Eppendorf New Brunswick S41i CO2 Incubator Shaker
The Eppendorf New Brunswick S41i CO2 Incubator Shaker is a specialized cell culture system that combines controlled CO2 incubation and orbital shaking in a single 170 L chamber. Designed for suspension mammalian cell culture, protein expression, viral vector research, bioreactor seed preparation, microcarrier culture, and other demanding cell culture applications, the S41i provides laboratories with a compact alternative to placing a conventional orbital shaker inside a separate CO2 incubator.
A heavy-duty New Brunswick triple-eccentric counterbalanced drive provides stable orbital motion from 25 to 400 rpm with a 1-inch orbit. At the same time, the chamber maintains a controlled environment from ambient +4°C to 50°C with CO2 control from 0.2% to 20%. A removable perforated shelf allows researchers to perform static and shaking cell culture simultaneously under the same environmental conditions.
This combination makes the S41i especially valuable for laboratories working with CHO, HEK293, Vero, hybridoma, stem cell, microcarrier, viral vector, and recombinant protein workflows. Instead of dedicating separate pieces of equipment to suspension and adherent culture, researchers can consolidate multiple workflows into one controlled chamber.
The seamless stainless steel interior, inner glass door, integrated 120°C high-temperature disinfection routine, onboard data logging, touchscreen controls, and compact stackable design further distinguish the S41i from conventional incubated orbital shakers.
This Eppendorf New Brunswick S41i is available used and refurbished from American Instrument Exchange. AIE technicians clean and test temperature-controlled equipment prior to shipment, and this unit includes a 90-day warranty from American Instrument Exchange.
Key Features
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Integrated CO2 incubator and orbital shaker
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170 L / 6.0 cu. ft. chamber capacity
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25–400 rpm shaking range for a single unit
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1-inch / 2.5 cm orbit
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14 × 24-inch shaking platform
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Ambient +4°C to 50°C temperature range
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±0.1°C temperature stability at 37°C
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0.2% to 20% CO2 control range
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±0.2% CO2 stability at 5% CO2
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New Brunswick triple-eccentric counterbalanced drive
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Perforated shelf for simultaneous static incubation
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Supports flasks and other compatible vessels up to 5 L
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Integrated 120°C high-temperature disinfection routine
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Seamless stainless steel chamber
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Inner glass door
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Onboard data logging and alarm monitoring
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Can be installed under a bench, on the floor, or double stacked
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120V electrical configuration
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Used and refurbished by American Instrument Exchange
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90-day AIE warranty
Overview
The New Brunswick S41i addresses a challenge that arises frequently in mammalian cell culture: suspension cultures require orbital agitation, while many laboratories also need conventional static CO2 incubation for adherent cultures.
A common approach is to place a small orbital shaker inside a conventional CO2 incubator. Although workable for some applications, this arrangement consumes valuable chamber space and introduces a separate drive system, cables, and additional components into the incubator environment.
The S41i was designed from the beginning as an integrated CO2 incubator shaker.
Its shaking mechanism is positioned beneath the chamber rather than occupying valuable internal culture space. The system combines controlled temperature, CO2, humidification, orbital agitation, and static incubation capability within one purpose-built instrument.
For cell culture laboratories trying to increase suspension culture capacity without expanding their equipment footprint, that integration is one of the S41i's most important advantages.
