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2015 Centrifuge Product Survey Results

Find out how purchasing habits and the most popular types have changed since our last survey.

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Trevor Henderson, PhD

Trevor Henderson BSc (HK), MSc, PhD (c), is the creative services director at Lab Manager.  He has more than two decades of experience in the fields of scientific...

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When it comes to common technology in a laboratory, centrifuges rise toward the top of the list. Centrifuges separate particles and structures suspended in liquid by applying thousands of gravitational force equivalents to the sample through spinning and play a role in a wide range of workflows and applications.

Top 5 Questions You Should Ask When Buying a Centrifuge

  1. What is the maximum g-force the centrifuge can generate?
  2. How does the company’s centrifuge differ from other ones that can achieve the same speed and capacity?
  3. What kind of warranty comes with the centrifuge and what does it cover?
  4. If the company discontinues the product, for how many years do they provide accessories and parts for the centrifuge?
  5. Ask about the cost of the purchase—not just the price of the product being installed but the total cost of ownership including price, service expectations, warranty, etc.

Types of centrifuge(s) used by survey respondents:

Benchtop Centrifuge 56%
Microcentrifuge 52%
Benchtop Refrigerated Centrifuge 50%
Benchtop Clinical Centrifuge 35%
Floor Refrigerated Centrifuge 23%
Floor Centrifuge 15%
Floor Ultracentrifuge 12%
Benchtop Ultracentrifuge 12%
Other 3%

Centrifuge rotor type(s) used by survey respondents:

Swinging-bucket rotors 84%
Fixed angle rotors 88%
Vertical rotors 8%

Nearly 52% of respondents are engaged in purchasing a new centrifuge. The reasons for these purchases are as follows:

Replacement of aging system
60%
 
Addition to existing systems, increase capacity
18%
Setting up a new lab
7%
First time purchase
3%
Changing from the current type of centrifuge
2%
Require more speed (g-forces) and capacity
3%
Other
7%

Top 10 features/factors respondents look for when purchasing a centrifuge:

Reliability 89%
Ease of use 76%
Price 76%
Low maintenance / operating costs 73%
Safety features 68%
Warranty 55%
Accuracy 53%
Service and support 49%
Type of centrifuge rotor 42%
Swinging-bucket rotors 37%

For more information on centrifuges, including useful articles and a list of manufacturers, visit www.labmanager.com/centrifuges

See the latest survey results