It is very crucial for the buyer to purchase the right lab instrument, as a slight mistake can have disastrous consequences. One of the classical examples of this, for instance, could be Vacuum Circuit Breaker or the Can Packaging Machines. If you do not buy a good quality machine, it might not be able to eliminate hazards and prove to be dangerous. Hence, a buyer must purchase these instruments always from a reliable store and bear certain things in mind so that your money won’t go to waste. A High- quality instrument ensures safety along with customer satisfaction.
6 Things To Keep In Mind Before The Buying Lab Equipments
If you are planning to establish your own laboratory or even purchasing them as a consumer, then you definitely need to purchase a device that produces accurate and timely results on a regular basis and is cost effective. Do make sure, whatever you buy proves to be an investment for you. There are certain things that you need to consider before planning to purchase a right and a High quality instrument. The better instrument you buy the less are the chances of negative results.
1. Price
While purchasing a new or even a refurbished lab equipment, price is one of the most important key considerations. You need to consider the cost of servicing the equipment over its lifetime along with the costs of any of its components along with the consumables that are relevant to keep it running. You might have very well noticed that the more expensive the model you buy, the less it costs to maintain it. Compare various models with different prices keeping in mind it’s quality.
2. Annual Maintenance
Some companies or instrument providers usually provide a warranty for one year, but you can also demand for two years as well. It is very critical as all of them are running machines and are used on a daily basis. They require servicing quite frequently. Some machines might need servicing every three months while some might need it every six months. Now coming to AMC, which is provided only once a year, is definitely not enough. Hence do make sure that you demand for at least two years of AMC and warranty for the machine. If maintained properly, they sufficiently last for a longer period of time.
3. Consumables
Investment in the machine is one thing. The other involves running it on a regular basis. For that you need to know the cost of the consumables. These include the reagents and liquid required for running them. There are other materials as well such as cuvettes that are included in the consumables. Some machines might cost $5,000 while some may even be as high as $9,000. All you need to consider is which one will prove to be the best for your use and then select wisely. Make sure that you are aware of the conceivable cost right at the beginning of the investment so that on a monthly basis while buying the consumables it does not prove to be a shock for you.
4. Wear And Tear Of The Equipment
Any electronic equipment or the instrument that you buy will have its own wear and tear. If you use it on a daily basis there will be some of its components that might need to be replaced on a continuous run. For instance, if you buy a vacuum circuit breaker, you normally will not be required to change it. But if your electrical system has aged or your VCB has reached a level where it actually needs to be replaced then you do have to change it to prevent mishaps. Same is the case with the can packaging if they have started to break out more often, then it is a sign that you need to change it.
Now if we talk about fully automated biochemistry, the light bulb has to be replaced once every three or six months as per the usage in the lab. There might be certain costs involved that are usually hidden. They are not a part of AMC and also do not come in the monthly consumables. So before buying them do talk to your seller regarding the other costs that might be involved while servicing your equipment. Do ensure nothing is hidden from you and be prepared to face the challenges in the Laboratory.
5. Running Cost
In a medium sized Laboratory you have the option to choose the same type of technology but with various brands . You need to be aware of the working cost and the running Cost of each sample. Running Cost generally involves the electricity, the amount to be paid to the technician, consumables, everything forms a part of this cost. You need to interact with your company provider regarding all the things that will be a part of these costs and what will be the best equipment for you. The more the number of tests you run, the more shall be your running Cost.
6. Buy From a Trusted Company
One of the most important steps when you buy a lab equipment is that you buy it from a trusted company. Purchasing such items from a local shop might make you feel cheated and might even result in accidents in certain cases. Hence, it is advisable to buy your Equipment from a reliable brand. It will provide you with the high quality products at a reasonable price along with the punctual time delivery. You can also rely on them for their well known reputation. One such company is lab consumable suppliers, known to deliver some of the best products. Click here for more information.
Conclusion
While purchasing a device, the buyer must think wisely. You must come to the conclusion after interacting with the vendors, service dealers and the salesperson to get a fair idea as to which one is going to best suit your laboratory in accordance with your investment plan and the amount you have reserved for the running of the laboratory for the next six months to one year.
The device that your lab utilizes to conduct experiments might have a huge impact on the overall success of your facility. When you are on a tight budget you might be tempted to buy the cheapest equipment available. However, it might prove to be much more expensive. Hence you need to choose carefully.