Key Specifications
| Specification |
Details |
| Manufacturer |
Eppendorf / New Brunswick |
| Model |
S41i |
| Equipment Type |
CO2 Incubator Shaker |
| Chamber Capacity |
170 L / 6.0 cu. ft. |
| Shaking Speed |
25–400 rpm, single unit |
| Orbit |
1 in. / 2.5 cm |
| Drive |
Triple-eccentric counterbalanced drive |
| Platform Size |
24 × 14 in. / 61 × 36 cm |
| Maximum Vessel Size |
Up to 5 L, depending on platform configuration |
| Temperature Range |
Ambient +4°C to 50°C |
| Temperature Control Increment |
±0.1°C |
| Temperature Stability |
±0.1°C at 37°C |
| Temperature Uniformity |
±0.25°C at 37°C in flask media |
| Temperature Accuracy |
±0.2°C |
| CO2 Range |
0.2% to 20% |
| CO2 Control Increment |
±0.1% |
| CO2 Stability |
±0.2% at 5% CO2 |
| CO2 Uniformity |
±0.1% |
| Standard Shelves |
1 perforated shelf |
| Maximum Shelves |
2 |
| High-Temperature Disinfection |
120°C |
| Inner Door |
Sealed glass |
| Chamber |
Seamless stainless steel |
| Data Logging |
Onboard |
| BMS Relay |
Standard |
| Access Port |
1 |
| Memory |
Nonvolatile with automatic restart after power failure |
| Motor |
Solid-state DC brushless |
| External Dimensions |
34.4"W × 28.7"D × 33.5"H |
| Depth with Door Open |
Approx. 57 in. |
| AIE Interior Dimensions |
Approx. 27"W × 17.5"D × 21"H |
| Manufacturer Weight |
Approx. 340 lb. / 154 kg |
| Electrical |
120V ±10%, 50/60 Hz |
| Installation |
Under bench, floor, or double stacked |
| Condition |
Used / Refurbished |
| AIE Warranty |
90 Days |
Common Applications
The S41i is designed primarily for cell culture workflows that benefit from controlled CO2, temperature, humidity, and orbital agitation. Common uses include suspension mammalian cell culture, recombinant protein expression, viral vector research, bioreactor inoculum preparation, cell line development, microcarrier culture, hybridoma work, and scale-up studies.
The integrated shelf also allows static adherent cultures to be maintained in the same chamber, making the S41i useful for laboratories transitioning cells between adherent and suspension workflows or supporting several stages of a cell culture process.
Ideal Laboratory Types
The New Brunswick S41i is especially well suited for biotechnology companies, biopharmaceutical research laboratories, cell and gene therapy groups, viral vector development laboratories, vaccine research facilities, academic cell biology laboratories, protein expression groups, process development laboratories, and shared cell culture facilities.
Its medium-capacity footprint can be particularly attractive to growing laboratories that need more suspension culture capability but are not ready for a larger floor-standing incubator shaker or dedicated bioreactor suite.
Integrated CO2 Incubation & Orbital Shaking
The defining advantage of the S41i is that shaking and CO2 incubation are engineered as one system.
A standard open-air orbital shaker cannot independently provide the elevated CO2 atmosphere required by many mammalian cell cultures. Placing one inside a traditional CO2 incubator can provide a workable environment, but the shaker consumes chamber volume and adds equipment inside an area that laboratories generally want to keep as simple and easy to clean as possible.
The S41i integrates the orbital drive below the chamber. This preserves internal culture space and keeps the drive mechanism away from the controlled chamber environment.
Researchers therefore get the environmental characteristics of a CO2 incubator and the mixing characteristics of an orbital shaker without combining two unrelated pieces of equipment.
Suspension Mammalian Cell Culture
Suspension-adapted mammalian cell lines are widely used for recombinant protein production, antibody research, viral vector production, vaccine development, and other biotechnology applications.
The S41i provides the combination of orbital agitation and CO2 control needed for many of these cultures.
Eppendorf specifically identifies CHO, HEK293, and Vero cell expansion among the applications for the S41i.
Orbital shaking helps keep cells suspended while improving gas and nutrient transfer through the culture medium. The controlled CO2 environment helps maintain the appropriate conditions for bicarbonate-buffered mammalian cell culture media.
CHO Cell Culture & Protein Expression
Chinese hamster ovary cells are among the most important mammalian expression systems used in biotechnology and biopharmaceutical research.
Suspension-adapted CHO cultures are commonly grown in shake flasks during early process development, clone screening, media optimization, seed expansion, and preparation for transfer into larger bioreactors.
The S41i allows laboratories to maintain these cultures under controlled CO2 and temperature conditions while providing repeatable orbital agitation.
This makes it a strong platform for laboratories working on recombinant proteins, monoclonal antibodies, process development, and other CHO-based research.
HEK293 Cell Culture
HEK293 and related cell lines are widely used for transient protein expression and viral vector research.
Suspension-adapted HEK293 cultures can require controlled agitation to maintain cells in suspension and support adequate gas exchange.
