At any given time we have dozens of floor model centrifuges in stock from a variety of manufacturers. As of the date of this writing we have over 50 individual floor model centrifuges out in the warehouse, with two that just arrived from lab cleanouts and two that are sitting in the outgoing shipping area, fully refurbished and awaiting shipment to customers.
So given all the experience we’ve accumulated over the years we figured we’d share some opinions on our favorite models. These are short summaries. We’ve reviewed several of these models on this blog so feel free to check out those if you’d like more details, or you can always call or email us with questions.
Sorvall and Thermo Sorvall
For years the Sorvall RC-5C Plus was one of our most consistently selling refrigerated floor model units, and there are still many devotees of this model. In addition to being compatible with a huge catalog of over 30 different rotors, with a capacity of 4 x 750mL and a maximum speed of 21,000rpm, the Sorvall RC-5C Plus is also durable and relatively easy to repair for an experienced technician.
For high capacity models, we like the Thermo Sorvall RC BIOS. It’s designed for high-speed, high-volume batch processing applications and has a capacity of 6 x 1L. This unit uses carbon fiber rotors, which are lighter and more durable than metal rotors. (A note of caution, though: we have heard that Thermo is phasing out production and support of this model at some point in the near future. This doesn’t mean the unit won’t be serviceable but it can present some complications. We’ll provide updates if we receive any.)
Beckman Coulter Avanti
We’ve been fans of Beckman centrifuges for years, and the Avanti series are no exceptions. The Beckman Avanti J-25i is a high performance model that can be used for a wide variety of applications, including sample preparation, pelleting, extractions, purifications, concentrations, phase separations, and spin column and spin filter centrifugation; rapid separations; preparation of subcellular organelles; separation of blood cells and cellular components. It’s also compatible with over 20 rotors, including the 4 x 1L JLA-9.100 and the JCF-Z zonal rotor.
The Avanti J-26XPI is similar to the J-25i but with a max speed of 26,000rpm and a max capacity of 6 x 1L, depending on rotor selection. (There’s also the J-26XP, which is similar to the XPI except with rotary dial controls and digital display, rather than push button controls and digital display.)
Non-refrigerated floor model centrifuges
For applications that don’t require refrigeration the Thermo Sorvall Legend XF is a good option. The BIOLiner swinging bucket rotor has a max capacity of 4 x 750mL and a speed of 3,500rpm, while the centrifuge itself is small enough to fit underneath benchtop counters in order to save valuable bench or floor space.
There’s also the beastly IEC model 2K centrifuge. Take a look at this unit and you’ll see why it reminds us of World War II tanks. These are sturdy and utilitarian with a capacity of 6 x 1L.
So that’s it, a summary of our favorite used and refurbished floor model centrifuges. This list is not meant to be comprehensive and we don’t want to offend any manufacturers by implying that we intended to neglect them. We’re looking forward to getting more experience with the Beckman Avanti JXN series and sharing our opinions on these models, as well as the Sorvall Lynx units.
As always, we’re here to answer any questions regarding used and refurbished centrifuges, or any other used lab equipment. Thanks!
American Instrument Exchange has been a reliable source for used laboratory and scientific equipment for over 50 years, buying and selling equipment since 1969. Our surplus lab equipment is reconditioned for many types of laboratories, including biotech, biomedical, medical research, chemical, pharmaceutical, and university and hospital research laboratories. All lab equipment listed on our website is in stock and ships from our 30,000 square foot warehouse in Massachusetts. Our facilities include a fully equipped shop with highly trained technicians who thoroughly test each instrument before it reaches your laboratory. Please visit our website at https://www.americaninstrument.com/.