Laminar Flow Hoods

Shelly Scientific is a Canadian manufacturer of laminar flow hoods and process equipment. Our team of scientists, designers, engineers and skilled craftsmen will turn your idea into reality. Shelly services range from modifying commercially available equipment to developing a fully working model of a new machine. Thanks to our combined expertise, we are able to complete projects of various complexities.

 

We provide clean air solutions to both small clinics preparing IV therapy and large facilities that need more powerful filtration systems. Our benchtop laminar flow hoods are ideal for clinics with limited space. Depending on the volume of your work, you can choose one of our hoods which range from the smallest model with a footprint of 270mm*470mm  to a larger benchtop model of 700mm*500mm. We can build a custom hood based on the space you have available. Despite the small size, our smallest model is big enough to hold five IV bags.

Proudly Canadian

We produce the hoods instead of re-selling them like everyone else in Canada. Hoods sold in Canada usually come from China or to a much lesser extent, from the US. Once they reach Canadian customers, the prices are many times over the original cost. Although there is nothing wrong with importing quality equipment from abroad, not many customers know that Canada has one of the strictest electrical safety codes in the world. Unlike Canada, China has no electrical code and the US has lower requirements in terms of electrical safety.

Even if the imported machines work just fine, they need to be approved for use in Canada. Chinese manufacturers will not tell you this, US manufacturers will not tell you this. Buying from a Canadian vendor? Ask to see the electrical safety certificate first. 

 

Custom Laminar Flow Hood

You can request a custom size laminar flow hood from us. We can produce a hood that fits the space you have available. Feel free to inquire if you think that our standard models do not fit your needs. Do not worry if you are not a 100% sure what kind of a machine you need in your line of work. Once we start communicating, it will be clear what may be the best cost effective solution. We will prepare a short, one page proposal and a drawing outlining how we intend to realize your idea. It will include costs and estimated time-frame. If you prefer to sign a non-disclosure agreement that is possible as well.

custom laminar flow hood
custom laminar flow hood workflow diagram
 
What determines the cost?

There are several factors that greatly affect the cost of a custom laminar flow hood. Some things to keep in mind are the size of the filter, the speed and the level of comfort. In general, the bigger the filter, the higher the cost. This is because more air needs to pass through a larger area in order to achieve the same speed.  When we need to push more air through a larger filter we need to install a more powerful blower. However, we have managed to achieve lower noise levels in our latest models.

What is the difference between a vertical and a horizontal laminar flow hood?

The difference between a horizontal laminar flow hood and a vertical model is in the location of the filter. In the vertical model, the clean air is flowing down, while in the horizontal model, the air is flowing toward your body. You can choose between the models based on the space you have available and whether you plan to work primarily with liquids. A vertical flow hood takes up less footprint on the bench and having the filter on top, it is less likely that you will spill any liquid on the filter.

What determines filtration efficiency?

Filtration efficiency is determined by the grade of the filter. You can learn more about filtration efficiency here. We can produce machines with either an H13 or H14 filter.

Why is testing done?

This is the most confusing thing that new hood owners face. A novice is led to believe that spending more money is directly proportional to more “safety”. You can test your machine to check the efficiency of the HEPA filter and also air flow. The regulatory body of a professional organization can choose which recommended standard their membership should follow and how often they should test the hood.

HEPA testing is a lucrative business and therefore building a large client base that will need frequent testing is a great way for a company to generate revenue while having no overhead and investing minimal effort. Sometimes a testing company may have a conflict of interest because they also sell laminar flow hoods. They will usually find problems with other manufacturers’ hoods, but luckily they conveniently sell a more expensive machine and recommend frequent filter changes. Have questions or concerns? Contact us!

 

Contact Us

Whether you are looking for a benchtop laminar flow hood or need help with the equipment we don’t sell any longer, feel free to contact us. These are some of our big clients (all logos are properties of their owners). We have proudly served primarily small local businesses since 2012.



Some helpful tips:

  1. If space is an issue then you should consider a vertical benchtop laminar flow hood over the horizontal model because it takes less space on your bench.
  2. The vertical models are taller. If there are shelves over the space where you plan to place the hood, please makes sure that there is enough vertical space. The air intake on top doesn’t need more than 5 cm of space. Should you decide to keep your hood in a dedicated cabinet that can close once the hood is not in use, that is O.K. as well.
  3. None of the laminar flow hood models require venting, so any space is good enough.
  4. The larger the hood, the more noise it makes. Benchtop models meet the needs of most clinics or small production facilities. You are welcome to order a bigger unit, but please make sure that you truly need a larger machine.
  5. Clients who work with electronic components choose the horizontal model. This is because they don’t need to hang any liquids. It allows them to maximise the bench space.
  6. We will be happy to build a custom hood for you if you tell us what we need to change on the standard model.
  7. We will be happy to customise our products for your space.

(If we do not reply in one business day, it probably means that there is a technical difficulty with the contact form. In that case, please email directly to the email below.

Hours
Monday—Friday: 9:00AM–5:00PM

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