Hettich TDL5M Benchtop Low-Speed Refrigerated Centrifuge

Overview

The Hettich TDL5M Benchtop Low-Speed Refrigerated Centrifuge is engineered for high-throughput, temperature-sensitive separation tasks in regulated laboratory environments. Operating on the principle of sedimentation under controlled gravitational force (RCF), it delivers precise, reproducible separation of heterogeneous mixtures—including whole blood, cell suspensions, tissue homogenates, and precipitated proteins—within a thermally stabilized chamber. Its design prioritizes operational reliability across extended runs, making it suitable for routine clinical diagnostics, bioprocessing QC, pharmaceutical stability testing, and academic research where sample integrity at sub-ambient temperatures is critical. Unlike ultra-high-speed or preparative centrifuges, the TDL5M focuses on robust low-speed performance (up to 5500 rpm / 4800 × g) with wide thermal flexibility (−20 °C to +40 °C), enabling both cryopreservation-compatible pelleting and ambient-temperature density gradient applications.

Key Features

• High-capacity horizontal rotor configuration supporting up to four 500 mL bottles—optimized for blood bank processing, fermentation broth clarification, and large-volume buffer exchange.
• Advanced refrigeration architecture featuring an imported CFC-free compressor and R404a refrigerant, delivering rapid pre-cooling (<15 min from +25 °C to −20 °C) and stable thermal hold during operation and standby modes.
• Dual-mode user interface: 7-inch TFT-LCD color display with intuitive touch-and-button navigation; real-time simultaneous display of setpoints (speed, time, temperature, RCF) and actual running parameters.
• Comprehensive safety system including automatic imbalance detection, overspeed cutoff, overtemperature shutdown, voltage fluctuation monitoring, and triple-stage mechanical damping to suppress resonance-induced sample resuspension.
• Biocontainment-compliant angular rotors sealed with RoHS 2015/863-certified silicone gaskets—validated to prevent aerosol leakage during high-biosafety-level (BSL-2/3) operations per WHO and CDC biosafety guidelines.
• Electromechanical door lock with soft-close actuation ensures secure containment without manual latching; meets IEC 61010-2-020 requirements for centrifuge mechanical safety.

Sample Compatibility & Compliance

The TDL5M accommodates a broad range of primary and secondary containers: conical tubes (0.2–500 mL), universal bottles, microtiter plates (96-/384-well), PCR strips, cell culture flasks (T25–T225), and deep-well plates. Optional polyamide fiber adapters ensure secure positioning of small-format tubes without metal-to-plastic contact. All rotors are precision-balanced and certified for continuous operation at maximum rated speed and load. Regulatory compliance includes CFDA registration (Class II medical device), ISO 9001:2015 quality management system certification, and ISO 13485:2016 certification for medical device manufacturing—ensuring traceability, documentation control, and audit readiness for GLP/GMP laboratories. The instrument supports 21 CFR Part 11–compliant data logging when integrated with optional Hettich CentriSoft™ LIMS modules.

Software & Data Management

While the TDL5M operates as a standalone instrument, its embedded firmware supports full parameter logging—including timestamped run history, error codes, temperature profiles, and rotor-specific usage counters. Up to 20 user-defined protocols can be stored with descriptive naming, speed/temperature ramp profiles, and braking profiles (10 deceleration steps). USB export enables CSV-formatted output for external validation and trending analysis. Optional CentriSoft™ Connect software provides remote monitoring, multi-instrument fleet management, electronic signature support, and automated report generation aligned with FDA and EMA submission standards.

Applications

• Clinical laboratories: Routine serum/plasma separation from whole blood (EDTA, heparin, citrate tubes); platelet-rich plasma (PRP) preparation; urine sediment concentration.
• Biopharmaceutical QA/QC: Clarification of mammalian cell culture harvests; removal of cellular debris prior to filtration or chromatography; stability assessment of protein formulations under accelerated storage conditions.
• Food safety testing: Pathogen enrichment pellet recovery (e.g., Salmonella, Listeria) from buffered peptone water; fat layer separation in dairy emulsions.
• Agricultural research: Extraction of plant organelles (chloroplasts, mitochondria) via differential centrifugation; soil suspension fractionation for microbial community analysis.
• Academic teaching labs: Demonstrating sedimentation kinetics, density gradient principles (e.g., Ficoll-Paque®), and cold-chain integrity during sample processing.

FAQ

What is the minimum temperature achievable during operation?
The chamber can maintain −20 °C continuously under full load at 5500 rpm, verified per ISO 13485 environmental testing protocols.
Can the TDL5M accommodate microtiter plates without custom rotors?
Yes—dedicated swing-out carriers for 96-well and 384-well plates are standard accessories, validated for centrifugation at ≤3000 rpm without well deformation.
Is rotor lifetime tracked by the system?
Each rotor carries a unique ID; cumulative run hours, max speed history, and maintenance alerts are logged automatically and accessible via service menu.
Does the instrument support audit trail functionality for GxP environments?
When paired with CentriSoft™ Audit Mode (optional license), all parameter changes, user logins, and alarm events are timestamped, immutable, and exportable in PDF/A format.
How is calibration verified for temperature and speed accuracy?
Factory calibration uses NIST-traceable thermistors and laser tachometers; field verification kits (Hettich CAL-KIT-T/SP) are available for periodic revalidation per ISO/IEC 17025.