In the world of scientific research, ultra-low temperature (ULT) storage has long been an indispensable tool for industries like biopharma, academic institutions and biobanks. However, despite supporting industries that are all about reimagining and innovating, ULT freezers saw little evolution — until Stirling Ultracold entered the market with the first compressor-free ULT freezer in 2013. More than a decade later, ULT storage has come a long way, but we’re still innovating for our customers. Stirling Ultracold is getting ready to redefine “cold” — again — by evolving our signature technology.
But along the way, we’ve also redefined ourselves.
After initial success, Stirling Ultracold had to overcome some significant leadership and product challenges. According to Clayton Newman, new CEO of Stirling Ultracold, “During a period of heightened demand for our products from the pandemic, we strayed from some of the processes that made us leaders in ULT quality and reliability. But we took those problems seriously and, with a new quality team in place, we spent time and resources meticulously solving them. Since then, we’ve yielded startling quality and reliability improvements that are now field- proven. And now, our product quality is the best it’s ever been, and we’re a different company because of it.”
This transformation is more than just a refinement of processes; it’s a complete overhaul of the company’s ethos. Under new leadership, with a CEO deeply rooted in continuous improvement, Stirling Ultracold is redefining who we are and shifting our collective focus to operational excellence, long-term quality and sustainability.
Influencing innovation in ULT storage
At the heart of Stirling Ultracold’s success is our signature technology: the free-piston Stirling engine. This compressor-free, highly efficient system redefined how ultra-low temperatures could be achieved, allowing for more sustainable and energy-efficient freezers. “Some competitors initially downplayed it by saying, ‘It’s just another compressor,’ but it’s not,” Newman explained. “The Stirling engine concept, which dates back to 1816, remains the most efficient form of mechanical propulsion. We took the original Stirling engine concept to create the advanced, free-piston engine design we use in our freezers. It’s frictionless, oil-free and utilizes thermodynamics to cool more effectively.”
This innovation set Stirling Ultracold apart as a disruptor in the market. Our ability to reduce energy consumption by up to 70% over the old technology was a game-changer, earning us a reputation as a green innovator. Our flagship upright freezer was the first ULT freezer to be ENERGY STAR®-certified. However, as Newman noted, this has spurred the entire industry to innovate. “When we started, our competitors didn’t seem to care that much about energy savings. Now having high energy efficiency and being ENERGY STAR-certified are practically standards across the market. We challenged the industry, and the industry responded.”
At Stirling Ultracold, we’re now looking to challenge the industry once again with new enhancements on our signature technology. Our immediate goals are to provide further advances in temperature uniformity throughout the storage cabinet and develop unique analytics technology that will give freezer users greater visibility into their work and freezer health. The next generation of Stirling technology is on the horizon.
Commitments to sample safety and customer care
The company is returning to its roots: innovating to meet the ever-evolving needs of our customers. The ultra-low storage market is more competitive than ever, but Stirling Ultracold is focused on what matters most to us and our users: sample safety and peace of mind for our customers.
“It’s not about being the new kids on the block anymore; it’s about being the best we can be for our customers,” said Newman. “We’re talking about our customers’ life’s works, decades of research — they care about their samples being protected and don’t want to lose sleep over it. The people who work at Stirling Ultracold have a deep understanding of what that means.”
Stirling Ultracold’s next evolution is also a focus on serving our customers and their work. The coming updates to our freezer design are about offering customers more choices and giving researchers the ability to optimize their energy usage based on their specific storage needs. For us, it’s not just about serving the needs of those directly using our freezers, but the whole organization. We take a holistic view on innovation and sustainability, creating a well-rounded product that will positively affect both lab managers’ bottom lines and researchers’ work.
Sustainability: Going beyond energy efficiency
Stirling Ultracold’s commitment to sustainability goes beyond energy efficiency. Our freezers require less floor space and have a lower infrastructural footprint, emit less heat into rooms, and were the first in the market to use natural refrigerants to help reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. As a result, our SU780XLE upright ULT model has earned the best Environmental Impact Factor (EIF) rating for ULT freezers in the U.S., according to the My Green Lab ACT® label.
For us, true sustainability isn’t just about meeting ENERGY STAR standards; it’s about providing a 360-degree approach to sustainability. As Newman explained, “We’re giving labs the abilities to customize their storage environments, conserve energy, and reduce infrastructural costs. Our freezers take up less floor space and create less burden on HVAC systems. It’s a win for both the environment and the researchers who use our products.”
As Stirling Ultracold continues to innovate, our commitments to sustainability, quality and customer satisfaction will remain at the forefront of our mission. Redefining cold isn’t just about temperatures; it’s about redefining the standards we hold ourselves to.
