The Z326-85-A50SS is the 50 mL self-standing conical tube insert for the Hermle Z326-0685 6 × 85 mL angle rotor on the Z326 / Z327 chassis family — sold as a 2-pack. Each insert holds 1 × 50 mL skirted-base self-standing conical tube; the 6-position rotor takes 3 packs (6 inserts) for full symmetric loading, delivering 6 × 50 mL self-standing conical tubes per cycle at the host rotor's high-RCF range. The SS suffix denotes self-standing — sized specifically for 50 mL conical tubes with an integrated skirted base that lets the tube stand upright on the bench without a rack (e.g., Corning CentriStar, BD Falcon Self-Standing, Greiner self-standing 50 mL formats).
Key Specifications
| SKU | Z326-85-A50SS |
| Type | Tube insert — 1 × 50 mL self-standing skirted-base conical |
| Pack quantity | 2 inserts per SKU (full 6-position rotor takes 3 units = 6 inserts) |
| Per-insert capacity | 1 × 50 mL self-standing skirted-base conical tube |
| Per-cycle throughput (full configuration) | 6 × 50 mL self-standing per cycle |
| Tube format | 50 mL skirted-base self-standing conical (29 mm OD, 116 mm length) |
| Compatible host rotor | Z326-0685 (6 × 85 mL angle rotor) |
| Compatible chassis | Z326, Z326-K (refrigerated), Z327, Z327-K (refrigerated), and -E voltage variants |
| Max. operating speed (with insert + tube) | Per Z326-0685 spec — 9,000 rpm at 10,413 × g maximum |
| Max. radius | 11.5 cm (with 0.7 cm radius correction for the insert) |
| Temperature at max speed (refrigerated chassis) | 1 °C |
| Angle | 38° (fixed-angle host rotor) |
| List price | $201 (2-pack) |
Compatibility & When to Order This SKU
Insert pairing — Z326-0685 only. Order this SKU when:
- Adding self-standing 50 mL conical workflow to a Z326-0685 install — order 3 units for full 6-position symmetric loading.
- Workflows that use Corning CentriStar, BD Falcon Self-Standing, or other skirted-base 50 mL conical formats as the standard tube — these formats have integrated bench-standing geometry that the standard A50 insert (sized for non-skirted Falcon-style 50 mL conical) doesn't accommodate.
- Mixed-format runs — when some positions use standard 50 mL conical (A50 insert) and others use self-standing 50 mL formats (this SKU), in symmetric pairs across the rotor.
- Replacement inserts if a current set is damaged or worn.
Why a Self-Standing Variant Matters
Self-standing 50 mL conical tubes are popular in clinical-research workflows because they sit upright on the bench without a rack — a workflow ergonomic improvement during multi-step protocols (cap on, add reagent, cap off, vortex, place back upright, etc.). The skirted base extends the tube's overall length by ~10–15 mm beyond the standard Falcon 50 mL conical (105 mm vs 116 mm length), and the skirt also widens the tube's effective bench footprint.
The standard A50 insert is sized for non-skirted tubes; loading a skirted-base tube into the A50 insert risks fit problems (the skirt may not seat correctly, leaving the tube tilted within the insert envelope, producing imbalance at high RCF). The A50SS insert is dimensioned for the longer skirted format — confirm tube format matches the insert at order.
Application Profile
Workflows standardized on Corning CentriStar, BD Falcon Self-Standing, or similar self-standing 50 mL conical formats — clinical-research labs and biobanks that have standardized on self-standing tubes for workflow ergonomics get matching insert support without changing tube format.
High-RCF cold-chain self-standing 50 mL prep — patient sample fractionation, biobank aliquot prep, density-gradient prep at >10,000 × g and refrigerated temperature in self-standing format.
Multi-step molecular-biology workflows — DNA / RNA extraction, protein-prep, and similar multi-step protocols where the self-standing tube's bench ergonomics matter, with high-RCF spin steps in between.
Mixed self-standing / standard 50 mL conical workflow consolidation — when the lab uses both formats and the workflow benefits from both insert variants on the same chassis.
Cross-format Z326-K / Z327-K core facilities — shared cores supporting researchers who use different 50 mL conical brands benefit from stocking both A50 and A50SS inserts.
Ordering & Configuration
6-position symmetric loading. All 6 positions must use matching A50SS inserts for symmetric balance at 9,000 rpm.
Insert seat verification. Confirm each insert is fully seated in its 85 mL position before loading the self-standing 50 mL tube — the longer tube length means the insert depth and tube clearance both matter.
Tube cap confirmation. All 50 mL conical tubes must be securely capped before spinning at 9,000 rpm.
Z326-85-A50SS ships as 2 inserts. 50 mL self-standing skirted-base conical tubes are operator-supplied (commodity formats from Corning, BD Falcon, Greiner, and similar suppliers).
Confirm at quote: host rotor (Z326-0685 in inventory), chassis pairing (Z326, Z326-K, Z327, Z327-K), tube format (50 mL self-standing skirted-base, 116 mm length; standard 105 mm Falcon-style uses A50 instead), pack count (3 packs for full 6-position configuration), and lead time.
Warranty: 5-Year Hermle warranty (3 years full + 2 years drivetrain) on the inserts.
Z326-85 insert family — 50 mL variants (Z326-0685 6 × 85 mL angle rotor):
- Z326-85-A50SS (this product) — 50 mL self-standing skirted-base conical (116 mm)
- Z326-85-A50 — 50 mL Falcon-style conical (105 mm)
- Z326-85-A50R — 50 mL round-bottom (113 mm)
Match the insert to the 50 mL tube format. The A50SS is the right pick for self-standing skirted-base conical formats; the A50 covers standard non-skirted Falcon-style; the A50R covers round-bottom geometries.
