be removed in about 40 s. Copper chamber available as an option.
Number of doors (indirectly GMP relevant)	1, 4 or 8 inner-door segments (depending on configuration).
Door hinges	Stable over the complete height of the doors in newer units. Hinge side can be changed later.
Temperature recovery time (GMP relevant)	< 5 min (30 s door opening).
Temperature range	4°C above RT to 50°C. Several temperature sensors.
Temperature fluctuations	Deviation from 37 °C: +/- 0.1 K measurement accuracy, +/- 0.3 K variation in homogeneity. Measurement according to DIN 12880.
Humidity system (GMP relevant)	Removable tub with condensation trap (separate heating circuit). Humidity: 95%. Humidity monitoring optional.
CO₂ supply
CO₂ recovery (GMP relevant)	< 5 min (30 s door opening).
Sterilization / decontamination (GMP relevant)	CellXpert C170: 140 °C high-temperature decontamination. CellXpert C170i: according to Eppendorf, certified 180 °C sterilization routine with downloadable protocol. For GMP use, suitability for the respective process has to be assessed separately.
Sterilization / decontamination duration (indirectly GMP relevant)	Model-dependent. For the CellXpert C170, high-temperature decontamination including heating and cooling takes about 13 h; for the C170i, the duration of the complete cycle has to be checked with the manufacturer for the respective model/program.
Sensors (GMP relevant)	Two-channel infrared sensor for CO₂, low maintenance. All sensors can remain in the unit during decontamination.
Sensor placement	Top center. Therefore a more accurate or realistic measurement of the CO₂ content.
HEPA filter (indirectly GMP relevant)	Yes, in the gas tubing.

Data logger (indirectly GMP relevant)	VisioNize® software with solid-state drive for long-term storage, 2x USB, Ethernet interface.
Validation support (GMP relevant)	IQ/OQ available to order.
Cable ports and sockets	2 cable ports already integrated.
Oxygen	Optional.
Energy consumption	100 W at 37 °C.
Price range	Medium to high.
Known advantages (InCelligence assessment)	Eppendorf quality and reliability IR sensor Door heating Divided inner doors available Inner chamber with few internal parts, good cleanability
Known disadvantages (InCelligence assessment)	The high-temperature process is model-dependent: C170 with 140 °C high-temperature decontamination; C170i with a manufacturer-described certified 180 °C sterilization routine. Suitability for the respective GMP process has to be assessed separately. Still has an inner rack system
Additional information
Website	Products

Binder


Production site	Germany
QMS	ISO 9001:2015
Models	Current series: CB-S 170/260, CB 56/170/260 and CBF 170/260.
Ventilator	+ No
Vibrations
Jacket	Air-jacket system, condensation trap in the water tub.
Door heating
Surfaces (GMP relevant)	Deep-drawn stainless-steel inner chamber, no welding seams, no internal parts except the trays.
Number of doors (indirectly GMP relevant)	1, 4
Door hinges	Stable, but not over the complete height of the doors.
Temperature recovery time (GMP relevant)	Fast temperature recovery: 4 min (30 s door opening; currently published DIN 12880:2007-05 method)
Temperature range	5–7 °C above room temperature to 60 °C
Temperature fluctuations	Deviation from 37 °C: +/- 0.3 K
Humidity system	Removable tub with a special cool trap so that water condenses only at the bottom and not on doors or walls. Humidity 90–95%.
CO₂ supply	Supply after homogeneous mixing with air via a special valve.
CO₂ recovery	Fast: 7 min (30 s door opening; currently published DIN 12880:2007-05 method)
Sterilization	180 °C hot-air sterilization in the current CB-S, CB and CBF series. Cycle details and holding times are model-dependent.
Sterilization duration	Model-dependent; the total duration including heating, sterilization phase and cooling has to be checked for the respective model.
Sensors	Infrared sensor for CO2, low maintenance. All sensors can remain during the sterilization cycle.
Sensor placement	Top. Therefore a more accurate or realistic measurement of the CO₂ content.
HEPA filter	No
Data logger	Current units, depending on model, have an internal data logger as well as USB and Ethernet interfaces. The former APT-COM connection has to be checked separately for the respective equipment generation.
Validation support	Yes. Full IQ/OQ support with documentation templates at additional cost.
Cable ports and sockets	Cable ports can be integrated at additional cost and, on request, can also be positioned at special locations.
Oxygen	Available
Energy consumption	Model-dependent; has to be checked for the respective model.
Price range	Medium to high
Known advantages (InCelligence assessment)	Very good technical customer support during delivery Qualification and validation service with documentation templates at additional cost Inner chamber with very few internal parts, excellent cleanability Fanless design 180 °C hot-air sterilization
Known disadvantages (InCelligence assessment)	The price may be somewhat higher than for Thermo Fisher Scientific, but in our opinion it is worth it! Quality is important, especially with regard to contamination rates!
Additional information	Further information in the download center:Binder Download Center. We tested the predecessor model, the CB150, for a few days and were very satisfied. What absolutely surprised us was the delivery service that brought the loan unit. The employee transports only Binder units, brings them into the laboratory and sets them up completely. No trouble, no hectic situation, no “only up to here and no further” - that was great! The inner chamber design is really well thought through and successful. As promised, we did not see any condensation inside the chamber. The doors are stable and especially the outer door with handle prevents the incubator from accidentally being left open.
Website	Products

