The Z496-K-UC is the underbench variant of Hermle's largest benchtop-class refrigerated centrifuge. It's the same 10,500 rpm / 16,022 × g performance and the same 4 × 1,000 mL bottle capacity as the Z496-K Floor-Standing model — the only difference is chassis height. At 27.5 inches tall, the Z496-K-UC fits underneath standard 30-inch laboratory casework, freeing the bench surface for instruments that benefit from operator-height access. Both variants share wheels for relocation, the same H-Control software interface, and the same 4 × 1,000 mL swing-out plus angle-rotor catalog. 230 V only — no 120 V model exists.
Voltage options: This unit can be ordered with European voltage requirements (230V/50Hz). Contact us to order.
Key Specifications
| Max. speed | 10,500 rpm |
| Max. RCF | 16,022 × g |
| Max. volume | 4 × 1,000 mL |
| Speed range | 200 – 10,500 rpm |
| Temperature range | −20 °C to +40 °C (1 °C increments, °C or °F selectable) |
| Refrigeration | CFC-free; per-rotor pre-cooling program; standstill cooling |
| Running time | 10 s – 59 min 50 s (10 s increments); 1 min – 99 h 59 min (1 min increments); continuous |
| Program memory | 99 saved runs (including rotor type and temperature) |
| Dimensions (W × H × D) | 24.4 in × 27.5 in × 27 in (62 × 70 × 69 cm) |
| Weight | 346 lb (157 kg) |
| Power input | 2.3 kW |
| Power supply | 230 V / 50 – 60 Hz (only — no 120 V variant) |
| Floor-Standing twin | Z496-K — same instrument at 38.5 in height, includes a lower storage drawer |
| Optional control software | Z496-HCTRL (sold separately) — H-Control PC interface for protocol storage and remote operation |
| Mobility | Built-in wheels; mechanism to lock the unit on its feet |
| Safety standards | IEC 61010 |
Application Profile
Production-scale cell harvest at 4 × 1,000 mL bottle capacity covers the volumes that pilot-line bacterial fermentation, mammalian wave-bag bioreactors, and small stirred-tank harvests produce. With a 16,022 × g ceiling, post-lysis debris removal sits in the same instrument as the cell pellet step.
Bulk plasma and blood-component preparation. The high-capacity rectangular buckets (Z496-MP-BUK and similar) accept blood-bag formats directly, supporting cryoprecipitate prep and fractionation workflows that exceed the throughput of 250 mL or 750 mL benchtop instruments.
Microplate handling at high-capacity scale. The rectangular buckets accept microplates directly, or accommodate up to 40 × 50 mL or 96 × 15 mL conical tubes per run via insert sets — this is the Z-series spec for cores that consolidate plate-format and tube-format work into one instrument.
Vaccine pilot-line concentration and clarification — bulk virus enrichment via sucrose-cushion or step-gradient at 1,000 mL bottle scale, with refrigeration to maintain cold-chain integrity through extended cycles.
Underbench installation in space-constrained labs. The 27.5-inch height was specifically engineered to fit beneath standard laboratory bench casework, recovering the bench surface for other equipment. This is the Z496-K-UC's defining design choice over the floor-standing twin.
Design Architecture
CFC-free refrigeration sized for 1,000 mL bottle inertia. Set-point control from −20 °C to +40 °C in 1 °C increments. The pre-cooling program is rotor-specific — the H-Control software stores the optimal pre-cool time per rotor configuration, brings the chamber to set-point before sample insertion, and standstill cooling holds the chamber between sequential cycles without re-pulling refrigeration each time.
RFID rotor identification with per-rotor over-speed protection. Every rotor in the Z496 family carries an RFID tag; at insertion the drive reads it, applies the rotor's rated speed cap, and adjusts the imbalance threshold to that rotor's specification. Operators cannot accidentally over-spin a rotor designed for lower speed.
Active imbalance shut-off. The drive monitors load symmetry through acceleration and the full spin profile. Asymmetric loading or mid-spin tube failure triggers automatic shutdown before excursion damage. At 4 × 1,000 mL load class, this is non-trivial — the inertia of a fully loaded rotor would cause severe damage in an excursion event.
Motor-driven lid lock with pre-start safety check. The centrifuge will not start until the lid is locked, and the lid cannot be unlocked while the rotor spins. Hermetically sealed buckets (available as accessory) keep aerosols contained for biosafety-critical workflows.
