What is Shaking?

By definition, shaking is a back and forth motion of objects. In a laboratory context, the term Shaking is used especially with respect to mixing different solutions or to keeping suspensions in motion. The first automated shaker was patented and launched in 1959 as a vortexer. Since then, shakers in different versions have become indispensable in laboratories. Besides the traditional vortexers, laboratory staff can nowadays also benefit from different platform shakers. In the following sections, you will learn more about the different types of motion of platform shakers. Particular attention will be paid to the orbital shaking movement theory as this is the most commonly used type of motion in many microbiology and cell culture laboratories.