The Z446-MP-STK is a microplate stacking adapter for the Hermle Z446-750-MP microplate carrier on the Z446-750-AC 4-place swing-out rotor (Z446 / Z446-K chassis) — sold as a 2-pack. The Z446-750-MP carrier holds a single standard SBS microplate per position; the Z446-MP-STK adapter enables stacking of multiple plates per carrier for higher per-cycle plate throughput. Useful when high-throughput-screening (HTS), large-cohort plate-format clinical-research, or multi-plate ELISA wash-spin workflows justify the higher per-cycle plate count.
Key Specifications
| SKU | Z446-MP-STK |
| Type | Microplate stacking adapter — multi-plate per carrier position |
| Pack quantity | 2 stacking adapters per SKU |
| Function | Enables stacked-plate loading on the Z446-750-MP microplate carrier |
| Compatible carrier | Z446-750-MP (microplate carrier) |
| Compatible rotor | Z446-750-AC (4-place swing-out rotor body) |
| Compatible chassis | Z446, Z446-K (refrigerated), and -E voltage variants |
| Plate format | Standard SBS-footprint microplates (96-well, 384-well, 1536-well per chassis loading-height limits) |
| Max. operating speed (with stacked plates) | Per Z446-750-AC spec — 4,000/4,500 rpm at 3,434–4,346 × g maximum |
| Loading-height constraint | Per Z446-750-MP carrier loading-height spec — confirm stacked-plate height vs carrier clearance at order |
| List price | $268 (2-pack) |
Compatibility & When to Order This SKU
Adapter pairing — Z446-750-MP microplate carrier only. Order this SKU when:
- High-throughput screening (HTS) workflows on the Z446-750-MP — when the workflow batches many microplates per cycle and stacking justifies the higher per-cycle plate count.
- Multi-plate ELISA / immunoassay wash-spin workflows — when ELISA processing batches multiple plates per carrier position for parallel wash spins.
- Large-cohort clinical-research plate-format workflows — when patient sample plate prep batches many plates per cycle.
- PCR-strip or stacking-format consolidated workflows — when the workflow uses the stacking adapter for PCR-strip-format stacked plates.
- Replacement adapters if a current set is damaged or worn.
Application Profile
Stacked-plate symmetric loading. All 4 carriers should have matching stacked-plate configurations for symmetric balance.
Plate height verification. Standard SBS microplates have varying heights (full-height, half-height, deepwell, reservoir formats). Confirm stacked-plate total height against the Z446-750-MP carrier's loading-height limit before each spin — exceeding the limit risks plate-cap contact and rotor damage.
Plate balance during stacking. Stacked-plate workflows require pre-balance by total mass per carrier position; uneven plate-fill volumes across stacked positions produce mass asymmetry.
Design Architecture
HTS plate-prep workflows — institutional HTS labs that batch many microplates per cycle benefit from the higher per-cycle throughput that stacking delivers.
Multi-plate ELISA wash-spin workflows — clinical-research and diagnostic ELISA processing where the wash step batches multiple plates per carrier.
Cell-culture plate workflows at scale — when cell-culture plate processing batches multiple plates per cycle (96-well or 24-well plates, monolayer or suspension-format cultures).
PCR-strip or stacking-format consolidated workflows — when the workflow combines PCR strips with plate-format processing on the same chassis.
Large-cohort clinical-research plate-format prep — patient sample plate prep workflows that batch many plates per cycle on the Z446-K platform.
Cross-format Z446-K core facilities — labs running plate-format workflows alongside other Z446-750 insert workflows benefit from the stacking adapter for plate-cycle throughput optimization.
Ordering & Configuration
4-carrier symmetric loading. All 4 carriers should have matching plate / stacked-plate configurations for symmetric balance.
Stacked-plate height verification. Confirm stacked-plate total height respects the Z446-750-MP carrier's loading-height limit.
Plate cap / cover confirmation. All plates must be capped or covered before spinning at 4,500 rpm.
Z446-MP-STK ships as 2 stacking adapters. Microplates are operator-supplied (commodity SBS microplate formats from major commercial suppliers).
Confirm at quote: carrier pairing (Z446-750-MP in inventory), chassis pairing (Z446 or Z446-K) and power configuration, plate format and stacked-plate dimensions (verify against carrier loading-height limit), pack count (2 per SKU; multiple packs for facilities with multiple chassis), workflow context (HTS, multi-plate ELISA, large-cohort clinical-research), and lead time.
Warranty: 5-Year Hermle warranty (3 years full + 2 years drivetrain) on the stacking adapters.
Z446-750 microplate workflow accessory family:
- Z446-MP-STK (this product) — Microplate stacking adapter for higher per-cycle plate throughput
- Z446-750-MP — Microplate carrier (sold separately) — primary plate-format SKU
- Z446-MP-BUK — Rectangular bucket (alternative microplate-direct workflow path)
- Z446-MP-LID — PC lid for hermetic seal on the rectangular bucket
- Z446-MP-RA — Removing aid for ergonomic bucket handling
The Z446-MP-STK is the throughput-multiplier SKU for plate-format workflows on the Z446-750-MP microplate carrier.
