The Polar50 walk-in chamber at Source BioScience's facility in Rochdale, UK.Photo courtesy of Source BioScience

Researchers hoping to replicate Antarctic temperatures for their facility’s cold storage needs are in luck. Today (Feb. 3), Source BioScience, an international laboratory services and products business, launched the Polar 50, the world’s first -70°C walk-in chamber. 

World-famous polar explorer Sir Ranulph Fiennes, familiar with -70°C temperatures as the first person to cross Antarctica by foot, among other achievements, spoke at the Polar 50’s launch. 

Source BioScience CEO Dr Nick Ash, Mayoress Coun Cecile Biant, legendary explorer Sir Ranulph Fiennes, and Mayor Coun Surinder Biant.Photo courtesy of Source BioScience“With his unparalleled experience of the coldest places on Earth, who better to appreciate the impact that our -70°C walk-in chamber could have on research groups involved with polar studies,” Source BioScience CEO Dr. Nick Ash said of Fiennes in a press release. 

Installed at the company’s facility in Rochdale, UK, the chamber is also the first in Source BioScience’s new Polar Series and is aimed towards both industrial and research settings. The storage solution features a high-efficiency insulated enclosure, with an internal volume of 50m³, and is supported with 100 percent operational redundancy on key components. It’s also been designed for easy installation in any manufacturing or storage facility. 

Though developing a walk-in chamber that can consistently operate at -70°C was a challenge, Keith Parkes, manufacturing director at Source BioScience, said the team is pleased with the results. 

“Engineering equipment which will operate within and maintain a large storage void at -70°C has been a challenging process, requiring close coordination between the groups involved in bringing this to fruition,” Parkes said. “Various operational elements have been built to maintain the low temperature conditions, interface with the key components, and fit within our storage facility.” 

Whilst the project has been extremely challenging, as a team we have delivered a unique engineering solution which will meet the needs of our customers looking to store products at ultra-low temperatures.”