Ten pieces of lab equipment every biotech startup needs

Refurbished lab equipment available from American Instrument Exchange. Click HERE for more details.

Starting a new lab can be a daunting project to say the least. From determining a budget to leasing or purchasing lab space to hiring personnel, the number of details and decisions to be made can quickly become overwhelming. The good news is that there are only a few basic pieces of lab equipment you need to get started and you can supplement and add to these as your lab expands or your needs widen.

So in no particular order, here are the most basic pieces of equipment that every biotech startup needs to have in place:

  1. Microcentrifuge

Microcentrifuge.

A basic microcentrifuge and rotor for spinning 1.5mL or 2mL tubes at high speeds. This is essential for a variety of applications, including pelleting nucleic acids or proteins from solution, microfiltration of small aqueous samples or simply to gather those last precious drops of liquid into the bottom of the tube. A small benchtop unit such as the Eppendorf 5424, Eppendorf 5430, Thermo Legend, or Beckman 22R can serve a wide variety of purposes in any lab.

  • Tabletop centrifuge

Tabletop centrifuge.

A larger capacity, lower-speed centrifuge is also a must have, and in all likelihood this will be one of the unsung workhorses in many labs. Most of our customers opt for a refrigerated model in order to keep samples cool and protect from degradation. The Beckman Allegra 6R has been a lab standard for years. We also like the Eppendorf 5810R and 5804R models.

  • Analytical balance

Analytical balance.

An analytical balance accurate to 0.1mg or more is another must have. While you may also want to invest in a toploading model with less sensitivity and higher capacity, if budgetary considerations restrict you to a single balance you can always have an analytical balance serve double-duty until additional funding comes through. Mettler Toledo consistently makes quality products, and we also have had good experiences with certain Sartorius models, too.

  • Pipettes

Rainin E4 XLS.

Another basic workhorse. Pipettes are used to transfer liquid from one container to another in precise, measurable, repeatable amounts. We clean and calibrate all of our pipettes prior to shipping. For most lab, a set of something basic single channel Rainin or Gilson units is fine, although some people prefer electronic or digital display models like the Rainin E4 XLS series. 

  • Stirring hotplates

4E’s USA 5” hotplate stirrer with digital display.

A basic but essential piece of benchtop equipment used for general heating and stirring applications. We prefer analog units with digital displays, such as the Barnstead SuperNuova and IKA models.

  • Vortex mixer or other lab shaker

Vortex mixers are typically inexpensive and often will be supplemented with a larger orbital platform shakers. The Vortex Genie 2 is still an industry standard. IKA KS501 orbital shakers are quality machines for larger volume shaking needs, as are the very large capacity VWR Advanced series and the New Brunswick Innova models.

  • Incubator

For CO2 incubators, the Forma 3110 was an industry standard for years and remains a popular, economical choice. Thermo recently introduced the Thermo Forma Series 3 4110 model which we also like. Other models such as the Thermo Stericycle, Panasonic MCO units, and Binder C150 have decon and sterilization cycles. Large capacity units like the Thermo 3950 and the Sheldon model 2440 are good options for labs that have high volume storage needs.

  • Refrigerator/freezer

Some sort of cold storage is a must have and be configured to meet the space requirements/restrictions of any lab. A combination fridge-freezer is a straightforward choice, while some people prefer undercounter models with one fridge and one freezer placed side by side underneath a workbench in order to save floor space. For labs with enough room a dedicated upright refrigerator similar to Fisher Isotemp unit and separate freezer like the Thermo UGL2320 is an option as well.

  • Heated water bath

Heated water bath.

Water baths to incubate samples at a constant temperature are typically constructed with seamless stainless-steel tanks that are easy to clean and durable. We always have a variety of units in stock in many different volumes, as well as dual tank models.

  1. Autoclave

To sterilize glassware and other equipment, every lab needs an autoclave. Smaller benchtop are a good fit for small labs, while larger Tuttnauer and Market Forge models provide greater capacity and throughput. Portable, vertical load models are good options for labs that are not able to install plumbing fixtures.

Now before you send the “What about…?” and “You forgot…!” emails, we recognize that this is not a comprehensive list. We left off some basics such as fume hoods, biosafety cabinets, thermal cyclers, and other pieces of equipment that most startups consider must haves, along with consumables such as gloves, pipette tips, eyeware, lab coats, etc. And or course there’s also more advanced equipment such as homogenizers, spectrophotometers, microplate readers and washers, imaging systems, and many more than can be considered must haves depending on the application in question.

We can provide all of the equipment listed above along with many other types of equipment for use in biotechnology labs. Check out our website for more information on currently available inventory and as always please feel free to give us a call or email with any questions. Thanks!

American Instrument Exchange has been a reliable source for used laboratory and scientific equipment for over 50 years, buying and selling equipment since 1969. Our surplus lab equipment is reconditioned for many types of laboratories, including biotech, biomedical, medical research, chemical, pharmaceutical, and university and hospital research laboratories. All lab equipment listed on our website is in stock and ships from our 30,000 square foot warehouse in Massachusetts. Our facilities include a fully equipped shop with highly trained technicians who thoroughly test each instrument before it reaches your laboratory. Please visit our website at https://www.americaninstrument.com/.

Mott Manufacturing chemical fume hoods

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Chemical fume hoods available from American Instrument Exchange. Click HERE for more details.

Chemical fume hoods are one of our bread-and-butter products. We sell used and refurbished chemical fume hoods from every manufacturer you care to name: Hamilton, Fisher Hamilton, Kewaunee, Duralab, Baker, Thermo Scientific, Labconco, Esco…. I could go on, but you get the idea. And one of our favorite manufacturers is Mott Manufacturing based out of Ontario.

Mott has been in business since 1934, producing steel cabinetry and furniture, and later shifting focus to laboratory furniture, including chemical fume hoods. Chemical fume hoods are a staple in labs across many sectors. They protect workers and the lab environment by containing vapors and harmful fumes as well as dusts or gases generated within the hood and removing them by pulling air into the hood and then out of the lab through a hard-ducted exhaust system.

At first glance Mott fume hoods look similar to those from several other manufacturers: a glass front sash that raises and lowers, chemically-resistant epoxy work surface, baffles, interior access panels, fixtures for gas, water, vacuum, etc. But what really sets the Mott products apart from the competition, in our opinion, isn’t obvious from a glance at the exterior of the unit.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-WimDfL-vLA&feature=youtu.be

Climb a ladder and take a peak from above the sash though and you’ll see what we’re talking about: it’s the counter-balance system. This is the system that allows the glass sash to raise and lower. Most manufacturers use a basic cable and pulley system, with plastic-coated metal cables and high-impact plastic pulleys on which the cables roll when the sash is moved.

Mott fume hoods, however, feature a chain and sprocket system, akin to a bicycle chain. In our experience this is much more durable and a more reliable option for sash operation. In fact, Mott claims that the chain and sprocket system has been tested to 100,000 openings and closings without experiencing a failure. That’s pretty impressive and translates into a long life span for your Mott lab fume hood. You’ll probably need to give the exterior of the hood a new coat of paint before you have to worry at all about the mechanics of the sash.

If you have any questions about other features of Mott fume hoods please give us a call or email. We also have used and refurbished chemical fume hoods in stock from plenty of other manufacturers and we’re happy to make recommendations on those as well. Thanks!

American Instrument Exchange has been a reliable source for used laboratory and scientific equipment for over 50 years, buying and selling equipment since 1969. Our surplus lab equipment is reconditioned for many types of laboratories, including biotech, biomedical, medical research, chemical, pharmaceutical, and university and hospital research laboratories. All lab equipment listed on our website is in stock and ships from our 30,000 square foot warehouse in Massachusetts. Our facilities include a fully equipped shop with highly trained technicians who thoroughly test each instrument before it reaches your laboratory. Please visit our website at https://www.americaninstrument.com/.

Sartorius ME5 microbalance

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Refurbished Sartorius ME5 available from American Instrument Exchange. Click HERE for more details.

Sartorius microbalances are often overlooked in favor of similar Mettler MX series and Mettler MT series models. But with ME5, Sartorius has introduced a model that is comparable in function and quality to almost any other microbalance on the market.

