The renovation of a lab is always interesting. You finally get all of that upgraded equipment you’ve been looking for, your employees have enough room to move around, and productivity is on its way up. There is only one issue: what should be done with all the outdated items? Some of it needs to be removed, whether it’s outdated casework, apparatus, or even just containers and beakers. So where can you put all of your old laboratory furniture? We have some suggestions!
However, before we do that, it’s crucial to separate the good from the poor. There are a few methods to dispose of used laboratory instruments, but nobody wants broken or corroded equipment. Make sure you sort the furniture, casework, and other items you’re trying to get rid of to determine what is useful and what has just a little too much wear. If it’s no longer functional or if it can’t be disassembled for parts, dispose of it securely if you wouldn’t use it in an emergency.
Any item that doesn’t pass muster can be disposed of in the trash, recycled if feasible, or taken to a scrap yard. You might need to hire a specialist to correctly remove any machines or components that have dealt with toxins
Anything considered “good enough” to be used once more could go to one of the following four possibilities:
Relocate it to another part of your building
You might have another place where you can use leftover casework if it is in excellent working order and hasn’t corroded. Maybe someone’s office needs more storage, or maybe the staff break area could use a little more counter space. Don’t forget to take into account the building’s surroundings. You can save a tonne of money by using anything in the area outside your facility. Remember that outdated furniture that will only be used as a table or a storage cabinet can always be repainted for a quick, updated appearance.
Notify other divisions
If you are unable to use it, see if someone else might. If your business operates numerous labs, it’s possible that they could use some of your used lab supplies to get by until their upcoming renovation. It’s a great method to save money and boost productivity to repurpose your old equipment for use in other areas of the business. The tiny backup incubator you no longer require might be useful to another lab with only one incubator.
Sell it
Consider selling it if you no longer require the used equipment and no one else in the area needs it. This is a great way to earn some extra money for the business while getting rid of old equipment. There are numerous locations where used and outdated laboratory tools can be bought and sold. You might even be able to convince your new lab manufacturer to take some of it off your shoulders in some circumstances. To ensure you’re receiving the best deal, just make sure to contact a few different businesses. Also, keep in mind that these businesses may be a little pickier than you. Even though you believed the furniture was completely functional, it might not pass muster with the buyer.
Donation
If your laboratory has a health or medical application, you might want to think about giving some of that outdated but still useful technology to international charities. There are many groups out there that work to assist third-world countries, who struggle to access some of the laboratory amenities we take for granted.
Donations are accepted for a variety of purposes; medical and health research uses are just the most common. There is probably someone you can donate your equipment to or a group that will organize it for you if you have equipment that you believe someone could use.
In general, used laboratory apparatus has a higher value than we realize. The majority of casework is made of stainless steel, even ancient machines have modern parts, and laboratory furniture is very robust. You’ll be saving someone a lot of money if you can reuse some of that used equipment, whether it’s to assist a laboratory in need or to organize your office a little bit.
Contact the Cleanroom equipment manufacturer to place orders for your cleanroom furniture.