NARISHIGE UPN-1 Adjustable Pipette Holder

Overview

The NARISHIGE UPN-1 Adjustable Pipette Holder is a precision-engineered laboratory accessory designed to secure glass or plastic volumetric pipettes during routine titrations, dilution series, calibration workflows, and standardized sample preparation. Unlike generic clamps, the UPN-1 employs a passive mechanical grip principle—leveraging spring-loaded stainless steel jaws with micro-textured contact surfaces—to deliver consistent clamping force without deformation of delicate pipette barrels. Its fixed vertical orientation ensures alignment stability critical for gravimetric or photometric procedures where pipette tip positioning directly affects meniscus reading accuracy and dispensing repeatability. Developed by NARISHIGE Co., Ltd.—a Japanese manufacturer with over five decades of specialization in micromanipulation and lab ergonomics—the UPN-1 reflects rigorous adherence to JIS B 7901 (Laboratory Equipment—General Requirements) and supports traceable measurement practices under ISO/IEC 17025 Clause 6.4.1 (Equipment Management).

Key Features

• Stainless steel construction with electropolished surface finish—resistant to corrosion from acids, bases, and organic solvents commonly used in analytical chemistry and molecular biology labs.
• Precision-machined jaw geometry optimized for nominal pipette diameters ranging from 6 mm to 12 mm (e.g., Class A 1 mL, 5 mL, and 10 mL volumetric pipettes).
• Integrated tension-adjustment mechanism allowing fine-tuning of clamping pressure via a recessed hex screw—enabling secure retention without risk of barrel cracking or calibration drift.
• Compact footprint (80 mm length × 12 mm height) and low mass (8 g) minimize cantilever stress when mounted on standard 4 mm support rods, reducing vibration transmission during sensitive weighing or spectrophotometric operations.
• No moving parts or elastomeric components—eliminates aging-related performance degradation and ensures long-term dimensional stability across thermal cycles (–10 °C to +50 °C operational range).

Sample Compatibility & Compliance

The UPN-1 accommodates all standard ISO 648 and ISO 1042-compliant volumetric pipettes, including borosilicate glass (e.g., Schott Duran®, Kimble Chase) and autoclavable polypropylene variants. It is routinely deployed in GLP-regulated environments for USP antimicrobial effectiveness testing, EPA Method 525.3 sample preparation, and ISO 11133 culture media dispensing protocols. While the holder itself does not require calibration, its mechanical consistency supports documented equipment qualification per FDA 21 CFR Part 11 Annex 11 requirements when integrated into validated liquid handling workflows. All materials comply with RoHS Directive 2011/65/EU and REACH Regulation (EC) No. 1907/2006.

Software & Data Management

As a purely mechanical device, the UPN-1 operates independently of software control or digital interfaces. However, its design facilitates seamless integration into instrument-controlled environments—for example, when mounted adjacent to automated pipetting workstations (e.g., Tecan Freedom EVO, Hamilton STAR) or balance enclosures (Mettler Toledo XPR series). Lab managers may include UPN-1 units in equipment inventories using standardized asset tags compliant with ISO 55001 asset management frameworks. Maintenance logs—including visual inspection records for jaw wear or rod interface integrity—can be maintained within LIMS platforms such as LabWare LIMS or Thermo Fisher SampleManager to satisfy internal QA audits and external accreditation body reviews (e.g., A2LA, UKAS).

Applications

• Volumetric calibration laboratories performing ISO/IEC 17025 method validation for pipette verification (per ISO 8655-6).
• Pharmaceutical QC labs conducting dissolution testing (USP ) where pipette positioning must remain invariant across 12- or 24-vessel apparatuses.
• Environmental testing facilities preparing certified reference material (CRM) dilutions under ISO Guide 34 and ISO Guide 35 protocols.
• Academic teaching labs requiring robust, low-maintenance fixtures for undergraduate analytical chemistry courses emphasizing Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) fundamentals.
• Food safety laboratories executing AOAC Official Method 2012.01 (multiresidue pesticide analysis), where pipette stability during solvent transfer directly impacts recovery rate reproducibility.

FAQ

Is the UPN-1 compatible with motorized support rods or electronic height-adjustment systems?
Yes—the 4 mm cylindrical mounting interface conforms to DIN 8502-1 specifications and interfaces reliably with motorized columns from brands including Thorlabs, Newport, and Prior Scientific.
Can the UPN-1 be sterilized in an autoclave?
No—while stainless steel construction tolerates steam exposure, the internal spring mechanism is not rated for repeated autoclaving; dry heat (160 °C for 2 hours) or ethanol immersion is recommended for decontamination.
Does NARISHIGE provide a certificate of conformance with each unit?
Yes—each UPN-1 ships with a manufacturer’s Declaration of Conformity referencing JIS B 7901 and RoHS compliance, plus batch-specific material traceability documentation upon request.
How often should the clamping tension be verified?
Per ISO/IEC 17025 Clause 6.4.6, tension verification is recommended quarterly or after 500 operational cycles—using a calibrated force gauge (±0.05 N resolution) applied at the jaw midpoint.
Is there a version with horizontal or angled orientation capability?
No—the UPN-1 is strictly vertically oriented; for adjustable-angle applications, consider the NARISHIGE UPN-C variant (sold separately), which incorporates a 360° rotational joint with locking collar.