Ten Factors Readers Look for in Their Lab Ovens
Find out readers’ purchasing plans and more from the latest lab ovens user survey results
Laboratory ovens are an indispensable instrument in most laboratories as they are used across various scientific disciplines. Lab ovens are most commonly less than 12 cu.ft. in volume, although a great variety of sizes are available in benchtop, stackable, and floor-standing models.
Top 5 Questions You Should Ask When Buying a Lab Oven
- What temperature range do you require? (Does the product have reserve temperature capacity?)
- What accuracy and uniformity does the product have? (Will my sample be damaged or will my experiment only function in one “sweet spot”?)
- Are interior chamber space / weight of my sample and floor space in the lab a match to application and lab?
- Do I need any computer interfaces, alarms, or safety devices on my oven?
- Are accessories like data loggers, viewing windows, and modifications like access ports available from the manufacturer to suit my specific needs?
Types of lab ovens used by survey respondents:
| General Purpose Oven | 67% |
| Mechanical Convection Oven | 28% |
| Microwave Oven | 25% |
| Gravity Convection Oven | 24% |
| Vacuum Oven | 17% |
| Safety Oven | 6% |
| Other | 5% |
Lab oven applications as reported by survey respondents:
| Heating and drying | 80% |
| Evaporating | 42% |
| Temperature-linked experiments | 42% |
| Baking | 16% |
| Sterilization | 16% |
| De-gassing samples | 5% |
| Annealing | 5% |
| Die-bond curing | 3% |
| Distilling | 1% |
| Other | 11% |
Nearly 23% of respondents are engaged in purchasing a new lab oven. The reasons for these purchases are as follows:
| Replacement of an aging system | 71% |
| Addition to existing systems | 21% |
| Setting up a new lab | 7% |
| First time purchase | 1% |
Top 10 features/factors respondents look for when purchasing a lab oven:
| Safety | 86% |
| Low maintenance/operating costs | 71% |
| Ease of use | 69% |
| Controlled airflow to provide uniform temperature heat distribution | 59% |
| Price | 53% |
| Temperature ranges ambient +40°C to 200°C / 250°C | 50% |
| Service and support | 44% |
| Ease of installation | 39% |
| Energy efficient | 39% |
| Warranty | 33% |
For more information on lab ovens, including useful articles and a list of manufacturers, visit www.labmanager.com/lab-ovens
See results from past surveys: