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2014 Laboratory Glassware Washer Product Survey Results

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.

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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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Top 6 Questions You Should Ask When Buying a Lab 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.

Frequency of lab washer usage by survey respondents:

Several times daily 31%
Once a day 18%
Several times each week 28%
Once a week 10%
Two to three times a month 7%
Once a month 1%
Less than once a month 4%

Amount of time per day spent hand-washing glassware in their lab as reported by survey respondents:

Less than 1 hour 41%
1- 2 hours 40%
2 - 3 hours 17%
Over 3 hours 3%

Nearly 36% of respondents plan on purchasing a glassware washer in the next year. The reasons for these purchases are as follows: 

Replacement of aging lab washer
Moving from hand washing of glassware to a lab washer
Addition to existing systems, increase capacity
Setting up a new lab
Changing from the current type of lab washer
Other

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

Consistent washing and disinfecting results 83%
Durability of product 82%
Warranty 66%
Service and support 65%
Price 64%
Low maintenance - easy to use and clean 62%
Safety features 59%
Reliability of vendor 58%
Reputation of vendor 49%
Ability to customize racks 47%

Completed Surveys: 266


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

See the most recent survey results