Microbalances are sometimes sub-categorized as analytical balances but are actually 100 times more sensitive than a standard analytical balance, with analytical models weighing with 0.1mg precision and a microbalance weighing to a millionth of a gram. There are some crossover analytical or “semi-micro” models like the Mettler AX26 and AT20 with sensitivity to 0.002mg to 3g, but the high precision of a microbalance distinguishes these units from the broader category of analytical balances.

Sartorius ME5 Microbalance.

First, let’s get technical with some specs. The ME5 has a 5.1g capacity and a readability of 1ug. Repeatability is +/- 1 microgram and linearity is +/- 4 micrograms. The average response time is 2.5 seconds while Sartorius lists the official response time as 10 seconds, still impressive for 1ug model. Like all microbalances this model is sensitive to ambient temperature fluctuations and will potentially drift by up to 1ppm per degree of Celsius change within the 5°C to 40°C recommended operating temperature range, so you should calibrate regularly especially if your lab isn’t strictly temperature controlled. The circular weighing pan has a diameter of 30mm.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0tAE1X-dG_c

The built-in air buoyancy correction program software (called EUREKA) is a nice feature and helps compensate for fluctuations in air density that could normally impact readings at the microgram level. The pre-loaded software also allows for storage of tare-weights, initial sample weights and calculation of the amounts backweighted for up to 50 samples.

We like all the features noted above. The one part of the balance that we haven’t been thrilled with thus far is the draft shield. The motorized shield is a single piece of glass with an anti-static coating. The idea behind this design is to allow users to have an interference-free view of the weighing chamber and platform. While this sounds like a good idea in theory what we’ve found is that in practice the shield tends to have less stability and is more prone to slip off its seating. And because the glass is so thin this can easily lead to a shattered draft shield, which is very costly to replace.

Now, all that being said, we’re still in favor of the idea of a shield with no frame components or other visual impediments, and this feature certainly shouldn’t be a deal-breaker when considering the Sartorius ME5. We’re currently experimenting with creating an impact resistant plastic shield coated with anti-static conductive material to replace the glass shields.

The ME5 can be calibrated using external weights or with the built-in auto-calibration feature called isoCAL. This is a fully automatic calibration and adjustment that ensures consistently high accuracy and is particularly useful in quality management systems. This function can be triggered by a change in temperature or automatically activated at defined intervals or specific times of day and charted through the calibration record memory.

With the price of new microbalances currently weighing in (pun absolutely intended) at over $40,000, the refurbished Sarotrius ME5 microbalance is a cost-effective option with enough features to satisfy almost any lab, including those with ISO or GLP quality management systems.

We have a few used and refurbished microbalance models in stock and available, including the Sartorius ME5. All of our products come with a 90 day warranty. Please call or email us today for more information on this unit. Thanks!  

American Instrument Exchange has been a reliable source for used laboratory and scientific equipment for over 50 years, buying and selling equipment since 1969. Our surplus lab equipment is reconditioned for many types of laboratories, including biotech, biomedical, medical research, chemical, pharmaceutical, and university and hospital research laboratories. All lab equipment listed on our website is in stock and ships from our 30,000 square foot warehouse in Massachusetts. Our facilities include a fully equipped shop with highly trained technicians who thoroughly test each instrument before it reaches your laboratory. Please visit our website at https://www.americaninstrument.com/.

Panasonic CO2 incubators

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Click HERE to see refurbished Panasonic CO2 incubator available from American Instrument Exchange.

Panasonic is not a name we typically associate with CO2 incubators. Forma and Thermo units have historically been our best sellers – the older Forma 3110 models as well as the newer Thermo Forma 3110 Series II and 4110 Series 3 units, along with the SteriCycle and SteriCults. But these Panasonic models feature dual decontamination processes along with a digital display and datalogging capability that we’re impressed with thus far.

Panasonic CO2 incubators

The basic specs on these units are pretty similar to other more familiar models, with 6 cubic foot single chambers that can be stacked to save floor space. The temperature range is 5°C above ambient to 50°C with a uniformity of 0.25⁰C at 37⁰C – nothing radical or unusual there. CO2 levels can be set with 0.1% accuracy from 0% to 20%. A water pan can be filled and placed at the bottom of the chamber to maintain humidity to 95%. All good, all entirely standard.

