Used Centrifuges for Sale

Why Buy Used Lab Centrifuges?

One of the more common pieces of equipment that you'll find in a lab is the almighty centrifuge. These high-speed rotators are critical in a wide range of research tasks, from biomedical research to clinical analytics and product development. They separate materials, typically liquids, based on their density variations, a process commonly used to extract suspended substances from different media.

At New Life Scientific, we take pride in increasing accessibility to critical lab equipment. Our used centrifuges are a great option to leverage their powerful capabilities, reducing costs without sacrificing results. 

We regularly update our listings with units from reputable manufacturers, offering top performance at 50% to 90% of the price. Parts like rotors and rotor adapters are also available at affordable prices, allowing for adaptation to your samples and reducing long-term ownership costs.

Our units offer a long service life with no sacrifice in performance — they can operate for decades at the same level as their new counterparts.

View our articles about centrifuges

Types of Used Centrifuges and Top Manufacturers

There are many different types of laboratory centrifuges for sale, each of which serves a unique function. They're often distinguished by usage, size or rotor design:

• Benchtop Centrifuges: Benchtop centrifuges take up very little space and can be specialized for different types of research, like clinical use or tasks requiring refrigeration. They can reach fairly high speeds and accommodate a variety of tube sizes.
• Microcentrifuges: If you thought benchtop centrifuges were compact, microcentrifuges are even smaller, accommodating tiny tubes of about 2 milliliters and below. Most spin at lower speeds, but some offer very fast rotation. It's worth noting that you can often buy rotors that fit these small sample sizes for other types of centrifuges, though the centrifuge might take up more space in the lab.
• Refrigerated Centrifuges: A refrigerated centrifuge provides a cool environment for temperature-sensitive samples, like live cells and proteins. They can come in benchtop or floor models and support a variety of sample volume sizes and speeds.
• Vacuum Centrifuges: Though these units are not very common, vacuum centrifuges use a vacuum to remove liquid for concentrating or desiccating samples. You might find this centrifuge in applications related to microbiology and drug research. Another name for vacuum centrifuges is centrifugal evaporator.
• Ultracentrifuges: The highest of high-speed centrifuges, the fastest ultracentrifuges can reach approximately 120,000 revolutions per minute (RPM). These high-speed centrifuges are available in benchtop and floor models.
• Floor Centrifuges: These centrifuges are quite a bit larger than benchtop centrifuges, and this size allows them to deliver a higher relative centrifugal force (RCF) even at lower RPMs.
• High-Capacity Centrifuges: High-capacity centrifuges are a highly sought-after type of floor centrifuge. Some of the largest high-capacity centrifuges can accommodate up to 12 liters of sample at a time. They're excellent in settings where time is of the essence and the lab has many samples.
• Air Centrifuges: Air centrifuges come from just one manufacturer, Beckman Coulter, but offer exceptional advantages. These powerful centrifuges offer high RPMs similar to an ultracentrifuge but at a lower cost.

The Big Names

When doing your research on centrifuges, there are a few names you'll probably see frequently. Some of the big names in the centrifuge industry include:

Beckman Coulter

• Beckman Coulter is one of the oldest manufacturers in the game, having acquired Spinco, the world's first manufacturer of preparative ultracentrifuges, back in 1955. Beckman Coulter's products are affordable, robust, and easy to maintain. Additionally, many of Beckman Coulter's accessories are compatible with centrifuges from other manufacturers.

Thermo Fisher Scientific

• Thermo Fisher's prices are typically higher than Beckman Coulter's and perhaps slightly higher than Eppendorf's on the used market. But, their newer benchtop centrifuges are easier to find on the used market than their Eppendorf counterparts. It's also worth noting that Thermo owns labequipmentparts.com, which allows users to easily find and purchase replacement parts.

Eppendorf

• Eppendorf builds aesthetically pleasing centrifuges that offer a refined user experience. The slick design comes at a cost, however, Eppendorf centrifuges are much harder to service and repair than those from Beckman Coulter or Thermo. Additionally, Eppendorf makes benchtop centrifuges exclusively (none of which are ultracentrifuges), and finding a post-2010 model on the used market is quite difficult.

How to Choose the Right Used Centrifuge for Your Needs

Before buying a used centrifuge, you should consider several factors unique to the equipment beyond the usual technical features you need. Here are some things to have in mind before selecting a used unit:

Understand Your Needs

Some key considerations to find the right centrifuge for your application include:

• Sample type: Different samples require specific speeds, forces and even temperature control. They may require specialized units with refrigeration or biocontainment features like sealed rotors.
• Volume and throughput: To determine the centrifuge capacity you'll need, consider the volume of samples you'll be processing at once and the number of samples per run.
• Speed and force: To ensure consistent and reproducible results for your protocols, determine the required RCF (Relative Centrifugal Force) and RPM (Rotations Per Minute).

Select Rotor Design

The rotor design of your centrifuge will determine the type of separation you can achieve, the speed and volume of your samples and the overall efficiency of the process. Ensure the centrifuge you choose can accommodate the rotors you need.

Rotor designs include:

• Fixed-angle rotors: They provide higher capacities and are used for pelleting particles at high speeds.
• Swing-out rotors: These rotors offer versatility for different tube sizes and are ideal for gradient separations.
• Specialized rotors: Your application may require specialized designs like horizontal rotors, continuous flow and drum rotors.

Analyze the Condition of the Unit

Having a thorough understanding of the state of a used centrifuge will allow you to operate without any surprises. Before you buy a refurbished centrifuge online, you should analyze the following information: 

• Refrigeration: The refrigeration system should be able to reach the temperature stated in the unit's manual.
• Rotor and rotor chamber: Check for signs that the rotor might be loose, such as dents and dings in the rotor chamber.
• Spindle: This piece supports the rotor and is crucial for the centrifuge's functioning. Ensure that it is not bent.
• Age: Centrifuges are extremely durable, showing barely any changes in performance before the 10-year mark. For older models, you should pay special attention to refrigeration issues and parts availability.

Contact Our Experts

Practical Considerations

Other factors to have in mind beyond technical features and the state of the used unit include:

• Clear controls and user-friendly interfaces.
• Compatibility with the tubes and vessels you'll be using.
• Safety features like imbalance detection and lid locking.
• Warranty and service in case of failure.

Buy Used Lab Centrifuges From New Life Scientific

At New Life Scientific, we carry a wide selection of quality used lab centrifuges accompanied by our robust warranty and expert support. Our experienced in-house technicians handle all repairs needed to meet strict quality and accuracy standards. Many are refurbished and come with extensive information on their features, conditions and all the tests we've conducted. This way, you can shake off the uncertainties of buying used lab equipment and make an informed purchase.

We make shipping easy too. We'll work with you on purchase orders and organizing any necessary freight shipping to get your equipment to your lab. Take a look at our online selection of used centrifuges for sale, where you can buy directly, or reach out to us online or at (567)-292-2752 if you need to organize freight, request a quote or ask additional questions.    

Browse other used lab equipment.

Sell Your Used Centrifuge