having experience with both, I find Akta and Biorad both do the job, with the Akta equipment giving a sturdier impression. Neither of them is cheap, and given similar price I would go for an Akta when buying new - however, if a significant price advantage exists, I would have no problem choosing Biorad. We recently bought an Akta Purifier because the Biorad equivalent, after extensive negotiation, was about the same price. With regards to repairs, I found Biorad is not cheap either. I don't have experience with Akta repairs, and hope not to get it anytime soon, as my current grant does not allow me to charge servicing contracts or repair costs to it...
Mark On 13 Oct 2011, at 15:58, Oganesyan, Vaheh wrote: > GE has a policy on Product Obsolescence, which, afaik, means that service > contracts will not be issued to those instruments that were discontinued 7 > years ago. Among instruments affected by this deadline are “AktaPrime INCL”, > “AktaPrime EXCL” and “AktaPrime COMPLETE”. You have time to service these > chromatography systems until April 2012. After that time GE will offer > service upon the availability of parts. “AktaPrime Plus” is still good to go. > > I know all these because I’ve got a letter from GE regarding my AktaPrime. > > HTH, > > Vaheh > > > > From: CCP4 bulletin board [mailto:CCP4BB@JISCMAIL.AC.UK] On Behalf Of Paul > Smith > Sent: Wednesday, October 12, 2011 9:19 PM > To: CCP4BB@JISCMAIL.AC.UK > Subject: Re: [ccp4bb] Akta Prime / FPLC Options / Off Topic > > Michael, > > Unfortunately, I actually don't know who serves these machines apart from GE. > > Because you brought up the subject of GE equipment and service, I thought I > would ask the community about the best options for routine crystallographic > scale FPLC. > > In my opinion, following the takeover of Pharmacia by GE the the price of GE > machines, replacement parts, and service has skyrocketed and GE service reps > seem determined to squeeze and extort every dollar they can. Personally, I'd > love to never do business with GE again. > > However, in some ways, they are the only game in town. GE is the de facto > standard for our line of work and the Akta line are very good machines. > However, GE's consistent price gouging and outright crooked service practices > encourage me look elsewhere. > > I've used systems from AP-biotech (junk) and have heard some good things > about Bio-rad. What does the community at large think? Are there other good > options? Does anyone have some spare millions and manufacturing connections > in India/China to consider starting a competing company? > > Sorry to hijack your thread Michael. Let me know what you find out. The > less money I send to GE the better. > > > --Paul > > From: Michael Colaneri <colane...@gmail.com> > To: CCP4BB@JISCMAIL.AC.UK > Sent: Wednesday, October 12, 2011 2:28 PM > Subject: [ccp4bb] Akta Prime > > > Dear all, > > We have an AktaPrime and GE Lifesciences stop servicing these instruments > because they are getting old. Does anyone know of a third party company that > gives contracts to maintain these instruments? Thank you. > > Mike Colaneri > > To the extent this electronic communication or any of its attachments contain > information that is not in the public domain, such information is considered > by MedImmune to be confidential and proprietary. This communication is > expected to be read and/or used only by the individual(s) for whom it is > intended. If you have received this electronic communication in error, please > reply to the sender advising of the error in transmission and delete the > original message and any accompanying documents from your system immediately, > without copying, reviewing or otherwise using them for any purpose. Thank you > for your cooperation.