But many users will find the control and information center mounted prominently on the exterior door a significant improvement over the digital displays of older models. The multi-function LCD screen controls the unit through a pop-up menu allowing for easy programming of set points, while the PID control logic provides stable chamber conditions and steady CO2, O2, temperature, and humidity conditions for stored samples.

And the decontamination cycles – these are what have really impressed us so far. The automatic decontamination process begins with a vaporized H2O2 application followed by UV exposure. The H2O2 application ensures complete decontamination of all interior components and CO2 sampling loop. The UV exposure adds redundant decontamination and reduces the H2O2 to water vapor and oxygen eliminating any user health hazards from the vapor application. This process provides complete sterilization in less than three hours and eliminates the need for autoclaving, minimizing downtime between product cycles.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ss7ze1uWJco

Charles River Laboratories actual performed an independent study comparing the decon cycle of the Panasonic MCO-19AIC UVH incubator with that of two other incubators, one with standard dry heat sterilization and the other with moist heat sterilization. In both comparisons the Panasonic decon cycle showed an effective reduction of the same or greater bioburden in just two to three hours while the other models each took 10 to 12 hours, or even up to 25 hours. So basically, you’re looking at significantly reduced downtime and no need for an overnight sterilization cycle.

We have a few of these units in stock and available, used and refurbished and fully tested to manufacturer specifications. All of our products come with a 90 day warranty and typically list at 40% to 60% lower than new units. Please call or email us today for more information on the Panasonic MCO-19AIC incubators. Thanks!  

American Instrument Exchange has been a reliable source for used laboratory and scientific equipment for over 50 years, buying and selling equipment since 1969. Our surplus lab equipment is reconditioned for many types of laboratories, including biotech, biomedical, medical research, chemical, pharmaceutical, and university and hospital research laboratories. All lab equipment listed on our website is in stock and ships from our 30,000 square foot warehouse in Massachusetts. Our facilities include a fully equipped shop with highly trained technicians who thoroughly test each instrument before it reaches your laboratory. Please visit our website at https://www.americaninstrument.com/.

A summary of some of our favorite used and refurbished biosafety cabinets

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At any given time we have dozens of biosafety cabinets in stock from a variety of manufacturers. For example, as of this writing we have over 70 individual BSCs out in the warehouse, with six that just arrived from lab cleanouts and four that are sitting in the shipping area, fully refurbished with new HEPA filters and awaiting shipment to customers.

So given all the experience we’ve accumulated over the years we figured we’d share some opinions on our favorite models. These are short summaries. We plan to review several of these models in more detail on this blog so please check back in for updates, or you can always call or email us with questions.

Baker SG403 and Baker SG603 SterilGARD III bio safety cabinets

The Baker company has been introducing consistently excellent products to market for over three decades. The original SterilGARD models were built like tanks, with a great mix of durability and precision. The SG403 and SG603 SterilGARD III models featured some nice improvements, like a tilted sash for better viewing of the interior work surface and ergonomics, as well as a more energy efficient motor. HEPA filters for these units are available with aluminum frames, which makes them lighter and easier to change with a reduced risk of damage.

We’re big fans of the Baker SG604 and SG404 biosafety cabinets as well. These have only been on the market for a few years though, so we’re withholding opinion until we have a chance to determine the longevity. All indications are that Baker put out another stellar product, but only time will tell. Stay tuned….

Baker SG403 and Baker SG603 SterilGARD III bio safety cabinets

Labconco Logic Series biosafety cabinets

The Labconco Purifier Delta series biosafety cabinets were very decent and certainly cost-effective, but did have some quirks that knocked them out of contention as a top tier product, in our humble opinion. The Labconco Logic Series units, however, are great. Good design, with a useful but unobtrusive LCD screen that shows safety status, remaining filter life and other information, an angled sash, and touchpad controls located to the sides of the sash. The one design flaw on these models is the lack of support along the bottom panel which can cause some bending during installation and transportation if not properly handled. This is hardly a deal breaker, however. And it is important to remember that the Labconco customer support team is one of best in the business. We’ve had consistently good experiences them, whether calling about a BSC, freeze dryer, or any other product. Way to go, Labconco. We love you guys.

Labconco Logic Series biosafety cabinets

Thermo Scientific

Up until recently we weren’t huge fans of Thermos biosafety cabinets, particularly the models with the motorized sash. In our opinion, this was a solution to a problem that never existed – the sashes on BSCs are generally not particularly difficult to raise or lower and don’t really need to be motorized. In addition to being unnecessary, these sashes also didn’t work all that great. 

