Used and refurbished lab equipment in Boston and Cambridge, June 2019

Used and refurbished lab equipment from American Instrument Exchange. Click HERE for more details.

It has been a crazy month for us here at American Instrument Exchange. We’re working on preparing cell-culture equipment packages for several customers as well as shipping rotary evaporators, centrifuges, and other equipment, and as always there are more pieces of equipment arriving every day. 

We continue to be the preferred supplier for used and refurbished equipment to customers worldwide in a variety of industries, including major pharmaceutical companies, rock-star biotech startups, major breweries and microbreweries, cannabis startups, academic labs, and more. For example, this past month we shipped a Mettler analytical balance to a cannabis testing facility in Arkansas, several marble balance tables to a customer in Mexico, an oxygen bomb calorimeter to a university in New Jersey, and a Buchi R-215 to a chemistry lab in Canada, among many others. But in addition to this global network a significant portion of our business is still centered in and around the biotech cluster in Cambridge and Boston that we call home. Below are some examples of used and refurbished lab equipment that we shipped to local customers last month.

So if you’re in and around Cambridge and Boston and you’re in the market for used and refurbished lab equipment, give us a call or email. You’re always welcome to come by the warehouse and check out what we have in stock and available. And if you’re not local that’s fine too: we utilize a huge network of freight carriers in order to quickly and safely ship lab equipment across the USA and around the world. 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/.

Chromatography refrigerators in stock now

Click here to see the used and refurbished lab equipment from American Instrument Exchange.

We always have a lot of equipment in stock in our warehouse just north of Boston, and right now we happen to have several chromatography refrigerators available for our customers.

Chromatography fridges are designed to provide stable temperature environment for samples, supplies and equipment. Low temperature chromatography applications such as analysis, separation, and purification of sensitive biological materials such as proteins, antibodies and enzymes need to be carried out in an environment requiring precise temperature range and stability. Most standard household and commercial refrigeration systems can’t keep chambers within these precise temperature parameters.

Chromatography refrigerators.

Most chromatograph refrigerators also include forced air flow to ensure temperature stability throughout the chamber, double-paned glass doors with magnetic gaskets, switch activated interior lights, internal 110V outlets, and side or back mounted hinged access ports.

Single Door Chromatography Refrigerators

At the moment we have a few nice options for single door chromatography units. This Fisher Isotemp unit is relatively large with a 27 cubic foot capacity. It has an automatic defrost feature and LED temperature display. The VWR GDM-23 is a little smaller at 23 cubic feet.

Double Door Chromatography Refrigerators

Two-door chromatography are the most popular configuration a provide plenty of space for both samples and equipment. We have a few VWR units in stock, including this VWR GDM-49 with swinging (hinged) doors, two access ports and one interior duplex outlet. We also have a more recent vintage VWR unit available, with a digital temperature readout and auto defrost. There’s also this Thermo model to consider, with a key switch lockout and 49 cubic feet of interior space.

Three Door Chromatography Refrigerators

For those of you lucky enough to work in labs with ample floor space a three door chromatography refrigerator can be a great addition to your space. These models typically have over 70 cubic feet of interior capacity in which to store large volume of samples or run multiple chromatography systems simultaneously. The Thermo REC7504, for example, has 78 cubic feet of storage and three hinged doors, along with forced-air circulation fans. The VWR GDM-72 has the same features.

https://youtu.be/9fleLWYEp_M

So if you’re in the market for chromatography refrigerators and are looking to save some money, please give us a call or email today. Our prices are typically 40% – 60% lower than comparable new units and all of our equipment come fully tested to manufacturer spec and with a warranty. 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/.

Laboratory glassware washers in stock now

Click here to see the used and refurbished lab equipment from American Instrument Exchange.

Glassware washer are an essential component in many different kinds of labs, including biotech, chemistry, and even breweries. We consistently stock and sell used and refurbished glassware washers from a variety of manufacturers. Miele and Labconco models are generally the most popular brands among our customers, with certain Lancer models also in demand. Below is a list of some of the units we currently have in stock and available.

Labconco Flaskscrubber undercounter glassware washer

Labconco produces all around quality products: biosafety cabinets, fume hoods, freeze dryers, powder enclosures, and glassware washers. This Labconco Flaskscubber can wash and dry both general purpose and narrow-neck glassware with water and detergent pumped through the spindles directly into the innermost spots of the dirty glass. The stainless-steel front panel and door are durable and easy to clean. The LCD display is bright, clear, and easy to use. Click here for pictures and more details.

Lancer 1300LX glassware washer

Lancer 1300LX glassware washer.

The Lancer 1300LX features a nice upright design with is ergonomic – no bending over to load or unload the trays. Additionally, the programmable memory allows for inputs of up to 42 different washing programs, saving you time and mental bandwidth and reducing potential mistakes in setting inputs before each wash cycle. The touchpad is waterproof and glove friendly. The racks feature injectable cleaning. Click here to see more!