The S41i's combination of CO2 incubation and orbital shaking makes it well suited for shake-flask expansion of these cultures during research and process-development workflows.
Viral Vector Research
Eppendorf specifically identifies viral vector production, including adenoviral, AAV, and lentiviral workflows, among potential applications for the S41i.
Cell and gene therapy laboratories frequently need to expand mammalian host cells before transfection, infection, vector production, or downstream processing.
An incubator shaker can support the shake-flask stages of these workflows while maintaining controlled temperature and CO2 conditions.
The S41i should be considered part of the upstream culture process rather than a complete viral vector production system; actual process suitability depends on the cell line, vessel, media, biosafety requirements, and validated laboratory protocol.
Bioreactor Inoculum Preparation
Before a production or process-development bioreactor can be inoculated, cells often need to be expanded through progressively larger culture volumes.
Shake flasks provide a convenient intermediate step between smaller cultures and larger bioreactor vessels.
The S41i can support this seed-train process by providing controlled environmental conditions for multiple shake flasks, helping laboratories prepare consistent inoculum for subsequent bioreactor stages.
Microcarrier Cell Culture
Not all cells naturally grow in suspension.
Microcarriers provide attachment surfaces that can allow certain adherent cell types to be cultured in agitated systems.
Eppendorf identifies microcarrier-based cultivation of sensitive cells, including mesenchymal stem cells and induced pluripotent stem cells, among potential S41i applications.
Microcarrier culture requires careful optimization of agitation, vessel geometry, cell type, medium, and process conditions. The adjustable 25–400 rpm speed range gives researchers flexibility for developing appropriate agitation parameters.
Simultaneous Static & Shaking Culture
One of the S41i's most commercially useful features is its perforated shelf.
The shelf allows static cultures to occupy part of the chamber while suspension cultures are shaken on the orbital platform below.
A laboratory could therefore maintain appropriate adherent cultures on the shelf while operating shake-flask cultures under the same temperature and CO2 conditions.
This flexibility can be valuable for cell line adaptation, hybridoma work, parallel cell culture experiments, and laboratories supporting both adherent and suspension cell culture.
25–400 rpm Shaking Range
A single S41i provides a shaking range of 25 to 400 rpm.
The broad range gives researchers flexibility to adjust agitation according to vessel size, fill volume, cell line, oxygen-transfer requirements, and experimental protocol.
Lower speeds may be appropriate for sensitive cells or certain large-volume vessels, while higher speeds can provide more vigorous mixing in suitable smaller vessels.
Shaking speed should always be optimized for the specific vessel and biological process rather than selected solely on the basis of the instrument's maximum capability.
1-Inch Orbital Motion
The S41i uses a 1-inch / 2.5 cm orbit.
Orbit diameter is an important factor in shaker performance because it affects liquid movement, mixing, gas transfer, and the amount of energy transferred into the culture.
The 1-inch orbit is a common choice for biological shake-flask applications and supports a broad range of culture vessels.
When transferring a process from another shaker, both rpm and orbit diameter should be considered because matching rpm alone does not necessarily reproduce the same mixing conditions.
New Brunswick Triple-Eccentric Drive
The S41i uses the New Brunswick triple-eccentric counterbalanced drive system, a design developed specifically for demanding orbital shaking applications.
Rather than relying on a lightweight orbital mechanism, the triple-eccentric design uses multiple weight-supporting shafts to distribute loads and maintain stable platform motion.
This is especially important when operating larger flasks or running the shaker continuously for extended cell culture periods.
The drive is located beneath the culture chamber and connected to the shaking platform by encapsulated rods, helping isolate drive-generated heat and mechanical components from the controlled chamber environment.
14 × 24-Inch Platform
The shaking platform measures approximately 14 × 24 inches.
Platform configuration determines the actual number and size of culture vessels that can be installed.
Eppendorf offers universal and dedicated platform configurations for a variety of flask sizes, including platforms designed for 125 mL, 250 mL, 500 mL, 1 L, 2 L, 2.8 L, and 4 L flasks.
The current manufacturer information also identifies compatibility with vessels up to 5 L depending on the appropriate platform and clamp configuration.
