Laboratory furniture is in many ways the foundation of all lab work. It represents the hard and steady surfaces where all work is performed. And let’s not forget, where laboratory tools and samples are stored and equipment is transported. It is the rock on which the foundation of every research lab is built.

But what if your lab furnishings budget is limited? What are the key laboratory furniture components that every lab manager absolutely needs to get?

Here are five of what we condor to be the most critical pieces of laboratory furniture that there are.

1. Laboratory Casework and Cabinets

The simple, humble cabinet is an essential piece of laboratory furniture. Every lab of reasonable size will be teeming with all sorts of materials — especially tools and chemicals — which need to be used only intermittently. When not in use, they’ll need to be stored away. Since many common lab chemicals are caustic, flammable, or otherwise hazardous, they’ll need to be put away somewhere where they can’t do harm.

RDM’s quality-designed laboratory casework is just the thing to help you in all of these crucial areas. We made a wide array of both overhead and floor cabinets. As mentioned, we can include these as part of our workbenches, but we are happy to produce standalone casework as well. As with our workbenches and tables, we can make our cabinets flame-resistant, chemical-resistant, and/or static-resistant. We can make both small and large-sized cabinets. Our large, tall storage cabinets, in addition to the standard features already mentioned, also allow you to choose which kinds of doors you’d like them to have. We offer stainless steel doors, glass doors, or no doors at all. We can also make doors that either swing or slide open.

Have a look at RDM’s wide selection of industrial-quality laboratory casework here.

2. Lab Tables and Workstations

Arguably, tables and workstations are the most important pieces of furniture that you can have in your lab. They’re where all of the magic happens — where many important experiments are performed, where all chemicals are mixed and samples inspected, and where all lab workers and researchers spend the majority of their working hours. It’s virtually impossible to imagine a lab humming along smoothly without good tables or workbenches placed orderly about.

RDM’s laboratory workbenches are designed for maximal efficiency comfort. Most of our workbenches are made of stainless steel, though you have the option of ordering ones made of wood or other materials if you so desire. We also sell special types of workbenches called laminar flow workstations, which are meant to prevent particulate matter from disturbing or contaminating lab samples. In laminar flow workstations, the work surface is encased in glass or acrylic to keep anything unwanted from getting in.

Our laboratory tables come in many different shapes and sizes and can boast quite a wide range of functionalities. Tables can be square-shaped, rectangular, L-shaped, or have an F-frame. Though most of our tables are made of stainless steel, we also offer some wooden models for sale as well.

In addition to all of this, you can also place orders for factory-direct tables with any of the following special features:

• overhead racks or shelves
• overhead lighting fixtures
• adjustable-height legs
• wheels
• side drawers
• floor cabinets (for workbenches)
• adding of fireproof coating, chemical-resistant coating, or ESD anti-static coating to stainless steel tables
• light tables with adjustable and tilt-able surfaces

All of our factory-direct laboratory tables and workstations can be customized to suit your labs’ specific requirements. Customization is based accordingly on any of the parameters discussed here, and many others as well. These and other features all meant to make workers comfortable, safe, and productive.

3. Ergonomic Lab Seating

RDM Offers a Wide Variety of Industrial Duty and Laboratory Chairs

We’ve already discussed some of the critical lab equipment that allows work to get done. But there’s a second side to every lab work equation that reaches beyond mere efficiency. Comfort is this other side.

Uncomfortable workers are disgruntled and unproductive workers. Comfortable ones are happy and hardworking ones. Since lab workers will likely spend hours every day sitting at their workbenches, they’re going to need some comfortable chairs.

Our ergonomic laboratory seating is simple but deceptively luxurious. We offer a number of height-adjustable chairs with supportive backrests, leg rests and wheels for quick mobility if you need to slide from place to place. Our laboratory seating varies greatly in size, giving it the ability to comfortably support all workers, large, small, short, and tall.

4. Laboratory Fume Hoods

A fume hood is a very advanced piece of technical equipment. Which is nevertheless indispensable to workers’ safety whenever the question of handling noxious fumes comes up. Certain chemical reactions release dangerous gases as by-products. To keep all lab personnel out of danger, the air into which such gasses are expelled should be kept strictly segregated from the air that they breathe, and the gases should be swiftly removed from the lab environment.

That’s exactly what fume hoods are designed to do. They can be thought of either as accessories to workstations or as special devices in their own right. A fume hood encloses a workstation and keeps gases from flowing into the rest of the lab. It also sucks up said gases and swiftly removes them from the outside through a ventilation system. Fume hoods can be either ducted or ductless. Ductless hoods simply capture and release gases. Ducted hoods run them through a filtration system before releasing them.

5. Lab Utility Carts

Often, things need to be transported quickly across the lab and put into the hands of others. Whether you need to swiftly distribute some important tools that your researchers need to carry on with their work, or whether you need to collect chemicals or safety equipment from everyone at the end of the day, a good lab cart is an excellent thing to have.