But with the new 1300 series Thermo has cut out many bells and whistles and put forward a sleek, simple product that seems both durable and aesthetically pleasing. Thermo does have a habit of obsoleting products almost as quickly as they’re introduced to market though, so let’s keep our fingers crossed that they keep producing/supporting these models, because we really like them.

Thermo Scientific

Nuaire

Nuaire often doesn’t get the credit it deserves. We were first introduced to Nuaire as a less-expensive alternative to Baker products, but Nuaire should be recognized as a solid, dependable manufacturer, without qualification. Like Labconco the customer service representatives at Nuaire are consistently knowledgeable, friendly, and helpful. The Nuaire LabGard units mounted on hydraulic stands are excellent products, as are the newer CellGard series. And for a combination of quality and low price it’s hard to beat some of the older Nuaire NU 425-400 units.

Nuaire

So that’s it, a summary of our favorite used and refurbished bio safety cabinet. This is by no means and comprehensive list and we don’t want to offend any manufacturers by implying that we intended to neglect them. For instance, Kewaunee recently introduced the Interceptor biosafety cabinet, with a really cool looking scissor clamp system for holding the HEPA filters in position. We got to look at one of these at a trade show and are hoping we get to work with some of these in the future. (Kewaunee, if you’re reading this, feel free to hook us up! We’d love the chance to check the Interceptor out more closely.)

As always, we’re here to answer any questions regarding used and refurbished biosafety cabinets, or any other used lab equipment. Thanks!

Refurbished BSCs available from American Instrument Exchange. Click HERE for more details.

American Instrument Exchange has been a reliable source for used laboratory and scientific equipment for over 50 years, buying and selling equipment since 1969. Our surplus lab equipment is reconditioned for many types of laboratories, including biotech, biomedical, medical research, chemical, pharmaceutical, and university and hospital research laboratories. All lab equipment listed on our website is in stock and ships from our 30,000 square foot warehouse in Massachusetts. Our facilities include a fully equipped shop with highly trained technicians who thoroughly test each instrument before it reaches your laboratory. Please visit our website at https://www.americaninstrument.com/.

The Baker SG604 biosafety cabinet

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Refurbished Baker SG604 available from American Instrument Exchange. Click HERE for more details.

We’ve been huge fans of Baker products for years. No, scratch that: decades.

Baker SterilGARD biosafety cabinets are industry mainstays and with good reason – they are durable, well-designed, easy to use, dependable, and on top of all of that the customer service and technical support representatives at The Baker Company are always friendly and helpful.

We still work with the Baker SterilGARD SG400 and SG600 models. These units are built like tanks in that they both resemble military tank construction and in terms of durability. Many of these units are still in operation despite the fact that they’re in the neighborhood of 30 years old, and we still get calls from customer loyal to this model. (If you’re looking one of these classics, click HERE!)

The SterilGARD III SG403 and SG603 represented a significant change in design, with an angled sash for greater ergonomic comfort and more efficient airflow management system, as well as a more adaptable UV light kit installation feature, while still featuring the reliability we expect from Baker.

Baker SG604 biosafety cabinet
Baker SterilGARD e3 SG604 biosafety cabinet with stand

And now there’s the SterilGARD e3 series, with the SG404 and SG604 models, with even more improvements in energy efficiency and a smoother, less blocky design.

Because of the improvements in efficiency annual operating costs for the SG604 can be up to 70% lower than compared to the Baker SG603 models. A lot of this reduction can be attributed to the new StediFLOW variable frequency drive motor, which can accommodate increases in pressure drops of up to 300% across the filter with almost no reduction in total air delivery. Additionally, the ReadySAFE low-flow mode, engaged automatically when a user closes the front sash, switches the motor to a reduced flow mode. When in ReadySAFE mode the cabinet uses up to 75% less energy than during normal operation while still maintaining NSF49 and ISO class 4 criteria.

