Is the second-hand equipment market really serving laboratories?

We are all familiar with the frustration caused by ‘parasitic’ websites buying up concert and match tickets to resell at inflated prices, or monopolising driving test slots and charging a premium to those simply wishing to get on the road before reaching retirement age. However, GAMBICA members have raised a more pressing and under-recognised issue, dating back to the Covid period, which is now having real and lasting effects in laboratories across the UK.

As many laboratory firms anticipated, equipment and consumables that were over-purchased in a panic during the pandemic have since found their way back onto the market. A number of firms are now acquiring this surplus equipment - often unused or unwanted - and reselling it at considerable discounts compared to original purchase prices. While it is widely understood that biotech is a volatile industry, the recent rapid turnover in biotech firms has exacerbated this trend, further increasing the volume of second-hand equipment now circulating - and possibly also the number of buyers willing to acquire it. It is now not uncommon to find equipment which originally cost as in the hundreds of thousands being resold for a fraction of its value on the increasingly active second-hand market.

One GAMBICA member, Chris Moore, General Manager of Esco Lifesciences, commented: “As a laboratory equipment manufacturer, we’ve observed a noticeable rise in second-hand and used equipment entering the market since the Covid pandemic. While the upfront cost savings may seem appealing, especially in today’s economic climate, these can quickly be offset by hidden costs over the equipment’s lifecycle. Issues such as lack of warranty, potential contamination, compliance risks, unexpected downtime, and limited manufacturer support can all compromise your lab’s efficiency and reliability.

“Of course, such bargains look incredibly tempting. But purchasers don’t know how the equipment has been looked after, will very likely find that it is out of warranty, and will not have advice on how the equipment will suit their processes. Even equipment over-purchased during COVID and then mothballed will present issues; warranties normally date from the day of delivery of the equipment, so are likely to be void.

“The purchasers then go back to the manufacturer and we have to give them unpalatable facts about how much the equipment will cost to repair, service, etc., which always reflects badly on us. Worse, if they don’t come back to us, they may not appreciate the risk presented by the equipment and how it may derail their research.

“I would strongly recommend that anyone thinking of buying second-hand equipment contacts the original manufacturer directly before doing so; at least then they are making a decision based on all the relevant facts. Investing in the right equipment, backed by full warranty and expert support, ensures your workflows remain uninterrupted and your research uncompromised. After all, the integrity of your science depends on the tools you trust.

“The UK lab industry excels in ensuring customers get the right equipment for their application and workflow. At Esco, we offer an extensive range of biological safety cabinets and containment products, and our team can advise on which one is exactly right for any application. With the best intentions, a lab manager does not always have the time or experience to identify the best solution for his or her lab; that’s why our industry devotes so much of our staff’s time to providing advice. We’re rooted in strong values, and while we’re driven by growth, we never lose sight of our social mission. From IVF technologies that support families to biological safety cabinets that protect scientists at the bench, everything we do is designed to support better outcomes for people and the planet.”

For those unfamiliar with Esco Lifesciences Group (‘Esco’), the company is a world-leading manufacturer of laboratory, pharmaceutical equipment, bioprocess tools and IVF medical devices. Some of its most recognised products, under its leading brand Esco Lifesciences, include high-performance biological safety cabinets, containment products and CO₂ incubators. As a Singapore-based company, Esco is strategically positioned to bridge the East and West, delivering sustainable technologies that foster a healthier, more equitable and resilient future.

“I would encourage universities and industry alike to consider lifecycle cost analysis in procurement decisions, prioritising long-term reliability and support over short-term savings. By investing in equipment that aligns with their workflows and is backed by expert support, institutions can safeguard their research integrity and operational efficiency.”

And the risks associated with second-hand equipment go beyond operational disruption - they can also directly impact the safety of laboratory staff and the quality of scientific outputs.

Another industry expert, John Collings, has also noted the trends. John is from Haier Biomedical UK which delivers innovative, reliable, and sustainable lab solutions trusted by laboratories and hospitals across the UK. They partner with healthcare and life science professionals to provide value-driven support with integrity and care.

“I’ve noticed a growing number of centrifuges being resold well beyond their original design life - some units over 30 years old, despite a typical expected lifespan of around 10 years.

“A particular worry is the resale of rotors with no verifiable history. Rotor safety depends on multiple factors, including age, number of cycles, correct usage, and maintenance records. Many rotors are only designed for a safe operating life of 5–15 years. Without proper verification, there is simply no way to guarantee that they are safe to use.

“The risk is not trivial: a rotor failure in a high-speed centrifuge can release energy comparable to a car crashing into a wall at 70 mph. Manufacturers, under IEC-61010-2-020, are required to test safety-critical systems such as lid latches and guard rings over time. Beyond their stated lifespan, these units are no longer validated for safety. Yet we see older centrifuges sold at a fraction of the cost of new models, despite having no parts support and effectively no safe service life left.

“I’m also seeing issues with second-hand fridges and freezers being resold into labs. 

Two areas stand out:

1. Energy Efficiency: Many of these older units were replaced by their previous owners because of poor efficiency. Newer models are significantly more energy-efficient, meaning any short-term purchase savings are soon outweighed by higher running costs.

2. Environmental Impact: A number of old freezers still use refrigerants with very high Global Warming Potentials (GWP) - some as high as 13,396, compared to a GWP of 1 for modern gases. In many cases, these gases are now banned. Reselling such units risks environmental harm if the gas leaks, whereas proper scrapping and reclamation would safely remove them from circulation.

“Given the safety and environmental implications, it may be time to look more closely at these unregulated second-hand sales. It feels counterproductive to move obsolete, inefficient equipment - often with very limited usable life - around the country when safer, greener alternatives exist.

“I’d be happy to share examples of the units I’ve come across and help support any discussions on potential best practices or guidelines in this area.”

While it is important that lab managers recognise these issues, further action may be desirable to support them in making the best decisions for their laboratories. For example, the industry might:

• Establish clearer guidelines on selling equipment beyond their designed service life, particularly where there may be safety or environmental issues.

• Require certification and full traceable documentation for second-hand rotors, with a rule that they must not be sold if they are out of spec or their history cannot be verified.

If you have views on this issue, or would like to be involved in future work to mitigate the risks, please get in touch with Jacqueline Balian at: [email protected]