So-Low

So-Low Environmental Equipment represents a gold standard for dependability, accuracy, and long-term durability in cold storage for scientific, medical, and industrial applications. With a history of more than six decades building American-made refrigeration and freezing equipment, the company has established a reputation for delivering high-quality cold storage solutions to the scientific community, the medical field, pharmaceutical operations, and industrial cold storage facilities.

Whether for small undercounter models suited to tight laboratory space requirements or large upright freezers and refrigerator-freezer combinations for demanding cold storage needs, the So-Low line of refrigeration and freezing equipment helps ensure the safe storage of temperature-sensitive materials with dependability and stability.

A Trusted Name in Cold Storage

So-Low Environmental Equipment Company was established in Cincinnati, Ohio in 1959 on a simple principle: to design and build reliable, high-quality cold storage equipment that meets the stringent needs of laboratory and medical professionals. Over time, the company has diversified its product range to include refrigerators and freezers suited to a wide variety of clinical and scientific practices. So-Low products are recognized worldwide for their solid build, thoughtful design, and reliable performance throughout the equipment lifespan.

Precision Laboratory Refrigerators

One of the core product lines from So-Low is its series of laboratory refrigerators, capable of maintaining temperatures between 2 degrees C and 8 degrees C, the standard range for clinical specimens, vaccines, reagents, and other biological agents that require refrigeration but not freezing.

Lab refrigeration is more than a means of cooling stored materials. So-Low laboratory refrigerators are designed to:

• Ensure consistent temperatures throughout shelves and compartments to prevent hot spots that could affect sample integrity
• Offer high and low temperature alerts, along with power failure alerts, to notify laboratory staff immediately when conditions are no longer optimal
• Feature digital control panels for accurate temperature control and adjustment
• Employ eco-friendly refrigerants that meet current regulatory requirements

Whether a facility requires glass doors for easy viewing of stored materials, solid doors for better insulation and privacy, or heavy-duty shelving for vaccine storage, So-Low offers laboratory refrigerators to meet a broad range of storage needs, including glass door refrigerators for vaccine storage and walk-in labs, solid door uprights for maximum insulation and energy efficiency, and undercounter refrigerators that fit under benches or cabinets while still providing reliable cooling.

So-Low Freezers

The freezer products offered by So-Low range from general low-temperature storage to ultra-low freeze storage for the long-term preservation of biological materials.

Standard laboratory freezers, with temperature ranges of 0 degrees C to minus 45 degrees C, are generally used where samples, reagents, or chemicals need to be frozen for storage or further analysis, including reagent storage, sample batching, and pre-analysis storage.

For research and clinical applications requiring long-term storage or preservation of highly sensitive biological materials, So-Low provides ultra-low temperature freezers that function within the range of minus 40 degrees C to minus 85 degrees C. These units are designed with heavy-duty construction that withstands continuous use in demanding environments, dual-compressor cascade systems for fast and reliable pull-down to ultra-low temperatures, digital temperature control with alarm notifications for warm-ups or power outages, and automatic restart functions that resume operation following a power outage to protect stored samples. These freezers are essential for long-term cryogenic sample storage in biobanks, vaccine banks, molecular biology laboratories, and pharmaceutical organizations.

Combination Refrigerator and Freezer Units

In many labs and medical facilities, maintaining separate refrigerator and freezer systems can occupy significant space. Combination refrigerator and freezer units from So-Low address this by combining cooling and freezing functions in one cabinet, with independent temperature control for each compartment, power failure dry contact relays for integrating alarm functions with building controls, and space-saving designs that help conserve valuable lab space. These units are ideal for medical facilities, pharmaceutical labs, and research facilities that require both refrigerated and frozen storage of different materials, such as frozen reagents alongside refrigerated vaccines.

Undercounter and Specialty Designs

Not every lab has room for extensive cold storage. So-Low undercounter refrigerators and freezers fit under the bench or in a small lab without sacrificing performance, making them well suited to smaller research labs, clinic suites, educational facilities, and satellite sample processing stations. Even in a compact footprint, these units provide fast cool-down times, precise temperature control, and the same monitoring and alarm capabilities found in larger models. Digital controls and closed refrigeration systems provide stability and uniformity even in the smallest units.