And we haven’t even mentioned one of our favorite features: the fold up front panel that allows for frontloading filters. For most biosafety cabinets, including older Baker units, removing the front panel is a time and labor-intensive activity. With the SG604, however, the front panel is hinged and swings up, almost like the hood of a car, allowing for quicker and easier HEPA filter replacement. This sounds like a small improvement, but if you work with biosafety cabinets as frequently as we do you will quickly begin to appreciate how great this design is. (Although with the improvements in energy efficiency the filter life in the SG604 might be extended by as much as 30%, so you may not have the opportunity utilize this front panel feature very often.)

So call or email us today for more information on the SG604, including pricing and availability. We’re also happy to answer any questions you might have about the SG403 and SG603 models, as well as Baker Edgegard clean benches.

American Instrument Exchange has been a reliable source for used laboratory and scientific equipment for over 50 years, buying and selling equipment since 1969. Our surplus lab equipment is reconditioned for many types of laboratories, including biotech, biomedical, medical research, chemical, pharmaceutical, and university and hospital research laboratories. All lab equipment listed on our website is in stock and ships from our 30,000 square foot warehouse in Massachusetts. Our facilities include a fully equipped shop with highly trained technicians who thoroughly test each instrument before it reaches your laboratory. Please visit our website at https://www.americaninstrument.com/.

Buchi R-215 rotary evaporator system

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Refurbished Buchi R-215 system available from American Instrument Exchange. Click HERE for more details.

Buchi has been the go-to brand name for rotary evaporators for decades, and with good reason: since 1939 the company has offer high-quality, dependable products for use in R&D, quality control, and production in a wide variety of industries. Buchi rolled out the first commercially available “rotavapor” in the late 1950’s and still produces an array of rotary evaporators, from small benchtop units to huge 50L production models.

A quick primer on rotary evaporation. It’s a fairly basic process in which solvents are removed from a liquid solution or other mixture of compounds. While specific conditions will vary depending on application, the basic operation of the a rotovap is as follows: the solvent is heated over a heating bath while the drive unit rotates the evaporating flask evenly. The solvent vapor flows quickly into the condenser and the energy in the solvent is transferred to the cooling medium. The solvent then condenses and collects in the receiving flask. Got it?

Anyhow, back to the Buchi R-215. One thing we like about these systems is that they are modular, with a variety of glassware assemblies, vacuum controllers, baths and pumps that are all compatible with the R-215 tower base. The system pictured below comes equipped with a V-850 vacuum controller, a B-491 heated water bath, a V-700 vacuum pump, and dry ice condenser glassware assembly. (We may be able to provide additional/alternate glassware assemblies; call or email for details.)

Buchi R-215

Buchi R-215 with V-850 controller, V-700 pump, and B-491 bath

The biggest improvement over previous iterations of the Buchi rotavaps is the V-850 controller. Pressure is essential to the evaporation process and the V-850 allows you to easily view all pressure parameters at a glance on the big, clear digital display. You can set vacuum regulation to a specific set-point and this controller has a library with 43 specified solvents already programmed. All of this is great for novice rotary evaporator users trying to familiarize themselves with the equipment and the process in general. (We’re seeing a lot of this these days in the rapidly burgeoning cannabis industry, as well as some artisanal distilleries.) The controller mounts onto a dedicated stick on top of the tower and communicates with the tower via an RS-485 interface. An additional USB interface allows for data transfer for data storage and evaluation.

Another benefit of the R-215 system is a variety of sizes for evaporating and receiving flasks, as well as specialized flasks for drying powdery substances. Evaporating flasks are available in volumes ranging from 50mL to 4000mL, while receiving flasks come in sizes from 50mL to 3000mL, all of which are more than adequate for most benchtop applications.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=09HYwv02Ykc&feature=youtu.be

In short, we like the Buchi R-215. Unlike some other “updated” or “improved” equipment that has hit the market in recent years, Buchi has actually delivered on those terms with the R-215 and offers a product that is versatile, durable, and a good match for both experienced rotary evaporator operators as well as newbies.  

American Instrument Exchange has been a reliable source for used laboratory and scientific equipment for over 50 years, buying and selling equipment since 1969. Our surplus lab equipment is reconditioned for many types of laboratories, including biotech, biomedical, medical research, chemical, pharmaceutical, and university and hospital research laboratories. All lab equipment listed on our website is in stock and ships from our 30,000 square foot warehouse in Massachusetts. Our facilities include a fully equipped shop with highly trained technicians who thoroughly test each instrument before it reaches your laboratory. Please visit our website at https://www.americaninstrument.com/.

