JULABO

Who JULABO is and what it makes

JULABO GmbH is a family owned temperature control company headquartered in Seelbach, Germany, founded in 1967 by Gerhard Juchheim. It makes heating circulators, refrigerated circulators, recirculating chillers and PRESTO temperature control systems, and Markus Juchheim has held sole management responsibility since 2016. Its US subsidiary, JULABO USA, was founded in 1993 and is based at 884 Marcon Boulevard in Allentown, Pennsylvania.

JULABO USA markets a cannabis lineup for rotary evaporators, winterization, short path and wiped film distillation, decarboxylation and supercritical CO2 work. The SL-12 heating circulator Urth & Fyre sold belongs to JULABO's HighTech series, which the company introduced in 1997.

Where JULABO fits by facility stage

Small labs often start with a heating circulator for decarboxylation or jacketed vessel heating. JULABO USA lists the CORIO CD-BC4 at 20 to 150 °C for lighter duty, while the SL-12 covers 20 to 300 °C with a 12 liter bath and about 3 kW of heat at 230 V. JULABO USA says the SL-12 handles decarboxylation in vessels up to 35 liters and heats wiped film bodies and feed lines.

Production rooms that need both heating and cooling add refrigerated circulators such as the CORIO CP-300F, CP-600F and CP-1200F, which JULABO USA lists with low ends of minus 30, minus 35 and minus 50 °C and a 200 °C top end. For chilling condensers and process equipment, the FL11006 and FL20006 recirculating chillers run down to minus 20 and minus 25 °C, with pump flow of 60 and 80 liters per minute.

The top tier is the PRESTO line of temperature control systems. JULABO USA lists the PRESTO A80 at minus 80 to 250 °C and the PRESTO W91 at minus 91 to 250 °C, with pump flow up to 80 liters per minute on the A85 and W91.

How to size and choose a JULABO unit

Pick by the temperature you need to hold first. A heating circulator like the SL-12 has no refrigeration system, though JULABO lists an integrated cooling coil, so it fits decarboxylation, wiped film heating and other jobs above ambient. Anything that has to run below room temperature needs a refrigerated circulator or a chiller.

Then check heat and flow. JULABO USA rates the SL-12 at about 3 kW at 230 V and about 2.5 kW at 208 V, so a building on 208 V service gives up roughly a sixth of the heating power. Its four speed pump moves 22 to 26 liters per minute at 5.8 to 10.2 psi, and long hose runs to a wiped film still eat into that pressure. Our guide to circulator selection for high temperature decarb covers setpoint stability under load.

Finally, match the thermal fluid to your setpoint and to the seals in your loop. At 300 °C, fluid choice and change intervals decide how long a circulator stays clean, which our thermal fluid maintenance schedule lays out.

JULABO compared with other circulator options

For 300 °C heating, the SL-12 and the newer MAGIO MX-BC12 are JULABO's two options with 12 liter baths. JULABO USA lists the SL-12 with a 22 to 26 liter per minute pump, and the MAGIO MX-BC12 with a continuously variable pump rated at 16 to 31 liters per minute and 3.5 to 13.3 psi. Both reach 300 °C with about 3 kW of heating on the standard unit.

Against PolyScience, the overlap is refrigerated circulators. JULABO's CORIO CP-1200F reaches minus 50 °C, colder than PolyScience's current minus 40 °C DX and PX models, and JULABO says it began converting products to natural refrigerants in 2023. PolyScience's matching category for heavier cooling is its DuraChill recirculating chiller line, rated at 0.7 to 2.9 kW.

Both brands fit the heating and chilling loops described in our Distillation Equipment Guide. Compare stability, pump pressure at your fittings, refrigerant and local service before price.

Buying JULABO equipment through Urth & Fyre

Urth & Fyre recently sold a set of JULABO SL-12 300 °C 12 liter heating circulators and can source more on request. When a used unit comes up, ask how long each unit ran in production, which fluid it ran and whether the seller can show a test run to your working setpoint. Confirm the voltage on the data plate, since JULABO USA lists the SL-12 at 230 V, 50 to 60 Hz and 13 A.

For new CORIO, MAGIO, FL or PRESTO units, Urth & Fyre sources and quotes JULABO equipment, and JULABO's SL-12 product page carries the full spec sheet. Ask for a quote on another SL-12, or send Urth & Fyre your setpoints and vessel sizes for a matched JULABO recommendation.

• Confirm the power supply. JULABO USA lists the SL-12 at 230 V, 50 to 60 Hz and 13 A, with about 3 kW of heat at 230 V and about 2.5 kW at 208 V.
• Test the safety features. The SL-12 has a float based low liquid level warning and an adjustable high temperature cutout. Both should trip on test before the unit runs unattended.
• Check the connections. The SL-12 uses M16x1 male pump fittings with 8 mm and 12 mm hose barbs, so confirm adapters for your existing lines.
• Ask for fluid history. At 300 °C, a degraded or wrong fluid causes sludge and odor. Ask what the last owner ran, flush before switching and inspect the bath.
• Verify the pump and controls. Run all four pump speeds, confirm 22 to 26 liters per minute of flow and check that the programmer and RS232 and Pt100 ports work if you plan to use them.
• Know the warranty status. JULABO USA sells new SL-12 units with a one year warranty. A resold unit carries only what the seller offers, so price service accordingly.