#1 Pull-out tray

The pull-out-tray of the Multitron is an amazing feat of design and excellent engineering in its own right.  It is the answer to problems most users are only too aware of, including: 

– A large tray loaded with high-capacity flasks and nowhere to put it down after taking it from the incubation chanber
– The need to change just one flask at the rear of the tray with no clear access
– Not physically being able to pick up the tray and move it due to its weight and size

The front-opening door provides a platform for  the pull-out tray solving all the issues listed above.  The tray is secure, accessible from all angles and does not need to be totally removed for loading and unloading. Add to that the simplicity of part-opening the door to stop the shaker action and have it resume automatically when the door is closed again. No wonder this is beyond a «nice to have» and has become  a «love to have» for many users.

#2 High capacity

Getting more done for less and with less is always going to be popluar. The Multitron combines a compact outside with a spacious inside to give the most «bangs per buck». Even the saving in laboratory space per flask can be taken into account. The capacity equation can have several elements as listed below, and the saving in laboratory space per flask is notable when used either singularly or in combination: 

• The use of flasks up to 5L in size, allowing many litres of culture to be grown, espcially when high-density flasks with larger capacity are used. This makes limited production in shake flasks possible for e.g. Phase 1 clinical trail material.
• Increased number of shake flasks, depending on tray size / type and the use of adhesive matting which can allow for strategic placement of additional flasks. 
• Special tray designs (e.g. for screening), can take the capacity of a Multitron for screening work into the range of several thousand wells per experiment. Plates can be stacked with spacers to allow good air circulation and humidity control will stop the wells losing volume due to evaporation.

The more capacity per run, the quicker results can be obtained and for lower cost, labour and resources.

#3  Ease of cleaning

The tedious but essential job of cleaning up after a spill or as part of a routine maintenance will eliminate problems such as contamination or corrosion. The Multitron reduces the effort of dealing with spills and the hygienic design minimises the chances of the evil twins mentioned above. The key guidelines to safeguard against a messy situation are:

• Antimicrobial coating for cell versions to lessen the risk of contamination
• Easy to move (for cleaning) to get behind a stacked unit with no fuss
• Corrosion resistance to minimize damage from the occasional spill or a humid environment
• Easy access under the shaking platform with a sealed base which can be washed out and drained

The job of cleaning up may not be loved by many, but any mitigation of the work and time involved has to be deserving of affection.

#4 Ease of access to the top deck

A triple stacked incubator shaker is big. Often, adding a third deck places the shake flasks in the top deck out of reach for users below a certeain height and physical strength. Rather than having to use a kick-stool, ladder (or tame orang utang), the Multitron takes a different approach, which the majority of triple stack users have come to appreciate and love: A comfortable working height accessible by the majority, and lower than that of the competition. 

# 5 Green sticky stuff

Ok, so this last one precedes the Multitron launch by a decade or so, but we could not go without mentioning Sticky Stuff. The days of fixed clamps or removable versions needing a screwdriver and a lot of patience are mostly gone.  The sheer capacity of the Mulitron and it’s flexibility allows for multiple users to share a deck at any given speed and temperature. The sticky stuff will easily handle:

• Glass or plastic Erlenmeyer flasks
• Test tube racks
• Micro- and Deep-Well-Plates
• Boxes to lessen evaoporation losses
• Anything with a flat, dry base

Add up to the talents of green sticky that it can be washed, lasts for a long time and is easily replaced to get the recipe for user satisfaction and contentment.

The future:

The ever-changing world of biotechnology means giving users even more to love in future. The latest iteration of Multitron adds even more features that the current and next generation of users will want to add to their wish list, including: 

• Network capability for integration with bioprocess software, automating changes in the phases of growth
• Incorporating data into wider knowledge-based systems and increase automation of processes and their optimisation
• Better growth with refinement of parameter control, such as stronger motors and two-way humidification
• Better control of contamination with filters, UV lighting and easy-clean surfaces