Labconco FreeZone Triad Freeze Dry System

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Refurbished Labconco FreeZone Triad available from American Instrument Exchange. Click HERE for more details.

Most stoppering freeze dryers are large floor model units that take up both a lot of space and capital. And while the Labconco Freezone Triad certainly isn’t inexpensive it is less costly than most production stoppering tray freeze dryers and has the added advantage of a relatively small footprint and design for tabletop/benchtop use.

Stoppering tray freeze dryers can be used in a variety of applications to lyophilize and stopper multiple vials under vacuum, or to freeze dry batch samples for bulk processing. In other words, the stoppering shelf action allows you to seal the product in an air tight vial while it is still under partial vacuum.

First, the basic stats: the Triad is built for light sample loads and features a two HCFC, CFC free, 1/3 horsepower refrigeration systems that can cool the collector down to -85C. It’s capable of removing up to 1.8L of water from samples per 24 hours. There is a single large processing shelf measuring 12.4”W x 14.5”D with clearance for containers up to 148mm tall. There are also four valve ports on the left-hand side of the unit.

The control panel on the Triad is easy to use and front mounted. One of the only drawbacks to the design of this freeze dryer is that depending on bench or table height either the controller will be a little too low or the chamber will be a little too high high, meaning that users may either have to bend over a bit to view the display or enter inputs on the control panel, or the shelf may be high and will require users to reach to get to it. Of course this can be avoided as long as you make considerations and plan appropriately when deciding on placement of the machine in your lab. When planning be sure to take into account the height of the personnel using the machine. For example, for someone standing 5’10” tall, the ideal bench height for the Triad is 36” high. This puts the shelf at about 54” off the ground so a 5’10” tall user will only have to bend at the waist slightly to see the display, while shorter uses may have to reach a little to place samples on the shelf.

The control panel itself looks basic but packs in a lot of functionality. The LCD screen displays prompts for programming parameters and displays basic operating information such as shelf, sample and collector temperatures. Up to five temperature programs can be entered and stored for repeated use.

Stoppering action is controlled with a simple twisting valve, front mounted and just to the bottom right of the main control panel. The stoppering mechanism can only be activated when the chamber is under vacuum, which prevents accidental engagement and seal of vials prior to complete lyophilization. The system is so easy to operate, in fact, that even our youngest and least experienced technician learned to use it in under an hour:

Labconco FreeZone Triad.

So if you’re interested in a benchtop stoppering freeze dryer that’s both durable and easy to use, please call or email us today about the Labconco FreeZone Triad. Thanks!

Refurbished Labconco FreeZone Triad available from American Instrument Exchange. Click HERE for more details.

American Instrument Exchange has been a reliable source for used laboratory and scientific equipment for over 50 years, buying and selling equipment since 1969. Our surplus lab equipment is reconditioned for many types of laboratories, including biotech, biomedical, medical research, chemical, pharmaceutical, and university and hospital research laboratories. All lab equipment listed on our website is in stock and ships from our 30,000 square foot warehouse in Massachusetts. Our facilities include a fully equipped shop with highly trained technicians who thoroughly test each instrument before it reaches your laboratory. Please visit our website at https://www.americaninstrument.com/.

Recent arrivals we’re excited about

Click HERE to see all recent arrivals of used lab equipment at American Instrument Exchange.  

Lot of buying and selling of lab equipment to close out 2018 and we’re very excited about several of the units that have recently arrived in our inventory!

Let’s start with the Virtis Genesis 25L SQ Super ES-55 pilot lyophilizer. This is a five-shelf stoppering tray model with a shelf temperature range of -40°C to 65°C, and the shelf can reach low temp in only 30 minutes. This unit is in terrific condition and is a low-cost option for a pilot lyophilizer.

Virtis Genesis 25L SQ Super ES-55 pilot lyophilizer

We also received a couple of Labconco Ductless Enclosures in stock. Both are 3’ wide and both can be outfitted with filters for use with Acid-Sulfur, Ammonia-Amine, Formaldehyde, HEPA, Mixed Bed, Organic Vapor, or Radioisotope applications. One offers more interior clearance; click the link above for full specs.

