Polypropylene tube racks fail in a predictable sequence under high-autoclave-cycle use: repeated steam sterilization gradually warps the body, dimensional tolerance degrades, and eventually tubes lean instead of standing upright. Globe Scientific's 12/13mm Stainless Steel "Z" Shape Tube Racks eliminate this failure mode entirely. Stainless steel is unaffected by autoclave temperatures, resists virtually all common lab chemicals, and maintains its geometry through unlimited sterilization cycles — holding every tube position at the same consistent angle on the last autoclave cycle as on the first.
Available in 25-Place (457100, $37.60/EA) and 50-Place (457105, $45.80/EA), both for 12mm and 13mm OD tubes. The Z-shape profile inclines all positions at a uniform angle, preventing tube-to-tube contact and lateral lean across the full rack capacity.
Features and Benefits
Stainless Steel — No Degradation Over Service Life: Resists autoclave temperatures, lab chemicals, detergents, and disinfectants without warping, cracking, or discoloration. Service life in high-autoclave environments far exceeds any polymer alternative.
"Z" Shape for Stable, Consistent Tube Support: The inclined Z-rack geometry holds every tube at the same angle across all positions, preventing tube lean and tube-to-tube contact through bench handling, incubation, and transport.
25-Place and 50-Place Options: 25-Place (457100, $37.60) for individual workstations; 50-Place (457105, $45.80) for larger batch processing at a single bench station.
Fits 12mm and 13mm OD Tubes: Covers the most common small-diameter collection and test tube formats used in clinical chemistry, urinalysis, and research sample processing.
Unlimited Autoclave Cycles: No cycle count or temperature caveats — stainless racks can be autoclaved indefinitely at any standard sterilization temperature without dimensional change.
Specifications
| Property | 25-Place (457100) | 50-Place (457105) |
|---|---|---|
| Tube Compatibility | 12mm and 13mm OD | 12mm and 13mm OD |
| Capacity | 25-Place | 50-Place |
| Price (EA) | $37.60 | $45.80 |
| Material | Stainless Steel | Stainless Steel |
| Design | Z-Shape inclined positions | Z-Shape inclined positions |
| Autoclavable | Yes — unlimited cycles | Yes — unlimited cycles |
| Country of Origin | China | China |
Laboratory Applications
High-use clinical and research labs autoclaving rack equipment daily, where stainless construction eliminates the progressive warping that limits PP rack service life under repeated sterilization
Microbiology and sterility testing environments requiring guaranteed autoclave compatibility for all specimen-contact equipment without cycle count documentation caveats
Chemical biology labs where solvent and reagent exposure would degrade polymer racks — stainless resists the full range of organic solvents, acids, bases, and oxidizers used in bench chemistry
Frequently Asked Questions
How does stainless compare to PP for repeated autoclaving?
PP racks are rated for 121°C cycles but accumulate warping over many cycles. Stainless racks are unaffected by any standard autoclave temperature and emerge from every cycle with identical geometry. For labs autoclaving daily, stainless racks pay back their price premium within the first year versus replacing PP racks as they degrade.
Will 13mm tubes fit securely?
Yes. The positions are sized to accept both 12mm and 13mm OD tubes. 12mm tubes seat slightly deeper; 13mm tubes fill the position. Both are held securely at the Z-rack incline.
Quality Assurance
Globe Scientific products are manufactured under strict ISO 9001:2015 certified quality systems. Designed to meet the demanding requirements of clinical and research laboratories, these products undergo rigorous inspection to ensure consistent performance and reliability.
Academic and Institutional Pricing
LabSupplies.com offers tiered quantity pricing for academic and research institutions. As an authorized dealer, we ship directly from USA inventory.