Whether to employ central washing stations or point-of-use washers located under a lab bench or in a corner is also something that has to be addressed with regards to laboratory glassware washers. The former provide an economy of scale and are popular with lab workers who, almost universally, hate to “wash the dishes.”
The downside for central washing stations is that glassware tends to disappear over time, due to breakage and operator error.
6 Questions to Ask When Buying a Laboratory Glassware Washer
 | How is the product manufactured? Ask about the quality of the materials used and the product life expectation based on manufacturing testing. Also find out about the product’s warranty. |
 | What differentiates the lab washer from others offered in terms of performance? |
 | Does the company offer application support and technical phone support before and after product installation? |
 | How sustainable is the product? Ask the company to provide details on energy and water consumption as well as the recycle ability of the product. |
 | If the product is discontinued, for how many years does the company provide accessories and parts for the washer? |
 | Finally, ask about the cost of the purchase—not just the price of the product being installed but the total cost of ownership, which includes price, service expectations, warranty, etc. |
Frequency of lab washer use as reported by survey respondents:
| Several times daily | 34% |
| Once a day | 18% |
| Several times each week | 29% |
| Once a week | 14% |
| Two to three times a month | 2% |
| Once a month | 1% |
| Less than once a month | 2% |
Lab washer applications as reported by survey respondents:
| Cleaning large volumes of small items | 27% |
| Cleaning moderate volumes of small items | 36% |
| Cleaning large, difficult-to-clean items | 18% |
| Glassware sterilization | 13% |
| Sterilization of liquids in vented glass containers | 6% |
Nearly 36% of respondents plan on purchasing a new or additional lab washer in the next year. The primary reasons for these purchases are:
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Top 10 features/factors respondents look for when purchasing lab washer:
Completed Surveys: 287
For more information on laboratory glassware washers, including useful articles and a list of manufacturers, visit www.labmanager.com/lab-washers