Customers should confirm the platform and clamps included with the specific refurbished S41i before purchase.
Flask Capacity & Vessel Flexibility
The S41i can support a wide range of shake flasks, tubes, plates, and other compatible culture vessels.
Eppendorf cites capacity examples of up to ten 1 L Erlenmeyer flasks and compatibility with vessels as large as 5 L.
Actual capacity depends on flask geometry, clamp arrangement, platform type, fill volume, and required clearance.
For laboratories purchasing the S41i for a specific cell culture process, American Instrument Exchange can help confirm the platform and accessory configuration of the available unit.
Temperature Control
The S41i operates from ambient +4°C to 50°C, covering the temperatures commonly required for mammalian cell culture and many related biological applications.
Temperature stability is specified at ±0.1°C at 37°C, with temperature uniformity of approximately ±0.25°C at 37°C in flask media under specified manufacturer conditions.
Stable temperature is important because mammalian cells can be sensitive to environmental changes over multi-day culture periods.
The S41i's integrated design allows the shaker and incubator to function as one temperature-controlled system rather than introducing a separate heat-generating shaker into a conventional incubator chamber.
CO2 Control
The S41i provides CO2 control from 0.2% to 20%.
At a typical 5% CO2 setpoint, Eppendorf specifies stability of ±0.2% and CO2 uniformity of ±0.1%.
Controlled CO2 is essential for many mammalian cell culture media that use bicarbonate buffering to maintain physiological pH.
Because the shaker is built directly into the incubator, suspension cultures can receive orbital agitation while remaining in the same controlled CO2 environment expected from a dedicated mammalian cell culture incubator.
Humidified Cell Culture Environment
The S41i uses a stainless steel humidity pan to support a humidified chamber environment.
Humidity helps reduce evaporation from cell culture vessels during extended incubation, particularly when cultures are maintained for multiple days.
Researchers should still use appropriate vessel closures, fill volumes, and culture practices for their specific application.
Inner Glass Door
A sealed inner glass door allows researchers to inspect cultures without immediately opening the entire chamber to room air.
This can help reduce disturbances to temperature and CO2 conditions during routine visual checks.
The double-door arrangement can also help limit unnecessary CO2 consumption and provides additional protection for light-sensitive culture media.
120°C High-Temperature Disinfection
The S41i incorporates an integrated high-temperature disinfection routine reaching 120°C.
This feature is designed to simplify routine chamber decontamination between culture campaigns.
It is especially valuable in mammalian cell culture laboratories where contamination by bacteria, fungi, yeast, or other unwanted organisms can compromise experiments and cause substantial loss of time and material.
The high-temperature cycle should be viewed as an instrument disinfection feature rather than a substitute for validated sterilization of culture vessels, media, or laboratory materials.
Seamless Stainless Steel Chamber
The internal chamber is constructed with smooth stainless steel surfaces designed to simplify cleaning.
Eppendorf specifically minimizes internal components that can create difficult-to-clean areas. The shaker drive itself is located below the chamber rather than occupying the culture environment.
This reduces the number of exposed drive components, cables, heating elements, and mechanical assemblies within the chamber.
For cell culture laboratories, easier cleaning can translate into faster turnaround between experiments and a more manageable contamination-control routine.
Touchscreen Controls & Data Monitoring
The S41i provides touchscreen-based monitoring and control of critical operating parameters.
Users can review environmental conditions, change settings, access alarms, view trend information, and perform basic troubleshooting through the controller.
Onboard data logging provides a historical record of operating conditions, helping researchers identify temperature, CO2, alarm, or door-opening events that may have occurred during a culture period.
Alarm & Sample Protection Features
The S41i includes audible and visual alarms designed to alert users to operating conditions requiring attention.
The instrument also uses nonvolatile memory with automatic restart following a power interruption.
These features can be valuable for cell culture experiments that run continuously over several days.
As with any incubator or shaker used for valuable biological samples, laboratories should consider independent monitoring and facility alarm procedures appropriate to the importance of the cultures being maintained.
