2016 Cold Storage Survey Results

Learn readers’ cold storage purchasing plans and more from our latest survey results.

Written byRyan Ackerman
| 2 min read

Freezers and refrigerators are an integral part of any laboratory that requires temperature controlled storage.

Top 5 Questions You Should Ask When Buying Cold Storage Equipment

  1. How is the product manufactured? Ask about the quality of the materials used and the product life.
  2. What is the warranty? What does it include and for how long? Will anything void the warranty?
  3. How green is the product? Ask the company to provide details on energy efficiency and have them relate it to your return on investment (e.g. in four years will you save enough money in energy costs to pay for your freezer/fridge?).
  4. How much sample capacity are you getting for your space?
  5. What are the optimal voltage/wiring conditions for running the fridge/ freezer? If the building is older, will low voltage or voltage fluctuations affect the performance of the freezer/fridge?

Types of cold storage equipment used by survey respondents:

Upright general-purpose lab freezers75%
Upright ultra-low temperature freezers58%
Low temperature upright lab freezers51%
Under-counter general purpose lab freezers39%
Chest ultra-low temperature freezers20%
Flammable materials storage19%
Low temperature chest lab freezers18%
Blood bank and plasma17%
Explosion-proof12%
Other10%

Service and repair methods for cold storage equipment as reported by survey respondents:

In-house service department46%
Instrument manufacturer time/material29%
Third-party contract26%
Instrument manufacturer service contract18%
Third-party time/material14%
Our department9%
Multi-vendor service provider7%
Other1%
Don't know9%

Nearly 62% of respondents are engaged in purchasing new cold storage equipment. The reasons for these purchases are as follows:

Upgrading existing cold storage equipment
17%
 
Replacing obsolete equipment
45%
Addition to existing systems, increase capacity
28%
Setting up a new lab
4%
Other
6%

Top 10 Features/Factors Respondents Look for When Purchasing Cold Storage Equipment:

Reliability of product83%
Durability of product75%
Price68%
Sensitivity and accuracy of temperature controls67%
Warranties60%
Audible and visual hi/lo alarm for each controller51%
Service and support50%
Energy efficient47%
Reputation of vendor43%
Ergonomics and safety controls42%

For more information on cold storage equipment, including useful articles and a list of manufacturers, visit www.labmanager.com/cold-storage

See the most recent survey results

Loading Next Article...
Loading Next Article...

CURRENT ISSUE - May/June 2025

The Benefits, Business Case, And Planning Strategies Behind Lab Digitalization

Joining Processes And Software For a Streamlined, Quality-First Laboratory

Lab Manager May/June 2025 Cover Image