Used & Refurbished Floor Centrifuges

Used Floor Centrifuges

Centrifuges are an essential part of many labs and organizations. If you're working with large sample volumes or need higher levels of centrifugal force, it may be time to bring out the big guns. Floor centrifuges use a freestanding design that allows them to handle greater volumes and, often, greater speeds than benchtop models. If you can spare the floor space for their larger size, they're a great tool to have for reducing bottlenecks and accommodating a high number of samples.

But for organizations looking to save money, new floor centrifuges aren't always feasible. Fortunately, used floor centrifuges often work just as well as new ones for a fraction of the cost. New Life Scientific is a trusted supplier of used floor centrifuges. Let's take a closer look at these instruments and what you'll need to know before buying one used.

Features of Floor Centrifuges

As you may already know from the name, the defining feature of floor centrifuges is that they sit on the floor. The benchtop centrifuge, on the other hand, is smaller and sits on a lab bench. Floor centrifuges free up bench space. They need to sit on the ground because of their size. This larger housing is necessary for some of the characteristics of a floor centrifuge:

• Higher G-forces: G-forces can be measured in relative centrifugal force (RCF). This number represents the gravitational field a centrifuge generates, and it is calculated with a sample's rotation speed and its distance from the spindle. When spun at the same speed, a rotor with a large diameter will reach higher RCFs than a small-diameter rotor. Since floor centrifuges have wider rotors than benchtop centrifuges, they can achieve these higher G-forces.
• High capacities: Floor centrifuges can handle more samples, which is helpful for high-volume operations. They can keep bottlenecks at bay and ensure the lab can process samples quickly. They can also support more rotors than benchtop systems, which can be valuable for labs with diverse configuration needs.

With greater diameters and capacities, it's no surprise that these centrifuges take up more room in the lab. Most need about a square meter of floor space.

Some features you can find in floor centrifuges include automatic rotor recognition with radio-frequency identification (RFID) and rotor imbalance detection. With these features, your centrifuge can detect any imbalances and the type of rotor you install, automatically adjusting settings according to the limitations of the rotor. In many cases, you can also set up custom programs. For example, you can set the centrifuge to run for 30 minutes at -15 degrees Celsius and 6,000 revolutions per minute (RPM), then change the speed for the next 60 minutes.

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Types of Floor Centrifuges for Sale

There are a few different types of floor centrifuges for you to choose from, mostly varying in terms of speed and capacity. The right one for your application will depend on the type of sample being processed. Styles include:

• Low-speed floor centrifuges: For applications that need to be processed with fewer RPMs, low-speed models can match that need with large production capacities. They can be used in cell culture applications or blood that may need lower maximum G-forces.
• Superspeed floor centrifuges: As the name suggests, a superspeed floor centrifuge can achieve G-forces around 50,000 RCF. These models are particularly versatile.
• Ultracentrifuge floor centrifuges: An ultracentrifuge can create extremely high G-forces up to 1 million RCF with high rotation speeds. They are often used when working with separating viruses, proteins, DNA and RNA.
• High-capacity floor centrifuges: For relatively simple materials in high-throughput applications, a high-capacity centrifuge can handle a greater number of samples for quicker processing. Blood banks are a good example of the kind of organization that may need this type of centrifuge.

Floor Centrifuge Manufacturers

Some names will appear more than others in your search for a used floor centrifuge. Thermo Fisher Scientific, Beckman Coulter and Eppendorf are popular manufacturers.

Beckman Coulter is an industry leader, providing robust, affordable centrifuges. Their centrifuges are easy to maintain, and they create accessories that are compatible with models from other manufacturers. Thermo Fisher is another great choice, but they can be a little pricier than Beckman Coulter. This company owns a reputable store for buying replacement parts.

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Why Buy a Used Floor Centrifuge?

