Covid-19 Pandemic: Face Mask Disinfection & Sterilization for Viruses Written by: Scott Mechler UPDATED 04/10/2020 New information regarding Covid-19, SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19) and the reuse of N95 masks is being released at an increasing rate. CSS will attempt to update this page in a timely manner to reflect important changes. However, as information is rapidly changing, CSS is not able to guarantee that the information […] Tweet Like Share
Why Water Quality is Important When Using a Steam Autoclave Written by: Scott Mechler Water is the lifeblood of a laboratory autoclave. The quality of water you use will drastically affect the lifespan of your autoclave chamber and steam generator, as well as the types of loads that you can sterilize. To understand why, let’s address seven common questions about water quality and how to improve it. Read more → Tweet Like Share
Laboratory Autoclaves That Are Built to Last Written by: Scott Mechler When choosing an autoclave to purchase, it’s important to select one that is designed for durability and built to last. Here at Consolidated Sterilizer Systems (CSS), we’ve manufactured over 14,000 state-of-the-art laboratory autoclaves since 1946 — some of the oldest of which are still in operation today. Take, for example, the autoclave pictured below. This […] Tweet Like Share
Consolidated Sterilizer Systems Completes Challenging Autoclave Installation for Leading Medical Device Manufacturer Written by: Scott Mechler Project Name: Scientific Device Laboratory Type of Project: Custom Installation, Sterilizer Validation Sales Team: DAI Scientific Service Team: Amity Hospital Service The Client: Scientific Device Laboratory Scientific Device Laboratory is a Des Plaines, Illinois-based medical device manufacturer that applies its expertise in the fields of microbiology and specialty printing to the production of microscope slides, […] Tweet Like Share
How Much Does Your Sterilizer Really Cost Your Facility? Written by: Scott Mechler When purchasing a piece of capital equipment, such as an autoclave, it’s important to assess the total cost of ownership (TCO) because there can be many costs hidden in the ongoing service and maintenance of the machine. This article will help buyers, users, and owners determine the direct and indirect costs of procuring and operating […] Tweet Like Share
What to Do About Stained Packs After Autoclaving: Common Causes and Affordable Solutions Written by: Scott Mechler In the summer of 2016, Windsor Regional Hospital (WRH) in Windsor, Ontario, was forced to cancel hundreds of surgeries at its Ouellette campus due to a “mysterious sterilization scare.” The strange scare, as reported in numerous media outlets, involved the staining of wrapping materials used to protect sterilized instrument trays during and after autoclaving. Because of […] Tweet Like Share
Consolidated’s CEO Challenges Industry with Benchmarks for Energy and Water Written by: Scott Mechler At a recent sustainability conference (International Institute for Sustainable Laboratories – I2SL) in Boston, Consolidated’s CEO Arthur Trapotsis challenged the steam sterilization industry to provide more “eco-friendly” equipment to research labs and hospitals. Trapotsis said that autoclaves are one of the single highest consumers of water in the laboratory, dispelling up to 12,000,000 gallons (18 […] Tweet Like Share
How to Validate an Autoclave: Sterilization Cycle Development Written by: Scott Mechler Cycle development is an important part of both the autoclave procurement and validation processes. In previous posts about validation, we explored Installation Qualification (IQ), Operation Qualification (OQ), and Performance Qualification (PQ). We also discussed the importance of steam quality testing as part of validating your autoclave, as well as Factory Acceptance Testing. In this post, we provide guidance in developing sterilization cycles and […] Tweet Like Share
How to Validate an Autoclave: Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT) Written by: Scott Mechler A steam sterilizer, whether used for pharmaceutical or laboratory sterilizing applications, is designed to use steam under pressure as the sterilizing agent. When constructed, installed and operated correctly, a steam sterilizer should function properly and sterilize your load. But, how does a sterilizer manufacturer ensure the unit they’ve built is assembled properly and is in […] Tweet Like Share
How to Validate an Autoclave: Steam Quality Testing Written by: Scott Mechler The quality of the steam feeding an autoclave is an important factor in steam sterilization. Like time, temperature, and pressure, steam is a critical variable in the success and repeatability of the sterilization process. As such, steam quality should be part of the validation of any steam sterilizer. In previous articles other phases of validation […] Tweet Like Share
5.29.26 Protect Your Sterilizer & Keep Your OR Running With SterilSource → For sterile processing teams at healthcare facilities, providing purified water for their autoclave has historically meant accepting tradeoffs around floor space, budget, and throughput. Ambulatory surgical centers (ASCs) and other, smaller healthcare facilities have felt this most acutely, with many having to choose between installing a bulky reverse osmosis (RO) system that takes up significant […]
5.28.26 Consolidated Sterilizer Systems Introduces SterilSource, a Premium Water Purification System for Healthcare Facilities and Life Science Labs → May 2026, Billerica, MA — Consolidated Sterilizer Systems is proud to announce the launch of SterilSource, a compact wall-mounted water purification system designed to meet the demanding water quality regulatory requirements of healthcare and life science environments. SterilSource is available in three configurations, offering scalable water treatment solutions from basic mineral and contaminant removal to […]
5.14.26 Consolidated Selected as Small Business Manufacturer by the University of California → What Set Us Apart Throughout the RFP process, Consolidated stood out for our: Relationship with UC, which predates this agreement, with many campuses already standardized on our autoclaves Low cost of ownership through non-proprietary parts and third-party service models, including local service Built-in water- and energy-saving features Support for both in-house and generator steam Custom […]
