Buying used laboratory equipment: What should you evaluate before making a purchase?

Life science research

Buying used laboratory equipment can reduce upfront costs and improve short-term flexibility. However, when evaluating a used incubator shaker, laboratories must consider contamination risk, service history, manufacturer support status, and long-term cost of ownership. A structured assessment ensures that short-term savings do not introduce long-term operational instability.

Looking beyond the purchase price

For universities, research institutes, and growing biotech companies, laboratory equipment decisions must balance performance requirements with budget constraints. When funding is limited or timelines are tight, buying used laboratory equipment can appear to be a practical and cost-conscious solution. Lower upfront cost, faster availability, and the perceived sustainability benefits of reuse are compelling advantages. However, laboratory equipment directly influences contamination control, reproducibility, compliance readiness, and operational continuity. If you are considering purchasing a used incubator shaker, the critical question is not simply whether the system functions today. The more important consideration is whether it will remain reliable, serviceable, and economically viable within its remaining manufacturer support period.

This article explains:

Why used laboratory equipment appears economically attractive
The risks often overlooked beyond the purchase price
How product lifecycle status affects long-term serviceability
Why total cost of ownership matters more than acquisition cost
When upgrading to new equipment becomes the more strategic option

What risks are often overlooked when buying used lab equipment?

While the financial appeal of used laboratory equipment is easy to understand, many risks become visible only after installation and during routine operation. When evaluating a used incubator shaker, laboratories must consider more than immediate functionality. Contamination exposure, incomplete documentation, aging components, accumulated operating hours, and configuration limitations can all affect performance, reproducibility, and long-term cost.

1. Unknown application history and contamination risk

One of the most significant risks when purchasing a used incubator shaker is prior application history. Even visually clean equipment may compromise cultivations, and extended prior use can also affect mechanical reliability. The total number of operating hours is often unknown, while prolonged runtime increases wear on drive assemblies, bearings, cooling systems, and environmental controls.

Even visually clean equipment may compromise sensitive mammalian cell culture workflows. Extended prior use also affects mechanical reliability. The total number of operating hours is often unknown, and prolonged runtime increases wear on drive assemblies, bearings, cooling systems, and environmental controls. Configuration constraints must also be evaluated. Core specifications such as orbital throw, control parameters, or additional hardware options are typically defined at manufacture, making the possibility of retrofitting at the customer location difficult and expensive. Even if operational, a used incubator shaker may not align with current or future process requirements. Used systems also rarely include validated cleaning documentation. Surface-level decontamination does not necessarily equate to comprehensive internal treatment, which can be critical for contamination-sensitive applications.

Protecting incubation workflows from contamination and downtime

Contamination risks are not always visible at the point of purchase. Learn practical strategies to protect incubation workflows, reduce downtime, and maintain reproducibility in sensitive laboratory environments.

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2. Documentation gaps and maintenance transparency

Used laboratory equipment is rarely sold with complete service documentation. Preventive maintenance records, calibration certificates, firmware histories, and detailed repair logs are often retained internally by the original owner and do not accompany the equipment during resale. In secondary markets, systems may be transferred with little more than a visible preventive maintenance sticker, while comprehensive service histories are uncommon.

While second-hand dealers and auction houses typically provide a certificate of decontamination, this does not always confirm that a validated protocol was followed. In some cases, systems may have been wiped down with ethanol and labeled as decontaminated without thorough internal treatment.

Without maintenance transparency and validated cleaning documentation, estimating remaining service life becomes unpredictable. Planning shifts from predictive maintenance to reactive troubleshooting, increasing downtime risk and cost uncertainty.

3. Aging components and long-term maintenance considerations

As laboratory equipment accumulates operating hours over time, components naturally require periodic service and replacement. While individual maintenance activities are often straightforward, it is important to consider the cumulative impact of ongoing upkeep when evaluating long-term operating costs.

Continuous operation under controlled environmental conditions naturally leads to mechanical wear. For example, rubber gaskets and filters in incubator shakers are designed as service components and require routine replacement to maintain consistent environmental performance. When equipment has seen significant runtime, especially if prior service documentation is limited, proactively refreshing key components can help ensure continued environmental stability and reliable performance.

How does product lifecycle status affect used laboratory equipment?