S41i vs. a Shaker Inside a CO2 Incubator
A small shaker placed inside a traditional CO2 incubator can provide basic orbital agitation, but it also consumes valuable chamber space and introduces an additional motor, power connection, platform, and mechanical assembly into the incubation environment.
The S41i is purpose-built for the application.
Its drive is integrated beneath the chamber, its environmental controls are designed around shaking cell culture, and the remaining shelf space can still be used for static incubation.
For laboratories regularly performing suspension mammalian cell culture, this integrated approach can provide a cleaner and more space-efficient long-term solution.
S41i vs. a Standard Incubated Shaker
A conventional incubated orbital shaker can control temperature and agitation but typically does not provide the controlled CO2 atmosphere required for many mammalian cell culture applications.
That makes standard incubated shakers particularly useful for bacterial, yeast, and other microbial cultures but less appropriate for bicarbonate-buffered mammalian culture workflows that require elevated CO2.
The S41i fills this gap by combining the orbital mechanics of a New Brunswick shaker with the environmental controls of a CO2 incubator.
Medium-Throughput Cell Culture in a Compact Footprint
At 170 L, the S41i occupies an important position between small benchtop shaking solutions and much larger floor-standing incubator shakers.
It can fit under an appropriate bench, operate as a floor-standing system, or be configured in a two-unit stack.
This flexibility makes the S41i attractive for growing biotechnology laboratories where floor space is expensive and cell culture throughput is increasing.
Instead of adding separate CO2 incubators and orbital shakers, a laboratory can consolidate both functions into a comparatively compact footprint.
Stacking for Increased Capacity
Two S41i units can be stacked to increase culture capacity without doubling the floor-space requirement.
Eppendorf specifies different maximum shaking speeds for stacked operation depending on whether the unit is installed in the upper or lower position, so customers planning a stacked configuration should follow the manufacturer's stacking and speed requirements.
The AIE listing covered by this description is sold as a single chamber unless otherwise specified.
Refurbishment & Testing by American Instrument Exchange
A CO2 incubator shaker requires more extensive evaluation than a simple orbital shaker because both environmental and mechanical systems must operate properly.
American Instrument Exchange tests temperature-controlled equipment using calibrated monitoring equipment to verify temperature controls and readouts. Technicians inspect the unit, replace hardware or components as necessary, clean the equipment thoroughly, and confirm proper operation before shipment.
For an S41i, the combination of temperature control, CO2 control, shaker operation, controller function, alarms, doors, and general mechanical condition is important to the overall performance of the instrument.
Customers with particular testing requirements can discuss them with American Instrument Exchange prior to shipment.
Refurbished Eppendorf New Brunswick S41i from American Instrument Exchange
A refurbished S41i can be an especially compelling purchase because integrated CO2 incubator shakers represent a significant capital investment when purchased new.
For laboratories expanding cell culture capacity, buying a properly tested refurbished system can free capital for additional equipment, reagents, personnel, or other laboratory priorities while still providing access to a sophisticated cell culture platform.
American Instrument Exchange supplies refurbished incubator shakers along with CO2 incubators, orbital shakers, centrifuges, biosafety cabinets, laboratory refrigerators, freezers, ultra-low freezers, and other equipment commonly used in cell culture laboratories.
This S41i includes a 90-day warranty from American Instrument Exchange.
Shipping & Installation
The S41i measures approximately 34.4"W × 28.7"D × 33.5"H and weighs approximately 340 lb. according to Eppendorf's current specifications. The depth increases to approximately 57 inches when the front door is fully open.
Because of its weight and operating requirements, laboratories should plan placement before delivery. Adequate space is required for door operation, ventilation, electrical connection, CO2 supply, and access to the chamber.
The U.S. configuration operates on 120V ±10%, 50/60 Hz power. A regulated CO2 supply is also required.
American Instrument Exchange can discuss shipping and installation considerations before purchase.
Related Equipment
Cell culture laboratories using the Eppendorf New Brunswick S41i frequently require complementary equipment including biosafety cabinets for appropriate aseptic cell culture work, centrifuges for cell harvesting, CO2 incubators for additional static cultures, orbital shakers, laboratory refrigerators, -20°C freezers, ultra-low temperature freezers, cryogenic storage systems, and other sample preparation and storage equipment.
