The Z206-A is a benchtop universal centrifuge engineered for the everyday spin work that runs through clinical and molecular-biology labs: 5 mL blood tubes, 15 mL and 50 mL conical tubes, 1.5 / 2.0 mL microtubes, and PCR strips. One chassis, three angle-rotor options, and a swing-out rotor for horizontal separation of 5 mL tubes mean a single instrument covers the full bench-level throughput a teaching lab, a core-facility check-in bench, or a small clinical lab typically needs. Manufactured by Hermle Labortechnik in Germany and distributed in North America under the Benchmark partnership, the Z206-A is built for institutions that want a compact, quiet, durable centrifuge without the footprint or complexity of a floor-standing unit.
Voltage options: This unit can be ordered with European voltage requirements (230V/50Hz). Contact us to order.
Key Specifications
| Max. speed | 6,000 rpm |
| Max. RCF | 4,427 × g |
| Max. volume | 6 × 50 mL |
| Speed range | 200 – 6,000 rpm |
| Running time | 10 s to 59 min 50 s (in 10 s increments); 1 min to 99 h 59 min (in 1 min increments) |
| Rotor compatibility | Three fixed-angle rotor options + one 6 × 5 mL swing-out rotor (all sold separately) |
| Tube-size range | 0.2 mL to 50 mL (rotor-dependent) |
| Dimensions (W × H × D) | 11 in × 14.5 in × 10.2 in (28 × 37 × 26 cm) |
| Weight | 29 lb (15 kg) |
| Power | 120 V / 50 – 60 Hz, 100 W |
| Noise level | < 60 dBA at max. speed |
| Safety standards | IEC 61010 |
Application Profile
Clinical serum / plasma separation. With the 6 × 5 mL swing-out rotor, the Z206-A spins down standard 5 mL blood-collection tubes horizontally, which is the required orientation for clean plasma / buffy-coat / red-cell separation. Use the 15 mL and 50 mL fixed-angle rotors for scaled-up serum pulls from Vacutainer primary tubes.
Molecular-biology bench work. Microtube rotors bring the Z206-A down into the 1.5 / 2.0 mL range for DNA / RNA precipitation, miniprep clean-ups, protein pellet recovery, and plasmid pulldowns. The 200 rpm low-end and 10-second minimum run support gentle short spins without over-pelleting.
Cell-culture & sample prep. 50 mL conical tubes are the workhorse format for mammalian-cell pellet washes, media exchanges, and gradient spins at sub-5,000 × g. The Z206-A's 4,427 × g ceiling covers virtually all non-ultracentrifugation wash protocols.
Teaching and core-facility shared use. One-handed knob control and a splash-proof digital display tolerate gloved, repeated, day-long use by rotating students and staff. The electromagnetic lid-lock and active-imbalance cut-off reduce the consequences of inexperienced loading.
Small clinical labs and point-of-care testing. The 11 × 10 inch footprint fits a standard bench, and the < 60 dBA operating noise is low enough for shared patient-adjacent spaces.
Design Architecture
Microprocessor control with single-knob interface. A large LCD displays speed (rpm or × g), RCF, time remaining, and program number; a single turn-knob drives all input so the unit is programmable and operable one-handed, with or without gloves. Up to a long list of run programs can be stored and recalled by number — useful for repeating clinical protocols or handing off standardized runs across a shared team.
Active imbalance detection. The Z206-A monitors rotor dynamics during acceleration and spin; asymmetric load or broken tubes trigger an automatic power-down before the rotor can cause damage to the drive shaft or spillage to the chamber. This is the single feature most likely to save an institutional lab from a spin-gone-wrong service call.
Electromagnetic lid-lock. The lid cannot be opened while the rotor is in motion, and cannot engage the drive unless locked. This is a hard safety interlock — not a software warning.
Rotor change without tools. The three angle rotors and the swing-out rotor mount on a single spindle with a wing-nut lift-off, so switching between workflows (clinical swing-out → molecular fixed-angle microtube) takes under a minute.
Quiet air-cooled induction motor. The motor has no brushes and no scheduled wear parts beyond rotor bearings; the air-cooling path keeps the sample chamber near ambient, which matters for temperature-sensitive separations when a refrigerated model (e.g., Z207-H, Z216-MK) isn't available in-budget.
Ordering & Configuration
Ships without rotor. The Z206-A body ships with operator's manual and power cord. Select your rotor from the Z206-A rotor catalog (linked from this page) — pricing and lead times vary by configuration. Available rotors include:
- Fixed-angle rotors for 2.0 mL, 1.5 mL, 15 mL, and 50 mL tubes
- A 6 × 5 mL swing-out rotor for horizontal clinical separation
- Rotor lids and tube adapters for non-standard vessel sizes
Voltage variants: The 230 V / 50-60 Hz model is available by special order.
Compatible upgrades inside the Hermle line: If your workflow later needs refrigeration, the Z216-MK adds temperature control in a similar benchtop form; for higher-speed microcentrifugation, the Z207-M reaches 13,500 rpm / 17,317 × g in a narrower chassis.
Warranty: 5-Year Hermle warranty (3 years full + 2 years drivetrain). Service, rotor validation, and repair are available through the Benchmark / Hermle North American service network.
Questions about rotor selection, voltage compatibility, or whether the Z206-A is the right fit against a refrigerated model? Use the quote request to start a pre-purchase consult — we spec these into clinical labs, core facilities, and teaching labs regularly.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the maximum speed and RCF of the Z206-A? 6,000 rpm / 4,427 × g.
What tube formats does the Z206-A handle? With interchangeable rotors it covers 0.2 mL to 50 mL — 1.5/2.0 mL microtubes, PCR strips, 5 mL blood tubes on the swing-out rotor, and 15/50 mL conicals.
Does the Z206-A include a rotor? No — it ships without a rotor. Select from three fixed-angle rotors plus a 6 × 5 mL swing-out rotor, all sold separately.
Can the Z206-A separate serum and plasma? Yes — with the 6 × 5 mL swing-out rotor it spins standard 5 mL blood-collection tubes horizontally, the orientation required for clean plasma / buffy-coat / red-cell separation.
What voltage does the Z206-A use? 120 V / 50–60 Hz standard; a 230 V / 50–60 Hz model is available by special order.
