Used Lab Equipment for the Biotech Industry

In the biotech industry, small samples can lead to big discoveries. To work with those samples, biotechnology companies depend on lab equipment. They use lab instruments to study and treat health problems, develop sustainable fuel solutions, improve agricultural yields and make other life-changing discoveries. But not every biotech facility has access to unlimited funds to buy brand-new equipment. Even if you do, used equipment can offer valuable savings and faster fulfillment.

Biotech labs can take advantage of affordable, high-quality, used lab instruments as they tackle the world's most challenging problems.

Types of Used Biotech Equipment for Sale

Since the world of biotech can span industries, you'll find all kinds of used lab equipment in these facilities, often supporting research, analysis and reporting tasks. Some instruments biotech companies rely on include:

• Centrifuges and rotors: As a vital part of many biotech labs, centrifuges use high speed and centrifugal force to separate different components of fluid. You'll find many different styles used in biotech labs, including benchtop models, microcentrifuges and ultracentrifuges. They're used in everything from blood analysis to fuel research. We also carry centrifuge rotors to accommodate different vessels and sample types.
• Incubating shakers: With an incubating shaker, you can control environmental factors while gently agitating materials to support the growth of microbiological cultures. Biotech labs often use them to grow cultures from certain bacteria or fungi.
• Liquid handling systems: A liquid handling system can make quick work of fluid transfer tasks. It can dispense and sample liquids with high precision, eliminating some manual tasks and helping improve accuracy in the lab.
• Real-time PCR and qPCR equipment: If you need to find genetic material from specific organisms, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) equipment can make it happen. Real-time PCR instruments, including quantitative PCR (qPCR) instruments, measure DNA amplification during the reaction instead of after it.
• Spectrophotometers: A spectrophotometer measures the intensity and wavelength of light that passes through a sample. These instruments can provide useful details about a sample's composition and properties.
• Biological safety cabinets: Biotech labs often work with potentially hazardous materials, and a biological safety cabinet provides a contained, controlled environment to prevent exposure. 
• Ultra-low temperature freezers: These ultra-cold freezers can store everything from tissue samples and bacteria to drugs and chemicals. Many ultra-low temperature freezers also have additional security mechanisms, like battery backups and data logging software, to protect the freezer's contents.

Whether you plan to use your equipment regularly or infrequently, used products are a great choice. You can use them to ramp up operations, try out new techniques or test a specific instrument with low financial risk.

Biotech Equipment Manufacturers

In the biotech industry, used lab equipment can come from many dependable equipment manufacturers. They each have unique priorities, so understanding the equipment maker can help you make the right choice. 

Beckman Coulter and Eppendorf are two major centrifuge manufacturers. Both offer high-performing centrifuges, but Beckman Coulter is known for rugged, easy-to-maintain centrifuges, while Eppendorf offers a sleek, aesthetically pleasing design that can be hard to service. If cost is your biggest concern, a Beckman Coulter might help you keep expenses low in the future.

Other types of equipment come from brands like Thermo Fisher Scientific, which makes centrifuges, cryostats and incubators, and Leica, which makes cryostats, coverslippers, tissue processors and more.

Why Buy Used Biotech Equipment?

Buying used biotech lab equipment can support your work in several different ways, including:

• Reduced costs: Used equipment is much more affordable. It's generally the more cost-effective choice, and it might be the only option available if you're on a tight budget. By buying used, you can bring valuable equipment within reach to help you meet demands or expand capabilities. Used equipment also means you can buy used accessories to reduce costs further down the line.
• High-quality instruments: When you buy from a reputable supplier, used biotech equipment is often just as dependable as new equipment. Fortunately, these instruments are built to last, so they perform well on the used market. You can expect many types of equipment to work beautifully after years or even decades, especially if it's refurbished.
• Fast delivery: If you purchase new equipment, you might be facing long lead times. When tight research deadlines or reporting requirements are on the line, you may not be able to wait weeks or months. Used equipment is ready to go and gets to you much faster.
• Reduced risk: Biotech companies often need to minimize risk, and a piece of used equipment can help. Used instruments require less capital investment and don't depreciate as quickly as new equipment does. Buying used reduces the stakes associated with an equipment purchase and the need to maximize value.

What to Consider When Buying Used Biotech Equipment

As with any equipment purchase, you have some evaluating ahead of you. In addition to choosing the right piece of equipment, you'll need to select a reliable seller and understand your warranty coverage. Some things to consider as you shop for used biotech lab equipment include:

• Seller reputation: Transparency isn't always a given when you're buying used. Look for a seller with a good track record of satisfied customers and a solid reputation. If something goes wrong with the purchase, you want someone who has your back. At New Life Scientific, we reduce as much risk as we can with detailed listings, a thorough quality assurance process and exceptional customer support.
• Warranty coverage: A product warranty is especially important when buying used. It can add peace of mind and assurance that you won't be out hundreds or thousands of dollars if your equipment stops working not long after you bought it. Make sure your seller provides a warranty to help you further minimize risk. Ours is 90 days, and some instruments qualify for extended warranties.
• Equipment age and condition: While lab equipment generally has a long life span, you'll still need to consider its age to understand how much remaining service life you can expect. Condition is just as relevant here. An instrument that was used heavily for a few years could work just as well as a 10-year-old instrument in pristine condition. Our used equipment pros can go over the impacts of these factors and find the right addition to your lab.

Choose New Life Scientific for Used Biotech Equipment Today

Finding used biotech lab equipment shouldn't be a gamble or a headache. These instruments can help you do more with less, so we aim to eliminate the complexities of buying used with a reliable selection of used equipment and unmatched customer support. Our knowledgeable team can help you find the right used instruments for a biotech lab and back them up with our 90-day warranty.

For the companies working to solve our biggest problems, there's New Life Scientific. Our affordable, dependable equipment can help you improve your lab processes or increase your capabilities without going over budget. We can help arrange freight shipments and purchase orders, too. Reach out to us online or at (567)-212-2460 with any questions!