Miele G7883 glassware washer

The Miele G7883 and G7783 glassware washers are two of our all time best sellers. This front-loading undercounter model has memory for up to eight programs along with an integrated dispenser pump for neutralizing agent. In our experience Miele washers are reliable, high-quality models that can last for decades with proper maintenance. Click here to check out pictures and specs on the G7883.

Miele Professional G7827 large capacity glassware washer

It’s a good thing we have a large warehouse because the Miele G 7827 takes up a significant amount of room – which is to be expected with a large-capacity, high-throughput, high-performance glassware washer. This single door model features a drying unit and drying enclosure, which eliminates the need for a two-step washing/drying process. Other features include four liquid dispensing systems for automatic doing of detergent and neutralizing agent, powerful circulation pumps, fresh water and boiler system, a triple filter system, and environmentally friendly low-water consumption design. Click here and take a look!

So if you’re in the market for a laboratory glassware washer please give us a call or email today. 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/.

Mettler Toledo MX5 microbalance

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Click here to see the used and refurbished Mettler Toledo MX5 from American Instrument Exchange.

Mettler balances are top of the line units and have been our best-selling brand of toploading, analytical, and microbalances for many years. The MX5 is yet another Mettler product that we like and recommend.

The Mettler MX5 consists of two separate components – the weighing cell and evaluation unit. By separating these two functions into two distinct pieces Mettler has virtually eliminated any chance of thermal or vibrational disturbance that might disrupt the accuracy of the weighing cell. (We should note that this isn’t anything unique as far as microbalances go – the Sartorius ME5 has a comparable set up, for example.)

Mettler Toledo MX5.

Like Mettler AX Series balances, the MX5 features a no touch draft shield opening feature: two hands-off “SmartSens” sensors on either side of the control panel can be assigned a specific function like opening or closing the shield. To trigger the SmartSens function you need to only move your hand over the corresponding sensor. With no chance of vibration from touching or handling of the control panel further any chance of ambient vibrations impacting the weighing procedure is reduced even further.  

The bright display and easy to use menu are a given – this is Mettler Toledo we’re talking about, after all. Other features include a built-in calibration function, weighing process adapter, repeatability, auto zero correction, primary and alternative weighing units and interface output parameters.

So if you’re looking for a dependable, affordable microbalance, you should really consider the Mettler Toledo MX5. Please give us a call or email today for pricing and availability. Thanks!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xSkJ3EAZedg

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/.

Nuaire NU-425-500 biosafety cabinets

Click here to see the used and refurbished Nuaire NU-425-500 in stock at American Instrument Exchange.

Although they are somewhat hard to come by, we’re pretty fond of 5’ wide biosafety cabinets. They provide more usable work surface area the 4’ wide models while still being able to fit into tight laboratories with space restrictions.

By far our most popular 5’ biosafety cabinet is the Nuaire NU-425-500. We written about Nuaire biosafety cabinets before on this blog. These are by and large quality products and the customer service department at Nuaire is terrific.

Nuaire NU-425-500.

The NU-425-500 is a Class II Type A2 model (or Type A/B3, which is functionally the same as the A2), with 70%/30% recirculated and exhausted air. Like other Class II Type A2 units it is designed to product personnel and the surrounding environment from pathogens inside the working area and it can be used in cell culture labs or other work with bacteria or viruses.

Because they offer a nice compromise between footprint and interior working area, we sell a fair amount of these units to labs in Boston and Cambridge, San Francisco, San Diego, and other biotech clusters where rent is high and space is at a premium.

So if you’re looking for a 5’ wide biosafety cabinet please give us a call or email today. 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/.

Walk in fume hoods currently in stock

Click here to see used and refurbished chemical fume hoods from American Instrument Exchange.

Used and refurbished floor mounted chemical fume hoods (also known as “walk in fume hoods) are hard to come by. And when they are available, you’ll often find that they’re missing parts, or have broken sashes, or are difficult to assemble.

We take the risk and much of the aggravation out of the equation by offering intact walk in chemical fume hoods to our customers, backed by a 90-day warranty. For customers in New England we can even offer delivery and assembly services. For customers outside of New England we may need to disassemble the hoods for freight shipping but can provide detailed pictures and instructions for reassembly. All this at prices that are 50% or less than the price of comparable new units.

At the moment we have three models of walk in fume hoods in stock.

AMS Corporation walk-in chemical fume hoods

These units are 4’ wide with fixtures on the left hand side of the unit and outlets midway up the sidewalls next to the sashes. Exterior dimensions are 47.5” wide, 32.5” deep, and 93” high. The interior measures 35.5” wide by 21” deep. Click here to see pictures on our website.

Kewaunee walk-in chemical.