H-Control PC software (Z496-HCTRL, sold separately). PC-based control allows operators to drive the centrifuge from a workstation, store and recall protocols, and capture audit-trail records. Useful for facilities running multiple Z496 units that need centralized records or for environments with 21 CFR Part 11–style traceability requirements.
Maintenance-free 2.3 kW induction motor. Sized for the rotational inertia of fully loaded 4 × 1,000 mL rotors at 10,500 rpm. No brush wear; the refrigeration compressor is the primary scheduled-service touchpoint, on Hermle's standard service interval.
Microprocessor with one-handed touch operation. Splash-proof keypad. Large LCD shows simultaneous set-point and actual values for speed, RCF, time, and temperature. 99-slot program memory with rotor type and temperature stored per program — full protocol recall by program number. Audible end-of-run alert with melody-selection options. Error-code system for rapid issue identification.
Stainless-steel sample chamber for chemical resistance and spill containment.
Wheeled mobility with foot-locking. Both the underbench and floor-standing variants ship with built-in wheels for relocation and a mechanism to set the unit on its feet for stable operation.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the Z496-K-UC differ from the floor-standing Z496-K? Same 10,500 rpm / 16,022 × g performance and 4 × 1,000 mL capacity; the only difference is chassis height — 27.5 in, engineered to fit under standard 30-in laboratory casework.
What voltage does the Z496-K-UC require? 230 V / 50–60 Hz only — there is no 120 V model. Confirm 230 V service availability before order.
What is the Z496-K-UC's capacity? 4 × 1,000 mL swing-out with rectangular buckets that accept microplates directly, or up to 40 × 50 mL / 96 × 15 mL conical tubes via insert sets.
Does the Z496-K-UC ship with a rotor? No — select from the Z496 rotor catalog; hermetically sealed bucket sets are available for biosafety-critical separations.
How is the Z496-K-UC delivered? As a 346 lb instrument by LTL freight with liftgate at minimum; white-glove inside delivery is typically warranted at this weight class.
Ordering & Configuration
Ships without rotor. The Z496-K-UC body ships with operator's manual, power cord, and mobility-feet hardware. Select your rotor from the Z496 rotor catalog (linked from this page) — primary configurations include:
- Z496-1000 — 4 × 1,000 mL swing-out rotor with rectangular buckets (the flagship configuration; accepts microplates directly or tube inserts for 40 × 50 mL / 96 × 15 mL conical tubes)
- 4 × 750 mL swing-out (cross-compatible with Z446 family)
- 6 × 250 mL angle rotors (high-RCF configurations)
- Hermetically-sealed bucket sets for biosafety-critical separations
- Adapter library covering tube formats from blood bags down to 1.5 / 2.0 mL micro tubes
Voltage: 230 V only. There is no 120 V variant. Confirm 230 V service availability at the installation point before order.
Floor-Standing alternative: Z496-K — same instrument, 38.5-inch height, includes a lower storage drawer for rotors and accessories. Choose UC vs Floor-Standing based on bench layout: UC under casework saves bench surface; Floor-Standing puts the operator interface at standing height.
Optional control software: Z496-HCTRL — H-Control PC interface for centralized protocol storage, remote operation, and audit-trail logging across one or multiple Z496 units.
Step-down volumes: Z446-K for 4 × 750 mL bottle capacity in a benchtop chassis. Z366-K for 6 × 250 mL with refrigeration if 1,000 mL volume is more than the workflow requires.
Warranty: 5-Year Hermle warranty (3 years full + 2 years drivetrain). Refrigeration service, rotor validation, balance checks, and North American support available through the Benchmark / Hermle distributor network.
Capital purchase at this scale is processed via consultative quote rather than calculated checkout. Use the quote request to confirm: 230 V service available at installation point, rotor configuration, included accessories, freight terms (LTL with liftgate at minimum; white-glove inside-delivery typically warranted at this weight class), pre-installation site survey, and centralized-control software (Z496-HCTRL) inclusion. Lead time and validation-run service are quoted alongside.
Installation planning: 346 lb under-counter at 27.5 in height; 24 × 27 in footprint plus rear service clearance; 2.3 kW at 230 V on a dedicated circuit. Confirm bench-load rating (the unit's static weight plus dynamic load during high-RCF spins) and electrical service before delivery. Hermle / Benchmark distributor service network can quote install + first-spin validation as a line item.
