Hershey TD6 Benchtop Low-Speed Multi-Rotor Centrifuge

Overview

The Hershey TD6 Benchtop Low-Speed Multi-Rotor Centrifuge is engineered for routine separation tasks in clinical diagnostics, biopharmaceutical processing, blood banking, immunology, and environmental testing laboratories. Operating on the principle of sedimentation under centrifugal force, the TD6 generates controlled gravitational fields—up to 4800 ×g—to separate heterogeneous mixtures based on particle density, size, and shape. Unlike high-speed or ultracentrifuges, this low-speed platform prioritizes sample integrity, thermal stability, and operational safety during prolonged runs involving whole blood, cell suspensions, serum, plasma, tissue homogenates, and large-volume biological reagents. Its benchtop footprint and multi-rotor flexibility make it ideal for labs requiring rapid throughput across diverse tube formats without compromising reproducibility or biosafety compliance.

Key Features

• High-torque brushless DC motor ensures consistent rotational performance, minimal heat generation, and extended service life—critical for uninterrupted batch processing.
• Triple-stage damping system combined with precision-balanced rotor assemblies suppresses vibration and prevents sample resuspension, even at maximum load and speed.
• TFT-LCD color display supports real-time monitoring of setpoint vs. actual rpm, RCF, time remaining, and temperature (where applicable); parameters can be modified mid-run without stopping the cycle.
• Airtight fixed-angle rotors feature integrated silicone gaskets compliant with EU RoHS Directive 2015/863, minimizing aerosol escape during centrifugation of infectious or volatile samples.
• Reinforced structural design includes an austenitic 304 stainless steel centrifuge chamber, electrostatically coated steel enclosure, and triple-layer front-panel protection—meeting IEC 61010-1 mechanical safety requirements.
• Wide-voltage compatibility (100–230 V AC, optional) enables stable operation in global laboratory environments with variable grid conditions.
• Electromechanical door lock engages automatically upon lid closure, eliminating manual latching and ensuring interlock integrity before rotor acceleration.
• Programmable deceleration profiles (10 levels) allow gentle pelleting of fragile cells or precipitates; 20 stored protocols support SOP-driven workflows in GLP/GMP-regulated settings.

Sample Compatibility & Compliance

The TD6 accommodates a broad spectrum of primary containers—including standard conical tubes (10–250 mL), vacuum blood collection tubes (5/2 mL), microcentrifuge tubes (0.2–15 mL), deep-well plates, PCR strips, and 96-well microtiter plates—via interchangeable rotor configurations. All rotors are validated for balanced loading per ISO 13485:2016 Annex C and tested for mechanical fatigue resistance under repeated thermal cycling. The instrument holds CFDA registration as a Class II medical device and conforms to ISO 9001:2015 quality management standards. While not FDA 21 CFR Part 11–certified out-of-the-box, audit trails and electronic record integrity can be maintained through external LIMS integration and procedural controls aligned with CLIA and CAP accreditation frameworks.

Software & Data Management

The TD6 operates via embedded firmware with no external PC dependency. All run logs—including date/time stamp, rotor ID, speed, RCF, duration, and error codes—are retained in non-volatile memory for ≥10,000 cycles. Multilingual interface support (English, Chinese, Russian, Portuguese) facilitates deployment across multinational research consortia and contract testing organizations. For traceability in regulated environments, users may export logs via USB flash drive (optional accessory) and map entries to internal QA documentation systems. Firmware updates are delivered via secure offline channels to preserve data integrity and prevent unauthorized access.

Applications

• Clinical laboratories: Separation of whole blood into serum/plasma fractions using standardized vacuum tube protocols (e.g., BD Vacutainer®).
• Blood banks: Processing leukocyte-reduced red blood cell units and platelet concentrates under AABB-compliant conditions.
• Biotechnology: Clarification of bacterial lysates, yeast fermentation broths, and mammalian cell culture supernatants prior to downstream chromatography.
• Food safety testing: Concentration of pathogens (e.g., Salmonella, Listeria) from enrichment broths for subsequent PCR or immunoassay detection.
• Environmental analysis: Sedimentation of suspended solids from wastewater effluents or soil extracts prior to elemental analysis by ICP-OES.
• Vaccines & therapeutics: Harvesting viral vectors, exosomes, and recombinant proteins under cGMP-aligned centrifugation SOPs.

FAQ

What is the maximum relative centrifugal force (RCF) achievable with the TD6?
The TD6 delivers up to 4800 ×g when operating at its rated maximum speed of 6000 rpm with the 4 × 250 mL horizontal rotor.
Does the TD6 support continuous operation mode?
Yes—the timer includes a dedicated “continuous” setting, allowing indefinite centrifugation until manually stopped or interrupted by a safety event.
Can the TD6 be used for centrifuging microplates?
Yes—equipped with a dedicated 2 × 2 × 96-well swing-out microplate carrier, it supports standard flat-bottom, U-bottom, and V-bottom plates at up to 4000 rpm (2360 ×g).
Is rotor imbalance detection automated?
Yes—the control system continuously monitors current draw and vibration signatures; automatic shutdown occurs if imbalance exceeds ISO 1940-1 G6.3 tolerance limits.
Are replacement rotors and adapters available through authorized distributors?
Yes—all rotors, adapters, and consumable gaskets are cataloged under Hershey part numbers and supplied with calibration certificates and material declarations per REACH and RoHS requirements.