When a laboratory buys a used refrigerated centrifuge, PCR thermal cycler or ultralow freezer, the decision is never only about price. Origin, sanitary history, technical condition, documentation and contractual protection all matter. When these elements are unclear, the apparent savings often disappear in downtime, compliance issues or unexpected costs.
Lab2Lab is not an anonymous digital marketplace. It is operated by Labgene Scientific SA, a Swiss company based in Châtel-Saint-Denis that has worked with molecular biology and research laboratories for 30 years.
This article explains who Labgene is, why the company created Lab2Lab, and how three decades of concrete laboratory experience translate into safer processes for both buyers and sellers of second-hand equipment.
Why the operator's expertise matters more for laboratory equipment
Second-hand laboratory instruments carry specific risks that general marketplaces are rarely equipped to manage:
- Instruments may have been used with biological, chemical or radioactive materials
- Critical components such as centrifuge rotors or thermal blocks have limited safe lifetimes
- Missing service history or incomplete documentation creates compliance and safety issues
- Informal or cross-border sales often leave both parties without clear contractual protection under Swiss law
A pure classifieds platform cannot systematically address these points. A specialised laboratory company that already understands the equipment, the documentation expectations of research and diagnostic laboratories, and the Swiss regulatory and logistical context is in a much stronger position to create a controlled process.
This is the role Labgene Scientific SA plays on Lab2Lab.
Who is Labgene Scientific SA?
Labgene Scientific SA is a Swiss company headquartered in Châtel-Saint-Denis (ZI, Route de Pra de Plan 35). For 30 years it has commercialised high-quality instruments, reagents and consumables for molecular biology laboratories, research facilities, diagnostic laboratories, public hospitals, forensics and the pharmaceutical industry.
Its core areas of expertise include:
- Real-time PCR and thermal cyclers
- Nucleic acid purification and NGS sample preparation
- Laboratory automation and liquid handling
- Centrifugation and cell culture
- Instrument validation and technical support
Over the years Labgene has also recovered used laboratory equipment and given machines a second life. This practical experience with surplus, demo and decommissioned instruments is one of the direct foundations of Lab2Lab.
The company remains a local Swiss operator with direct, long-term knowledge of the laboratories it serves across the country.
Why Labgene created Lab2Lab
Labgene observed a recurring structural gap in the market:
- Research laboratories, universities and companies regularly have well-maintained instruments they no longer need
- Other laboratories need the same types of equipment quickly and within realistic budgets
- Existing channels (private sales, general classifieds, international marketplaces) rarely combine technical understanding, sanitary discipline and a clear Swiss commercial framework
Lab2Lab was created to close this gap. The platform applies the same standards of clarity and responsibility that Labgene uses in its traditional business to the specific domain of second-hand laboratory equipment. The goal is not volume for its own sake, but controlled, professional transactions.
The concrete role of Labgene on the Lab2Lab platform
Labgene is an active operator, not a passive host. Its team performs several operational functions that directly reduce risk for both sides:
Professional review of every listing
No listing is published without human verification of completeness, consistency and technical relevance. Incomplete or unclear submissions are returned for correction. This filtering step is one of the main differences between Lab2Lab and open classifieds.
Control of origin
Every unit is clearly labelled:
- Sold by Labgene — equipment owned and processed by Labgene Scientific SA, with its quality process and warranty
- Third-party — equipment from a verified professional seller, sold as is, with Labgene acting as intermediary
Buyers always know who owns the instrument and which rules apply.
Risk-based sanitary requirements
Labgene applies a practical, risk-based approach rather than a one-size-fits-all rule:
- Unused or new-old-stock equipment → simple declaration
- Used non-hazardous equipment → declaration of use without biological, chemical or radioactive exposure
- Potentially hazardous equipment (centrifuges, PCR systems, incubators, biological safety cabinets, etc.) → full decontamination protocol and signed certificate required before publication
This judgment is informed by 30 years of working with the same categories of instruments.
Buyer and seller support
Labgene handles professional enquiries, introduces parties when appropriate, and can purchase equipment for resale. Logistics options are adapted to laboratory instruments and Swiss laboratory sites.
Swiss framework
All activity takes place under Swiss law, with invoicing in CHF, correct treatment of VAT, and data hosted in Switzerland under the nFADP.
How 30 years of expertise translates into practical advantages
The difference between a generic marketplace and a platform operated by a specialised laboratory company appears in everyday decisions:
- Knowing which instruments require a full decontamination certificate and which do not
- Recognising incomplete technical descriptions that would create problems for the buyer later
- Understanding typical residual lifetimes of critical components
- Managing Swiss logistics and site constraints for heavy or sensitive equipment
- Providing a contractual and invoicing framework that laboratories and purchasing departments can actually use
These are not features that can be added as an afterthought. They come from long-term presence in the same professional environment.
Benefits for buyers and sellers
For buyers
Access to second-hand laboratory equipment that has been reviewed, with clear origin and appropriate sanitary documentation, under a Swiss commercial framework. This significantly reduces the classic risks of private or open-platform purchases.
For sellers
A structured professional channel that attracts serious laboratory buyers rather than speculative inquiries, with transparent commercial terms (fixed 20 % commission and visibility on the net price received).
For both sides
A local Swiss operator that already understands the equipment categories, the documentation expectations of research and diagnostic laboratories, and the practical constraints of laboratory logistics in Switzerland.
Trust signals that matter in practice
- 30 years of continuous activity serving Swiss laboratories
- Physical presence and operations in Châtel-Saint-Denis
- Direct experience with molecular biology instruments and service
- Clear distinction between own stock and third-party equipment
- Risk-based sanitary process informed by real laboratory practice
- Swiss legal and data framework (CHF, VAT, nFADP)
These elements are difficult to replicate for a pure digital marketplace without laboratory roots.
FAQ — Labgene and Lab2Lab
FAQ
Is Labgene only a distributor of new products and reagents?
Does Labgene review third-party listings with the same care as its own stock?
Why does the operator's expertise matter more for laboratory equipment than for other second-hand goods?
Where is Labgene located?
Conclusion
A marketplace for second-hand laboratory equipment is only as trustworthy as the processes and the people behind it. Lab2Lab is operated by Labgene Scientific SA, a company that has worked with Swiss research, diagnostic and molecular biology laboratories for 30 years.
This combination of structured platform and real laboratory expertise is what turns second-hand equipment from a risky option into a professional, controlled alternative.