The Z326-2420H is the biosafety-spec high-RCF microcentrifuge rotor in the Hermle Z326 / Z32-HK family — 24 × 1.5/2.0 mL microtube capacity at 45° angle, with a hermetically sealed metal lid that contains aerosols during the spin. At 20,000 rpm / 38,007 × g, this rotor delivers high-RCF microtube pelleting (above the typical 13,500–17,000 × g of standard microcentrifuges) with the aerosol containment that BSL-2 / BSL-3 microtube workflows require. For workflows handling infectious-disease microtube samples, blood-borne pathogen extracts, or volatile-content microtube preparations where standard open-lid microcentrifuge rotors would be a containment failure, this is the Z326 / Z32-HK pick.
Key Specifications
| SKU | Z326-2420H |
| Type | Fixed-angle rotor — 24 position with hermetically sealed metal lid |
| Tube capacity | 1.5 / 2.0 mL microtubes (or 0.5 / 0.2 mL PCR via adapter) |
| Tube count | 24 |
| Angle | 45° |
| Compatible chassis | Z326 family + cross-compatible Z32-HK per shared accessory catalog |
| Max. operating speed | 20,000 rpm |
| Max. RCF at operating speed | 38,007 × g |
| Max. radius | 8.5 cm |
| Max. tube ø | 11 mm |
| Acceleration | 31 / 259 sec (standard / extended profile) |
| Deceleration | 28 / 490 sec (standard / extended-unbraked) |
| Temperature at max. speed (refrigerated chassis) | 7 °C |
| Hermetic seal | Metal lid with hermetic sealing surface (biosafety-spec) |
| Adapters (sold separately) | C1008-A5-6 (1 × 0.5 mL, 8 mm tube ø) / C1008-A2-6 (1 × 0.4/0.2 mL PCR, 6 mm tube ø) |
Compatibility & Configuration
Chassis compatibility — Z326 family + cross-compatible Z32-HK per the shared Hermle accessory catalog. RFID-tagged; chassis applies the rotor's rated 20,000 rpm cap automatically at insertion.
24 × 1.5/2.0 mL direct fit. Standard 1.5 mL and 2.0 mL microtubes (Eppendorf-style, 11 mm OD) fit the rotor's 11 mm tube ø directly without adapter.
Hermetically sealed metal lid. The metal lid attaches to the rotor body and seals against a hermetic surface — distinct from the open-lid configuration of standard microcentrifuge rotors. The metal construction (vs polymer lids on lower-RCF rotors) is engineered to maintain the seal integrity at 38,007 × g where the inertial loads on the lid-rotor interface are substantial.
Adapter library for smaller-volume work (sold separately):
- C1008-A5-6 — 1 × 0.5 mL adapter (8 mm tube ø, 45 mm length)
- C1008-A2-6 — 1 × 0.4 / 0.2 mL PCR tube adapter (6 mm tube ø, 45 mm length)
The adapters extend the rotor to handle 0.5 mL and 0.2 mL PCR tube workflows when the lab needs format flexibility on the same biosafety-spec rotor body.
Application Profile
BSL-2 / BSL-3 microtube workflows — infectious-disease research microtube samples, blood-borne pathogen extracts, viral preparation work, bacterial-culture microtube pelleting where aerosol containment is the spec. Many BSL-2 / BSL-3 protocols require sealed-rotor centrifugation as a hard requirement; the Z326-2420H meets that spec at high RCF.
High-RCF protein precipitation in biosafety contexts — TCA, acetone, and ammonium-sulfate precipitation across 24 × 1.5/2.0 mL aliquots in one cycle at >38,000 × g, with hermetic sealing for biosafety-classified samples.
Cold-chain biosafety microtube workflows on Z326-K / Z032-HK — combines aerosol containment with chamber temperature control. The rotor's 7 °C temperature-at-max-speed spec supports cold-stable protein and RNA workflows in BSL-2+ contexts.
Volatile-content microtube workflows — when samples contain volatile organic solvents or other materials where vapor release during the spin would compromise lab air quality, the sealed-lid configuration provides containment.
High-throughput nucleic-acid prep where biosafety classification matters — clinical-research workflows handling potentially infectious patient samples in microtube format. Combines 24-tube throughput with biosafety containment at high RCF.
Loading & Balance
24-tube symmetric loading. Opposite-pair distribution (positions 1+13, 2+14, etc.); pre-balance pairs by weight before insertion. At 20,000 rpm, balance precision matters — small mass excursions translate to substantial inertial asymmetry.
Adapter consistency. When using 0.5 mL or 0.2 mL adapters, position adapters symmetrically across the rotor.
Lid torque. The hermetic lid must be properly seated and torqued before each spin per the Hermle service instructions. Annual lid-and-seal inspection through the Hermle service network is recommended for biosafety-critical workflows. Lid replacement is a planned-inventory item in BSL-2+ workflows.
Selectable accel/decel. Chassis's 10 profiles apply; the unbraked decel (490 sec extended profile) supports loose-pellet preservation.
Ordering & Configuration
Z326-2420H ships as the rotor body + hermetically sealed metal lid. Adapters and any specialty tube formats are sold separately.
Compatible accessories (sold separately):
- C1008-A5-6 — 0.5 mL adapter (8 mm)
- C1008-A2-6 — 0.4/0.2 mL PCR adapter (6 mm)
- Replacement lids — confirm SKU at order through the Hermle service network
Confirm at quote: chassis pairing (Z326 family or Z032-HK), biosafety classification of the workflow (BSL-2 vs BSL-3 may have different procedural requirements around sealed-rotor use), adapter quantity needed, lid-replacement inventory cadence (typical for biosafety-critical workflows), training, and lead time. Pre-installation biosafety consultation typical.
Warranty: 5-Year Hermle warranty (3 years full + 2 years drivetrain) on the rotor body and lid. Lids in biosafety-critical workflows are wear items; warranty covers manufacturing defect, but operator should plan annual replacement inventory.
Z326-2420H vs Z326-3020H selection: the Z326-2420H (this product, 24 positions / 38,007 × g / hermetically sealed) is the biosafety-spec high-RCF microcentrifuge rotor. The Z326-3020H (30 positions / 30,368 × g / hermetically sealed) trades RCF for 6 more positions per cycle — pick based on whether per-tube g-force or per-cycle throughput drives the workflow. Both are biosafety-spec via hermetic sealing.
