Laboratory and Scientific Equipment are referred to all those scientific devices that are used in a laboratory for various scientific experiments. These equipments consumables are used in clinical and research laboratories for the preparation, separation and analysis of samples. In layman's terms, all those devices that used to test, analyze, control, calibrate, display and record data in laboratory and other testing situations are categorizes as laboratory and scientific equipments.

Types of Laboratory and Scientific Equipment

There are many devices in the lab ware equipments category that can be classifies as per their uses. Some of the the most commonly known lab instruments are -

Analytical Instruments – These devices fall under a wide category of lab equipments that analyze material samples, or their components, and record data specific to the application. Some of the major devices within this family are calorimeters and thermal analyzers, capillary electrophoresis separators, centrifuges, conductivity electrodes and other conductivity instruments, density and specific gravity equipment, gas testers and analyzers.

Chromatography Instruments – All those instruments that are used to separate chemical mixtures, carried by liquids or gases, into components as a result of differential distribution of the solutes as they flow around or over a stationary liquid or solid phase fall under the header – chromatography instruments.

Clinical Research Lab ware – This too is an important bifurcation in the laboratory and scientific equipments industry. They are physical products that are installed in experimentation, research, or other laboratory activities. While some are used to drive experimentation and research, others are incorporated to prepare samples, clean materials, or protect the user and samples from biological contamination.

Environmental Instruments & Equipment – This is one of the most flourishing segment of scientific and laboratory equipments as they are expansively used for measurement and testing of changes in environmental conditions, including radiation, temperature, moisture, dew point, smoke, dust, opacity, light, weather, and water quality.

Besides the above mentioned categories there are various other bifurcations as well. They include dimensional meteorology, electrical test meters, fiber optic test equipment, filtration and separation products, imaging equipment, inspection tools and instruments, lab test equipment, laboratory air handling equipment, laboratory safety equipment, liquid handling equipment, machine vision inspection equipment, microscopes, process controllers, product material testing, recorders loggers, sensing and measurement instruments, separation techniques, spectrometers analytical photometers, thermal processing, water quality instruments.

Industry Growth

The industry of laboratory and scientific equipments is one of the most demanded in the world. Great leaps in the science and technology has paved way for the researchers and manufacturers to experiment more and come up with novel ideas and devices for the same. This fact is well explicated by the recent data collected by scientific equipment industry which claims to have seen a growth rate of 8% in the year 2002. While China has recorded an annual growth of 18.8% in the scientific equipments and laboratory devices market, the profits of US have touched $1,550,000 mark. UK too is not lagging behind. It commands about 7 per cent of the world market and the sales of lab equipment in 2005 was worth US$ 4.30 billion.

Applications

The scope of application of these laboratories and scientific instruments is wide. Anyplace where lab research is required, the use of these devices is inescapable. The global trends of launching new technologies in the scientific equipments segment is fueling the growth of these lab ware. This has led to a huge rise in demand from the consumers who are insisting upon lab equipment that occupies less space and and automation for inducing greater efficiencies in their processes. Some very common application of scientific and laboratory equipments can be found on board sounding rockets, satellites or planetary rovers and controlled by radio telecommunication.

Major Market Players

While UK and US takes the lead in the export of these lab equipments, there are various other countries that too are creating a place for themselves is this race. Aside from the growth that has been taking place in the west, countries in the Asian continent like China and India are also being predicted to play a bigger role as the supplier. This can be possible because of the fact that many suppliers have already outsourced equipment production to facilities in these countries. Among the major players in this sphere, European and American analytical and laboratory equipment markets can easily be considered as the top leaders.

Laboratory and Scientific Equipments Publication

Current Science - Based in India, Current Science is a scientific journal that is published by the Current Science Association in collaboration with the Indian Academy of Sciences. This journal is intended as a medium for communication and discussion of important issues that concern science and scientific activity. It was founded in the year 1932.

Laboratory Equipment Magazine – Bio tech Media, a vast media resource for life science industries publishes its monthly magazine, Laboratory Equipment Magazine. Laboratory Equipment is a tabloid that features new products for scientists, chemists, and research and development managers with buying responsibility in, industry, government and university laboratories.

Laboratory and Scientific Equipments Association

Laboratory Products Association – A sister concern of SAMA Group of Associations founded in 1918, laboratory Products Association is for all the companies that are the suppliers of lab products and services such as glass and plastic ware, chemicals, equipment and supplies used in scientific research and applied science and life science worldwide. The mission of the Laboratory Products Association is to provide its members with unique opportunities in networking, market information and education enabling them to constantly improve their global and commercial success.

Medical Industry Association – This is a non profit voluntary association whose mission is to develop the Bulgarian Medical Industry and the faster adjustment of its production in conformity with the European requirements and standards. Having a membership of 39 state and private trade companies, manufacturing drugs and all kinds of scientific devices, the association maintains contacts with the state establishment on the regulation acts concerning the rights and interests of its members.

Association for Laboratory Automation – The main aim behind the establishment of this association is to cater to advance science and education that is related to laboratory automation by encouraging the study, advancing the science, and improving the practice of laboratory automation. This is the only international organization devoted exclusively to the unique professional specialty of laboratory automation.