American Instrument Exchange supplies used, refurbished, and new laboratory equipment for biotechnology, biopharmaceutical, cell and gene therapy, academic research, pharmaceutical, and other life science laboratories.
Eppendorf New Brunswick S41i CO2 Incubator Shaker FAQs
What is the Eppendorf New Brunswick S41i?
The S41i is an integrated CO2 incubator shaker that combines controlled temperature, CO2 incubation, humidity, orbital shaking, and static incubation capability in one 170 L chamber.
What is the shaking speed range?
Eppendorf specifies 25–400 rpm for a single S41i.
What is the orbital diameter?
The S41i uses a 1-inch / 2.5 cm orbit.
What size is the shaking platform?
The platform measures approximately 24 × 14 inches.
What is the temperature range?
The S41i operates from ambient +4°C to 50°C.
How stable is the temperature?
Eppendorf specifies temperature stability of ±0.1°C at 37°C.
What is the CO2 range?
The S41i controls CO2 from 0.2% to 20%.
How stable is CO2 control?
At a 5% CO2 setpoint, Eppendorf specifies stability of ±0.2%.
Can the S41i be used for mammalian cell culture?
Yes. Mammalian suspension cell culture is one of the primary applications for the S41i.
Can it be used for CHO cells?
Yes. Eppendorf specifically identifies expansion of suspension mammalian cell lines such as CHO among S41i applications.
Can the S41i be used for HEK293 cells?
Yes. Suspension HEK293 cell expansion is an important potential application, including workflows related to protein expression and viral vector research.
Is the S41i suitable for viral vector research?
Yes. Eppendorf identifies adenoviral, AAV, and lentiviral vector production workflows among potential applications. Actual suitability depends on the complete process and laboratory biosafety requirements.
Can it be used to prepare inoculum for a bioreactor?
Yes. Shake-flask expansion and bioreactor inoculum preparation are well suited to an incubator shaker such as the S41i.
Can the S41i support microcarrier culture?
Yes. Eppendorf identifies microcarrier cultivation of sensitive cells, including MSCs and iPSCs, among potential applications. Culture conditions must be optimized for the specific cell and microcarrier system.
Can static cultures be incubated at the same time as shaking cultures?
Yes. A perforated shelf allows compatible static cultures to be maintained above the shaking platform.
How many shelves are included?
Eppendorf specifies one perforated shelf as standard, with capacity for up to two shelves.
What is the largest flask size the S41i can accommodate?
Eppendorf's current product information identifies compatibility with culture vessels up to 5 L, depending on platform and accessory configuration.
How many 1 L flasks can it hold?
Eppendorf gives an example capacity of up to ten 1 L Erlenmeyer flasks with an appropriate platform configuration.
Does the S41i have a high-temperature disinfection cycle?
Yes. It incorporates an integrated 120°C high-temperature disinfection routine for chamber decontamination.
Does high-temperature disinfection sterilize laboratory materials?
The 120°C cycle is intended for disinfection of the incubator chamber. It should not be treated as a substitute for an autoclave or a validated sterilization process for laboratory materials.
Does the S41i provide humidity?
Yes. The system includes a stainless steel humidity pan to support a humidified culture environment.
Does it have a glass inner door?
Yes. A sealed glass inner door allows cultures to be viewed while limiting unnecessary disturbance of the controlled chamber environment.
Can the S41i be stacked?
Yes. Two S41i units can be stacked using the appropriate manufacturer configuration and stacking hardware.
Can the S41i fit under a laboratory bench?
Eppendorf identifies the S41i for under-bench, floor-standing, or stacked installation where the facility provides appropriate clearance and utilities.
What are the dimensions?
The current manufacturer specification is approximately 34.4"W × 28.7"D × 33.5"H.
How much does the S41i weigh?
Eppendorf's current specification lists approximately 340 lb. / 154 kg.
What electrical service does this unit require?
The U.S. configuration is specified for 120V ±10%, 50/60 Hz.
Is this Eppendorf New Brunswick S41i available refurbished?
Yes. American Instrument Exchange offers this S41i used and refurbished.
What warranty is included?
The current AIE listing includes a 90-day warranty.
