Advice for a new HPLC

[UMAchem]

Hi to all,
We will buy a new HPLC, but we need to know which one are the best HPLC in the market and some information about the same.
Thanks for you all for the advices!

[David Blais]

I would check the archives on this site, there have been many threads with this question already. After you have done that, if you still have questions, provide us with more information (ie how much can you spend, what requirements are you looking for, what chromatography software do you use, etc, stuff like that) so we can help you better.

[yangz00g]

No HPLC can claim to the best. I believe the software and technical support are more important than the HPLC hardware.

[Mark Tracy]

yangz00g is right. The best machine in the world is useless if your local service rep can't fix it when it needs repair. Good technical and application support can make even a second-rate LC give you good data. Finally, the "best" system is the one that matches your requirements.

[Yury Zelechonok]

I agree with all replies, but they are in little help: which system to buy or even evaluate. My advice to you go and find what company is a world leader in sale figures. This is probably only non-biased criteria you can find in HPLC market. The leader in the industry has all criteria that you need: reliable and versatile equipment, good technical and application support, user friendly software, etc. The non-disputed leader is Agilent with 1100 instrument. I am not associated with this company any how, but I am working with this system for 5 years and I love it.

[Uwe Neue]

Yuri

You should not give advice if the advice is wrong. According to industry publications, the world-wide leader in HPLC sales is Waters.

As you know, I am from Waters...

[SIELC_Tech]

Uwe,


Do you have a link for the number of HPLC units Waters sold in past few years? I tried to do a Google serach to find out general statistics but got no numbers. I know that Agilent has shipped 50000 units (11000s). Based on the Agilent website:

"Since its introduction in 1995, the Agilent 1100 Series has become the industry's best-selling LC system with the largest installed user base ever"

http://www.agilent.com/about/newsroom/p ... 2004d.html
I worked in a big pharma company for 11 years and the ration of Agilent 1100 to Waters LC Systems (allcombined) was at least 20:1.
My choice was (and still is) always Agilent 1100.

Note: I never worked for Agilent.

[Uwe Neue]

Employees of manufacturers usually and wisely stay out of discussions on who's instrument to buy. I think a public discussion board is the wrong forum for us to get involved. Yuri (=SIELC TECH), it would be wise for you too to do the same thing, especially in cases where you do not have the correct information. After all, you are representing a manufacturer as well. I will leave it at that and discontinue this discussion, since it does not serve a purpose for the question asked originally.

[SIELC_Tech]

Dear Uwe,
I am not Yury Zelechonok. In addition the original request was to recommend best system, and I provided a link to Agilent website which states that Agilent 1100 is the most popular system. In addition to that I just stated the fact based on my 11 years experience in the "top 3" pharma company.
I just wondering if you can provide a link to "According to industry publications, the world-wide leader in HPLC sales is Waters"

May be if you add all HPLC products (LC, LC/MS, columns, supplies, etc) Waters will be above everybody but providing a link might help people to see if Waters is indeed a best of the best.


regards,

Vlad

[Yury Zelechonok]

To Uwe. We all are representatives of some manufacturing companies, exsept those who are in universities. This forum is for somebody who needs an advice regardless of our association with a manufacturing company as long as this advice can help the person. I gave an advise and you did not. I am not associating with HPLC system manufacturer, but you are. All you are trying to do is to discredit my opinion, which is not what we should do on this forum unless you have clear proof.

[pipettemonkey]

You mean, there are manufactures of HPLC systems besides Waters?

[pipettemonkey]

http://www.waters.com/WatersDivision/Co ... LEY-6AGT82

Milford, MA, Monday, March 14, 2005 - Waters Corporation announced today that Frost and Sullivan, Palo Alto, CA, has named it the 2005 Leading Analytical Instrumentation Company of the Year.

"...Being the pioneer and leading the HPLC market for several decades, Waters Corporation has maintained its position in the analytical instrumentation industry..... "

I point this out, researcher to researcher; I am neither employed nor affiliated with Waters..

But, uh,.. listen, if you do end up deciding to purchase from Waters, tell them I sent you. I'll see what I can do about getting you one of those company polo shirts.

[DR]

Which system to buy is also a function of waht you want to do with it. If what you do benefits from high pressure gradient mixing configurations, Waters (Alliance) isn't an option. Agilent sends out both varieties of system.

I am deciding on a 6-pack (!) of new LCs, and the data system is also factoring into my decision.

[Chris]

I have worked with the Agilent 1100 in the past and found them to be very reliable and simple to use, however we have just purchased a Shimadzu LC2010 for high throughput QC analysis. After 6 months the system has surpassed the reliability of any other systems I have used, has a UV detector that is extreemly sensitive and maintainence is so simple you would not believe it. The only downside is the supplied software (LC solutions) is not the most user friendly piece of software around.

[Jeff Brewer]

There are many excellent manufacturers of true HPLC instruments, large and small. I agree with previous postings - the best HPLC is the one that works for you. As an alternative, I suggest you look at the Metrohm 844 UV/Vis Chromatograph introduced at Pittcon this year. Where is it not an HPLC per se, it has the ability to perform RP applications and has a built-in Diode Array detector. As for a true HPLC, you really can't go wrong with the Agilent or the Waters, and Varian and Perkin Elmer - these are all excellent companies and there are many fine smaller HPLC companies. Budget constraints, service, support, peer recommendations, software, product life are all important in a selection process in my opinion.