Ratek Lab Shakers and Mixers

Labquip partners with Ratek Inst. trusted manufacturers of laboratory mixers and shakers.

Ratek Shaker and Mixers are used in laboratories across Australia, with models proven in universities and hospitals. Our team specifies the right motion and platform for your vessels, and equally importantly commissions the instrument in your lab. Tell us what you need and we will match a solution today.

Our product range and what suits your laboratory
The right shaker depends on vessel, capacity and motion type. Moreover, we match models to your application or space.
 We help you choose from various types that handle tubes, plates and flasks without fuss. Ratek Mixers and Shakers are designed for precise mixing. Whatsmore many include digital readouts for speed and time. More options are available where a different footprint or feature is preferred.

A quick scenario: Consider gel staining in a small room. You may want a compact platform with adjustable speed to set an rpm that avoids spill while you shake for hours. For large bottles, a wider platform with a clamp kit improves accuracy and distribution.

Checklist to narrow choices
1. Vessel and platform fit
2. Required speed and motion
3. Available bench space and weight limit
4. Parameter logging or simple timers and finally
5. Local service and parts

How orbital shakers and linear shakers compare
Ratek Orbital Mixers were designed to offer circular motion for gentle culture work while linear reciprocates for staining and extraction tasks.
 In addition Orbital Shakers suit cell culture and solubility studies because the motion keeps oxygen transfer even and therefore helps blend media. Linear shakers can reciprocate to create a back and forth wave that speeds up dye removal. Both are widely used in biology and chemical workflows.

To decide, think about the task. If you must agitate samples vigorously, pick linear. If you must keep shear low, choose orbital or linear with a long stroke set slow. Shakers employ rotary drive systems with tight tolerance for accuracy and performance.

Quick comparison

Platforms plates and flasks and how they fit
Choose platforms and clamps that secure tubes plates and flasks so speed and accuracy stay within spec.
 A universal platform accepts mix and match holders so one device handles many vessels. Add a tilt angle of 9° on a rocker when you need gentle wave action for membranes. Also select the right size so the load is stable at set speed.
Consider a lab running test tube prep in the morning and a 3D shaker run in the afternoon. Also, swap holders on the same platform thereby maintaining continuous throughput. What’s more this flexibility keeps workflows simple.

Fitting guide
1. Tube racks keep small diameters steady
2. Plate mats stop creep at higher rpm
3. Flask clamps secure necks for longer runs

Incubator options digital control and monitoring
Combine shaking with temperature control to incubators shakers for cultures and log parameters for reproducible results.
 An incubator model lets you incubate and shake in one cabinet, therefore ideal for yeast or bacteria. Digital controllers provide tight control of temperature while you set speed and time, with optional monitoring that exports runs to LIMS.
If your application involves cell growth, consider an incubator with CO₂. Finally, pick the motion type that matches culture needs, and specify a platform that will rock or orbit without touching chamber walls.

What to specify
1. Temperature uniformity and control range
2. Chamber clearance and platform travel
3. Ports for data monitoring and alarms

Sizing performance and service for your lab
Size the device to workload and choose reliable service pathways to keep continuous work on track.
 Select an instrument that can handle the heaviest load at the highest speed you plan to run. Furthermore a digital timer helps you hit the same parameter set every time for reproducible results. Labquip also provides service and calibration to protect accuracy.

Ratek units are reliable and built for long duty cycles. Our team also supports laboratory equipment across regions, with parts and know how that keep downtime low.
Service inclusions
• Installation and commissioning
• Preventive checks and reporting
• Training on safe operation

When this may not be the right fit
Some tasks need stirring or rotary motion rather than shaking so consider alternatives. If you need strong vortex action in a single tube, a vortex mixer is faster. However, if your protocol demands a magnetic stirrer for continuous reagent stirring in a beaker, a shaker is not the ideal choice.

Good alternatives
• Magnetic stirrer for titrations
• Vortex mixer for single tube resuspension
• Rocker for membrane work

How to judge if you need this now or later
Importantly buy now if bottlenecks appear in sample preparation or if compliance requires logged runs. Wait if a shared unit still meets turnaround and your application is light. Secondly, review space, utility access and future vessels so the solution you pick fits growth.

Decision cues
• Workload exceeds current capacity
• New application needs different motion
• Audit needs prove logging and alarms

Where this connects to sample prep next steps in related topic
Firstly,Shaker choice links directly to upstream and downstream steps like buffer make up, extraction, and culture harvest. Secondly, explore our laboratory products for holders and clamps, then see incubator shakers if temperature control is needed.

Next steps
• Explore platforms and clamps
• Review incubator models
• Book a sizing call

Common questions
What speed suits gel work?
Start low and raise speed until stain moves across the surface without spill. Many users sit mid range to protect trays while keeping timelines steady.

How do shakers employ different motions?
Drives convert motor output to circular orbital paths or straight line strokes. The chosen motion changes shear and mixing patterns across the vessel.
Can I use a universal platform?
Yes. A universal platform takes multiple holders so you can switch between tube racks and flask clamps without tools in many models.
What incubator options exist?
Options include heated chambers with digital control and alarms, with some models adding CO₂. Equally important, check clearance so your platform travels freely.
How do I select clamps?
Base the pick on vessel neck and wall thickness. Tight clamps improve accuracy at higher loads and during long runs.

Ready to choose a lab shaker that fits first time Contact Labquip for a quick specification chat or to request a demo.
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