Speaking of Labconco, here’s a really nice Labconco Premier Protector chemical fume hood. This unit is 5’ wide and comes complete with an epoxy work surface and base cabinets.

Labconco Premier Protector chemical fume hood

A centrifuge we’re excited about is the Eppendorf 5430. This is the first time we’ve had one of these in stock. It’s one of Eppendorf’s “crossover” models and is compatible with 12 rotors. We also have a Thermo Fresco 21 microfuge available with a 24 x 2mL capacity rotor.

And of course we received a few biosafety cabinets: a 4’ wide Thermo Scientific model, a 4’ wide Labconco Delta series, and a 4’ wide Labconco Logic series model. All of these units come with stands, and as always we’ll install new HEPA filters and put the biosafety cabinets through a certification in our shop to insure that they operate to the proper specifications.

4’ wide Labconco Delta series.

Please let us know if there’s any lab equipment you’d like to see us offer more frequently, or if there are particular models you’re looking for. And please call or email us any time with questions. Thanks!

American Instrument Exchange has been a reliable source for used laboratory and scientific equipment for over 50 years, buying and selling equipment since 1969. Our surplus lab equipment is reconditioned for many types of laboratories, including biotech, biomedical, medical research, chemical, pharmaceutical, and university and hospital research laboratories. All lab equipment listed on our website is in stock and ships from our 30,000 square foot warehouse in Massachusetts. Our facilities include a fully equipped shop with highly trained technicians who thoroughly test each instrument before it reaches your laboratory. Please visit our website at https://www.americaninstrument.com/.

American Instrument Exchange: 50 years of providing high quality used and refurbished lab equipment

We are extremely proud to be celebrating our 50th anniversary of providing used and refurbished lab equipment to customers worldwide and want to thank our vendors, employees and customers for making American Instrument Exchange a great resource for the scientific community. As far as we can tell we are the longest continually operating refurbished lab equipment dealer in the United States and with a lot of hard work and a little luck, we’ll enjoy another 50years of success.

Think about this: when American Instrument was first founded fax machines had only just become commercially available, personal computers were just being developed, the Beatles were still together, and commercial airlines allowed passengers to smoke cigarettes during flights. Times have changed, to say the least.

From our founding day we have strived to provide outstanding customer service and cost-effective solutions while maintaining a broad selection of used scientific equipment. Platitudes are not competitive advantage, however, and so in addition to an overall commitment to customer service we focus day-to-day efforts to deliver instruments that are clean, free from excessive dents, blemishes and defects; that are thoroughly tested and ready to use or install upon receipt; and that ship and arrive to our customers quickly and safely.

Some of you may be familiar with the Japanese term Kaizen, which roughly translates as “continuous improvement.” Every day we ask ourselves, “How can we make American Instrument Exchange a better company? How can we deliver better service to our customers?” By continuing to improve each day we will be able to grow our skills and reach as a company.

Throughout the years we’ve successfully adapted and adjusted our business to keep pace with new developments, perhaps none more seismic than the advent of the internet. These days we’re constantly refining our website and web presence and always appreciate constructive criticism from our customers on further improvements we can make.

This blog represents another incremental upgrade and our hope is that it can act as another method of informing our customers about different products and services that we find interesting and beneficial. While we plan to concentrate on product reviews we’ll also post related information regarding shipping and receiving, lab set up, finances, and any other topics customers find useful.  

We are looking forward to an exiting 2019 with more improvements to help further serve our customers. Please stay tuned to this blog and keep in touch with us for updates, and of course please give us feedback and let us know what we can do to remain one of the premier refurbished laboratory equipment suppliers in the U.S. for another 50 years. Thanks!

American Instrument Exchange has been a reliable source for used laboratory and scientific equipment for over 50 years, buying and selling equipment since 1969. Our surplus lab equipment is reconditioned for many types of laboratories, including biotech, biomedical, medical research, chemical, pharmaceutical, and university and hospital research laboratories. All refurbished lab equipment listed on our website is in stock and ships from our 30,000 square foot warehouse in Massachusetts. Our facilities include a fully equipped shop with highly trained technicians who thoroughly test each instrument before it reaches your laboratory. Please visit our website at https://www.americaninstrument.com/.