A shiny new centrifuge is great, but for many labs, it's unattainable and downright unnecessary — especially when you consider all the value that exists in used centrifuges. They:

• Are more affordable: As you can imagine, used floor centrifuges cost much less than their new counterparts — often 50 to 90% less!
• Can be more familiar: Some buyers like to buy used because they're more familiar with a certain model.
• Are still high-functioning: Floor centrifuges are built to last, often working well for decades past their manufacture date. We've even sold some centrifuges that were working well after over 25 years! Used models can save you a lot of money with virtually no sacrifice in performance compared to new models.
• Have many compatible accessories: Instruments on the used market tend to have a wider selection of compatible accessories, like rotors and adapters, also available in used condition.
• Eco-friendly: When you buy used equipment, you can help us give new life to these perfectly functional devices and keep them out of the landfills.

Where to Go for Floor Centrifuge Accessories

You may need accessories, like rotors and adapters, for specialized work or for replacing components after they've run their useful life. Often, you can get them directly from the manufacturer of your centrifuge. Other options include used stores, like our own here at New Life Scientific. Going to third parties is often necessary for older models that may be discontinued by the manufacturer.

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Used Floor Centrifuges From New Life Scientific

We know that buying used involves a lot of uncertainty. That's why New Life Scientific is committed to reducing the level of risk in buying a used floor centrifuge. We adopt full transparency and provide clear, upfront descriptions of every used floor centrifuge for sale. We'll tell you about any refurbishing that's been done and provide a rundown of all the info we have so you know exactly what you're getting.

Another critical part of our team here at New Life Scientific is our skilled technicians, who are experts in floor centrifuges. We carefully comb through each centrifuge that comes our way to produce those thorough product listings. That process involves more than just spinning the centrifuge — we'll also service refrigeration systems, swap motors, replace gas springs and more. Whatever a centrifuge requires, our technicians always enact exceptional support for our product warranties.

In addition to service before the sale, we also offer remarkable post-sale support and warranty options. We can solve many problems that arise, even after the warranty expires. 

What to Look for in a Used Floor Centrifuge

As with any used product, there are a few aspects you'll want to look more closely at on a used floor centrifuge versus a new one. Of course, it needs to have the right features for your specific application and match your requirements for size, speed, maximum RCF, rotor type, temperature, heat production and so on. Aside from those aspects, you'll also need to check for any problems that could affect the functionality, especially in the following areas:

• Rotor and rotor chamber: Look for any dings or dents. If these are present, you might be looking at a chamber damaged by a rotor that came loose while running. It could have a damaged spindle or motor.
• Rotor Availability: With some floor ultracentrifuges being over 20 years old, you should ensure that you can source the rotor that would meet your application needs. If you need help finding that rotor, contact us.
• Refrigeration: Check the refrigeration system to ensure that it meets the temperature specified in the manual. If it doesn't, it may still work for your application, or it may need service.
• Spindle: The spindle is where the rotor attaches to the centrifuge. If it's bent, the centrifuge won't work.
• Errors: Make sure the screen doesn't have any errors, which could be a pretty clear red flag in terms of functionality.
• Age: If your centrifuge is less than 10 years old, you can typically rest easy, as problems here are very rare. After 10 or 20 years, refrigeration systems can start to have problems depending on the manufacturer and model. Once you pass 20 to 30 years, evaluate your centrifuge with extreme scrutiny — but keep in mind that many centrifuges still work at this age! They're very hardy pieces of equipment.

Another important factor to consider is whether a warranty is provided. Warranties can limit the risk associated with buying used and help ensure your used floor centrifuge actually works. Our used floor centrifuges for sale feature a standard 90-day warranty, and some even qualify for year-long warranties. Our technicians go above and beyond to deliver equipment that works as expected every time.

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Used floor centrifuges are a great way to save money without sacrificing quality. At New Life Scientific, we make every effort to provide dependable instruments for whatever your work calls for. We'll also work with you on shipping. Take a look at our wide selection of used floor centrifuges for sale. You can buy online if you know what you need or reach out to us for more assistance. Give us a call at 567-221-0615 or contact us online for questions, freight shipping or quotes!

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