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Ultra-Low Freezers in Life Sciences: Roles, Price, Challenges and the U701V
Nov
What is the role of an ultra-low freezer?
Ultra-low temperature freezers (also called “ULT”) are medical cold chain devices that have become essential in the life sciences sectors, where precise ultra-low storage conditions are required for delicate biological samples, reagents, and materials central to drug development and stringent quality control processes. These freezers, designed to maintain temperatures around -80°C, create an environment that ensures the stability, reliability, and integrity of chemical compounds and biological substances, many of which are incredibly sensitive to even minor temperature changes.
Ultra-low freezers are essential in various applications within life sciences sectors, particularly for their role in supporting long-term studies and experimental consistency.
Typical temperature range: -40°C to -86°C, but why?
Molecular biology
For research involving cell lines, DNA, RNA, enzymes, and other biological products, ultra-low temperatures prevent molecular degradation and enzymatic activity that could otherwise alter experimental results over time.
Drug development
In the field of drug development, these units store critical reagents and intermediates, helping ensure that each stage of drug formulation and testing is consistent, accurate, and unaffected by variables such as temperature fluctuations.
Clinical & Research
In clinical and research settings and because they are often collected over years of pricey research, it is of the upmost importance to protect high-value biological samples so that they remain viable for future analysis or testing.
The price of an ultra-low temperature freezer: a sustainable challenge!
Traditional ULT freezers have a high energy demand due to the continuous and intense cooling required to maintain ultra-low temperatures ranges, which not only has financial implications but also poses challenges for institutions committed to sustainability.
Recognizing these issues, B Medical Systems has developed a new ultra-low freezer that balances both energy efficiency with exceptional performance.
Introducing the U701V
Energy efficiency as a goal
The U701V offers innovative features that balance requirements for intensive use of the unit with a reliable performance. With its variable speed compressors, it can conserve energy while enhancing temperature uniformity within the freezer more efficiently than traditional ULT freezers with fixed-speed compressors.
The U701V also operates quietly, providing a more comfortable working environment.
Overall, its energy-efficient design lowers the total cost of ownership, making it a sustainable investment for laboratories aiming to cut costs and reduce their environmental footprint.
Natural hydrocarbon refrigerants
In addition to energy efficiency, the U701V utilizes natural hydrocarbon refrigerants, significantly lowering its environmental impact. This aligns the freezer with global sustainability goals and ensures compliance with emissions standards, supporting users in meeting regulatory requirements for environmental preservation.
Quick recovery times (DOR)
This medical cold chain solution also provides quick recovery times, maintaining the consistent ultra-low temperatures crucial for pharmaceutical samples. This capability is particularly valuable in laboratories where frequent access (and hence opening/closing of the door) is necessary, ensuring sample integrity over long storage periods.
Broad adjustable temperature range
With an adjustable temperature range from -86°C to -20°C, the unit offers flexibility for users to set the optimal storage conditions for various needs and allowing institutions with more relaxed temperature requirements to further lessen their energy consumption.
Did you know? Studies have shown that adjusting the temperature from -80°C to -70°C can further decrease energy consumption without compromising the quality of certain stored samples.
Final thoughts
The U701V’s balance of energy savings, operational cost reductions, and reduced ecological impact exemplifies B Medical Systems’ dedication to advancing technology in ways that benefit both the scientific community and the planet. As the industry moves toward greener solutions, the U701V ultra-low freezer stands out as a benchmark of what’s possible in sustainable cold storage technology, supporting the broader mission of achieving long-term progress in both research and environmental responsibility.
