Choose a vortex mixer by what you hold, not by top speed. A single tube pressed on a cup head needs a Vortex-Genie-class unit running 500-3,200 rpm on a 3-4 mm orbit; a bench that vortexes tubes all day needs continuous duty and a 300-3,500 rpm touch mode; a rack of 10-29 mm tubes needs a multi-tube model with a 4.5 kg capacity; and microplates need a small 3.5 mm orbit and a plate holder. This guide splits ERE's OHAUS and Labnet vortex range by those four jobs and lists the checks to make before a head, a rack or a plate holder goes on the order.
In this guide
- Which vortex mixer do you need: single-tube, heavy-duty, multi-tube or microplate?
- What do orbit and speed change on a vortex mixer?
- Should you run touch, timed or continuous?
- Which tubes and plates fit, and what accessories do you need?
- When is a vortex mixer the wrong tool?
- What safety and setup checks apply?
- How do you choose a vortex mixer, step by step?
- Frequently Asked Questions
Which Vortex Mixer Do You Need: Single-Tube, Heavy-Duty, Multi-Tube or Microplate?
Start from the container and the number of samples. ERE lists OHAUS and Labnet vortex mixers in the mixers collection. The figures below come from the product records; voltage, head and holder options are confirmed on a quote.
| Class | Model (record) | Control | Orbit | Speed | Timer / duty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single-tube (OHAUS Vortex-Genie) | Vortex-Genie 2 (e-V2) | Analog | 4 mm | 600-3,200 rpm | No timer |
| Vortex-Genie 2T (e-V2T) | Analog | 4 mm | 600-3,200 rpm | 1-60 s; 1-60 min | |
| Digital Vortex-Genie 2 (e-V2D) | Digital | 3.5 mm | 500-3,000 rpm | 1-99 s; 1-99 min | |
| ABI Digital Vortex-Genie 2 (e-V2A) | Digital | 3.5 mm | 500-3,000 rpm | 1-99 s; 1-99 min | |
| Vortex-Genie Pulse (e-V2P) | Digital | 3 mm | 500-3,000 rpm | 1-99 min | |
| Heavy-Duty Vortex Mixers | VXHDDG / VXHDAL | Digital / analog | 4.9 mm | On 300-2,500; Touch 300-3,500 rpm | Continuous; 1.1 kg capacity |
| Multi-Tube Vortex Mixers | VXMTAL / VXMTDG and the two-piece VXMTALB / VXMTDGB | Analog / digital | 3.6 mm | 500-2,500 rpm | Continuous; 4.5 kg capacity |
| Microplate Vortex Mixers | VXMPDG / VXMPAL | Digital / analog | 3.5 mm | On 300-2,500; Touch 300-3,500 rpm | Continuous; 2 microplates |
| Multipurpose | Labnet Orbit 300 | Digital | 3 mm | 100-1,200 rpm | 0-99 min or continuous |
The Vortex-Genie record describes a zinc-cast housing with "no-walking feet", a pop-off cup and a 3-inch platform with a rubber cover, a 6.5 × 6.5 × 4.8 in. footprint, 100, 120 and 230 VAC supply, and more than 30 accessories with quick-change capability. The ABI model is the one the record describes as configured for the Applied Biosystems protocol, with an attachment that holds half-skirted and unskirted PCR plates. The Pulse model adds an adjustable run/stop time.
What Do Orbit and Speed Change on a Vortex Mixer?
They change how violently the liquid is driven, and the two figures only mean something together. Every vortex model in ERE's records uses a small orbit of 3-5 mm (3, 3.5, 3.6, 4 and 4.9 mm) at speeds of up to 3,500 rpm, which is what drives a tube's contents into a vortex. An orbital shaker moves the same way on a much larger circle, 19-25 mm and up, at a few hundred rpm, which suspends and aerates liquid in flasks rather than mixing a tube; the orbital shaker guide covers that side.
The practical point is the speed ranges. The analog Vortex-Genie 2 and 2T start at 600 rpm, the digital Genies at 500 rpm, and the Heavy-Duty, Microplate and Orbit 300 records go down to 300 and 100 rpm, so a method that calls for gentle mixing needs a model whose range reaches low enough. A protocol that states only a speed should also state the orbit it was written on, because the same rpm on a 3 mm and a 4.9 mm orbit is not the same motion.
Should You Run Touch, Timed or Continuous?
Touch for one-tube pulses, timed for repeatable steps, continuous for a rack or a plate. The Vortex-Genie record lists hands-free and touch-on control and a countdown timer; the Heavy-Duty and Microplate records give two speed ceilings, 2,500 rpm in On mode and 3,500 rpm in Touch mode, so the highest rpm is available on contact, not on a continuous run.
Timers are where digital models earn their place. The Digital Vortex-Genie 2 takes 1-99 s or 1-99 min, the 2T analog model 1-60 s or 1-60 min, and the Heavy-Duty and Microplate records state that digital versions add a timer and exact speed control for repeatable results, with the analog versions as the economical alternative. If your SOP writes a vortex time in seconds, a timer is not optional, because a wrist-timed step varies from operator to operator.
Which Tubes and Plates Fit, and What Accessories Do You Need?