Kewaunee walk-in chemical fume hoods

Kewaunee is a well known and well respected brand, and for good reason: they produce quality fume hoods. This model is 6’ wide and overall measures 72” wide by 48” deep by 90” high, with an interior that’s 62” wide by 37” front to back. Click here to see pictures on our website.

BMC walk-in chemical fume hoods

These units are behemoths: 10’ wide and about 10’ tall. They are also in almost brand-new condition. The four separate sashes are horizontal sliding for easy access. Overall exterior dimensions are 45”D x 120”W x 115”H. Interior dimensions are 33.5”D x 111”W x 110”H.Two ducts each measuring 18” x 30” are located at the ceiling of the unit, 18” in from each side and 2” from the back wall.  Click here to see pictures on our website.

So if you’re looking for a floor mounted, walk in chemical fume hood at a low price, please call or email us today. 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/.

Used lab equipment in Boston – recent arrivals

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Click here to see all recently arrived used lab equipment at American Instrument Exchange.

Was the month of busy May for you, too? We’ve had our hands full here at American Instrument Exchange with a lot of equipment shipping out and a lot of equipment coming in. Below is a list of some recent arrivals that are now up on our website and available for sale.

This is the first Wescor 5600 vapor pressure osmometer that we’ve had in stock and we’re excited to be offering this unit to our customers. It’s simple and easy to operate, with features that include auto-calibration, a self-cleaning thermocouple, and statistical analysis. (And if you’re looking for osmometers, we also have several Advanced Instruments units in stock, too.)

We also got an IKA Tube Mill C in stock recently. This is a small batch mill with a disposable grinding chamber that reduces the possibility of cross-contamination. This handy little unit can be used in a variety of industries including pharmacy, food testing, cosmetics, chemical labs, renewable energy, forensic medicine, and more.

We have several Sanyo ultralow freezers in stock as well. The Sanyo MDF-U74VC ultralow is a 25.7 cubic foot capacity model with energy efficient operation and a small floor footprint.

Speaking of cold storage, if you’re looking for a large chromatography refrigerator we’ve got you covered. The Thermo REC7504 is a triple-door model with over 78 cubic feet of storage space. The positive forced air circulation throughout the chamber means better temperature uniformity than many other comparable models.

And what is going on with Baker biosafety cabinets – we’ve lucked into even more of them! We have Baker SG403 and SG603 units in stock and available with a variety of stand styles (including hydraulic push button lift) and new HEPA filters.

We can forget the New Brunswick I26 incubator shakers. We have three chambers in stock and can sell these as a triple stack, double stack, or as individual chamber. The space saving stackability makes these models very popular.

This isn’t a complete least of all the equipment that has arrived at American Instrument in the past few weeks – just the highlights. Check out our new arrivals for pictures and specs of all the equipment that’s come through the door lately. 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/.

Baker AniGARD II animal transfer station

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Click here to see the used and refurbished Baker AniGARD II from American Instrument Exchange.

The Baker AniGARD II is a vertical flow recirculating clean bench. Unlike most of the other Baker biosafety cabinets we have in our inventory, this unit delivers HEPA filtered air in a vertical down flow within the workspace, protecting only protection for the product in the work area. This protection is generally used to protect animal from contaminants and reduce user exposure to allergens during animal laboratory work.

Baker AniGARD II.

The Baker AniGARD II AG4 offers visibility and accessibility to the work area from three sides which is beneficial ergonomically while also allowing for more than one user to access the work surface simultaneously to restrain or calm large animals within the enclosure.

The lift system consists of a manual hydraulic jack operated by a crank and allows surface height settings from 36” to 48” from the floor. The unit is set on casters for easy maneuverability.

So if you’re looking for an animal transfer and want to save your lab some money, please give us a call or email today about the used and refurbished Baker AniGARD II in stock at American Instrument Exchange. Thanks!

Baker AniGARD II AG4 at American Instrument Exchange

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/.

Lab equipment every chemistry lab needs

Used and refurbished chemistry 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 space to hiring personnel, the number of details and decisions to be made can quickly become overwhelming. Fortunately there are only a few basic pieces of equipment you need to get started with a chem lab 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 chemistry lab needs to have in place:

Hotplate stirrer

4E’s USA 7” hotplate stirrer

Magnetic stirring hotplates are used with a stir bar to mix and heat liquid solutions and typically have either ceramic or aluminum surfaces. Ceramic surfaces have excellent chemical resistance and can only be used with glassware, while aluminum top hotplates are usually more durable and won’t crack or split when accidentally bumped or knocked and can be used with both glassware and metal containers. We have ceramic hotplates from Barnstead, Talboys, and Corning in stock, as well as aluminum topped models from IKA.

