Buy Used Freeze Dryers

Quality Used Lab Freeze Dryers and Lyophilizers for Sale

Lyophilizers find their way into many different types of labs. They affect a wide range of products and can help with everything from preserving perishable items to making substances easier to transport. You can find them in the development of biopharmaceuticals, food product preparation and various types of research. Lyophilizers were hard at work even back in World War II, where they would freeze-dry blood plasma for easier transportation.

New Life Scientific is your premier source for used lab freeze dryers and lyophilizers. We offer high-value lab equipment at a fraction of the cost with unmatched after-sales support. Our lab equipment and freeze dryers for sale are tested and backed by a comprehensive warranty, so you can operate with peace of mind.

Types of Lyophilizers: Choosing the Right Fit for Your Lab

All lyophilizers work on the same principle of removing water from an object. They freeze the material, reduce pressure and add heat to sublimate water molecules off of the sample, with each task controlled by various mechanisms within the instrument, such as the vacuum system, condenser or refrigeration system. Lyophilizers excel in their role because the dehydration occurs through sublimation, so the product does not lose its structure. 

Whether you're working with food, vaccines, bacteria or something else, you'll need to ensure your lyophilizer meets specific processing needs for that type of product. You'll also want to make sure it's large enough to meet the demands of your work so it doesn't become an efficiency-killing bottleneck in your process. To select the right used lyophilizer, you'll need to understand the needs of your application, consider things like:

• Moisture content: The amount of moisture you'll need to remove and how quickly you'll need to remove it — i.e., how much liquid does your condenser need to remove in one run?
• Sample type: The type of sample being processed and the type of container it requires.
• Sterilization requirements: Analyze the required vacuum level and cold trap temperature to ensure the used lyophilizer aligns with your research needs and regulatory standards.
• Volume: Consider the span of your operations to choose the right capacity — i.e., the number of vessels the manifold can hold, assuming you're looking at a manifold dryer.
• Temperature requirements: For thorough drying, ensure that the lyophilizer's collector temperature is below the freezing point of your sample.
• Your lab's power capabilities: If working with a large number of samples, you may want a lyophilizer that can handle larger quantities per cycle to save on energy consumption. Some lyophilizers require a dedicated 20-amp breaker, so be sure to find out what kind of requirements come with a used freeze dryer.

The size of the lyophilizer impacts the size of its condenser, which determines how much liquid you can sublimate before needing to defrost — in other words, how much you can sublimate in one run. Some product shelf chambers are better suited to different sample types and sizes. You can use flasks, vials and trays with manifold, shelf-freeze or combination chambers.

There are many different types of lyophilizers, each with different capabilities, including:

Benchtop Freeze Dryers

Benchtop freeze dryers are perfect for compact spaces and small-scale operations. They are widely used in small labs or research facilities to freeze dry samples like vaccines, bacteria, medicines and food. This type of lyophilizer comes in different configurations that can be categorized by their drying chamber and condenser set up, ranging from T-type configuration for flask drying, top-press dryers for stoppering vials under vacuum or clear drying chambers that allow for visual monitoring.

Pilot Freeze Dryers

Pilot freeze dryers are the middle ground between small and large-scale operations. They are ideal for pilot-scaled testing and development and are widely used in pharmaceutical and biotechnology applications for process optimization. They have customization options for temperature and pressure control, as well as adjustable drying times, providing flexibility and scalability. Some models feature automatic documentation of process parameters to ensure repeatability.

Production Freeze Dryers

Production freeze dryers are massive production-level instruments commonly used in food preparation activities. They feature larger shelf areas ranging from one square meter to hundreds of square meters, higher throughput and more complex control systems to handle bulk quantities while maintaining product consistency. 

Manifold Freeze Dryers

Manifold dryers are ideal for labs that need to freeze-dry a small amount of various individual samples. They're generally employed in research applications and not for commercial use. In this design, the product is placed in a container and affixed to valves. In shelf freeze dryers, the product is placed onto shelves, so they can often accommodate larger quantities.

Manifold dryers make up a large majority of the lyophilizers that we carry and are popular in various laboratory applications. They can be particularly useful because of their individualized design. Samples can be kept separate to prevent cross-contamination, which occurs more easily in shelf models, and multiple users can add their flasks onto a manifold dryer. It's easier to divide things up for important research applications. You can find manifold lyophilizers with a wide range of valve configurations, such as T-shaped bars, rings and vertical styles.

