2017 Lab Ovens User Survey
Find out readers’ ten preferred lab oven features and more from the results of our latest product survey
Laboratory ovens are common instruments in most laboratories and are used across most 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 | 66% |
| Microwave Oven | 34% |
| Mechanical Convection Oven | 26% |
| Gravity Convection Oven | 19% |
| Vacuum Oven | 17% |
| Safety Oven | 4% |
| Other | 6% |
Lab oven applications as reported by survey respondents:
| Heating and drying | 84% |
| Evaporating | 43% |
| Temperature-linked experiments | 36% |
| Baking | 16% |
| Sterilization | 11% |
| De-gassing samples | 7% |
| Die-bond curing | 4% |
| Annealing | 3% |
| Other | 7% |
Nearly 34% of respondents are engaged in purchasing a new lab oven. The reasons for these purchases are as follows:
| Addition to existing systems | 47% |
| Replacement of an aging system | 41% |
| Setting up a new lab | 3% |
| First time purchase | 9% |
Top 10 features/factors respondents look for when purchasing a lab oven:
| Safety | 86% |
| Ease of use | 69% |
| Low maintenance/operating costs | 69% |
| Price | 59% |
| Controlled airflow to provide uniform temperature heat distribution | 52% |
| Temperature ranges ambient +40°C to 200°C / 250°C | 51% |
| Ease of installation | 50% |
| Warranty | 48% |
| Service and support | 47% |
| Energy efficient | 39% |
For more information on lab ovens, including useful articles and a list of manufacturers, visit www.labmanager.com/lab-ovens