Hershey LR10M Floor-Standing High-Capacity Refrigerated Centrifuge

Overview

The Hershey LR10M is a floor-standing, high-capacity refrigerated centrifuge engineered for demanding routine and preparative separation tasks in clinical diagnostics, biopharmaceutical manufacturing, blood banking, and academic research laboratories. It operates on the principle of sedimentation under controlled gravitational force (RCF), enabling efficient separation of heterogeneous mixtures—including whole blood, cell suspensions, plasma, tissue homogenates, and large-volume microbial cultures—based on particle density, size, and shape. Its robust architecture supports continuous operation at up to 10,000 rpm with a maximum RCF of 15,875 × g, while maintaining precise temperature control from −20 °C to +40 °C throughout the run. Designed for GxP-aligned workflows, the LR10M integrates hardware-level safety interlocks, audit-ready operational logging, and compliance with international quality management standards including ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 13485:2016—making it suitable for environments requiring traceability under GLP or GMP conditions.

Key Features

• AC brushless frequency-controlled motor delivering high torque, low vibration, and extended service life; noise level maintained below 65 dB(A) during full-load operation.
• Intelligent refrigeration system utilizing R404a—a non-ozone-depleting, environmentally compliant refrigerant—with pre-cooling, standby cooling, and automatic defrost functions for uninterrupted thermal stability.
• Industrial-grade control architecture featuring Mitsubishi PLC (certified to IEC 61131-2:2007 and EU EMC Directive 2014/30/EU) paired with a NEMA 4-rated Weinview HMI touchscreen for reliable human-machine interaction in humid or dust-prone lab environments.
• Triple-layer mechanical safety design: austenitic 304 stainless steel centrifuge chamber, fully powder-coated carbon steel outer casing, and reinforced front panel with integrated three-point steel protective shroud.
• 10-step acceleration and deceleration ramping profiles, enabling gentle pelleting of fragile biologicals or rapid spin-down of viscous samples without resuspension.
• Mechanical door locking mechanism activated by simple lid closure—no solenoid dependency—ensuring fail-safe containment even during power loss or emergency stop events.
• Real-time graphical display of rotational speed, RCF, temperature, time, and cumulative run history via intuitive TFT-LCD interface with switchable English/Chinese language support.

Sample Compatibility & Compliance

The LR10M accommodates a wide range of sample formats through interchangeable rotors—including fixed-angle and swing-out configurations—supporting volumes from 6 × 250 mL up to 6 × 1000 mL per run. Its certified temperature uniformity (±1 °C) across the entire rotor cavity meets requirements for cold-sensitive applications such as RNA isolation, enzyme preservation, and cryoprecipitate preparation. The unit carries CFDA registration and manufacturing authorization for medical device use in China and conforms to essential EU regulatory frameworks: CE marking under Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC and Low Voltage Directive 2014/35/EU, plus electromagnetic compatibility validation per 2014/30/EU. While not explicitly validated for FDA 21 CFR Part 11, its embedded event logging, parameter traceability, and password-protected method editing align with foundational data integrity expectations for regulated QC/QA labs.

Software & Data Management

The LR10M’s embedded firmware stores up to 16 user-defined protocols, each preserving rotor ID, speed, time, temperature setpoint, acceleration/deceleration rate, and hold duration. All parameters are editable mid-run where permitted by safety logic. Run logs—including start/stop timestamps, actual vs. target RCF, temperature deviation history, and fault codes—are retained onboard and exportable via USB interface in CSV format for integration into LIMS or ELN systems. No proprietary software installation is required; data files are natively readable in Excel or statistical analysis platforms. Firmware updates are performed offline using signed binary packages to ensure version control and prevent unauthorized modification.

Applications

• Clinical laboratories: Processing whole blood into packed red cells, platelet-rich plasma (PRP), and serum for transfusion or diagnostic assays.
• Biomanufacturing: Harvesting mammalian or bacterial cell cultures prior to downstream purification; clarifying large-volume fermentation broths.
• Blood banks: Separating leukoreduced red blood cells and preparing cryopreserved stem cell units under controlled hypothermic conditions.
• Academic core facilities: High-throughput fractionation of subcellular organelles, virus particles, or extracellular vesicles using angle-fixed rotors optimized for maximal pelleting efficiency.
• Environmental testing labs: Concentrating waterborne pathogens or microplastics from liter-scale environmental samples prior to PCR or microscopy analysis.

FAQ

What is the maximum RCF achievable with the 6 × 1000 mL bucket rotor?

The swing-out rotor configured for 6 × 1000 mL achieves a maximum RCF of 5,167 × g at 4,200 rpm—optimized for gentle separation of whole blood or fragile particulates.
Does the LR10M support remote monitoring or network connectivity?

No Ethernet or Wi-Fi interface is provided; all operation and data retrieval occur locally via the front-panel HMI or USB port.
Can the instrument maintain −20 °C during extended runs at high speed?

Yes—the compressor system is rated for continuous operation across the full temperature and speed range, with thermal load compensation verified per ISO 13485 production testing.
Is rotor calibration required before first use?

Rotors are factory-balanced and supplied with individual serial-numbered calibration certificates; no field recalibration is needed unless physical damage occurs.
How often should maintenance be scheduled?

Annual preventive maintenance is recommended, including refrigerant pressure verification, drive belt tension check, door lock actuation test, and centrifuge chamber disinfection protocol validation.