Are you planning to purchase some laboratory equipment listed below?
- 4°C Refrigerators NB)
- -20°C and -80°C Freezers NB)
- Liquid nitrogen tanks
- Ice machines
- Incubators and C02 incubators
- Climatic chambers
- Ovens
- Autoclaves
- Shakers/incubators
- Washers
- H2O purifiers
- Air treatment equipment
- Biological safety cabinets, laminar flow hoods, gloveboxes
- Chemical chambers
- Centrifuges
- Scales
- pH meters
- Cell counters
- Cell crushers
- Spectrophotometers
- PCR equipment
- Electrophoresis gel imaging equipment
- Benchtop equipment (vortex, shakers, etc.)
- Basic microscopes
We invite you to contact the technical advisor of the SV Workshop through the usual ServiceNow form, before initiating any equipment purchase.
This preliminary step helps standardize the Faculty of Life Sciences’ equipment portfolio. It also contributes to optimizing maintenance processes, selecting suppliers offering reliable after-sales service, reducing costs for research laboratories, and promoting more sustainable and environmentally friendly equipment.
We also kindly ask you to consult our dedicated page on the current procedures for the purchase of scientific equipment, in order to familiarize yourself with the various prerequisites related to procurement.
NB)The purchase of refrigeration equipment such as freezers and refrigerators follows a simplified procedure. At the initiative of the FSV, EPFL launched a public tender for the acquisition of refrigerators and freezers for laboratory use, in accordance with public procurement legislation (LMP/OMP). Further information is available in the dedicated dropdown section below.
How to proceed with the purchase of equipment?
Before acquiring new laboratory equipment, we encourage all units to carefully assess the relevance of the purchase. The technical advisor is available to support this evaluation process, aiming to optimize resources and promote a coordinated, sustainable approach.
The following points are reviewed with you:
- Is the equipment already available with a core facility
- Could it be shared with another laboratory?
- Is there a suitable second-hand alternative?
When the acquisition is deemed necessary, the technical advisor will help ensure that optimal installation conditions are met:
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Check compatibility with your laboratory: available space, electrical or fluidic connections, size, weight, or specific ventilation constraints;
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Assess potential risks to biological materials: for example, connection to the alarm network for -80°C freezers;
- Review selection criteria to ensure a long-term investment:
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- Functionality and performance suited to intended use;
- Supplier reliability (delivery, after-sales support);
- Lifespan and warranty terms aligned with EPF requirements;
- Energy consumption (electricity, water, gas);
- Manufacturing origin of the equipment;
- Purchase price and total cost of ownership (including consumables, operation, and maintenance).
Once the chosen equipment is validated by our services, the unit forwards the necessary information for the purchase to the administrative team of the SV Infrastructures, according to the procedures concerning the purchase of scientific equipment which can be found on this page.
At the initiative of the FSV, EPFL launched a public tender for the acquisition of refrigerators and freezers for laboratory use, in accordance with the applicable public procurement legislation (LMP/OMP).
Based on criteria such as experience, reliability, and value for money, several models were selected. At the end of the procedure, the suppliers offering these devices were retained.
These appliances can now be ordered through a simplified procedure via the catalogs available in the “Catalog orders” section on Catalyse.
Please note: despite this simplified procedure, any order exceeding CHF 5,000 must be processed by the SV Infrastructure administrative team.
For any questions, please contact: [email protected]. For further information, please consult the applicable procedures on this page.
The technical advisor can also assist with the following steps:
- Installation under optimal conditions (ergonomics, temperature, ventilation, noise);
- Testing and validation of proper function;
- Inventory registration, if applicable;
- Set-up of a maintenance contract or technical follow-up by the SV Woprkshop;
- Archiving of technical documentation;
- Guidance on routine use and maintenance according to manufacturer’s recommendations.
Equipment maintenance and end of use
Examples of routine maintenance, to be performed by users:
- Centrifuges – twice a year: Cleaning of rotors, applying grease to buckets, cleaning of the chamber, and application of a thin layer of oil.
- Incubators – twice a year: Cleaning and autostart (recalibration), sterilization, or filter replacement. Use demineralized water only without detergent and 70% ethanol for cleaning. For the humidification tray, use demineralized water (autoclaved if needed); distilled water is not recommended.
- Biological safety cabinets – once a year: Cleaning of the working surface.
- Freezers – one to three times per year: Sorting, cleaning, and partial or complete defrosting. A backup freezer can be provided upon request.
- Water baths – once a month: Replace water and clean tanks.
- Any device equipped with a dust filter – once a year: Clean the filter (e.g., thermoshaker, PCR machines, centrifuges, etc.).
IMPORTANT: Do not use chlorine-based disinfectants. They are highly corrosive, even on stainless steel.
If the device is still functional:
- Offer it on the internal exchange or reuse platform;
- Alternatively, donate it to the Workshop for repurposing or redistribution.
If the device is no longer functional:
- Contact the Workshop to assess whether parts can be retrieved;
- Dispose of it in accordance with the equipment-specific disposal guidelines.
IMPORTANT: Removal from inventory is mandatory for any disposal or equipment leaving EPFL premises.
Users can contact the SV Atelier via the ServiceNow form.
In case of emergency, please call: +41 21 693 83 31.