Service FAQ

Do you have questions about the maintenance and servicing of our products?
Have a look at our FAQ or get in contact with us!

The maximum service life depends on the specific rotor or bucket. The maximum number of running cycles or the shelf/service life of plastic parts (rotors/adapters) can be found marked directly on the accessories.

In general, we follow DGUV Rule 100-500 of the German Social Accident Insurance (DGUV), which stipulates that all our centrifuges with a power consumption of more than 500 W and/or a kinetic energy of more than 10,000 Nm must be serviced or tested once a year. Smaller devices can also be serviced on request. However, no interval is stipulated here.

You can contact our service team or your dealer at any time if your centrifuge is defective or has a fault. Once you have completed our defect report form in electronic format and submitted it to your personal contact at Hettich, he or she will then coordinate the next steps with you. Depending on the outcome, we will then either send a service technician to you or ask you to ship the item to us for repair.

More information here

This message indicates a problem with vibration. It is displayed when the load is not correctly balanced or maintenance (lubrication) is inadequate. Continued operation in this condition may damage the centrifuge.

If this error message is displayed, you should check whether the centrifuge is evenly loaded and then repeat the centrifugal run.

Please contact us if the message appears and remains permanently displayed.

Centrifuges and incubators may only be serviced by trained Hettich employees or authorized Hettich representatives.

On small centrifuges, the serial number of your centrifuge can be found on the product nameplate. On larger centrifuges, the serial number is marked either on the nameplate or the left-hand hinge.

Instructions for correct centrifuge cleaning and care can be found here.

Contaminants or sample residues should first be removed with cold water.

You can then start cleaning and disinfecting. Detergents and disinfectants used must not be corrosive and should have a pH of between 5 and 8.

We strongly advise against using any spray disinfectant. Also, please do not clean your device in your laboratory glassware washer.

Every year, maintenance work is carried out on the device in accordance with an certified protocol. You will receive a copy of the protocol after maintenance for your own records. You will also receive a discount on any parts that need to be replaced during maintenance.

This way, we take care of everything for you and your equipment will often have a longer service life and less downtime.

No, a maintenance contract starts 12 months after delivery of the product. However, invoicing is per calendar year.

Call-out charges are included in the maintenance price and are calculated on a pro rata basis (depending on the type of device).

The price for maintenance on a centrifuge depends on a number of factors, such as: the type of centrifuge, whether it is a cooled or uncooled centrifuge, and whether you want maintenance with or without calibration.

Service FAQ Other products/brands

Do you have questions about the maintenance and servicing of your product?
Have a look at our FAQ or get in contact with us!

For the inside:

Make sure the autoclave chamber has cooled down.
Wipe the inside of the chamber with soft damp cleaning cloth. (If necessary with 70% ethanol).
Rinse with cold, distilled water.

For the outside:

Wipe the outside with a soft damp cleaning cloth.

Repeat this process if necessary.

Ensure that the coarse filter in the chamber is free of dirt. It is important to check this regularly because a blockage can lead to a malfunction.
Immediately wipe up any spilled liquid in the autoclave chamber.
If agar is spilled, the cleaning programme must be run immediately (in an empty chamber).
Keep a logbook if necessary.

Check the door seal for visible abnormalities. If you notice any abnormalities, please contact our Service team.
Visually check around the autoclave for water and/or steam leaks. If any are found, please contact our Service team.

Scheduled maintenance inspections that are part of a preventive maintenance (PM) plan usually take place every year. Although this is generally considered good service practice, additional maintenance may be necessary based on a different frequency of use.

This error indicates a problem with the “ring switch”.

It is important to reset the autoclave. You can do this by following the instructions in the user manual.
If you do not have this manual, you can request it from our Service team.
You can then try to open the autoclave again.

There is a black pin on the back of the device (depending on the model). The steps are as follows:

press the black pin;
switch off the machine;
then check the tap water supply;
then switch the autoclave back on.

The fault should now be resolved. If not, please contact us.

This fault indicates that there is probably a problem with the PT100 (temperature sensor) in the chamber.

Check the load in the autoclave.
Have you selected the correct programme?
Restart the programme.

If the message reappears or damage to the PT100 is found, please contact our Service team.

Check whether there is any dirt in the coarse and fine filter sieve and remove it first.
Run a comprehensive wash programme every week with an empty chamber (see programme table in the manual).
Always use the correct cleaning agent for the dishwasher and glassware.
Always fill the dishwasher correctly for optimal cleaning.

For our Smeg dishwashers, we recommend using Smeg acid glass (neutralising agent) and Deter liquid (cleaning agent).

There are several possible causes for a dishwasher that does not drain.

The most common are a clogged filter, a clogged or kinked drain hose, or a clogged drain. Other possible causes include a clogged vent or a faulty drain pump.

The most important safety measure when handling glassware in the laboratory is to check it for damage before use and to handle it with care to prevent breakage. This includes checking for cracks, chips and scratches and discarding damaged items.

For proper handling, glassware should be supported, especially when filled, and rapid temperature changes should be avoided to prevent breakage.

There are several possible causes. Please note, for proper operation we strongly recommended to purchase and use the handle (art. no. 800013200). If you are already using a handle, then it would be best to replace the safety filter (art. no. 800015800 = 3 pieces)

It is best to clean the system daily. To do this, dissolve a chlorine tablet with water and vacuum this solution throughout the system.

Always make sure the bottle is on the pump holder (AA or AC system). If this is not convenient for your operations, we recommend purchasing the stainless steel holder.

For the 2 litre bottle it is art. no. 800014950 and for the 4 litre bottle it is art. no. 800014960.

Yes, if you use two blocks, the height of the aluminium in each block must be the same.

Need technical assistance?

Our Service team is ready to answer your questions or take your reports of malfunctions. Use the chat function on the website, fill in the contact form or send an email to service@hettichbenelux.com.

For urgent matters, you can of course also contact our Service department by telephone on 088 221 99 00.