We utilize a local company and bundle almost all service contracts through them (Spectrofuge - RTP area, NC). Preventative maintenance and repairs are covered on ATKAs, centrifuges, scintillation counters and so on (pretty much all major equipment, minus x-rays of course). Being local, they schedule appointments much sooner than GE as well.
It could be useful to see if such a company is located near you. Kelly ******************************************************* Kelly Daughtry, Ph.D. Post-Doctoral Fellow, Raetz Lab Biochemistry Department Duke University Alex H. Sands, Jr. Building 303 Research Drive RM 250 Durham, NC 27710 P: 919-684-5178 ******************************************************* On Thu, Oct 13, 2011 at 10:13 AM, Mark J van Raaij <mjvanra...@cnb.csic.es>wrote: > having experience with both, I find Akta and Biorad both do the job, with > the Akta equipment giving a sturdier impression. > Neither of them is cheap, and given similar price I would go for an Akta > when buying new - however, if a significant price advantage exists, I would > have no problem choosing Biorad. We recently bought an Akta Purifier because > the Biorad equivalent, after extensive negotiation, was about the same > price. > With regards to repairs, I found Biorad is not cheap either. I don't have > experience with Akta repairs, and hope not to get it anytime soon, as my > current grant does not allow me to charge servicing contracts or repair > costs to it... > > Mark > > On 13 Oct 2011, at 15:58, Oganesyan, Vaheh wrote: > > > GE has a policy on Product Obsolescence, which, afaik, means that service > contracts will not be issued to those instruments that were discontinued 7 > years ago. Among instruments affected by this deadline are “AktaPrime INCL”, > “AktaPrime EXCL” and “AktaPrime COMPLETE”. You have time to service these > chromatography systems until April 2012. After that time GE will offer > service upon the availability of parts. “AktaPrime Plus” is still good to > go. > > > > I know all these because I’ve got a letter from GE regarding my > AktaPrime. > > > > HTH, > > > > Vaheh > > > > > > > > From: CCP4 bulletin board [mailto:CCP4BB@JISCMAIL.AC.UK] On Behalf Of > Paul Smith > > Sent: Wednesday, October 12, 2011 9:19 PM > > To: CCP4BB@JISCMAIL.AC.UK > > Subject: Re: [ccp4bb] Akta Prime / FPLC Options / Off Topic > > > > Michael, > > > > Unfortunately, I actually don't know who serves these machines apart from > GE. > > > > Because you brought up the subject of GE equipment and service, I thought > I would ask the community about the best options for routine > crystallographic scale FPLC. > > > > In my opinion, following the takeover of Pharmacia by GE the the price of > GE machines, replacement parts, and service has skyrocketed and GE service > reps seem determined to squeeze and extort every dollar they can. > Personally, I'd love to never do business with GE again. > > > > However, in some ways, they are the only game in town. GE is the de > facto standard for our line of work and the Akta line are very good > machines. However, GE's consistent price gouging and outright crooked > service practices encourage me look elsewhere. > > > > I've used systems from AP-biotech (junk) and have heard some good things > about Bio-rad. What does the community at large think? Are there other > good options? Does anyone have some spare millions and manufacturing > connections in India/China to consider starting a competing company? > > > > Sorry to hijack your thread Michael. Let me know what you find out. The > less money I send to GE the better. > > > > > > --Paul > > > > From: Michael Colaneri <colane...@gmail.com> > > To: CCP4BB@JISCMAIL.AC.UK > > Sent: Wednesday, October 12, 2011 2:28 PM > > Subject: [ccp4bb] Akta Prime > > > > > > Dear all, > > > > We have an AktaPrime and GE Lifesciences stop servicing these instruments > because they are getting old. Does anyone know of a third party company > that gives contracts to maintain these instruments? Thank you. > > > > Mike Colaneri > > > > To the extent this electronic communication or any of its attachments > contain information that is not in the public domain, such information is > considered by MedImmune to be confidential and proprietary. This > communication is expected to be read and/or used only by the individual(s) > for whom it is intended. If you have received this electronic communication > in error, please reply to the sender advising of the error in transmission > and delete the original message and any accompanying documents from your > system immediately, without copying, reviewing or otherwise using them for > any purpose. Thank you for your cooperation. >
