Scientific Equipment Repair

About SER

Scientific Equipment Repair, which calls itself SER, sells used and refurbished laboratory equipment and repairs lab instruments. It is based at 949 Industrial Avenue in the light-industrial pocket of south Palo Alto, off Highway 101 and San Antonio Road. Its customers are research labs: R&D, biotech, pharmaceutical and academic facilities around the San Francisco Bay Area and, through shipping, across the United States.

The company says it was built around the idea that researchers deserve access to good instruments plus knowledgeable sales and repair support. Every instrument it sells is inspected and tested before it leaves the facility. Its site also links to its page on LabX, a marketplace for lab equipment. Older map data placed it in the health and medical category, but it is a business-to-business supplier for laboratories rather than a medical practice.

Equipment for sale

The online inventory is organized by category. Among the groups it lists:

• Centrifuges, centrifuge rotors and SpeedVac concentrators
• Biosafety cabinets, autoclaves and sterilizers
• Freezers, refrigerators, chillers, incubators and incubator shakers, including Infors HT shakers
• Microplate readers, washers, dispensers and microplate automation
• Liquid handling, PCR and thermal cyclers, electrophoresis and cytometry
• HPLC, FPLC and gas chromatography systems
• Microscopes, balances, ovens, water baths, freeze dryers and general lab gear

Featured items when we checked in October 2026 included refrigerated benchtop centrifuges from Eppendorf and Thermo Sorvall, a Beckman floor model ultracentrifuge, a Molecular Devices microplate reader and four- and six-foot biosafety cabinets from Thermo, Labconco and Baker. Stock turns over, so check the listings page or call for current availability and prices. SER says it specializes in Agilent LC equipment and microplate instruments.

Repair services

SER's certified technicians diagnose and repair a wide range of lab instruments, from centrifuges to HPLC systems. The company highlights three things: experience with instruments used in research and academic labs, fast turnaround to cut lab downtime and what it calls transparent, budget-conscious assessments without surprise fees. Service can happen on site in your lab or at SER's own facility, which is useful for heavy or delicate equipment that is hard to move. Repair requests start through the request form on its website.

Visiting the showroom

Unlike many online lab equipment resellers, SER invites buyers to come in. Its site describes a Palo Alto showroom for in-person shopping, conveniently located off Highway 101 and San Antonio Road. Seeing a used instrument run before you buy it can save trouble, especially for large purchases such as a floor centrifuge or a biosafety cabinet.

• Call 650-938-3169 or email before visiting, since SER does not publish showroom hours.
• Bring the specs your lab needs: rotor types, voltage, footprint and any certification requirements.
• Ask about warranty terms. SER publishes a warranty page on its site.
• Plan delivery and installation, especially for equipment that needs certification after a move, such as biosafety cabinets.

Requesting a quote

For a repair, use the Request Repair Service form on the website or call. Include the instrument's make, model and serial number, a short description of the fault and whether you need on-site service or can bring the unit in. For a purchase, each listing on the site has a details page with the manufacturer and category. SER also runs an email list that announces new equipment arrivals and featured listings, which helps if you are waiting for a particular model to come in.

Who it suits

SER suits startup labs watching their budgets, academic groups replacing a single instrument and lab managers who need a broken machine back in service quickly. The area has a deep pool of such customers. Stanford, Stanford Research Park and the biotech companies along the Peninsula all run labs. If you are setting up a new company, our guides to research labs and coworking and office space cover the wider picture. This is not a shop for the general public looking for consumer goods.

Getting there

Industrial Avenue is a short street of workshops and small businesses near San Antonio Road, close to the Mountain View border. It is easiest to reach by car or truck from Highway 101 at the San Antonio Road exit. Our south Palo Alto guide describes the area.

Location and getting there

Scientific Equipment Repair is at 949 Industrial Avenue, Palo Alto, CA 94303, in the Charleston area of Palo Alto. Our Charleston guide covers what else is around.

The nearest train stop is the San Antonio Caltrain station (Mountain View), about 1.3 miles away. That is roughly a 31 minute walk or a short bike ride.

Parking: street spaces or a small lot nearby; check posted limits.

What is nearby

• Taco Bell, quick-service spot, 0.2 mi
• Body Kneads Day Spa, salon or spa, 0.3 mi
• Dohatsuten Ramen & Tapas, restaurant, 0.3 mi
• Silicon Valley Bicycle Exchange, studio or gym, 0.5 mi
• SummerWinds Nursery, store, 0.5 mi
• Ramos Park, 0.6 mi
• Cubberley Community Center, 0.7 mi
• Mitchell Park Library, 0.8 mi

Other everyday services nearby: Hertz San Antonio Road (0.3 mi); Canopy (0.5 mi); The Car Doctor Tire Pros (0.5 mi); Magnussen's Toyota of Palo Alto (0.7 mi). Browse the full everyday services list.

Before you go

• Call ahead to confirm hours and whether you need an appointment.
• Ask for a written estimate before any repair work starts.
• Bring an ID and any paperwork you may need, such as a receipt or account number.

About this listing

Checked October 30, 2026 against Scientific Equipment Repair official website; SER inventory listings. How our listings work. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.

Frequently asked questions