Laboratory mixers consist of an oscillating, motorized platform, designed to hold flasks, beakers, or tubes, installed onto a stabilizing base and connected to an analog or digital controller to regulate the movement and speed of the platform.
Unlike high-speed lab shakers or vortexers, which mix samples in orbital or vortex motions, mixers gently agitate samples in linear rocking, tilting or rotating motions. Commonly used in molecular biology or biochemistry labs, mixers are ideal for gel staining, western blotting, or hybridization assays.
A - Laboratory Rollers, Rockers, Mixers, and Blotters
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A1 - Laboratory Blotter
Optimal for western blot washing or gel staining, blotters gently oscillate, on a 2-dimensional plane, at 10 – 12 rpm to protect the integrity of the gel or membrane. Large optional stacking platforms accommodate multiple gel boxes or blot trays at a single time.
A2 - Laboratory Mixer
Combining the design of a rocker and a shaker, lab mixers maintain a 3-dimensional motion at higher speeds (up to 300 rpm) than lab rockers. Standard mixers include a broad array of platform clamps and tube racks to hold Erlenmeyer flasks, graduated cylinders, beakers, reservoirs, test tubes and conical vials.
A3 - Laboratory Rocker
Laboratory rockers employ a gentle tilting or rocking motion, in 2- or 3-dimensions, to mix samples at speeds of 30 – 80 rpm. Certain rockers include controllers to adjust the mixing speed or the tilting position of samples. For cell culture or proteomics applications, standard rockers are designed to operate within incubators, cold rooms or walk-in refrigerators.
A4 - Laboratory Roller
Laboratory tube rollers produce a wave effect to ensure thorough mixing of specimens housed in blood collection tubes or roller bottles. Optimal for clinical laboratories and outpatient clinics,
A5 - Laboratory Rotator
Laboratory Rotators move in a tumbling motion to thoroughly mix genomics or biochemistry samples. Compatible with a wide range of tube holders, rotators are designed to mix samples in vertical or horizontal orientations.
Compare by Rotator Style
A6 - Laboratory Rotisserie Mixer
Rotisserie mixers, like Benchmark’s RotoBot, agitate samples in a vertical spinning motion at a variety of mixing speeds and tilt angles. Designed for homogenous dispersion, rotisserie mixers include holders for test tubes, snap-top tubes, and conical vials.
B - Maximum Blotter, Roller, and Mixer Speed
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Blotters and tube rollers maintain fixed or variable mixing speeds up to 40 rpm for gentle agitation of blood samples, gel stains, or Southern blots. Rockers and rotators mix samples at 80 rpm for binding assays or cell resuspension. Mixers attain speeds up to 300 rpm for vigorous agitation of growth media, reagents or proteomics samples.
C - Laboratory Rocker and Mixer Configuration
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C1 - Variable Speed Mixers
Benchmark’s Everlast 247 models include variable speed controllers to adjust mixing levels for different sample types. Advanced controllers include timers, over-speed alarms, user-configured programs, and self-calibration.
C2 - Fixed Speed Laboratory Rockers
Benchmark’s BlotBoy Rockers, include fixed-speed systems for defined applications, such as gel staining or blood sample processing.
D - Lab Equipment Voltage
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120-volt connections are suitable for standard laboratory power outlets in the United States.
240-volt connections, common in Mainland Europe, require less current (amperage) and smaller conductors than equipment designed to operate at 120-volt.
E - Rocker and Mixer Motion Type
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E1 - 1-Dimensional Laboratory Rollers
Benchmark’s Tube Rollers are designed to oscillate the platform on a single plane, moving samples back-and-forth across metal rollers.
E2 - 2-Dimensional Laboratory Rockers
Benchmark’s BenchBlotter fixed rockers allow the tilting angle of the platform to adjust, supporting 2-dimensional mixing on the x- and y-axis.
E3 - 3-Dimensional Laboratory Mixers and Wavers
Benchmark’s BenchWaver and BioMixer are high-speed mixers and wavers that support 3-dimensional mixing in a rocking or orbital motion.
F - Lab Mixer Controllers
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Analog lab mixers and rockers include hand-dials to alter mixing speeds and timers with audible alarms.
Digital lab mixers and rockers Models with digital controllers adjust tilting angles and mixing speeds, save user-defined programs, and export data.
G - Special Lab Mixer Features and Accessories
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G1 - Laboratory Incubator Mixers
Benchmark’s Roto-Therm maintains temperatures from 5°C - 60°C for gentle mixing of mammalian or bacterial cell culture samples.
G2 - Laboratory Tube Holders
Thermo Fisher’s Compact Digital Mini Rotator offers interchangeable tube holders to accommodate flasks, beakers, graduated cylinders, test tubes, centrifuge tubes, conical vials, and ampules.
G3 - Automated Laboratory Dispensing Blotters
Next Advance’s Freedom Rocker BlotBot includes an automated delivery system for dispensing and removal of reagents, buffer and cell media. Digital programming allows users to define washing protocols and adjust dispensing volumes, rocking speeds, and mixing times.
Where Can I Buy Laboratory Rockers and Mixers Online?
Laboratory-Equipment.com is a speciality division of Terra Universal. For nearly 40 years, Terra Universal has served semiconductor, aerospace, life science, pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and medical device markets. Customers appreciate a worldwide network of reps, factory-direct support, and ready-to-ship items available from Terra's manufacturing and warehouse facilities in Fullerton, California.
Shop online to compare pricing, features, and selection for a wide variety of lab mixing equipment including rockers, shakers, and stirrers. Browse a curated list of products for applications including general laboratory, research, PCR, DNA/RNA techniques, ELISA, protein analysis, and cell culture.
