Gruenberg Ships Vivarium Sterilizer with Split Line Construction to University Research Lab
Gruenberg®, a leading industrial oven and sterilizer manufacturer, announced the shipment of a truck-in style Steri-Dry® vivarium sterilizer to a leading research university. The unit will be used for dry heat sterilization of polysulfone lab animal cages. A factory cage sterility verification was performed on the unit prior to shipment and after installation at the customer’s facility.
This Steri-Dry® unit was built using a split-line construction, divided into six (6) sections with interior joining flanges, to accommodate the customer’s move-in restrictions. This modular design is well suited for universities and research facilities with narrow doorways and elevators because no structural modifications are needed for installation.
The vivarium sterilizer features a maximum temperature rating of 400° F, interior chambers with dimensions of 44” W x 94” D x 84” H, and the capacity to accommodate two (2) load carts. To protect the chamber interior, bumper rails are installed along the length of the work chamber and across the rear wall to prevent the loading truck from damaging the side air duct walls. The unit’s plate floor has beveled front edges for a smooth transition when loading trucks are moving in and out of the chamber.
The sterilizer is designed for pass-through operation, featuring doors with viewing windows on both ends to streamline the loading and unloading process. Each door utilizes an automatic pneumatic lock that functions according to operational modes and in the event of an electrical failure, both doors will automatically unlock. For added safety, an interior door lock override cable is installed in the work chamber. When pulled, it immediately shuts down the system and unlocks the doors. Additionally, door switches are installed to de-energize the heating and circulation systems when the oven doors are opened, preventing hot air from escaping during the heating cycle.
The control panel is UL508A certified and features a touchscreen operator interface equipped with Ethernet connectivity, data logging, and recipe management for precise temperature control. The interface is powered by an Allen Bradley Micro850 PLC and includes dual 10" operator screens to enhance usability. A thermal printer, mounted directly on the panel, is included for event logging purposes. The Steri-Dry® unit will be seamlessly integrated with the customer’s building maintenance system.
“The sterilizer utilizes two dry contacts for integration with the customer’s building maintenance system. One contact signals when the sterilizer is in cycle with low exhaust flow, while the other activates during the cooling phase with high exhaust flow. These capabilities enhance system monitoring and ensure efficient operation.” - Jason Cillo, Gruenberg Product Manager
Unique features of this Gruenberg vivarium sterilizer include:
- Split line construction for easy transport and installation in restricted spaces
- Temperature uniformity of +/- 5°F at a setpoint of 300°F
- Pass through operation design with multiple load and unload configurations
- Door viewing windows
- UL508a control panel certification
- Validated sterilization cycles at the factory and installation site
- Panel mounted thermal printer for event logging
- Dry contacts for integration with building maintenance system
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