Everyone needs a sturdy surface to work on. Whether you are typing at a computer or shaping wood, a reliable work surface can increase productivity and help you make a better product. And just like a writer or wood worker, a lab technician can benefit from a good work surface. Quality laboratory workbenches are important when dealing with both volatile and non-volatile compounds. However, you may be wondering, “What’s the difference between a good laboratory bench and a bad one.” Fortunately, knowing the difference is easier than you think.
Laboratory Benches: How to Select the Right One
Manufacturers make laboratory workbenches at varying degrees of quality. On the lower end, you may see benches made of plywood or particleboard. These types of benches can get the job done. However, they cannot stand up to the abuse of daily use for very long. These cheaper benches may only last a year or two before you need to replace them.
On the higher end of laboratory workbenches, you will be able to find benches constructed from metal. However, not all metal laboratory workbenches are made the same. Steel lab casework also has varying degrees of quality. It is necessary to not only look at the type of metal that make up these benches, but also how the metal is bonded together. Metal benches lacking quality are often welded together by a method known as spot welding. Spot welding is a quick and cheap way to fuse metal together, but it won’t last as long as other methods. For superior quality steel lab casework to last, the manufacturer must fully weld the pieces together. This welding method lends itself to a rigidity that spot welding cannot compete with.
If you are in a hurry to get a bench, you may want to opt for a lower quality bench. However, this is not the best idea. Because these benches do not last, you will end up paying more over time. A fully welded steel lab casework bench is an investment rather than a disposable item. The initial investment you put towards a higher quality bench will end up costing you less in both money and time. Another benefit of a steel bench is that you will have higher worker productivity because your lab will not be without a bench as often.
Where to Find Steel Casework Laboratory Benches
Catalina Laboratory Products offers the highest quality steel casework laboratory benches available. We aim to fit the needs of our clients, so we will be able to find a bench that fits your timeline and budget. Besides quality construction, our laboratory workbenches have other features that make them worth the investment. All our benches have lab grade 5-knuckle institutional stainless-steel hinges, nylon capped floor glides, lipped interiors for dust protection, and a fully enclosed toe space. If you would like to invest in a quality laboratory bench, look at what we have to offer. You can also contact us by phone if you have any questions.