Chromatography Forum

Hi, I want to buy some HPLC and GC for lab. however I dont have enough budget for Waters and Agilent. The best option either Young Lin or Konik and maybe Thermo (dionex). Which brand should I prefer ? Can you compare these brands?

I would suggest that you find a used Agilent system. look at ebay, DoveBid and other auctions sites. We bought our Agilent 1100 units on ebay and never had problems. They work like a clock for 10 years.

I agree with Vlad. I am partial to Waters equipment and software, but I'd rather purchase a known workhorse second hand (like an Agilent 1100 or Waters 2695) than second tier equipment new.

There is one thing to be careful of, though: Watch out for instruments that have been serviced through third party vendors. I've heard more than one horror story about such instruments. If purchasing used, I might be inclined to look into getting an instrument from a well known pharma company. Pfizer's been selling off a ton of stuff lately.

Thank for advice but I cant buy used equipments around my region. I need some advices about that brands.

Our lab is going to purchase HPLC too. I've been collected the relatvie information for months, and dealing with agents or distributors, bargaining the price and instrument portions to get a appropriate suit of HPLC equipments.

Waters and Agilent are good, or maybe the best two brands of HPLC.
But in my country, the third is Shimadzu HPLC, a japanese brand, with good quality and much lower price then waters and agilent.
for my example, waters offtered HPLC as 320,000 RMB, agilent was 280,000, while Shimadzu is only around 230,000, all the three sets met our requirements.

about konik or thermo, I've never heard about them, so sorry not able to be help.

We've now using a Shimadu and a waters HPLC for years, former is about 4 years or so, latter is more than 10 years, both work fine, though sometimes,for waters, I need to be patient to wait the computer to react.

Hi
I Suggest If You Live In Asia,Buy a Young lin HPLC.
Because Young lin have: low price and good effectiveness and efficincy and gurantee,you can use of a good software (Clarity).
good luck .

I agree with Vlad. I am partial to Waters equipment and software, but I'd rather purchase a known workhorse second hand (like an Agilent 1100 or Waters 2695) than second tier equipment new.

There is one thing to be careful of, though: Watch out for instruments that have been serviced through third party vendors. I've heard more than one horror story about such instruments. If purchasing used, I might be inclined to look into getting an instrument from a well known pharma company. Pfizer's been selling off a ton of stuff lately.

Can you give some examples for horror stories you heard? Because we decide to buy young lin brand.

I have a Thermo Trace GC and many Agilent GCs. I've never used anything else before but I can attest to the ruggedness and reliability of the Agilent systems. I have even had Thermo technicians tell me that for some of their specific detectors they still recommend Agilent GCs. But if this is not an option I would say go with Thermo (if they are affordable to you) because they are almost as good as the Agilent systems. Although I have heard that Shimadzu is getting fairly competitive in all aspects. Also check to make sure the consumable parts are cheap and easy to get for the GC you decide to purchase. I know consumables for Thermo systems are quite a bit more than for Agilent. Mainly because it can be hard to find aftermarket vendors who supply them. Currently the only HPLC/MS systems we have in our lab are Agilent because they have proven themselves time and time again.

You can find used GC and used HPLC instruments at LabX http://www.labx.com, there are a lot of good vendors who offer refurbished instruments with warraties. Some used equipment vendors will ship Internationally too. You can use LabX for HPLC and GC parts also.

Used HPLC category

Used GC category

LabX just launched individual product pages, so you can look for Agilent 1100 directly.

[quote="Remus]
Can you give some examples for horror stories you heard? Because we decide to buy young lin brand.[/quote]

Some brand they can be very expensive mainteinance service for their servicemen / parts for the HPLC. And could cost you heaps if you are not going to fix it your own.

Buying HPLC is like buying a car, HPLCs from the same brand, some can be run 10 years without problem or some can break on you every 2 weeks.

So I suggest discuss with your vendor for the warranty / service contract as well to cover yourself from this happening.

Hi,

Our lab is using Dionex HPLC system. It has been reliable so far, no problem encountered. Their technical support is quite responsive too (by phone or email).
The pump and Autosampler is Ultimate 3000, and the detector is esa Coulochem III (which is also part of dionex). Software is Chromeleon.

Good luck!

Hi
I am agree with sazabi, service is so important.
preapare spare part and accessories easy and low price is soooooooo important,if you leave in a country that can't easy preapare that be sure of it then buy a second hand HPLC.
Be Happy .

Hi
We a use Agilent (GC-6890/7890 wich HS , ALS , MS5795, HPLC 1100/1200) , same Russian equipment ( GC-Kristall 2000 , HPLC - Milichrom-4(5)) but this technics not interesting for you => now no exported in India , Mettler and Methrom ( balance and titration equipment)/

Qualty of Agilent 7890 is'nt good. Vary precision gase valve in "gase on chip" block. Great precision - not always good. Where there is a "thin" => breaks !. Also , transfer of production to China does not "go in vain". But this issue of world management.

6890- good mashine. Ten years work and make minimum problems.

Once stuck valve, but thanks to the distinguished Lapin (representative of Agilent), I quickly replaced it. In general all the equipment like that behind him.

Hydrogen Generator from Parker 9400 - shit. Russian use HFO

1100/1200- without comment. All of the issues - from the curves of the hands.

Shimadzu makes the best HPLC pumps on the market I believe, also the UV and MS detectors are really, really good. My system is old so the autosampler is slow but I think the new ones are as good as the top brands (or close to it). The main drawback is software (they say once you learn it it is OK but I dont like it), they have a new software that I have not tried so perhaps it is better.
Dont know what the price is but it is not as expensive as Waters and Agilent.
I have also heard much good about the Dionex 3000 but have never tried it.