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Lab Manager General Lab Product Survey

Tired of Hand Washing? Here's What to Know When Buying a Glassware Washer

Learn the most sought-after features and more from our latest survey results

by Shane Downie

Whether to employ central washing stations or point-of-use washers located under a lab bench or in a corner is 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.

Top 6 Questions You Should Ask When Buying a Glassware Washer

  1. 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.
  2. What differentiates the lab washer from others offered in terms of performance?
  3. Does the company offer application support and technical phone support before and after product installation?
  4. 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.
  5. If the product is discontinued, for how many years does the company provide accessories and parts for the washer?
  6. 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.

Types of lab glassware washers used by survey respondents:

Medium Capacity Washer57%
Small Capacity Washer27%
Large Capacity Washer9%
High Throughput Washer4%
Other10%

Frequency of lab glassware washer use as reported by survey respondents:

Several time daily32%
Several times each week31%
Once a day20%
Once a week11%
Less than once a month7%
Two to three times a month3%
Once a month3%

Nearly 31% of respondents are engaged in purchasing a new glassware washer. The reasons for these purchases are as follows:

Replacement of an aging system
70%
Addition to existing systems, increase capacity
20%
Setting up a new lab
7%
First time purchase
3%

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

Consistent washing and disinfection results84%
Durability of product81%
Low maintenance - Easy to use and clean76%
Service and support67%
Reliability of vendor62%
Warranty62%
Price59%
Reputation of vendor51%
Safety features47%
Energy efficient/low operating cost46%

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

See previous survey results: