Laboratory Mixers, Shakers, Rockers and Stirrers
Sample mixing and agitation equipment for clinical, research and blood-bank benches - vortex mixers, orbital and platform shakers, rockers, nutators and magnetic and overhead stirrers from Benchmark Scientific, Thermo Scientific, IKA, Scilogex and Ohaus. Available in single-tube, microplate and platform formats, with fixed-speed and variable-speed drives and ambient or incubated models. Analog and digital controls, timers and interchangeable platforms for tubes, flasks and plates. Wholesale case and unit pricing for hospitals, reference labs, blood banks, research institutions and licensed distributors.
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Mixing and Agitation Equipment for the Laboratory Bench
Mixers, shakers, rockers and stirrers cover the full span of sample agitation, from single-tube resuspension to overnight culture shaking. The catalog stocks each drive type in benchtop and platform formats with the tube holders, flask clamps and platforms that adapt them to the vessel in use.
Mixer and Stirrer Types Stocked
- Vortex mixers - Single-tube and multi-tube touch or continuous vortexers for rapid resuspension and reagent blending, in fixed and variable speed.
- Orbital and platform shakers - Benchtop and stackable shakers with interchangeable platforms for flasks, plates and tube racks, in ambient and incubated models.
- Rockers and rollers - See-saw rockers, 3D gyratory rockers and tube rollers for gentle mixing of blots, gels, cultures and blood tubes.
- Nutating mixers - Low-tilt nutators for gentle continuous mixing of immunoprecipitation and staining reactions.
- Magnetic stirrers - Stir plates and combination hot-plate stirrers with stir bars for solution preparation and buffer mixing.
- Overhead stirrers - Motor-driven overhead units for viscous samples and larger working volumes beyond magnetic-stir capacity.
Mixer Formats Compared
| Type | Motion | Typical Vessel | Drive |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vortex mixer | High-speed orbital shake | Single or multiple tubes | Fixed or variable |
| Orbital shaker | Circular orbit | Flasks, plates, racks | Variable, timer |
| Rocker | See-saw or 3D tilt | Blots, gels, dishes | Fixed or variable |
| Nutator | Gentle low-tilt orbit | Tubes, small vessels | Fixed speed |
| Magnetic stirrer | Rotating stir bar | Beakers, flasks | Variable, optional heat |
| Overhead stirrer | Shaft and impeller | Large or viscous volumes | Variable torque |
Ambient and Incubated Shaking
Orbital and platform shakers are stocked in open-air ambient models and in incubated models that combine temperature control with shaking for microbial and cell culture growth. Incubated shakers hold a set temperature range while agitating, which supports overnight culture work on a single footprint. Platforms are interchangeable across many shaker bodies so one drive can carry flask clamps, plate holders or a universal sticky mat as the workload changes.
Sample mixing equipment turns over both as capital instruments and as accessory-driven lines, since platforms, tube holders and stir bars are replaced far more often than the drives themselves. Standardizing on one shaker and vortex family across a lab network keeps platform accessories interchangeable and simplifies service. Order at the best Wholesale Prices with MAP Medical.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a vortex mixer and an orbital shaker?
A vortex mixer delivers a high-speed orbital shake to one or a few tubes at a time for rapid resuspension of pellets and blending of small reagent volumes over seconds. An orbital shaker moves a whole platform of flasks, plates or tube racks in a slower circular orbit for minutes to hours, which suits culture growth, staining and hybridization. Vortex units sit at the prep bench; shakers run extended unattended protocols.
What is the difference between a rocker and a nutating mixer?
A rocker uses a see-saw or 3D tilting motion to move liquid gently back and forth across a flat vessel, which suits membrane blots, gel staining and cell dishes. A nutating mixer uses a gentle low-angle orbital nutation that keeps tube contents in slow constant motion, which suits immunoprecipitation, bead binding and sample mixing where foaming must be minimized. Both provide low-shear mixing at the opposite end of the range from vortexing.
Are incubated shakers stocked?
Yes. Platform and orbital shakers are stocked in ambient open-air models and in incubated models that combine a controlled temperature range with shaking on one footprint. Incubated shakers are used for microbial and cell culture growth where samples need agitation and warmth together. Interchangeable platforms carry flask clamps, plate holders or universal mats across both formats.
Can hospitals and laboratories order lab mixers and shakers in bulk?
Yes. Lab mixers and shakers are stocked for hospitals, reference and clinical laboratories, blood banks, research institutions and public-health labs and licensed medical distributors. Platforms, tube holders, flask clamps and stir bars are stocked as recurring accessory lines alongside the drives. Multi-unit and fleet orders are available for facilities standardizing across a network, along with recurring accessory replenishment. Contact our procurement team for capital quotes, tiered pricing and standing-order setup.
What mixing equipment should be in a laboratory formulary?
A core mixing and agitation formulary typically standardizes on a multi-tube vortex mixer, an orbital shaker with interchangeable flask and plate platforms, a see-saw or 3D rocker for blots and gels, a nutating mixer for gentle tube work, and a combination hot-plate magnetic stirrer for solution prep. Labs running culture work add an incubated shaker. MAP Medical builds consolidated mixing-equipment formulary packages matched to lab type and throughput - contact our team for an assessment.