Some lyophilizers also allow sterilization via pressurized steam or hydrogen peroxide, while others are only for non-sterile applications.

Key Considerations When Buying a Used Freeze Dryer

In addition to the characteristics of the individual unit, you'll also need to address the challenges that come with buying used freeze dryers, such as unit condition. When it's time to inspect a piece of equipment, make sure to ask the following questions and check that the freeze dryer is working as it should:

Is the refrigeration system working properly? 

Many freeze dryers have a guaranteed low temperature that they need to reach. If a lyophilizer can't reach this temperature, the issue may be as simple as the unit needing a recharge or as challenging as a leak in the refrigeration system. Whatever the reason, a lyophilizer needs a functioning refrigeration system to do its job reliably.

How does the insulation look? 

Surrounding the refrigeration tubing components is a layer of insulation that keeps the system running efficiently. This layer can break down over time with exposure to moisture, making it much less effective. Another possibility is that this is just a sign of a larger problem — refrigerant could be leaking onto the insulation and destroying it. You may need to fix the leak or replace the insulation — or both.

Can the freeze dryer reach the right vacuum pressure? 

Appropriate vacuum pressure is important for accurate sublimation. If a freeze dryer can't achieve this pressure, it may just need a simple addition of vacuum grease. Another, more expensive possibility is that it needs an entire rebuild or replacement of the vacuum pump. Be sure to check the lyophilizer's pressure capabilities so you don't have any unexpected surprises or costly repairs in the future.

Is the vacuum pump included? 

Keep in mind that some small lyophilizers don't have a built-in vacuum pump. If you're looking at a smaller model, check if this component is included so you don't incur a surprise extra expense. At New Life Scientific, we include vacuum pumps with all of our benchtop model lyophilizers, so you won't need to chase one down.

If the freeze dryer has a manifold, are valves included? 

Again, if the model you're looking at doesn't have these, you'll need to purchase them at an additional cost to use the machine.

Are there any other problems that would affect the operation of the lyophilizer? 

Be sure to check its physical condition thoroughly so you can properly gauge whether costly repairs are in your future.

Always try to work with reputable sellers and inspect the machine carefully before purchasing to ensure you're making a smart investment.

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Leading Freeze Dryer Manufacturers

Considering the manufacturer's reputation when buying used equipment helps you select units with higher value and quality. Established brands often invest in high-quality materials and rigorous testing to ensure their products have a longer service life. They also offer higher parts availability, allowing for cost-effective repair and maintenance. Two of the most popular providers are SP Scientific and Labconco. 

SP Scientific and VirTis Lyophilizers

SP Scientific supplies instruments that many labs trust for industrial, heavy-duty lyophilization. Their systems are built well and have robust, easy-to-maintain components, especially when it comes to essential parts like compressors. VirTis is an SP Scientific brand specializing in lyophilizers, and this is evident in their approach to the fine details. Their designs address inconveniences that many other companies overlook. Some examples include their quick-change ports and welded manifold holes, which are less damaging to rubber valves.

Labconco Freeze Dryers

Labconco takes a lower-cost approach. They don't specialize in freeze dryers like VirTis, so their user experience isn't as refined, and they don't offer features like quick-change ports. However, Labconco products do offer significant price savings and have readily available parts. Though they aren't as heavy-duty as some other models, they're a great fit for labs that work with less-demanding samples and are looking to keep costs low.

Shop Used Freeze Dryers With Confidence at New Life Scientific

Here at New Life Scientific, we make it easy to buy used lab equipment by backing our used freeze dryers with a warranty. We also employ technicians who excel in their field and go the extra mile with services like on-site repairs to ensure they work as promised. 

Our used freeze dryers can provide essential processing tasks for a much lower cost, making this capability accessible to many more labs. We make sure to include detailed descriptions of our products so you can know if it's a fully refurbished lab freeze dryer and see the results of any tests we've conducted.

Whether you need to use freeze dryers for adding stability, shelf life or better transportation characteristics to your samples, used freeze dryers are an affordable, effective solution. We have a strong track record of success, with testimonials and reviews from plenty of happy customers in everything from universities and biotech companies to research labs and clinics.

Browse our selection of used freeze dryers for sale, and reach out to us online or at (567)-292-2752 if you have any questions on a product. We can also provide a quote or help arrange freight shipping if needed.     

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