We make custom laboratory carts and mobile tables of a variety of different kinds. Of course, the fact that we’re ready to build them in any way you need — whether high or low, single or multi-shelved, square or rectangular — puts all of the power at your disposal. Whichever sort of custom laboratory carts, your lab requires, RDM stands ready to build them at an industrial quality.

Conclusion

A well-rounded lab may have more than just these pieces of furniture, but we feel confident in saying that no lab can be truly complete without them. No matter what you happen to need, we encourage you to browse through our full collection of lab furniture until you find something that precisely meets your requirements. All of our equipment is proudly manufactured in the USA. At RDM Industrial Products, we’re ready to provide you with only the very finest of lab furnishings.

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But we also know that nothing lasts forever.

Even reliable and high-grade equipment can break down, fall apart or just get superseded by newer and more efficient models. In addition to choosing what kind of laboratory furnishings to fit the lab with, the lab manager should know when and how to change out old lab equipment for new.

RDM Industrial Products is here to guide you on when to make these big decisions and to supply you with anything you may need when the time comes to change out your laboratory furniture.

Here’s some information on the kinds of lab furnishings we offer and what the signs may be that it’s time for you to make a change.

RDM’s Selection of Laboratory Furnishings

RDM offers a diverse selection of industrial-quality lab furniture for all of your needs. Here is a brief rundown of some of what we can offer you and your lab.

Lab Workbenches and Tables

The workbench is the focal point of the entire laboratory. It’s where all scientific researchers do their work. Workbenches, therefore, need to be reliable and comfortable enough for each researcher to be able to complete his tasks there. They need to be large enough to fit all of the equipment that each scientist will be working with. A workbench might also need to have properly designed storage cabinets located beneath the work surface and perhaps overhead racks as well.

We can build custom-designed workbenches for your lab with surfaces made of stainless steel, solid wood or other materials. If necessary, we can include stainless steel, fireproof or chemical-resistant lab cabinets underneath the workbench as well.

For scientists working with extremely delicate materials, we also sell laminar flow workstations. These workstations use top-of-the-line HEPA and ULPA filters to remove tiny particulates from the air in the enclosed work area.

Lab tables can also serve the function of a full-fledged workbench, and we can supply them to you as well. We can provide stainless steel or solid wood tables, laminated tables, light tables, adjustable tables that can be set up at variable heights or inclines and tables with casters if you require mobility.

Laboratory Cabinets and Casework

Though we’ve already briefly discussed cabinet options that come with our workbenches, we can also provide you with additional standalone cabinets and other laboratory casework. Our manufacturer-direct cabinets are quality-designed and can be made of stainless steel, solid wood or other materials. We can also fashion laboratory cabinets for you that are fireproof and/or chemical resistant.

Out laboratory casework comes in various styles and sizes as well. We have tall cabinets that are perfect for storing large objects. Smaller cabinets that can be hung on a wall. And we even have cabinets on wheels to help you keep vital lab materials mobile.

Fume Hoods

Fume hoods enclose lab workbenches and are meant to quickly suck up and remove any noxious or toxic gases released by any chemical reactions initiated by lab workers. These are expensive and important devices that it’s important to keep running at peak efficiency. So you should be especially wary about making sure that they don’t break down. We sell both ducted and ductless fume hoods. We also offer custom-made walk-in fume hood for those needing to work around toxic gases in a larger environment.

Carts and Seating

RDM manufactures lab chairs meant to keep workers both mobile and comfortable as they chug away at their work stations. If you need to be able to move critical equipment and supplies back and forth across the lab quickly and easily, we can also provide you with lab carts and lab tables on wheels.

This is just a small sample of the kind of things that we have on hand to help you keep your lab functioning at its best. To find exactly the kind of equipment you need and have it made to your specifications, check out a complete listing of our lab furnishings and the many accessories we offer for them to round them out.

When it Might Be Time to Replace Your Aging Lab Furniture

Now that you’ve had a taste of what we can provide for your lab, there’s just one question to answer. How do you know when your lab furniture becomes too beaten down to rely upon any longer? How do you know when to call us up and get your lab some thinly new furnishings?

Here are a few general rules of thumb and specific indicators for when it might be a good idea to get yourself some new laboratory furniture and equipment:

• Replace Anything That’s Broken:
  This might seem like an obvious piece of advice, but not following it can have disastrous consequences. If you own any lab tables or workbenches that are cracked, chipped or damaged, replacing them is the wise choice. Chemicals can seep through cracks in a damaged workstation and get into areas where they shouldn’t be. Chemical stains and excessive scratches are also indications that you need to replace a table or a workstation. Especially ones that are supposed to be chemical-resistant. Chemical-resistant workstations that have been delaminated over time and heavy use should certainly be replaced. Steel workstations that have visible corrosion on them should be replaced, too. These types of damages indicates that the chemical-resistant properties might no longer be reliable. The same remarks apply if you see dented laboratory cabinets or anything similar.