Advanced Features and Enhancements

Throughout the So-Low product line, several advanced features reflect the company's commitment to user convenience, reliability, and sample protection.

Digital controls and alarm systems. Digital temperature readouts with high and low alarms are common across So-Low refrigerators and freezers, allowing users to monitor temperatures and receive notifications when conditions deviate from set parameters.

Power failure protection. Power failures can be detrimental to sample integrity. So-Low products are designed with automatic restart timers that resume normal operation once power is restored.

Environmentally friendly refrigerants. So-Low products utilize environmentally friendly refrigerants, helping facilities meet sustainability objectives without sacrificing cooling performance.

Custom and optional add-ons. For labs with specialized needs, add-ons such as lockable storage inserts, stainless steel finishes, data loggers, or upgraded shelving may be available, allowing labs to tailor their cold storage solutions to specific workflows while adhering to regulatory requirements.

Applications Across Lab and Clinical Environments

So-Low Environmental Equipment serves a broad range of professional settings, including biomedical and clinical laboratories for reliable cooling of blood products, reagents, and diagnostic materials; vaccine storage facilities requiring temperature-stable environments that meet CDC recommendations; pharmaceutical research centers preserving drug compounds, biologics, and experimental materials; industrial cold storage for chemicals and specialized materials in manufacturing or environmental testing; and educational labs that need accessible, consistent refrigeration performance.

Choosing the Right So-Low Equipment

When selecting a refrigerator or freezer from the So-Low lineup, consider the following factors:

• Temperature range: 2 degrees C to 8 degrees C is ideal for general sample and vaccine storage, 0 degrees C to minus 45 degrees C suits deeper freezing needs, and minus 40 degrees C to minus 85 degrees C is best for ultra-low temperature sample preservation
• Capacity and layout: large upright units accommodate substantial sample volumes, while undercounter models optimize space in smaller labs
• Application requirements: consider whether the facility needs combination storage, advanced data logging, or enhanced alarm systems, particularly in regulated environments

Compare So-Low Refrigeration and Freezer Models

Cold Storage You Can Count On

For professionals working with temperature-sensitive materials in biomedical research, clinical diagnostics, pharmaceutical development, or other fields, a reliable, high-performance cold storage solution is essential. Laboratory refrigerators and freezers from So-Low Environmental Equipment are designed with this in mind, offering robust construction, precise temperature control, and intelligent alarm systems to protect valuable samples and materials.

From compact undercounter models to combination refrigerator and freezer configurations and powerful ultra-low freezers, So-Low helps labs work confidently and efficiently, keeping sample integrity at the forefront of operations.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What temperature range do So-Low laboratory refrigerators maintain?
A: So-Low laboratory refrigerators maintain temperatures between 2 degrees C and 8 degrees C, the standard range for clinical specimens, vaccines, reagents, and other biological agents requiring refrigeration but not freezing.

Q: What is the temperature range of So-Low ultra-low temperature freezers?
A: So-Low ultra-low temperature freezers operate within a range of minus 40 degrees C to minus 85 degrees C, suitable for long-term cryogenic storage of highly sensitive biological materials.

Q: Are combination refrigerator and freezer units available from So-Low?
A: Yes. So-Low combination units provide independent temperature control for refrigerator and freezer compartments in a single, space-saving cabinet, ideal for facilities needing both refrigerated and frozen storage.

Q: What happens to a So-Low unit during a power outage?
A: So-Low products are designed with automatic restart timers that resume normal operation once power is restored, and many units include power failure alerts and dry contact relays for integration with building alarm systems.

Q: Do So-Low units fit in space-constrained labs?
A: Yes. So-Low offers undercounter refrigerators and freezers that fit under benches or in small labs without sacrificing cooling performance, temperature control, or monitoring capability.

Q: Are So-Low refrigerants environmentally friendly?
A: Yes. So-Low products utilize environmentally friendly refrigerants that meet current regulatory requirements while maintaining reliable cooling performance.