The Z036-HK (marketed as the Z36-HK) is the highest-RCF benchtop in the Hermle line: 30,000 rpm / 65,395 × g with refrigeration, 6 × 250 mL bottle capacity, and the same multi-rotor flexibility that defines the Z-series. This is the spec for institutional research that pushes into the high-end of preparative centrifugation — ribosomal subunit isolation, vesicle preparation, virus pelleting at preparative scale, and post-lysis high-RCF clarification — without committing to floor-standing footprint or ultracentrifuge-class price.
Voltage options: This unit can be ordered with European voltage requirements (230V/50Hz). Contact us to order.
Key Specifications
| Max. speed | 30,000 rpm |
| Max. RCF | 65,395 × 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 | 6 × 250 mL |
| Speed range | 200 – 30,000 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) |
| Dimensions (W × H × D) | 28 in × 16.5 in × 20 in (71.5 × 42 × 51 cm) |
| Power supply | 120 V / 50 – 60 Hz |
| Noise level | < 65 dBA at max. speed |
| Safety standards | IEC 61010 |
Application Profile
Ribosomal-subunit isolation. Sucrose-gradient ribosome separations and 40S / 60S subunit pelleting frequently specify > 50,000 × g; the Z036-HK's 65,395 × g handles this without an ultracentrifuge for preparative volumes.
Virus and exosome pelleting. Preparative-scale virus enrichment via differential centrifugation, exosome isolation via differential or density-gradient methods — both routinely specify > 100,000 × g for ultracentrifugal pelleting and 30,000–50,000 × g for clarification / pre-pelleting steps that the Z036-HK can absorb directly.
Membrane-vesicle and microsome preparation. Subcellular-fractionation protocols requiring sequential pelleting at increasing g-force — the Z036-HK's 65,395 × g ceiling covers the high-end fractionation cuts.
High-RCF post-lysis clarification. Removing fine particulate and membrane debris from cleared lysates often requires 30,000–50,000 × g; chamber refrigeration preserves labile protein activity through extended runs.
Preparative protein crystallography prep. Centrifugal-concentrator-based protein concentration, post-affinity-purification clarification, and preparative-scale buffer-exchange spins benefit from the combination of high RCF and chamber refrigeration.
Design Architecture
CFC-free refrigeration. Set-point control from −20 °C to +40 °C in 1 °C increments. Pre-cooling brings the chamber to set-point before run start. Standstill cooling holds set-point between sequential cycles — important at this RCF class where sample warming during loading would compromise low-temperature preparations.
Maintenance-free induction motor sized for 30,000 rpm. Heavier motor than the standard universal-class drives, with imbalance-tolerant drive pin. No brush wear; refrigeration compressor is the primary scheduled-service touchpoint.
RFID rotor identification with per-rotor over-speed protection. Standard Hermle system — rotor identity at insertion sets the speed cap and imbalance threshold.
Active imbalance identification with rotor-specific cut-off. Per-rotor thresholds; asymmetric loading at high RCF triggers immediate shutdown — critical at 65,395 × g where rotor excursion would cause severe damage.
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. Selection of speed in both rpm and × g (10-unit increments).
99-slot program memory with full protocol recall.
10 acceleration / 10 deceleration rates including unbraked deceleration for gradient and loose-pellet preservation. Audible run-end alert with multiple melody options.
Stainless-steel sample chamber.
Ordering & Configuration
Ships without rotor. The Z036-HK body ships with operator's manual and power cord. Select your rotor from the Z036-HK rotor catalog (linked from this page) — high-speed angle and swing-out rotors covering 6 × 250 mL down to high-RCF microtube formats. The high-RCF angle rotors are essential for accessing the 65,395 × g ceiling; lower-RCF rotors will cap at their rated maximums.
Voltage variants: 230 V / 50-60 Hz model is available by special order.
Step-down RCF: Z032-HK (Z32-HK) for 20,000 rpm / 38,007 × g if 65,000 × g is more than the workflow requires. Z446-K for 4 × 750 mL bottle capacity at 26,328 × g.
Step-up volumes: Z496-K for 4 × 1,000 mL floor-standing high-volume work (lower max RCF but larger bottle capacity).
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 Z036-HK? 30,000 rpm / 65,395 × g — the highest RCF in the Hermle benchtop line.
Is the Z036-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 maximum bottle capacity? 6 × 250 mL, with high-RCF angle and microtube rotors available for the top of the g-force range.
Does the Z036-HK ship with a rotor? No — select from the Z036-HK rotor catalog. The high-RCF angle rotors are required to reach the 65,395 × g ceiling; lower-RCF rotors cap at their rated maximums.
What voltage does the Z036-HK use? 120 V / 50–60 Hz standard; a 230 V / 50–60 Hz model is available by special order.
Installation note: at 30,000 rpm and 65,395 × g, this instrument has the highest rotor inertia in the benchtop Hermle line. Rotor balancing and per-spin loading symmetry matter more here than on lower-RCF instruments. Operator training and validation runs are strongly recommended before unsupervised production use.
