LabSource Lab equipment comparison Lab Equipment Comparison · USD 79
Three centrifuges, and the rotor is the purchase
A specification comparison for general laboratory use, where the accessories cost more than the difference between the machines.
The three quotes differ by USD 2,100 on the instrument and by USD 6,800 once the rotors, adapters and service plan you actually need are included. Two of the three quotes include a rotor that does not take your tube format.
Option A is cheapest on the instrument and dearest fully specified, because its rotors are proprietary and its 50 ml adapter is USD 1,900. Option B costs USD 2,100 more up front and USD 4,700 less over the configuration you need.
Scope
What this comparison covers
| Requirement | Specification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum speed | 15,000 rpm minimum | Your protocol list |
| Maximum RCF | 21,000 x g minimum | Your protocol list |
| Tube formats | 1.5 ml, 15 ml and 50 ml conical | All three required |
| Capacity | 24 x 1.5 ml, 6 x 50 ml | Throughput at peak |
| Refrigerated | Yes, to 4 degrees | Two protocols require it |
| Footprint | Under 600 mm depth | Bench depth is 650 mm |
| Noise | Under 60 dB | Shared write-up space adjoins |
| Power | Standard single phase socket | Confirm with estates |
The three tube formats are the requirement that separates these quotes. A centrifuge is not one purchase, it is a body plus the rotors, and a rotor that takes 50 ml conicals is a significant item in its own right.
Comparison
The three, fully configured
| Speed | RCF | 3 formats | Refrigerated | Depth | Noise | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Option A | 17,000 | 24,000 g | Extra rotor | Yes | 580 mm | 58 dB |
| Option B | 15,200 | 21,500 g | All included | Yes | 555 mm | 56 dB |
| Option C | 16,000 | 22,400 g | Extra rotor | Yes | 640 mm | 63 dB |
Option C is 640 mm deep against a 650 mm bench. That leaves 10 mm behind the instrument for a power cable and airflow, which is not enough for either. It is ruled out on a dimension neither quote mentioned.
| Line | Option A | Option B | Option C |
|---|---|---|---|
| Instrument | USD 11,400 | USD 13,500 | USD 12,900 |
| Rotor, 24 x 1.5 ml | Included | Included | Included |
| Rotor, 6 x 50 ml conical | USD 3,200 | Included | USD 2,800 |
| Adapters, 15 ml | USD 1,900 | Included | USD 640 |
| Installation and qualification | USD 900 | USD 650 | USD 900 |
| Service plan, 3 years | USD 2,400 | USD 1,800 | USD 2,100 |
| Delivery | USD 220 | Included | USD 180 |
| Three year total | USD 20,020 | USD 15,950 | USD 19,520 |
Option A's instrument is USD 2,100 cheaper than Option B and its three year total is USD 4,070 higher. Its rotors are proprietary and are priced accordingly, which is a normal commercial model and is invisible on the first page of the quote.
Compatibility
Questions the quotes do not answer
- Will the 50 ml rotor take your specific conical tubes, by manufacturer and part number, not just by nominal volume?
- Are rotors from your existing centrifuge compatible, and if so with which of the three?
- What is the rotor service life in cycles, and is there a mandatory retirement policy?
- Does the service plan cover rotors, or only the instrument?
- What is the guaranteed response time under the service plan, and is it business days?
- Is calibration or verification included, and at what interval?
- What is the lead time for a replacement rotor if one is damaged?
- Does your institution require any particular installation qualification documentation?
Next
Before the purchase order
- This week
Confirm the bench depth and the socket
Measure it rather than taking it from a drawing, and ask estates to confirm the socket rating. This eliminates Option C and may eliminate more.
- This week
Send the eight questions to all three
Identical questions. Two of the three quoted the wrong rotor because nobody stated the tube format in the enquiry.
- Before ordering
Check framework or preferred supplier agreements
Most institutions have them and they often beat a direct quote. Your procurement office will know and is rarely asked before a quote is requested.
- Before ordering
Confirm any internal approval requirement
Capital thresholds, safety sign off and installation qualification vary by institution and are outside what this comparison can tell you.
- At order
Buy the rotors you need now, not later
Rotor prices rise independently of instruments and a rotor ordered in eighteen months will cost more than one ordered with the machine.