News | SHP Steriltechnik AG

Value for money in laboratory autoclaves

When purchasing a laboratory autoclave, the purchase price is often the first thing that catches the eye. Particularly when compared internationally, some units from the Far East appear, at first glance, to be significantly cheaper than high-quality laboratory autoclaves from European manufacturers. However, for laboratories, research institutions and industrial users, the question is not about the cheapest unit, but about the best value for money.

Sterilisation involves more than simply reaching a certain temperature
An autoclave does not fulfil its purpose merely by displaying a specific temperature. What is crucial is that the temperature, pressure and dwell time are maintained in a reproducible manner and that sterilisation is carried out reliably throughout the entire load.
In practice, differences in quality often only become apparent during day-to-day operation. Even slight temperature overshoots can place unnecessary strain on sensitive materials. Plastics, seals, filter materials or specialised laboratory vessels can age prematurely or become brittle as a result of repeated thermal stress.
A high-quality laboratory autoclave is therefore characterised not only by a reliable sterilisation effect, but also by precise control technology and gentle handling of the items being sterilised.

Long-term costs rather than short-term savings
The purchase price accounts for only part of the total cost of an autoclave. Over its entire service life, other factors play a decisive role:

• Reliability in routine operation
• Reproducible sterilisation processes
• Minimal downtime
• Energy and media consumption
• Availability of spare parts
• Service and technical support
• Documentation and validability

An autoclave that appears to be cheaper can quickly become more expensive than a high-quality system due to unplanned downtime, increased maintenance costs or product losses.

‘Made in Germany’ quality as an economic factor
The Laboklav series of laboratory autoclaves from SHP Steriltechnik AG has been specially developed to meet the requirements of modern microbiological laboratories, research institutions and the pharmaceutical and food industries. The focus is on reproducible processes, durability and cost-effective operation. Among other features, the units are equipped with calibrated measuring sections, flexible media sensors (PT100), finely configurable programmes and the ability to carry out qualification and validation processes.
Thanks to their robust construction, energy-efficient systems and the long-term availability of service and spare parts, users benefit from low running costs over many years. Furthermore, SHP relies on a simple and clear device concept with reproducible cycles and customisable programmes.

Operational safety, approval and legal requirements
In addition to performance and cost-effectiveness, occupational and operational safety requirements also play a central role in laboratory autoclaves. Operators are obliged to comply with the provisions of the Industrial Safety Regulation and to provide ongoing evidence of the safe operation of their pressure equipment.
The Laboklav series of laboratory autoclaves are developed and manufactured as part of a successful conformity assessment procedure in collaboration with the notified bodies TÜV Nord and TÜV Süd. This ensures that compliance with the relevant European directives and safety requirements is documented and verifiably demonstrated.
For operators, this provides additional assurance vis-à-vis trade inspectorates, health authorities, employers’ liability insurance associations and – depending on the area of application – the relevant food hygiene supervisory authorities. Operational safety is thus not only guaranteed but also substantiated by appropriate testing and verification procedures.
This is complemented by the proven in-house after-sales service provided by SHP Steriltechnik AG, which supports users with commissioning, maintenance, qualification and technical inspections. This helps to ensure the long-term availability of the equipment and compliance with regulatory requirements.
The consistently high quality of the laboratory autoclaves is also based on a certified quality management system in accordance with ISO 9001. Through continuous improvement processes, manufacturing, documentation and product quality are constantly optimised, enabling users to benefit from consistently high process and product reliability.

Precision determines quality – a look at the dairy industry
A comparison with the dairy industry demonstrates just how important precise temperature control is. When pasteurising milk, it is not enough simply to reach the required temperature. Even slight temperature deviations can affect taste, colour and valuable nutrients. Unnecessarily high thermal stress has a direct impact on product quality.

The best value for money is realised in operation
A laboratory autoclave is an investment in process safety, product quality and reliability. Those who focus solely on the purchase price often fail to take into account the costs and risks over the entire service life.
Good value for money therefore does not mean buying the cheapest unit. It means choosing an autoclave that operates reliably over many years, delivers reproducible sterilisation results and consistently meets the requirements of the respective laboratory.

This is precisely where SHP Steriltechnik AG comes in with its Laboklav series of laboratory autoclaves: high-performance sterilisation technology, cost-effective operation and quality ‘Made in Germany’.