When Standard Isn’t Enough: Custom Modifications in the Lab and the Memmert m360 Programme
Laboratory professionals know well that off-the-shelf instruments don’t cover every specific task. Every lab has unique requirements – sometimes you need a tailored modification so the device perfectly fits the application. Memmert, a leading manufacturer of climate chambers, incubators and related equipment, launched the m360 programme to deliver custom modifications and develop special solutions based on user needs. This article explains why customisation is sometimes essential, what the m360 programme includes, and highlights HPPCeco-AMI – a climate chamber with integrated automated microscopy. We also mention other successful modifications and outline the added value we provide in this process.
Why do we sometimes need custom modifications?
Standard lab equipment is designed to cover a wide range of uses, yet in practice you often need to adapt it to a very specific purpose. It may be a minor tweak – e.g. adding a non-standard sensor, a wall feed-through, dedicated software – or a more fundamental change to the device’s construction or function. Such adjustments make tasks feasible that would otherwise be difficult or impossible. For long-term tests of sensitive samples inside a climate chamber, you might need to continuously track microbiological changes; removing samples regularly would disturb the controlled conditions and could compromise the integrity of the experiment. There are many similar scenarios and experienced users know that customisation is sometimes the only way to achieve the desired outcome.
In recent years, manufacturers of laboratory technology have seen rising demand for individual solutions. Memmert reports strong growth in requests for custom-built temperature and climate technology. The m360 programme is a response to this trend, focusing on developing one-of-a-kind systems based on customer requirements. This lets labs avoid compromises and get exactly the instrument they need.
Memmert m360 – bespoke solutions
Memmert created the m360 programme to address growing demand for user-specific adaptations. For example, HPPeco climate chambers and IPPeco incubators use energy-efficient Peltier technology for precise temperature and humidity control. These proven standard devices often serve as a platform for individual modifications within m360.
Memmert m360 operates as a dedicated division/label focused solely on custom solutions and modifications of standard products. The m360 engineering team in Germany works closely with customers and partners to design the right setup for each application. The programme’s spirit is simple: “Solutions for you!”
With m360, both simple adaptations of serial Memmert units and highly complex high-tech systems are possible. This may involve small construction changes or special accessories, or the full development of a brand-new device. The goal is to build products that don’t yet exist on the market, in close collaboration with the user – every detail is defined by the application. The m360 team also follows the latest trends, such as lab automation, to deliver innovation ahead of demand.
The outcome is a set of unique instruments, some of which proved so successful that Memmert added them to its offering as a separate m360 series. Examples include the cooled vacuum oven VOcool and the universal oven variant UFP800DW configured for laboratory glass drying. These devices originated as bespoke builds and were later offered more broadly to users with similar needs.
HPPCeco-AMI – climate chamber with automated microscopy
One of the most compelling outcomes of m360 is HPPCeco-AMI. It combines a constant-climate HPPeco chamber (with Peltier cooling) and an Automated Microscopic Imaging system. This breakthrough allows continuous microscopic observation of samples directly inside the chamber during ongoing tests. Users no longer need to remove samples for microscopy, minimising contamination risk and environmental fluctuations. HPPCeco-AMI enables long-term sample monitoring in controlled conditions – hands-off, with minimal room for error.
Inside the Memmert HPPeco chamber, a high-resolution Opto microscopy module captures images during the test. This makes it possible to evaluate, for instance, cell growth with