Toploading and/or analytical balance

A balance used to weigh substances and objects is a must have for any chem lab. For most labs a toploading balance with a weight capacity of around 3kg and sensitivity to 0.1g or 0.01g is sufficient, while other labs require a low capacity, high sensitivity analytical balance, with accuracy to 0.1mg. Some labs opt to get one of each, depending on budget and bench space available. Mettler Toledo consistently produces great balances, from the older AE vintages to the newer gel button XS series.

Centrifuge

A durable, workhorse centrifuge can be used in a chem lab to isolate and separate suspensions and immiscible liquids. Non-refrigerated benchtop models are adequate for most labs, although labs with higher throughput needs or volatile solutions may opt of larger, more specialized machines. Basic tabletop units include the Eppendorf 5702, the Beckman Allegra 6, and the Thermo Sorvall ST 16.

Fume hood

A chemical fume hood is likely to be one of the largest equipment expenses for a new lab. Fume hoods are available in both ducted and ductless designs. These large pieces of furniture are designed to protect workers by containing and removing harmful or toxic fumes, gases, vapors, or particulates. Traditional ducted fume hoods must be connected to an exhaust system, blower motor, and/or fan so that laboratory room air is pulled into and through the hood, creating direction airflow into the hood. Ductless units utilize both carbon and HEPA filters to purifier the air, trap particulate matter and vapors before recirculating back into the room. Ducted units are usually less expensive but require a lot of installation cost, whereas ductless units have virtually no installation cost but do require more maintenance and periodic filter replacement. You can find more information and view our current supply of fume hoods here.

Oven

Drying ovens are often used to remove solvents from chemical samples, or to dry glassware. Laboratory ovens are designed in a variety of different ways, from basic gravity convection ovens to fan-driven mechanical convection to vacuum ovens. Basic gravity ovens are generally the least expensive of these options and a good choice for most chem labs.

Pipette set

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. 

Rotary Evaporator

Rotary evaporators are used to removed solvents from solutions. This can be another major expense for many laboratories, so a refurbished rotary evaporator is a great way to stretch a limited stare up budget. Rotovaps work by increasing the rate of evaporation of the solvent by reducing the pressure to lower the solvent boiling point while rotating the sample to increase the effective surface area and heating the solution. Buchi is by far the most well known manufacturer and we stock fully assembled Buchi systems with pumps, controllers, baths, and full glassware assemblies.

In addition to the above equipment any chemistry lab will need an assortment of safety goggles and other protective equipment, beakers, flasks, test tubes, racks, tongs, crucibles, funnels, Bunsen burners, and consumables, which we may be able to help you select and procure. For more information on chemistry lab equipment available from American Instrument Exchange please call or email us today!

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 story about buying a used freeze dryer – cautionary tale

Click here to see the used and refurbished freeze dryers from American Instrument Exchange.

Well, it happened again. Remember when we described the experience one of our customers had purchasing a biosafety cabinet from an auction? This time it was a different customer and she purchased a freeze dryer that isn’t going to be viable. It’s a major loss of time and money.  

She had been looking for a freeze dryer for months and wanted to her stretch her budget for FY2019 a little further. We had a Labconco FreeZone Plus 12L in stock and priced at $11,000 which included a vacuum pump and new ports. We offered to discount our price to $10,000 to help her out but her goal was to spend $5,000 or less. So when she saw a up for auction she figured she’d take her chances.

Labconco FreeZone Plus 6L Console freeze dryer.

The bids quickly rose to and surpassed $5,000. In the heat of the moment she got competitive and bid up to $6,600 and won. Only she forgot about premium cost – which added another $1,100 to the total. The unit didn’t come with a vacuum pump either but she figured that she could repurpose one that she already had on hand. Removal, packing and freight shipping cost her another $800.

When she got the unit she quickly realized that the vacuum pump she had on hand wouldn’t work. She had to spend another $1,200 getting another pump. Then the freeze dryer wouldn’t hold vacuum. She plugged the ports and, thankfully, the vacuum held – but that still meant at least one of the ports leaked. Several hours of troubleshooting and $400 worth of new ports later, the machine appeared to be functioning properly.

In the end she paid a total of $10,100 for the freeze dryer – more than she would have paid purchasing a testing and warrantied unit from American Instrument Exchange. And while there was a certain satisfaction in repairing the unit on her own she’ll be the first to admit it was probably not the best use of time or mental energy.

(For the record, none of this is to say that lab equipment auctions or auction companies are nefarious or anything like that. They can be great to work with and most of the people conducting the auctions are honest and helpful, and sometimes – sometimes – there are bargains to be found. Our point here is that for big ticket, complicated, and delicate machines, you’re taking a significant and potentially costly risk buying untested and without a warranty.)

So if you’re interested in any used or refurbished lab equipment please call or email us today. We’ll work with you to find a machine that fits your budget and works to manufacturer specifications so that you can get to work quickly. 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/.