There are a very large number of laboratory equipment manufacturers, each specializing in just a few kinds of supplies. Generally, a company will choose to focus on one type of lab equipment. Some makers specialize in glassware, others in radiation equipment--there are too many lab goods for any company to put out quality lab goods for all kinds of labs.

Types of Equipment Manufacturers

The biggest makers of lab equipment are going to be the companies that make commercial lab equipment. A surprising number of foods and goods are produced in labs, from plastic to margarine. These are produced in large quantities, and need machines that can stand up to long days of ware. Thus, these devices are often impractical for standard labs, but ideal for mass-production.

Smaller lab supply companies will make equipment for small teams of scientists to use. These may be used frequently, but will never see the kind of stress that commercial laboratory equipment does. This kind of equipment is often used for more precise measurements, and for working with rare elements and other delicate procedures.

When looking for lab equipment, you are often well-advised to find a lab goods dealer instead of a manufacturer. While you can usually get a good selection of equipment from one specific factory, you are usually better off looking at a catalog for a number of brands. That way, you can compare different styles of a certain product--just make sure all the different brands you buy are compatible with one another.