• Some Fume Hood Tips:
  Since fume hoods are so important, they deserve a special discussion of their own. A good rule of thumb is to replace each of your fume hoods at least once every ten years, no matter how they seem to be working. Even if they seem to work just fine, technology can advance quite far over that many years. Newer fume hoods will be more efficient, remove noxious gases faster, use less power and save your lab money. Newer fume hood tend to be ductless, meaning that they can be placed anywhere in your lab and are thus more flexible and efficient. Of course, it should go without saying that you should immediately replace any fume hood whose sash is broken. Replacing it is often cheaper over the long run than paying for repairs, especially if you have an older model. If you’ve recently expanded your lab, that might be an excellent time for an upgrade as well.

It’s every lab manager’s responsibility to keep on top of things and make sure that his/her lab has the best equipment possible.

RDM’s laboratory furniture is proudly manufactured in the USA. Give us a call, we’re ready to help you replace, upgrade, or renovate your laboratory furniture so that you can keep your lab firing on all cylinders.

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Laboratory Tables and Other Lab Furnishings

Lab tables are used in healthcare facilities, educational and research institutions, specimen testing centers, and other environments that feature laboratories. These furnishings are made from wood or metal and feature different top surfaces including some, such as a chemical-resistant solid surface, designed for special environments.  Microscope tables have an adjustable height feature and may have height memory and special accessories.

Laboratory cabinets are made from standard steel or flame or chemical-resistant material designed for the special substances used in some lab environments. Fume hoods remove potentially dangerous fumes from the air, increasing the safety of lab workers. Lab counters can be equipped with sinks containing special service fixtures that include hot and cold water faucets, air and gas valves, and eye wash stations.

When Ordering Laboratory Tables, Remember Seating

Lab tables become more user-friendly when comfortable chairs are purchased with them. Laboratory seating includes ergonomic chairs designed for standard laboratory, ESD static control, and cleanroom environments and backless stools for lab workers who regularly move from seated to standing positions. Some industrial seating is designed for tables that are 34 inches or higher, combining functionality and utility.

Purchasing the highest-quality, most well-designed laboratory furniture within budget should result in years of use. When shopping for these industrial products online, look for a manufacturer that builds to customer specifications and offers accessories designed for use with the items being considered. This furniture will make lab work comfortable and more productive.

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Uses for Industrial Tables Featuring Integrated Lighting

When lighting is positioned within the tabletop, the entire work surface is illuminated from underneath this surface. The light source is housed in a box and distributed up through the surface of the table. This makes it possible to overlay architectural drawings for review or sketching, review X-rays, and inspect semi-transparent or transparent items directly on the table surface.

The customizable size of the lighted area is covered with frosted glass on the top surface. The remainder of the worktop can be covered in plastic laminate, a chemical-resistant solid surface, or one of several other materials. Fluorescent lighting is used to illuminate the table and a dimmable switch is provided so the worker can adjust illumination to the required level.

Sizes and Features of Customizable Light Tables

This lab furniture comes in a variety of configurations that increase its functionality. If the workspace will not accommodate a standard-sized table, a customized version can be designed. A lighted table featuring a lifting top makes standing work more comfortable. Small inspection carts with casters, light panels, and hydraulic lifts make work even more convenient because they can be repositioned as required.

Light tables provide illumination required to create drawings, analyze X-rays, and inspect products that feature a level of transparency. Customized designs make these furnishings movable and tiltable. A variety of surfaces and accessories are available, expanding the potential environments for use. When a task requires back-lit illumination for inspection or creation of a product, these tables deliver it without the need to install tabletop lighting.

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Surprisingly there are more industries today relying heavily on lift tables and lift equipment to get more jobs done. Construction workers for example rely on such designs of equipment to elevate materials for easier usability. Lift tables have been known to reduce strain and injuries, while improving efficiency and productivity. In today’s work environments extra safety for workers goes a long way.

Lift tables are designed to aid in performing job related tasks in such a way that makes the process easier for the workers involved. Not to mention the safety aspects associated with easier lifting, making them effective in numerous industries everyday. They’re portable, user friendly and safety enhanced making them a hot commodity while being convenient to use.

Manufacturing technology for industrial and commercial use has come such a long way; could you imagine not having lift tables in certain working environments? This type of equipment is used regularly in commercial and industrial type industries including certain jobs in the Medical field, Manufacturing sector, Construction and Mining fields, and more.

When choosing the right lift tables for your work environment, you need to look at quality products based on performance, durability and effectiveness. Ensure that it is well constructed and sturdy enough to manage the jobs it is being purchased for. You also want to review the safety features included. The overall performance of your new Lift Tables will depend on its purpose and the way it is used.