The accessory decides it, not the base. The Heavy-Duty record cites accessories for microtubes, microplates and tube sizes from 0.5 to 50 ml, the Multi-Tube record foam racks for tubes of 10 to 29 mm in diameter, and the Microplate record a capacity of two microplates. OHAUS lists vortex accessories individually, including the cup head, the microtube holder, the microplate holder, the test tube rack and the foam insert.
The Multi-Tube record adds strong suction-cup feet, which reduce motion and stop the unit sliding on the bench, and offers a stainless one-piece or a painted-steel two-piece housing. The Labnet Orbit 300 uses a different approach: three interchangeable platforms, sold separately, for plates, flasks or bottles, which makes it a multipurpose shaker that also vortexes; its record gives 100-1,200 rpm, a 3 mm circular orbit and an ambient operating range of +4 to 65 °C. Because the capacity figures for that unit vary between record sections, we confirm the load for your platform on the quote.
When Is a Vortex Mixer the Wrong Tool?
When the job is not mixing a small volume in a closed tube. Match the tool to the task:
- Large vessels and flasks: use an orbital shaker, where a large orbit at moderate speed swirls the liquid.
- Beakers that need heating or a long, steady stir: use a magnetic stirrer.
- Separating rather than mixing: a vortex step often precedes a laboratory centrifuge; resuspend the pellet, then spin.
- Gentle handling of fragile samples: a high-speed vortex is vigorous by design, so check the method before using it on cells or shear-sensitive material.
The same bench usually also needs a laboratory balance for weighing the sample before it goes into the tube.
What Safety and Setup Checks Apply?
Cap every tube, keep the unit on a stable bench and do not exceed the accessory's rating. Vortexing can generate aerosols when a tube is uncapped or poorly sealed. For regulated biological materials, the Canadian Biosafety Standard, Third Edition sets the containment requirements your facility must meet, and the CDC's Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories (BMBL) is the widely used reference for laboratory biosafety practice. Your biosafety officer decides what applies; ERE supplies the equipment, not the risk assessment.
Setup is simpler. Place the mixer on a level, solid surface, fit the head or holder for the tube you are using, and bring the speed up gradually. The Vortex-Genie record states it is compatible with cold rooms and incubators, and the Orbit 300 record gives the same for its +4 to 65 °C range, so confirm the ambient conditions of the room before you place it.
How Do You Choose a Vortex Mixer, Step by Step?
- List the containers. Single tubes, racks of tubes, microtubes, microplates or flasks.
- Count the samples per hour. A few pulses a day suits a touch-operated single-tube unit; a rack or a long run needs continuous duty.
- Pick the family. Vortex-Genie for single tubes, Heavy-Duty for continuous single-tube work, Multi-Tube for racks of 10-29 mm tubes, Microplate for plates.
- Check the speed range and orbit. The method's rpm must sit inside the model's range, in the mode you will run.
- Decide analog or digital. Choose digital if your SOP states a vortex time or a repeatable rpm.
- Choose the head or holder. Cup head, microtube holder, foam rack or microplate holder; confirm it fits the model.
- Confirm power and bench space. The Vortex-Genie is listed at 6.5 × 6.5 × 4.8 in. and 100, 120 or 230 VAC.
Send us the tubes, plates, samples per hour and speed your method calls for, and we will match the model and the head or holder. If your list is mostly flasks, we will point you to a shaker instead.
Need help choosing a vortex mixer?
ERE Inc. has been Canada's environmental equipment specialist for 30+ years. Send us your tubes, plates and speed and we will match the model, head and holder.
→ Request a Quote | 1-888-287-EREC | Browse Mixers | sales@ereinc.com
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a vortex mixer used for?
It mixes the contents of a small tube or plate by moving them in a rapid, small orbit. Typical uses in the OHAUS record include reagent mixing, pellet resuspension, powder dissolution, buffer preparation and PCR setup.
How fast does a vortex mixer run?
ERE's records range from 100 rpm on the Labnet Orbit 300 up to 3,500 rpm in Touch mode on the OHAUS Heavy-Duty and Microplate models. The Vortex-Genie line runs 500-3,200 rpm depending on the model.
What is the difference between touch and continuous mode?
Touch mode runs only while you press the tube on the head and, on the Heavy-Duty and Microplate models, reaches 3,500 rpm. Continuous (On) mode runs until you stop it, to 2,500 rpm on those models.
Can a vortex mixer handle microplates?
Yes, with the right model or holder. The OHAUS Microplate Vortex Mixer is rated for two microplates with a 3.5 mm orbit, and OHAUS lists a microplate holder as a separate vortexer accessory.
Can I use a vortex mixer in a cold room?
The OHAUS Vortex-Genie record states it is cold-room and incubator compatible, and the Labnet Orbit 300 record gives an ambient range of +4 to 65 °C. Confirm the conditions of your room when you request a quote.
Do you quote vortex mixers for delivery across Canada?
We quote OHAUS and Labnet vortex mixers for delivery across Canada. Send the tubes, plates and speed through the quote form and we confirm the model, accessories and availability.
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Lire en français : Mélangeur vortex : guide de choix par service, orbite et format de tube au Canada