When you are outfitting your lab with all the necessary laboratory equipment and furniture, there are dozens of things to consider to ensure that your employees have everything they need. From storage solutions to the best lab utilities, we are proud to help laboratories everywhere maintain a functional and modern workspace.
Our laboratory furniture designs have been made with scientists and researchers in mind. That means we ensure that nearly any type of experimentation can take place on our lab tables, teams can work together with easy access to necessary equipment, and that functionality is always a priority.
Whether you are buying lab furniture and casework for healthcare organizations or a research laboratory, we have all of the necessary custom lab furniture and equipment you could need.
Outfitting a lab costs millions of dollars, which means that every decision should be made carefully. Before you start purchasing new custom laboratory furniture, here are seven important factors that should be considered when buying custom lab furniture.
1. Type of Research
The first thing you will need to consider before buying laboratory furniture is what type of research your scientists and researchers will be carrying out and the field they are working in. How you design the lab and custom furniture will largely depend on the work taking place inside the lab.
For example, hospital systems will have different requirements and protocols from a research site. If government agencies fund your lab or research work, the safety and security furnishings will likely be of more importance.
The needs of your team will vary from site to site, which is why it is so necessary to know exactly what type of research is being undertaken and what this will mean for your facility.
Any laboratory testing companies or laboratory that offers integrated lab services that offer their testing to outside corporations should ensure that these basic lab furnishings are available on site. Durable work surfaces, casework, and a variety of lab bench options should always be accessible.
Most laboratories will require the use of state of the art ventilation systems with pressure fume hoods. There are even some ductless options, such as the energy-saving Green Solution fume hood.
However, there may be more specialized equipment required for specific types of research, such as electric shock discharge protection equipment. Labs that use a lot of electricity will need to protect both their employees and products from maintenance outages and other problems concerning utility connections.
We encourage you to discuss lab furniture products with many members of your workers to ascertain what their needs are. After gathering this information, you will be able to make informed choices and design your facility with the best laboratory furniture.
2.The Right Materials
One of the most important factors to consider when it comes to lab furnishings is choosing the right materials.
This will depend on what research your workers are doing and will be vital for ensuring the lab furniture is safe, durable, and conducive to accurate test results.
For example, some people choose to use a laminated material for working on surface material because it is cheap. However, not only is laminate easily damaged, but it also cannot stand up against chemical exposure, bacteria, or even moisture.
That is why steel and stainless steel are usually recommended for any research site that uses chemicals or liquids. Our high-impact laminate can be used for more general functions at the facility.
You will also need to consider materials for lab benches. From high-quality resin to stainless steel, you should choose the material that is best for your lab benches.
Depending on your lab, you may also need specimen processing laboratory benches. These benches are designed for efficient sample processing, allowing test samples to be processed quickly and easily by your team. Productivity and accuracy will therefore be enhanced by this type of lab bench.
If there is any heavy lifting involved at your lab, you should opt for high-strength furniture, which is less likely to dent or become damaged if anything is dropped on work surfaces.
You should always ensure that the material of your custom lab furniture enhances the performance and productivity of your researchers. Choosing furniture for laboratories requires attention to minute detail to account for all research and safety needs.
3.Customization Options
Nearly everything should be customizable when you are buying custom lab furnishings. Before you commit yourself to certain lab furniture manufacturing facilities, you should make sure that the necessary custom options are available.
For instance, when it comes to laboratory workbench designs, you will need to be able to specify the material type, shelf configuration, lighting, height, and overall shape to fit into space and promote functionality and better research performance and productivity.
Your laboratory workbench needs to suit both your work and the varying environments of your building, which will be dependent on space, humidity, and light.
All laboratories should consider casework carefully as well. Cabinets and casework are essential for storing supplies, tools, equipment, and potentially dangerous substances like chemicals.
Depending on the materials you use in your lab, the casework should be very durable and ensure the safety of your staff. That means the strength and weight-bearing ability of the casework should be taken into account. You should also measure casework very carefully to ensure that all laboratory testing equipment and material can fit comfortably inside without the risk of damaging the furnishings.
Choosing high-quality custom laboratory furniture will greatly reduce the risk of workplace accidents and damage to laboratory test equipment. Additionally, your laboratory workers will have improved performance with the use of state-of-the-art furniture.
4.Expert Advice
You should buy your laboratory furniture from a manufacturer with years of experience in the field and a reputation for excellence.
You may need to seek advice on which modular lab workbenches will be functional in your lab space or how many lab benches can feasibly fit into your lab. Laboratory design consultants understand the day to day practicalities of working in a laboratory and will be able to guide you through this process.
Our team is able to offer expertise in all areas of lab furniture and provide helpful advice to all of our laboratory customers.
5.Communicative Customer Service
Alongside expert guidance, you should choose a company that offers great customer service. You should always take into account the level of communication you receive from a lab furniture manufacturer. This will allow you to build a good working relationship with the manufacturer and keep tabs on things like lead times and any problems you might discover with your furniture.
A company that values its laboratory clients will demonstrate a high level of professionalism and warranty options so that you can have access to reliable maintenance service. Experienced maintenance technicians will be able to repair or fix equipment that may have become damaged over time. This will make sure that safety is always maintained inside lab environments.
For a quote request and to learn about our services and custom furniture solutions, call us at LabTech Supply Company today.
