The Z032-HK (marketed as the Z32-HK) is Hermle's high-speed refrigerated benchtop. 20,000 rpm / 38,007 × g performance with 4 × 145 mL bottle capacity — and 16 rotor options across the family give it the operational flexibility of a universal centrifuge layered onto high-speed performance. The refrigeration unit is housed behind the rotor chamber, which keeps the chassis under 16 inches wide despite the deep cooling capacity. For high-speed protein-pelleting, organelle-isolation, and post-lysis debris work that needs sample temperature control, this is the Hermle answer.
Voltage options: This unit can be ordered with European voltage requirements (230V/50Hz). Contact us to order.
Key Specifications
| Max. speed | 20,000 rpm |
| Max. RCF | 38,007 × g |
| Temperature range | −20 °C to +40 °C (1 °C increments, °C or °F selectable) |
| Refrigeration | CFC-free; pre-cooling program; standstill cooling |
| Max. volume | 4 × 145 mL (or 6 × 85 mL) |
| Tube range accepted | 0.2 mL to 85 mL (rotor-dependent) |
| Speed range | 200 – 20,000 rpm |
| Running time | 10 s to 59 min 50 s; 1 min to 99 h 59 min; continuous |
| Program memory | 99 saved runs (including rotor type and temperature) |
| Available rotors | 16 options across the family (angle, swing-out, microtube, conical) |
| Dimensions (W × H × D) | 16 in × 14 in × 28 in (40 × 36 × 70 cm) |
| Weight | 157 lb (71 kg) |
| Power (120 V) | 120 V / 50 – 60 Hz, 1,200 W |
| Noise level | < 63 dBA at max. speed |
| Safety standards | IEC 61010 |
Application Profile
High-speed protein pelleting. 38,007 × g is in the range required for ribosomal-subunit pelleting, organelle-fraction sedimentation, and bacterial-membrane preparations. The 4 × 145 mL volume capacity supports preparative-scale work without needing an ultracentrifuge for routine separations.
Cold-chain organelle isolation. Mitochondrial, microsomal, and lysosomal isolation protocols specify low-temperature centrifugation throughout — often multiple sequential pelleting steps with intermediate resuspensions. The Z032-HK's pre-cooling and standstill cooling hold set-point across the full protocol.
Bacterial cell-pellet recovery at preparative scale. E. coli pellet recovery from 100–145 mL fermentation aliquots at 4 °C — preserves periplasmic-protein localization and prevents proteolytic release during pelleting.
Post-lysis debris removal at high RCF. Removing membrane fragments and insoluble debris from cleared lysates often requires 30,000+ × g; the Z032-HK's 38,007 × g handles this with chamber refrigeration to preserve labile soluble proteins.
Multi-rotor research core. 16 rotor options across the family let one Z032-HK serve protein-prep, microtube-extraction, and conical-tube workflows from the same instrument body.
Design Architecture
CFC-free refrigeration tucked behind the chamber. The narrow design (< 16 inches wide) is achieved by mounting the refrigeration system in the depth dimension rather than alongside the chamber. Set-point control from −20 °C to +40 °C in 1 °C increments with pre-cooling and standstill cooling.
Maintenance-free induction motor at 1,200 W. Sized for the rotational inertia of fully-loaded 4 × 145 mL rotors at 20,000 rpm without thermal stress. No brush wear; refrigeration compressor is the primary scheduled-service touchpoint.
RFID rotor identification with per-rotor over-speed protection. Standard across the Hermle Z-series — rotor identity is read at insertion, the drive applies the rotor's rated speed cap and imbalance threshold automatically.
Active imbalance identification with rotor-specific cut-off. Per-rotor thresholds; asymmetric loading or mid-spin failure triggers shutdown.
Motor-driven lid lock. Hard interlock — lid cannot unlock during a run.
Microprocessor with one-handed touch operation. Splash-proof keypad; large LCD with simultaneous set / actual display for speed, RCF, time, and temperature.
99-slot program memory — full spin protocol (rotor, speed, accel/decel, time, temperature) recallable by program number.
Selectable accel/decel including unbraked deceleration. Audible run-end alert with multiple melody options.
Stainless-steel sample chamber.
Ordering & Configuration
Ships without rotor. The Z032-HK body ships with operator's manual and power cord. Select your rotor from the Z032-HK rotor catalog (linked from this page) — 16 rotor options including 4 × 145 mL high-speed angle, 6 × 85 mL angle, 24 × / 30 × microtube high-RCF, swing-out 4-place, plus a deep adapter library covering 0.2 mL to 85 mL tube formats.
Voltage variants: 230 V / 50-60 Hz model (1,100 W) is available by special order.
Step-up: Z036-HK (marketed as Z36-HK) for super-speed 30,000 rpm / 65,395 × g performance with 6 × 250 mL volume capacity — when 38,007 × g isn't enough RCF.
Step-down volumes with refrigeration: Z216-MK for benchtop microtube refrigerated work. Z327-K for 4 × 200 mL universal refrigerated work.
Warranty & service: 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the maximum speed and RCF of the Z032-HK? 20,000 rpm / 38,007 × g.
Is the Z032-HK refrigerated? Yes — CFC-free refrigeration with a −20 °C to +40 °C set-point range, plus pre-cooling and standstill cooling.
What is the Z032-HK's sample capacity? 4 × 145 mL (or 6 × 85 mL), accepting tube formats from 0.2 mL to 85 mL across 16 rotor options.
Does the Z032-HK ship with a rotor? No — select from the Z032-HK rotor catalog (16 options: high-speed angle, swing-out, microtube, and conical).
What voltage does the Z032-HK use? 120 V / 50–60 Hz (1,200 W) standard; a 230 V / 50–60 Hz model (1,100 W) is available by special order.
