Purchasing new laboratory equipment or upgrading your existing equipment can have numerous benefits—from reducing frequent maintenance issues to improving the safety of your facility. That being said, new laboratory equipment doesn’t come cheap. As such, it’s important to choose wisely to ensure that your investment is beneficial. Here are some of the most important things to consider when purchasing new lab equipment.
Associated Costs
In addition to the price of the equipment, you should also consider any associated costs that it will incur throughout its lifespan. While a piece of equipment may have a lower price tag, high costs of operation can ultimately cost you more in the long run than you would have spent on a more efficient model of equipment with a higher up-front cost. As such, you should always factor in associated costs such as necessary consumables, energy usage, and replacement parts when making your decision on which type of laboratory equipment to purchase.
The Vendor’s Reputation
Another one of the key things to consider when purchasing new lab equipment is the vendor’s reputation. Before making a purchase from a company, do some research on how happy their past customers have been with their service by looking into online reviews. Do customers seem pleased with their service or did they report equipment issues, slow shipping times, and other problems? Taking some time to research the vendor before purchasing an expensive piece of laboratory equipment can save you a lot of headaches and frustration later on.
Ease of Operation
Laboratory technicians should also consider ease of operation when purchasing a new piece of laboratory equipment. Before buying the equipment, it’s important to determine how much training you and your team will require in order to operate it safely and efficiently.
While a more advanced piece of equipment may have more capabilities, operation could prove challenging and require a significant amount of training depending on the experience level of your staff. If additional training is necessary, think about how you plan to carry it out. While some laboratory equipment vendors offer expert onsite training with your purchase, others will simply provide a basic instruction manual.
Warranties and Service Contracts
To ensure you don’t spend a large chunk of money on a piece of equipment only to replace it a few months later, make sure to consider the warranty terms offered. After determining the warranty period of the equipment, investigate what service contract terms and conditions are available and how much they cost. You can often purchase service contracts as an optional add-on to safeguard the longevity of your equipment investment after the warranty expires.
