At any given time we have dozens of biosafety cabinets in stock from a variety of manufacturers. For example, as of this writing we have over 70 individual BSCs out in the warehouse, with six that just arrived from lab cleanouts and four that are sitting in the shipping area, fully refurbished with new HEPA filters 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 plan to review several of these models in more detail on this blog so please check back in for updates, or you can always call or email us with questions.
Baker SG403 and Baker SG603 SterilGARD III bio safety cabinets
The Baker company has been introducing consistently excellent products to market for over three decades. The original SterilGARD models were built like tanks, with a great mix of durability and precision. The SG403 and SG603 SterilGARD III models featured some nice improvements, like a tilted sash for better viewing of the interior work surface and ergonomics, as well as a more energy efficient motor. HEPA filters for these units are available with aluminum frames, which makes them lighter and easier to change with a reduced risk of damage.
We’re big fans of the Baker SG604 and SG404 biosafety cabinets as well. These have only been on the market for a few years though, so we’re withholding opinion until we have a chance to determine the longevity. All indications are that Baker put out another stellar product, but only time will tell. Stay tuned….
Labconco Logic Series biosafety cabinets
The Labconco Purifier Delta series biosafety cabinets were very decent and certainly cost-effective, but did have some quirks that knocked them out of contention as a top tier product, in our humble opinion. The Labconco Logic Series units, however, are great. Good design, with a useful but unobtrusive LCD screen that shows safety status, remaining filter life and other information, an angled sash, and touchpad controls located to the sides of the sash. The one design flaw on these models is the lack of support along the bottom panel which can cause some bending during installation and transportation if not properly handled. This is hardly a deal breaker, however. And it is important to remember that the Labconco customer support team is one of best in the business. We’ve had consistently good experiences them, whether calling about a BSC, freeze dryer, or any other product. Way to go, Labconco. We love you guys.
Thermo Scientific
Up until recently we weren’t huge fans of Thermos biosafety cabinets, particularly the models with the motorized sash. In our opinion, this was a solution to a problem that never existed – the sashes on BSCs are generally not particularly difficult to raise or lower and don’t really need to be motorized. In addition to being unnecessary, these sashes also didn’t work all that great.
But with the new 1300 series Thermo has cut out many bells and whistles and put forward a sleek, simple product that seems both durable and aesthetically pleasing. Thermo does have a habit of obsoleting products almost as quickly as they’re introduced to market though, so let’s keep our fingers crossed that they keep producing/supporting these models, because we really like them.
Nuaire
Nuaire often doesn’t get the credit it deserves. We were first introduced to Nuaire as a less-expensive alternative to Baker products, but Nuaire should be recognized as a solid, dependable manufacturer, without qualification. Like Labconco the customer service representatives at Nuaire are consistently knowledgeable, friendly, and helpful. The Nuaire LabGard units mounted on hydraulic stands are excellent products, as are the newer CellGard series. And for a combination of quality and low price it’s hard to beat some of the older Nuaire NU 425-400 units.
So that’s it, a summary of our favorite used and refurbished bio safety cabinet. This is by no means and comprehensive list and we don’t want to offend any manufacturers by implying that we intended to neglect them. For instance, Kewaunee recently introduced the Interceptor biosafety cabinet, with a really cool looking scissor clamp system for holding the HEPA filters in position. We got to look at one of these at a trade show and are hoping we get to work with some of these in the future. (Kewaunee, if you’re reading this, feel free to hook us up! We’d love the chance to check the Interceptor out more closely.)
As always, we’re here to answer any questions regarding used and refurbished biosafety cabinets, or any other used lab equipment. Thanks!
Refurbished BSCs available from American Instrument Exchange. Click HERE for more details.
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/.