Blog

The Agilent 1100 Guide: Why This Legacy Workhorse Can Be the Most Profitable HPLC for High-Throughput CRO Labs

Why CROs keep coming back to the Agilent 1100

Contract Research Organizations live and die by turnaround time (TAT), uptime, and method reliability. Every hour of downtime risks missed client deadlines, rework, and margin erosion. That’s why many high-throughput contract labs still rely on a “legacy” platform like the Agilent 1100 Series: it’s widely supported, familiar to staff, and often fast to put into production.

This guide explains how to evaluate the Agilent 1100 as a profit center, not a nostalgia purchase; plus what to check when buying refurbished systems for regulated or client-audited environments.

This post is operational guidance and purchasing strategy. Your method requirements depend on your validation plan and client contracts.

CRO economics: the HPLC isn’t equipment, it’s revenue capacity

A CRO’s HPLC system is basically a production line. Profitability depends on:

• Runs per day (capacity)
• Success rate (repeat injections and failed runs burn time)
• Changeover time (set-up, equilibration, column swaps)
• Downtime (service delays and parts lead time)

A platform that can be kept running and maintained predictably often beats a “newer” platform that’s harder to service quickly.

Why the Agilent 1100 can be the “most profitable HPLC”

1) Familiar workflows reduce training time

The 1100 platform is widely known across analytical chemists and lab techs. In CRO environments with turnover or rapid scaling, familiarity translates to:

• faster onboarding
• fewer operator errors
• easier cross-coverage across shifts

2) Mature ecosystem: parts, service, and knowledge

“Legacy” often means:

• plentiful know-how
• widely understood maintenance procedures
• readily available consumables and replacement components (varies by region and supplier)

For CROs, the most expensive failure is a system that’s down while you wait for proprietary parts or specialized service.

3) Method transfer friction is often lower

Many CROs inherit methods from clients, collaborators, or historical internal libraries. A platform with broad adoption can reduce:

• unexpected method behavior during transfer
• time spent re-optimizing conditions
• risk of missed project timelines

4) High ROI when you scale instrument count

CROs often scale by adding instruments. The Agilent 1100 series can be attractive because the cost to add incremental capacity (additional systems) may be lower than buying new—freeing cash for:

• headcount
• columns and standards
• sample prep automation
• redundancy (backup systems for deadlines)

Explore our inventory.

What CROs should look for in an Agilent 1100 purchase (checklist)

Configuration matters more than model name

Ask for a full module list:

• pump type (quaternary vs binary)
• autosampler configuration
• column oven/thermostat (if required)
• detector type(s) (UV/DAD typical; others vary)
• degasser, controller, interface modules

Tip: In CROs, standardized configurations across systems reduce method variability and simplify stocking spares.

Reliability items to inspect on refurbished systems

These are practical “risk reducers” for high-throughput labs:

• Leak history and seals condition (pumps are revenue-critical)
• Autosampler performance (injection repeatability, carryover controls)
• Detector baseline stability (noise, drift)
• Degasser function (bubbles and baseline issues kill throughput)
• Firmware/software compatibility with your data system needs
• Documentation: module serials, service records, test chromatograms (if available)

Uptime strategy: build your “CRO-ready” HPLC standard

If your lab runs high-throughput contracts, create a standard:

• same pump type where possible
• consistent detectors across the method families you sell
• consistent autosampler throughput
• a spares kit for the most common downtime causes

Even modest standardization can reduce schedule chaos during peak client demand.

When NOT to choose an Agilent 1100

There are cases where newer systems make sense:

• you require features unavailable on your 1100 configs
• you need extreme pressures or ultra-fast UHPLC work
• client mandates explicitly require a specific platform/version

But for many routine HPLC workflows, an 1100 can still be an excellent production instrument.

CRO takeaway

If your business model depends on fast delivery and predictable execution, a refurbished Agilent 1100 can be a strong choice because it:

• ramps into production quickly
• supports repeatable operation across shifts
• can reduce capital spend and improve payback time

Speak with an expert
Tell HiTechTrader what methods you run (UV/DAD, gradients, sample throughput), your target injections/day, and how many systems you want standardized. We can help match an Agilent 1100 configuration built for CRO throughput and reliability. Click here to contact HiTechTrader.