Buying a Used Glovebox: What to Look For

A used glovebox costs a fraction of a new unit. Whether it then works just as well depends on how it was refurbished – and that is exactly where suppliers differ.

This guide explains what to look for when buying and how we refurbish our units.

First things first: what a glovebox has to deliver

A glovebox creates a controlled protective-gas atmosphere – usually argon or nitrogen – in which oxygen and moisture can be pushed down to very low levels, often below 1 ppm. This is needed wherever materials are sensitive to air or moisture: from battery research through catalysis and organometallic chemistry to the processing of OLED materials. Day-to-day operation comes down to three things: a leak-tight box, a working gas purification system and intact wear parts. These are exactly the points that separate a good used unit from one that causes trouble in operation.

ML-Resale and KeT Boxsysteme: who does what?

You buy from ML-Resale. I am your contact for selection, advice and the quote. The technical side is handled by our partner KeT Boxsysteme: refurbishment, decontamination, delivery and on-site commissioning. You have a single point of contact and still get the technical work of a specialist company.

New or used?

A new glovebox is a considerable investment and often has a lead time of several months. A used, professionally refurbished unit costs a fraction and is usually available at short notice. Technically there is little between them, as long as the used box has been properly refurbished – because the core technology of stainless-steel chamber, gas purification and control is long-lived. The difference lies in the refurbishment, not in the age. A poorly refurbished “bargain” box can quickly cost you more through filter filling, new gloves, seals and downtime than a properly reconditioned unit.

What to look for: checklist

  • Refurbishment & decontamination: Is the box professionally cleaned or sold “as seen”? Over time this makes the biggest difference in cost. With poorly refurbished boxes you pay the difference during operation. With many suppliers, real refurbishment is not included in the price.
  • Leak tightness / leak rate: Was an overpressure test carried out?
  • Gas purification (filter & catalyst): Are the molecular sieve and copper catalyst present, and in what condition?
  • Gloves, seals, valves: Were the wear parts replaced, or are they still the old ones?
  • Antechambers & piping: Cleaned and purged, or possibly still contaminated?
  • Documentation & history: Are there records for the unit?
  • Running costs: Filter filling, gloves and seals get expensive quickly with poorly refurbished boxes.
  • Delivery & commissioning: Is it offered, or are you left alone with the unit?

Which glovebox suits you?

Before choosing a unit, it pays to look at how you work:

  • Number of gloves: From the compact 2-glove box for a single workstation to the large 8-glove unit where several people work at once. More gloves mean more working space, but also more floor space.
  • Operable from one or both sides: Boxes operable from both sides can be loaded from two sides – practical when the unit stands freely in the room or is used as a pass-through.
  • Antechamber(s): The transfer antechamber lets you move material in and out without losing the atmosphere. Many units have a large main antechamber plus a mini-antechamber for small parts. For frequent transfers, that saves gas and time.
  • Inert gas: Most units run on argon or nitrogen. Which gas is right depends on your application.
  • Control & gas purification: An integrated gas purifier with control unit keeps O₂ and H₂O low automatically and regenerates the catalyst on its own.

You can find an overview of the available configurations in our range – from the 2-glove MBraun to the double-sided 8-glove double box.

How we refurbish gloveboxes

Every unit is refurbished and decontaminated by KeT Boxsysteme before it goes on sale. That is why running costs are low: what leaves us is ready for operation.

Decontamination

For heavily contaminated boxes, decontamination runs in several steps:

  1. DNA/RNA cleaning.
  2. UV-C decontamination.
  3. Sanding down surfaces.
  4. Cleaning with isopropanol.

Afterwards the box interiors and antechambers are as clean as on a new unit.

Piping, filters & wear parts

  • Piping: Purged and cleaned, replaced where needed.
  • Filters: Old filters are disposed of. You can fill the filters yourself or have us fill them (molecular sieve + copper catalyst).
  • Solvent filter: If present on the glovebox, it is refilled (activated carbon).
  • Gloves: Replaced.
  • Seals: Cleaned or replaced depending on condition.
  • Valves: Checked and, where necessary, replaced.
  • HEPA filter: New.
  • O₂ & H₂O sensors: Can be calibrated by the manufacturer or by KeT Boxsysteme. If calibration is needed, we list it in the quote.

Testing

All functions are checked before the sale. During on-site installation the unit is purged and tested again by KeT Boxsysteme, including an overpressure test. You then carry out the final test yourself: after regenerating the filters, you monitor the O₂ value in ppm over several days.

Why a refurbished glovebox?

The price is well below new. Because the refurbishment is thorough, running costs stay low too. The boxes are tested, ready for operation and often available immediately. And you don’t have to worry about logistics and commissioning – we take care of that.

As a side effect, a working unit stays in use instead of being scrapped. That doesn’t hurt either.

Briefly explained: the key terms

  • Leak rate / tightness: How well the box holds the protective gas. Checked with an overpressure test – a leaky box constantly consumes gas and lets oxygen and moisture in.
  • Gas purification: A loop of molecular sieve (binds water) and copper catalyst (binds oxygen) that continuously cleans the atmosphere and is regenerated periodically.
  • Antechamber: A cylinder with two doors through which material is moved in and out without opening the box atmosphere.
  • Feedthrough: A sealed opening for cables, gases or media into the box.
  • ppm: “parts per million” – a measure of the remaining oxygen and moisture. Good units reach values below 1 ppm.

You can find an overview of currently available units in our range. Nothing suitable right now? Submit a search request and we’ll get in touch as soon as a matching box comes in.