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Choosing the right centrifuge for your needs can be a daunting task. That’s why Henderson Biomedical is on hand to guide you through the process. We will be regularly reviewing centrifuges and other types of laboratory equipment in forthcoming blogs. This month, we take a look at the Hettich Rotina 380 centrifuge.
Hettich is a German manufacturer of laboratory centrifuges. First established in 1904, Hettich have an enviable worldwide reputation for quality and reliability. Hettich produce a wide range of centrifuges which can meet almost every clinical need. All centrifuges are backed up by a 2-year warranty and most conform to either IvD 98/79/EC or MDD 93/42/EEC.
The Hettich Rotina 380 centrifuge is available in both refrigerated and non-refrigerated versions. It’s a medium sized centrifuge that takes up a reasonable amount of space on the bench. The compressor is located at the rear of the unit in the refrigerated Rotina 380R. This is much better than locating it on the side, as this can take up valuable bench space.
There is a total of 8 different rotors available depending on your needs. Users will be able to spin everything from 1.5ml micro tubes to 290ml polypropylene bottles.
The capacity of the Hettich Rotina 380 is sufficient for most user’s needs. Hettich have a knack of squeezing as many tubes as possible into each bucket. So, although the bucket is only 290ml, you will be able to spin up to 19 blood tubes (of the 7ml type) per bucket. That’s a whopping 76 tubes per run! You can also spin up to 16 x 50ml Falcon tubes and 36 x 15ml Falcon tubes.
One other thing that is quite good about the Hettich Rotina 380, is that you can purchase adaptors which go straight into the rotor. By this we mean that no metal bucket is required. Instead, each adaptor has side fluting which allows it to slide straight into the rotor. By not needing to purchase buckets helps keep the overall purchase cost down. However, it’s not very useful if you are the sort of lab that spins lots of different types of tube.
Annoyingly, Hettich price their buckets and adaptors individually instead of as a set like most other manufacturers. I mean, why would you want to purchase a centrifuge with one bucket? Of course, you need a set of four or sometimes six! This can catch out users as they order just one bucket, thinking it is a set of 4. So when the user receives just one bucket, they are left with a centrifuge that they can’t use until the other three buckets arrive. Delivery times of the Hettich Rotina 380 and any of its accessories can take up to 3 weeks.
The Hettich Rotina 380 is a very robust and reliable centrifuge. Purchasing this centrifuge means you will have years of trouble-free use. It is easy to use and has a wide range of accessories available.
However, this quality does not come cheap and some users might complain that the rotor removal is a bit fiddly. Rotors have to be tightened up with a hex key, instead of pressing a quick release button in the centre of the rotor.
Overall score: 8/10
Henderson Biomedical can supply the Hettich Rotina 380 centrifuge. We often have stock of this device and can dispatch it to your lab on a next day delivery. Please call our friendly team on 020 8663 4610 or email us at sales@henderson-biomedical.co.uk to request a quotation. Alternatively, you can fill out our online form.
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