There are various types of lift tables available such as hydraulic, pneumatic, multistage, self-leveling, bin tilters and scissor lifts, just to mention a few. Lift tables usually provide additional beneficial features such as tilting, rotating, counterbalance, wheels, truck mounting and safety rails. It’s often the additional features that can make Lift Tables more convenient and safer to work with. They’re available in variety of capabilities and sizes to match the requirements of different jobs in various industries.

Manufacturing of quality Lift Tables is a highly specialized business; RDM Industrial Products should know – they have been manufacturing Industrial furniture since 1977.

Call us at 1-877-777-9130 to discuss your next industrial furniture project.

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An industrial duty stainless steel table can be manufactured to accommodate nearly any type of environment. At RDM, Standard construction includes a fully welded tubular frame made from 304 or 316 stainless steel. Assorted finishes are available including #4 brushed, 2B smooth, with an electropolished finish option that is offered for cleanroom and food-prep use. Different versions are available for light, standard, medium, and heavy duty.

Optional features offered by RDM Industrial Products for stainless steel tables include a manual or electric lift that adjusts table height, ADA handicapped or ergonomic design, drawers, and additional legs. Custom tables with multiple platforms and lifts are also available. Other stainless steel work table designs are available that are suitable for marine or cleanroom environments.

RDM even provides a stainless steel executive desk that could be ideal for a military environment. It is designed for standard to medium duty use and features an adjustable height designed to accommodate seated or standing use. Whether it is being used at headquarters, on base, or in the field, it will provide durability and good-looks. This table could also be suitable for use in a lab, offering workers a place to sit while recording their findings.

Whether they are being used to display or transport food, serve as work areas, or being used to support expensive laboratory equipment, stainless steel tables from RDM Industrial Products can handle the task. They are attractive, durable, and compatible with many optional features designed to improve their functionality. A stainless steel work table is a great, economical, long-term choice for a variety of specialized applications.

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Features of Laminar Flow Workstations

These laboratory workstations remove contamination from airborne particulates while providing ample working space for various purposes. Particulate-free air is provided to the work area, courtesy of a high-efficiency HEPA filter that is 99.99 percent efficient at 0.3 micron. ULPA filters are also available as an option with RDM Industrial Products.  Despite its efficiently, the fan is extremely quiet, operating at just 50 dBA. Sealed fluorescent lights illuminate the area, allowing for close work.

Many styles of Laminar Flow Workstations are available, including those featuring chemical resistant solid surface tops and ESD static control versions with grounding ports and hardware. Optional accessories designed for compatibility with other laboratory furnishings include integrated power strips, keyboard trays, computer monitor stands, and storage areas. Customers ordering this lab equipment from a manufacturer can customize it for their use.

Laboratory Furnishings – Vertical vs. Horizontal Airflow

In a vertical flow station, air is pushed through a HEPA filter located at the top of the unit. The air flows downward at a constant speed, eventually reaching the work surface. Horizontal models push air through a HEPA filter located at the back of the unit, directing it horizontally at a constant speed over the work surface, toward the user.

Application determines which of these laboratory furnishings is better. A horizontal unit usually has a taller, larger working area designed for lab equipment like microscopes. It is usually preferred for inspecting electronics, assembling medical devices, taking cultures of plant tissues, and preparing media plates and pharmacy drugs. A vertical unit features a partial sash that offers protection for chemical work in industries like biotechnology, forensics, and microbiology and helps to direct the air flow downwards.

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Lab tables designed for use with laboratory equipment or instruments often feature wood or metal frames. They may have a shelf designed to store lab supplies that do not require special containment. Some models feature fixed feet, while others have vibration dampening levelers or casters that can be locked in place when necessary. Tops are usually made from solid surfaces like epoxy resin or plastic laminated surfaces that are resistant to chemicals.

When the most sensitive anti-vibration lab furniture is required, a product like an active vibration isolation table can be found. Included in this table is innovative vibration reduction technology. The table reduces both horizontal and vertical vibration and contributes to proper use of the most sensitive equipment or applications in environments characterized by severe vibration.

Equipment commonly used with such tables includes scanning probe and atomic force microscopes. Other industries use them to support interferometers, semiconductor inspection equipment, and electro-physiology recording equipment. Sizes vary and top surfaces include solid wood, static control, stainless steel or frame-only models. Some of these isolation tables are compatible with clean room environments, making them ideal for a hospital or laboratory.

When looking for lab tables designed to dampen vibration, dealing with RDM Industrial Products often enables the customer to specify dimensions and select from several top surfaces, including static control. RDM offers an online quote request or order form, allowing customers who know what they need to place their lab furniture order without visiting a store. Live help is also available to provide answers to customer questions.

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