Autoclaves / sterilizers

An autoclave is a pressurised chamber that sterilises laboratory loads with saturated steam, holding instruments, media or waste at a set temperature and pressure for a timed cycle until microbial life is destroyed. The terms autoclave, steam sterilizer and laboratory sterilizer all describe this same class of equipment.

It means exposing a load to saturated steam at a controlled temperature and pressure long enough that all living microorganisms and spores are killed. Moist heat denatures proteins faster than dry heat at the same temperature, which is why steam sterilisation is the standard decontamination method in most laboratories.

Steam is generated and held in a sealed chamber under pressure, which raises the boiling point of water and lets the load reach temperatures above 100 degrees Celsius. A typical benchtop cycle runs at 121 degrees under roughly one bar of gauge pressure for a timed hold, after which the chamber depressurises and, on some units, dries the load.

The main split is between gravity-displacement units, where steam pushes air out of the chamber, and pre-vacuum units, which actively evacuate air first so steam penetrates wrapped and porous loads. By format they range from benchtop and tabletop chambers to larger vertical and floor-standing systems; the catalogue here also lists them under steam sterilizer, laboratory sterilizer and sterilization equipment.

They sterilise instruments, glassware, tips, tubes and solutions, prepare sterile agar and broth in microbiology, and decontaminate cultures and biohazard waste before disposal. They are also used to sterilise cell culture media, buffers and labware upstream of PCR, proteomics, immunoassay and protein purification work.

Start with chamber volume, since that sets what a single cycle can process: fifteen to twenty litres suits a bench, while a hundred litres or more handles bulk glassware, liquid media and bagged waste. Then decide whether you need a liquid cycle with controlled cooling, a vacuum stage for wrapped porous loads, and a drying phase for instruments that must come out ready to store.

A used unit is sold in its existing condition, while a refurbished unit has had components checked or replaced before sale. On both, verify the pressure vessel inspection history, the gasket and door seal, the safety valve, and that the chamber holds temperature across a full cycle.

Listings here run from EUR 35 to EUR 99.002, with an average of EUR 6.175. The spread reflects the gap between a small gravity benchtop chamber and a large floor-standing system with vacuum and drying stages.

The makers present include Tuttnauer, Yamato, Scilogex, Priorclave and Hirayama. When a name appears more often it becomes easier to compare several models of a similar size and to judge whether seals, gaskets and controller parts are obtainable for older units.

A warranty is often possible and is arranged in consultation for the specific listing. Because terms depend on the individual unit and seller, check the listing itself and raise the question before committing.

Gaskets, door seals, safety valves and controller parts are the components that commonly need replacing, and these can be sourced via Questpair. Checking parts availability for a given brand before buying is worth doing, which is one reason frequently listed makers are easier to maintain.

Lifespan depends on the pressure vessel, the heating elements and the seals rather than the electronics, and a well-maintained chamber can run for many years. Because a sterilizer is a pressure vessel subject to periodic inspection in many jurisdictions, its continued use depends on passing that inspection.

Used and refurbished autoclaves are listed at lower prices than new, so budget is the clearest reason to consider them. Where you need to weigh the two, compare the specific listings and ask about warranty, which is arranged in consultation for each unit.

The listings here come from verified suppliers and distributors across 8 countries, covering new, used and refurbished units. You can compare models and suppliers directly within the Questpair catalogue.

Lead time and shipping depend on the individual listing, the supplier and the destination country, since the equipment comes from 18 suppliers across 8 countries. Confirm these details with the specific listing before ordering.

Routine maintenance covers the gasket, door seal and safety valve, plus confirming the chamber holds temperature across a full cycle rather than touching the setpoint briefly. Calibration keeps the temperature and pressure sensors accurate so that the controller's cycle log can support validation records.

Benchtop and tabletop steam sterilizers dominate the listings alongside larger floor-standing chambers. Benchtop gravity units are reached for by anyone decontaminating instruments and small glassware between runs, while histology and microbiology labs reach for pre-vacuum designs that drive steam into wrapped and porous loads.

Tuttnauer, Yamato, Scilogex, Priorclave and Hirayama are the names that recur in these listings. A recurring name means more comparable models at a given size and a better chance that seals, gaskets and controller parts can be found for an older chamber, parts that can be sourced via Questpair.

The lower end is small gravity-displacement benchtop chambers for unwrapped solids and liquids, often used or refurbished and listed below new. The upper end is large floor-standing systems that add a vacuum stage for porous loads, a liquid cycle with controlled cooling, a drying phase and the capacity to process bulk loads in one cycle.