A lab that stores reagents, vaccines, blood products, or flammable solvents cannot rely on a household refrigerator, it needs equipment engineered specifically for uniform temperature control, safe storage of hazardous materials, and continuous monitoring. VWR, part of Avantor, has built exactly that kind of equipment, and MediDepot carries one of the largest VWR laboratory refrigeration catalogs available online, spanning general-purpose lab refrigerators through touchscreen data-logging models and specialty flammable material storage and explosion-proof units.
What sets this collection apart is depth across every performance tier a lab might need. VWR doesn't offer a single refrigerator line; MediDepot's catalog spans 201 VWR products across six series, from entry-level Basic and Standard models through Plus Series and Premium touchscreen units, plus dedicated flammable material storage and hazardous location equipment, which matters for facilities that need to match refrigeration class to what is actually being stored.
Who Is This Brand For?
VWR laboratory refrigerators and freezers are built for any organization that requires reliable, monitored cold storage for lab materials. This collection is a fit for:
- Research laboratories and academic institutions
- Hospital and clinical laboratories
- Pharmaceutical and biotech companies
- Blood banks and vaccine storage facilities
- Chemical storage and industrial safety programs
- Chromatography and analytical testing labs
Product Types
MediDepot's VWR collection spans six series, from general-purpose refrigeration through advanced touchscreen models and dedicated flammable material and hazardous location storage.
Plus Series Refrigerators
The Plus Series is VWR's largest lineup in this collection, spanning glass and solid door refrigerators, refrigerator and freezer combination units with digital display, and flammable material storage variants with digital display and alarms, such as the VWR-HC-RFC9G combo unit and the VWR-HC-FRP-20P flammable storage refrigerator. This category totals 62 products.
Standard Series Refrigerators
The Standard Series covers core general-purpose laboratory refrigeration, including glass door cycle defrost models like the VWR-HC-RFP-20G, along with Standard Series explosion-proof hazardous location models built for Class 1 Division II environments. This category totals 43 products.
Performance and Touchscreen Series
This category consolidates VWR's advanced-display lineups: the Performance Series with touchscreen display and data logging, the Premium and Premium Touchscreen Series with variable speed compressors, and the Premier Series of self-closing solid door refrigerators, including models like the VWR-HC-72-TS and VWR-VS-49S. This category totals 55 products.
Basic Series Refrigerators
The Basic Series includes general glass door laboratory refrigerators along with chromatography-specific glass door refrigerators with mast hardware, such as the GDM-47-SCI-HC-LD, suited to labs needing straightforward, natural-refrigerant cold storage. This category totals 22 products.
Flammable and Hazardous Location Storage
This category covers refrigerators purpose-built for storing flammable materials and operating in hazardous locations, including Class 1 Division II explosion-proof and ATEX spark-free rated units such as the VWR-HC-ERFC10 refrigerator freezer combo. This category totals 13 products.
Specialty and Combination Units
Rounding out the collection are specialty configurations including built-in undercounter refrigerators, a manual defrost laboratory freezer, and combination refrigerator and freezer units with variable speed compressors. This category totals 6 products.
How to Choose the Right Product
Matching a VWR refrigerator or freezer to your lab depends on what you are storing, your safety requirements, and how much monitoring and control you need.
- Storage contents. Flammable solvents and hazardous materials require the Flammable and Hazardous Location Storage category specifically; general reagents, samples, and vaccines can use any of the standard series.
- Monitoring needs. Choose a Performance Series or Premium Touchscreen model for touchscreen display and data logging, or a Plus or Standard Series model with digital display for simpler monitoring.
- Door type. Glass door models allow visual inventory checks without opening the door, while solid door models offer better insulation and temperature stability for long-term storage.
- Capacity. Models in this collection range from compact 5 cu. ft. undercounter units up to 72 cu. ft. reach-in refrigerators; match capacity to your storage volume and available floor space.
- Compressor type. Variable speed compressors, found in Premium and Performance Series models, offer more precise temperature control and energy efficiency compared to standard cycle defrost compressors.
- Combination needs. Labs needing both refrigerated and frozen storage in one footprint should look at the refrigerator and freezer combination units available across the Plus Series and Hazardous Location categories.
Compare VWR Products
| Model | Series | Capacity | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| VWR-HC-RFC9G | Plus Series | 9 cu. ft. | Glass door, refrigerator and freezer combo, digital display |
| VWR-HC-RFP-20G | Standard Series | 20 cu. ft. | Glass door, cycle defrost, R600a refrigerant |
| VWR-HC-ERP-20 | Standard Series | 20 cu. ft. | Hazardous location, explosion proof |
| VWR-VS-49S | Premier Series | 49 cu. ft. | Solid door, self-closing |
| GDM-47-SCI-HC-LD | Basic Series | 47 cu. ft. | Chromatography glass door with mast, natural refrigerant |
| VWR-HC-ERFC10 | Hazardous Location | 9 cu. ft. | Refrigerator freezer combo, Class 1 Div II, ATEX spark-free |
| VWR-HC-SPL-49 | Premium Series | 49 cu. ft. | Double solid door, variable speed compressor, ENERGY STAR |
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the difference between the Plus, Standard, and Basic Series?
A: The Plus Series offers the widest range of configurations including combination and flammable storage units with digital display. The Standard Series covers core general-purpose refrigeration, including explosion-proof hazardous location options. The Basic Series is VWR's entry-level general and chromatography-specific glass door lineup.
Q: Which VWR refrigerator is rated for flammable material storage?
A: Models in the Flammable and Hazardous Location Storage category, along with Plus and Standard Series flammable storage variants, are specifically rated for flammable solvent and hazardous material storage. Confirm the specific classification your facility requires before ordering.
Q: What does the touchscreen display offer over a standard digital display?
A: Performance Series and Premium Touchscreen models add data logging and more detailed monitoring and alarm configuration compared to the digital displays found on Plus and Standard Series models.
Q: Can I get a combined refrigerator and freezer in one unit?
A: Yes. Combination units are available across the Plus Series, including the VWR-HC-RFC9G, and the Hazardous Location category, including the VWR-HC-ERFC10 for hazardous environments.
Q: What is the largest capacity VWR refrigerator in this collection?
A: Capacity in this collection ranges up to 72 cu. ft. in reach-in glass door configurations within the Performance Series, suited to labs needing maximum storage volume in a single unit.
Q: What is the difference between glass door and solid door models?
A: Glass door models allow staff to visually check inventory without opening the door, reducing temperature fluctuation from frequent access, while solid door models generally offer better insulation and more stable long-term temperature control.
Why Buy VWR Equipment from MediDepot?
Whether you're stocking a new lab, replacing aging refrigeration, or adding dedicated flammable material storage, it's worth matching series, capacity, and safety rating to your storage requirements before placing an order. MediDepot offers Medical Equipment Financing to help spread the cost of larger orders, along with a Price Match Guarantee so you can order with confidence. Extended Warranty coverage is available for labs that want protection beyond standard manufacturer terms, and a Military Discount is available for qualifying buyers. Browse the full VWR collection above, or contact the MediDepot team for help matching a laboratory refrigerator or freezer to your facility's needs.