The IBO Design Awards for Laboratory Equipment recognize unique, innovative industrial designs of laboratory equipment that enhance usability. Laboratory equipment is defined as a product that receives an electrical current, will last for at least one year and does not analyze a sample characteristic. The designs of this year’s three winners showcase user-friendliness and a new approach, whether regarding appearance or features.

Gold Award

The 2013 IBO Gold Award for Laboratory Equipment Design goes to Containment Technology Services’ Lab Bubble. The Lab Bubble product line is a refreshing detour from typical boxy benchtop fume hoods. The Lab Bubbles’ round shape creates a warm, approachable feel. This is furthered by a sense of fun and playfulness created by the system’s eye-catching, bright color. The curve of the face affords a spacious, modern look.

The Lab Bubble measures 800 x 575 x 750 mm (31 x 23 x 30 in) and weighs 38 kg (84 lb). The list price is $6,000. The Lab Bubble’s design was done in house. “Aesthetic priorities were to make the bubble look like a safety device and not a box, to look stylish so that it fits into the scheme of a modern laboratory, and to look clean so that it adds to the cleaned controlled environments in a laboratory,” said Sean Codling, managing director of Containment Technology. A challenge of the product line’s design was to ensure that the separate components fit together. “The Bubble system is constructed from two formed sections. These sections had to be designed in a way that they could be molded, machined and then dock together accurately. This is not easy with two different materials that have different machining and shrinkage properties.”

A goal of the Lab Bubble’s design was to provide users with a simple yet personalized benchtop containment system. “For our business, we wanted a product that we could build fast, ship easily and could be installed by the customer without specialist engineers,” said Mr. Codling. “We also wanted something that the customer could customize themselves to a good extent.” The Lab Bubble’s tops, bases and filters are interchangeable to accommodate different applications. Users can select from an array of bright colors for the base.

Silver Award

IKA’s Tube Mill control is the 2013 IBO Silver Laboratory Equipment Design Award winner. The Tube Mill control’s large buttons and prominent display screen communicate ease of use. Rounded corners, a soft blue base and a circular start-stop knob are more approachable than traditional tube mills and evoke a welcoming air. The Tube Mill control measures 180 x 300 x 170 mm (7 x 12 x 7 in) and weighs 2.7 kg (6 lb). It is priced at $1,554.

The design incorporates a compact disposable grinding system. Functionality is a key aspect of the design. The detachable, disposable grinding chamber and the enclosed case are made of transparent plastic, so users can easily monitor operations. The disposable grinding tube eliminates the need to clean the mill after use and can double as a sample storage container. Safety is also an important component of the design. The mill will not operate if the case is open.

Bronze Award

The 2013 IBO Bronze Laboratory Equipment Design Award goes to Andrew Alliance’s Andrew liquid handler. The Andrew employs a novel, modern design that communicates approachability and ease of use. The Andrew has a programmable arm that automates up to five pipettes (see IBO 4/15/13). The literal embodiment of two arms evokes the sense of an extra set of hands, adding a sense of helpfulness and familiarity. This sense of familiarity is useful because of the different approach the Andrew takes to liquid handling.

The Andrew’s design was done in house. It measures 53.5 x 29 x 25 cm (21 x 11 x 10 in) and weighs 10 kg (22 lb). The list price is $24,000. Functionality was a central component of the design. Depending on the complexity of the experiment, the Andrew occupies between 45 cm and 80 cm (18 cm and 31 cm), allowing it to fit in tight spaces if necessary. When not in use, the Andrew’s arms fold up so it can be easily transported and set up.