Product lifecycle status is one of the most important and frequently overlooked evaluation factors when purchasing used lab equipment. At INFORS HT, we provide full service and support offerings for generally up to ten years from the original delivery date of a product. During this supported lifecycle phase, spare parts, firmware updates, and technical service expertise remain fully available. Beyond this phase, support does not stop abruptly, but it changes. Certain electronic components, spare parts, or software platforms may become obsolete or limited in availability. Service and repairs may continue on a best-effort basis, but without the guarantees that apply to newer systems. When buying a used incubator shaker, its position within the manufacturer’s support framework determines long-term service continuity. A system that operates correctly today may have a shortened remaining support horizon.

How product lifecycle status influences total cost of ownership

Maintenance frequency and spare part lead times
Upgrade compatibility
Energy efficiency
Downtime risk

In research environments, the cost of interrupted experiments is often underestimated. A single lost batch or delayed milestone can outweigh the initial savings of buying used equipment. Evaluating total cost of ownership over time provides a more realistic comparison between used and new systems.

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Expert panel: the real cost of buying used laboratory equipment

Before committing to what appears to be a budget win, it is worth examining the full operational and financial implications. In this 30-minute discussion, procurement and manufacturing experts from MyAmici and INFORS HT analyze hidden risks, lifecycle constraints, and total cost realities associated with second-hand laboratory equipment.

When upgrading equipment becomes the more strategic option

When an incubator shaker approaches the end of its economically viable support phase, laboratories typically face three options:

Continue maintaining aging equipment
Purchase used equipment with similar limitations
Invest in new equipment to transition into a fully supported lifecycle phase

The INFORS HT shaker upgrade program enables laboratories to re-enter a fully supported lifecycle phase with defined service availability, predictable spare part access, and long-term planning security. In many cases, proactive upgrading provides greater stability and cost predictability than extending aging equipment or investing in second-hand systems with limited remaining support.

INFORS HT shaker upgrade program: Enter a fully supported service phase

When an incubator shaker approaches the end of its support phase, continuing reactive maintenance or investing in second-hand equipment with similar limitations may increase long-term risk. Transitioning into a new, fully supported system can restore predictable serviceability and operational stability. The INFORS HT Shaker Upgrade & Maintenance Program helps laboratories evaluate their current incubator shaker, regardless of brand, and determine the most strategic path forward.

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Key evaluation takeaways before purchasing used laboratory equipment

If you decide to proceed with evaluating a used incubator shaker, a structured review helps ensure that your decision is based on clear technical and operational criteria rather than purchase price alone. The following factors summarize the most important considerations discussed above:

Application history and contamination exposure – What processes was the shaker previously used for?
Accumulated operating hours – How extensively was the shaker run under prior ownership?
Maintenance transparency – Are preventive maintenance records or service logs available?
Validation of decontamination procedures – Was a documented and comprehensive protocol followed?
Configuration compatibility – Do orbital throw, control parameters, and installed hardware match your application requirements and did you verify retrofitting is possible with the original manufacturer?
Product lifecycle status – Is the shaker still within the manufacturer’s supported lifecycle phase?
Spare part availability – Are critical components readily accessible?
Service support access – Can qualified technical service be provided locally?
Five-year cost outlook – How does projected total cost of ownership compare to investing in a new system?

This checklist does not replace a technical assessment, but it provides a practical framework for weighing potential savings against long-term reliability and support expectations.

Conclusion: From short-term savings to long-term laboratory stability

Buying used laboratory equipment can appear financially and environmentally responsible at first glance. Extending the lifetime of existing systems may align with internal sustainability objectives and budget constraints. However, environmental responsibility and operational stability must be assessed across the full operational lifespan of the equipment. Energy efficiency, serviceability, spare part availability, and long-term service and support determine whether a system remains stable over time.

At INFORS HT, lifecycle transparency is central to equipment design and support strategy. For example, the Multitron incubator shaker, manufactured in Bottmingen, Switzerland, is the first shaker to earn the ACT Label (Environmental Impact Factor Label), reflecting a commitment to environmental impact transparency and sustainable manufacturing.

Ultimately, laboratory equipment purchase decisions should be based on long-term operational stability rather than short-term savings alone. Before committing to a used incubator shaker, consult your local INFORS HT representative to evaluate support eligibility and long-term service expectations. In many cases, transitioning into a new system with a fully supported lifecycle provides greater predictability and resilience for the years ahead.