BioAir S.p.A. - CellCare incubators


Production site	Italy
QMS	Not specified.
Ventilator	No
Vibrations	Fanless design; designed to protect cells from vibration and turbulence.
Jacket	Smooth surfaces with coated steel, no ventilators or HEPA filters
Door heating	No
Surfaces	4 stainless-steel trays & water bath, removable and autoclavable, deep-drawn inner chamber
Number of doors	1 (optionally available with individual inner doors)
Door hinges	Anti-vibration doors, easy to close (optionally with automatic closing function).
Temperature recovery	CO2 and temperature recovery time under 5 minutes
Temperature range	5°C above RT to 50°C. Can the incubator cool as well? No!
Temperature fluctuations
Humidity system	Removable stainless-steel water-bath tray (see above)
CO₂ supply	Special control? No
CO₂ recovery	CO2 recovery time under 5 minutes
Sensors	Multiparameter sensors (IR sensor)
Sterilization	180°C decontamination program
Sterilization duration	Not specified.
Sensor placement	Not specified.
HEPA filter	No
Data logger	Yes, real-time data storage, touch display with USB and Ethernet interfaces
Validation support	IQ/OQ/PQ: Yes, available through the manufacturer's service department under a separate article number
Cable port and sockets	Yes, available.
Oxygen	O₂ control is optionally available at additional cost
Energy consumption	Not specified.
Price range	Not specified.
Known advantages	Currently 2 sizes available Low maintenance costs because there are few internal components (e.g. no HEPA-filter replacement, UV lamps or fans) Easy software operation Short recovery cycle Uniform humidity, temperature and CO₂ distribution
Known disadvantages	Still has an inner rack system
Additional information	Made in the EU
Website	CellCare

Memmert


Production site	Germany
QMS	ISO 9001:2015; in addition, quality management for medical devices according to EN ISO 13485:2021. The ICOmed series is offered as a medical device.
Models	Current ICO Next Generation: ICO50, ICO105, ICO180 and ICO240. In addition, the separate ICOmed medical-device series is offered. Technical data from the two generations should not be treated as generally interchangeable.
Ventilator	+ No
Vibrations	A refrigerated incubator without a compressor and instead using a Peltier element is specified as particularly low-vibration.
Jacket	Air jacket. Large-area heating with ceramic-metal cladding.
Door heating	Yes.
Surfaces	Deep-drawn, seamlessly welded.
Number of doors	1, 2 or more, depending on the model.
Door hinges	2-point locking system (compression door lock).
Temperature recovery	For the previous ICO/ICOmed equipment generation, the following temperature recovery times were specified at 37 °C after a 30-second door opening; for the ICO Next Generation, current model-specific data have to be used separately: 50 = 3 min 105 = 4 min 150 = 5 min 240 = 6 min According to DIN 12880:2007-05.
Temperature range	Working temperature range: 5 °C above room temperature to +50 °C; setting range: +18 to +50 °C.
Temperature fluctuations	Deviation from 37 °C: +/- 0.1 K.
Humidity system	93% RH +/- 2.5% (relative humidity). Humidity limitation by Peltier element. Integrated humidity-limitation control.
CO₂ supply	Rear of the unit.
CO₂ recovery	For the previous ICO/ICOmed equipment generation, at 5% CO₂and after a 30-second door opening, the following CO₂ recovery times were specified; for the ICO Next Generation, current model-specific data have to be used separately: 50 = 6 min 105 = 6 min 150 = 7 min 240 = 7 min According to DIN 12880:2007-05.
Sterilization	Stored sterilization program: 60 minutes at 180 °C without removing the sensors.
Sterilization duration	60-minute holding time at 180 °C; heating and cooling times are not included in this value.
Sensors	2 Pt100 sensors, DIN Class A, in a 4-wire measurement system with mutual monitoring and functional takeover at exactly the same temperature value.
Sensor placement	Temperature sensor: rear wall, upper left. CO2 sensor: rear wall, halfway to 2/3 of the unit height on the left (depending on unit size). Humidity sensor: similar position to the CO2 sensor. O2 sensor: rear wall, halfway to 2/3 of the unit height on the right (depending on unit size).
HEPA filter	Previous ICO/ICOmed generation: no HEPA recirculating-air filtration in the inner chamber; incoming gases are passed through membrane filters. ICO Next Generation: integrated HEPA filter according to the manufacturer.
Data logger	AtmoControl software, USB interface, Ethernet interface.
Validation support	IQ/OQ/PQ available to order.
Cable ports and sockets	Silicone port.
Oxygen	Yes, optional.
Energy consumption	The following values were specified for the previous equipment generation: 50 = 60 W at 37 °C 105 = 60 W 150 = 80 W 240 = 85 W For the ICO Next Generation, current model-specific energy-consumption data have to be used separately.
Price range	Medium to high.
Known advantages (InCelligence assessment)	Refrigerated incubators also available Low-vibration incubator without a compressor in the portfolio Easy cleaning due to a seamlessly welded inner chamber 180 °C hot-air sterilization Integrated HEPA filter in the ICO Next Generation Optional O₂ control Intuitive operation Stainless steel Communication Safety Service
Known disadvantages (InCelligence assessment)	Still has an inner rack system
Additional information	Product information and brochures can be downloaded from the download area.
Website	Products

Additional manufacturers of cell culture incubators

Additional suppliers or product lines include Hettich (including HettCube and Haier CO₂ incubators in its sales portfolio), PHCbi (formerly Panasonic Healthcare), Thermo Fisher Scientific (including Heracell and Forma CO₂ incubators), Dunn Labortechnik, NuAire, Ewald Innovationstechnik, INFORS HT (particularly incubation shakers and systems for cell culture), Labotect GmbH and Selutec GmbH. When selecting a system, check whether it is a classic CO₂ cell culture incubator, an incubation shaker or a general-purpose incubator.

Author: Dr. Nicole Kühl | Expertly reviewed: Dr. Nicole Kühl | Last updated: September 18, 2026

Cell culture CO2 incubators - manufacturer review, comparison and models