Focus on the sustainable laboratory 

Protecting the world’s climate and preserving our natural resources impels us all to act in a sustainable manner. What does this mean for laboratory equipment? What steps can we take here? Sustainable product design and using environmentally-friendly materials are the first things that spring to mind. The design of our new SimplyFlex service module shows how this approach can be successfully implemented in practice: Thanks to its modular design, it can quickly be adapted to the widest range of requirements, thus ensuring maximum flexibility. Such versatility also means it is particularly useful when it comes to conserving natural resources. Even the materials used in its design are sustainable: Trespa’s “TopLab PLUS ALIGN” worktop combines the highest standards of quality with a strong commitment to environmental protection.

Sustainable products are now in demand like never before across the most diverse markets. Companies are increasingly accepting their ecological, economic and social responsibilities and investing ever more time and financial resources into developing appropriate solutions. And our sector of laboratory solutions is also looking at ways in which sustainability can be anchored into more and more products in the portfolio – which demands creative ideas and concepts. As a result of these considerations, Waldner has developed a new laboratory component that meets these requirements in a special way and impresses with an equally innovative design: the new SimplyFlex service module delivers an unprecedented degree of flexibility and adaptability in the laboratory. It offers the maximum level of design freedom, and users can swap individual modules in or out according to their specific needs.  

Flexible adaptability to specific work processes  

The service module’s flexibility is achieved by its basic frame and height-adjustable rollers. These ensure a completely secure footing while also allowing the greatest possible mobility. The necessary laboratory modules are flexibly installed into the frame and connected to the room’s infrastructure via a service supply unit. Thanks to its modular design, SimplyFlex can be adapted to specific work processes without complex conversion work, which greatly increases efficiency. Thus, the service module can be used as an analysis station, a standing workstation, a storage facility or even used with a ventilated enclosure. Another advantage is that the workstation can be ergonomically tailored to the individual needs of each laboratory member thanks to the electrically adjustable work height. Various bench frames are also available, which can be swapped in as required, and ensuring a healthy and pleasant working environment.  

Preserving resources and minimising the carbon footprint  

The modular design and its adaptability and flexibility form the basis of the sustainable design of SimplyFlex: when processes or the laboratory’s requirements change, the service module can quickly be reconfigured, thus saving valuable resources. By comparison, in a traditional, rigid solution, existing components would need to be disposed of in such a situation and new, suitable systems procured. Not so with SimplyFlex. “As the first service module on the market, SimplyFlex can quickly and easily be removed from a laboratory when it is no longer needed. This makes it ideal particularly for small businesses, start-ups and even rented laboratories. The service module is also fully designed and manufactured at our Wangen plant, which avoids lengthy transportation routes and keeps the carbon footprint to a minimum”, explains Silvia Brunold, SimplyFlex Product Manager.  

Worktop made from eco-friendly material  

Another sustainable feature is the “TopLab PLUS ALIGN” worktop from Trespa, which is made from an impressive mix of environmentally-friendly materials. Fifty percent of the phenol used in the resins has been replaced by a lignin-based bonding agent. This is a renewable material that is found in almost all cells of dryland plants and boasts excellent strength and rigidity. As a result, the amount of bio-based carbon content is increased by to up to 85 percent. This gives SimplyFlex a particularly durable and resistant worktop that both meets the quality demands of customers and high sustainability standards. As an added bonus, the service module worktop now has a thickness of just 16 millimetres as opposed to the usual 20 millimetres. Not only is this sufficient to ensure a safe load-bearing capacity, it also saves material and therefore natural resources.  

Save costs with a fully configured service module  

Finally, customers can also take advantage of another key benefit: they can have their SimplyFlex station delivered fully assembled and configured to their needs. This allows immediate, out-of-the-box use, saving companies the time and costs of self-assembly. “With SimplyFlex, we’re setting new standards when it comes to sustainability, while offering an innovative service module that meets the highest demands in flexibility, quality and usability”, says Silvia Brunold.