Specifications of Ovens Verified by Temperature Distribution Measurement - Tim Tröndle

No direct conclusions about the reliability of the control behaviour while heating up can be drawn from the technical data on temperature stability and homogeneity as provided by the manufacturers of ovens and incubators. For this reason, the accredited service provider Testo Industrial Services was contracted to test the Memmert UFP 500 oven. The oven yielded top results for temperatures of 50°C, 150°C and 250°C and fan speeds from 0 to 100%.

An increasing number of manufacturers of ovens and incubators now proudly claim in their data sheets that their appliances are tested in accordance with DIN 12880, which has been tightened in 2007. In reality, yet all measurements were done once and do not neccesarily allow conclusions to be made about the control behaviour of an appliance over longer periods of time.

In order to reproduce processes at any given time in daily routines, however, reliability in temperatrure stability and uniformity are imperative. constant temperatures and controlling accuracy are imperative. Shortly after the introduction of the new standard, the accredited calibration lab Testo Industrial Services therefore conducted

measurements on the Memmert UFP 500 oven in accordance with the updated 12880:2007-05. These measurements clearly showed that in spite of comparable

statements of other manufacturers with respect to temperature distribution and stability, there were significant temperature deviations while heating up and in a stabilised state over longer periods of time. This indicates that several appliances on the market are in dire need of having their heating and controlling technology optimised.