The H3565-180HD is the 180-liter SureTherm™ CO₂ incubator with High Heat Decontamination cycle, the mid-tier of Benchmark Scientific's SureTherm CO₂ incubator line. Where the base H3565-180 (no-HD) handles standard CO₂-controlled cell-culture work, the HD variant adds a high-heat decontamination cycle that thermally decontaminates the chamber between use periods or after suspected contamination events, eliminating the need to disassemble the incubator and surface-decontaminate manually. The chamber temperature uniformity is ±0.1 °C, achieved through a six-sided heating system combined with a low-speed internal fan for uniform air circulation without external air exchange. The 180-liter chamber size is the workhorse capacity for institutional cell-culture cores running multiple PI groups' cultures simultaneously.
Voltage options: This unit can be ordered with European voltage requirements (230V/50Hz). Contact us to order.
Key Specifications
| Chamber volume | 180 L |
| Temperature range | Ambient +5 °C to 60 °C |
| Temperature uniformity | ± 0.1 °C |
| CO₂ control | Yes (range and accuracy per Benchmark Scientific spec; consult brochure for current spec band) |
| Decontamination | High Heat Decontamination cycle (HD; this variant's defining feature) |
| Heat distribution | Proprietary six-sided heating system |
| Air circulation | Low-speed internal fan (no external air exchange) |
| IncuView Live Cell Imaging compatibility | Yes (with optional integrated microscope shelf; H3565-180-LCI, sold separately) |
| Voltage | 120 V (US Plug) |
| List price | $9,717 |
Application Profile
Mammalian cell-culture maintenance. The dominant use case for any CO₂ incubator, adherent and suspension mammalian cell lines (HEK293, CHO, Jurkat, K562, primary cells) require humidified 5 % CO₂ at 37 °C with the temperature uniformity that the SureTherm's six-sided heating system delivers (±0.1 °C across the chamber).
Primary-cell and stem-cell culture. Sensitive cell types where temperature gradient or humidity variation across the chamber would compromise viability, the SureTherm's no-external-air-exchange design and tight temperature uniformity support primary culture and iPSC / stem-cell maintenance.
Multi-PI shared core facilities. 180 L volume hosts cultures from multiple research groups simultaneously, large enough that each group can have a dedicated shelf without crowding.
Long-term colony / biofilm cultivation. Cultures requiring weeks-to-months continuous incubation benefit from the HD decontamination cycle for periodic chamber decontamination without breaking the run.
Post-contamination recovery. Where a contamination event would otherwise require chamber disassembly + manual surface decontamination + re-equilibration (typically 1–2 days of downtime), the HD cycle automates the decontamination + return-to-service in a single overnight cycle.
Cell-line bank rotation. Cores rotating cells through revival → expansion → bank → recovery benefit from the HD cycle for periodic chamber decontamination between cell-line rotation events.
Design Architecture
Six-sided heating system. Heat is supplied from all six chamber walls (vs typical 3-side or 4-side heating in lower-tier incubators). It produces the ±0.1 °C uniformity spec by eliminating cold-spots at chamber corners and walls.
Low-speed internal fan. Air circulates uniformly through the chamber without external air exchange. The "no external air exchange" design is important for contamination control, outside air introduces the dominant contamination vector in cell culture; sealed-chamber circulation eliminates it.
±0.1 °C temperature uniformity is the spec class for SureTherm, competitive with mid-tier dedicated cell-culture incubators at meaningfully lower price than research-grade premium brands.
High Heat Decontamination cycle (HD). Programmable thermal cycle that raises chamber temperature to a decontamination set-point (typically 90–120 °C in this class of incubator; confirm current spec) for a defined duration, then returns to operating temperature. Eliminates microbial contamination from the chamber surface without disassembly. The HD variant is the mid-tier in the family, for O₂ control on top of HD, step up to H3565-180HDO2.
Optional IncuView LCI (Live Cell Imaging). With the optional H3565-180-LCI integrated microscope shelf (sold separately), the H3565-180HD becomes a live-cell-imaging instrument, internal microscope and large external display let cells be viewed without removal from the incubator, eliminating temperature fluctuations and contamination risk inherent in external-microscope cell-checking. Cells viewed locally on the integrated display, or remotely via a wifi-enabled phone, tablet, or computer (Windows-only for remote viewing).
Patent-pending IncuView LCI technology is the differentiator for SureTherm in the CO₂ incubator market, first-to-market integrated live-cell-imaging at this price tier.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the "HD" in H3565-180HD mean? High Heat Decontamination, a high-heat cycle that thermally decontaminates the chamber between use periods or after a suspected contamination event, without manual disassembly.
What is the chamber volume and temperature uniformity? 180 L chamber with ±0.1 °C temperature uniformity, achieved via a six-sided heating system plus a low-speed internal fan; range is ambient +5 °C to 60 °C.
Can the H3565-180HD do live-cell imaging? Yes, with the optional H3565-180-LCI IncuView integrated microscope shelf (sold separately), which lets cells be viewed without removal from the incubator.
How does the H3565-180HD compare to the other SureTherm 180 L models? The base H3565-180 ($9,717.00) has no HD or O₂ control; the H3565-180HD ($9,717) adds High Heat Decontamination; the H3565-180HDO2 ($13,429) adds O₂ control for hypoxia/hyperoxia studies.
Is CO₂ supply included? No, the CO₂ gas cylinder, regulator, and tubing are not included and are typically supplied from existing facility CO₂ infrastructure.
Ordering & Configuration
Standard configuration. The H3565-180HD ships with the instrument, internal shelving, CO₂-port hardware, 120 V US power cord, operator's manual, and packaging materials. CO₂ supply (gas cylinder, regulator, tubing) is not included, typically supplied from existing facility CO₂ infrastructure.
Optional accessories:
- H3565-180-LCI: IncuView Integrated Microscope Shelf for 180 L SureTherm (live-cell imaging upgrade; works with H3565-180, H3565-180HD, and H3565-180HDO2)
Family alternatives:
- H3565-45: 45 L SureTherm CO₂ Incubator (smaller chamber, lower price)
- H3565-180: Base 180 L SureTherm CO₂ Incubator (no HD, no O₂ control)
- H3565-180HDO2: Top-tier 180 L with HD + O₂ Control (for hypoxia / hyperoxia studies; $13,429)
Use the quote request to specify: voltage and plug type, IncuView LCI inclusion (and confirm Windows compatibility for remote viewing if desired), CO₂ infrastructure availability at install (regulator + tubing + cylinder), training (one-day on-site typical for cell-culture-incubator commissioning), and lead time. Pre-installation site survey typical for first-time SureTherm install where CO₂ infrastructure isn't already in place.
Warranty: Manufacturer's standard Benchmark Scientific warranty applies. Service network covers HD-cycle calibration and IncuView LCI shelf integration.
SureTherm 180L family selection:
- H3565-180 ($9,717.00): base 180 L CO₂ incubator without HD or O₂ control
- H3565-180HD ($9,717): 180 L with High Heat Decontamination (this product)
- H3565-180HDO2 ($13,429): 180 L with HD + O₂ Control for hypoxia / hyperoxia studies
The HD variant earns its premium when periodic chamber decontamination is part of the workflow, multi-user cores, contamination-prone protocols, or facilities where downtime from manual decontamination is operationally costly.
