In labs everywhere, innovation doesn’t always come from brand-new equipment. More often, it starts with creativly piecing together available tools, modifying existing setups, and building something that simply works.
That spirit of ingenuity is exactly what inspired Organomation’s 2026 Homemade Evaporator Contest.
If you’re currently relying on a DIY setup, this is your opportunity to showcase your design and turn it into a major upgrade for your lab.
Homemade evaporators are more common than many people think. Whether driven by budget constraints, unique applications, or the need for a quick solution, labs frequently develop their own systems to keep workflows moving.
This contest is all about recognizing that creativity.
Organomation is inviting scientists, researchers, and lab professionals to share the systems they’ve built and the problems those systems solve. From simple nitrogen blowdown setups to more complex configurations, every entry tells a story of hands-on problem-solving in the lab.
See some of the homemade solutions that were showcased during our 2024 DIY evaporator contest.
At the end of the contest, one standout submission will be selected to receive a free evaporator tailored to their application.
Rather than offering a generic prize, the goal is to match the winner with a system that actually improves their workflow, whether that means increasing throughput, improving consistency, or simply saving time in day-to-day sample preparation.
It’s not just about winning, it’s about upgrading from a workaround to a purpose-built solution.
Entering the contest is straightforward. Participants are asked to submit their entry using the form below, which asks for a description of their evaporation needs, a photo of their DIY setup, and a brief explanation of how it’s used in their workflow.
The strongest entries will clearly show both the design and the real-world impact of the system. What challenge were you trying to solve? How does your setup perform? What makes it unique?
If your evaporator has a story behind it, that’s exactly what you should highlight.
Each submission will be reviewed with a focus on creativity, functionality, and overall design.
Some setups may stand out because of their simplicity, while others may impress with complexity or precision. There’s no single “right” way to build a homemade evaporator—what matters most is how effectively it works and the ingenuity behind it.
This contest is especially relevant for academic labs, research groups, and organizations working with limited resources or specialized applications. It’s also a great fit for anyone who enjoys building and improving their own lab equipment.
If you’ve ever looked at your setup and thought, “This might not be pretty, but it gets the job done,” you’re exactly the kind of participant this contest was designed for.
For decades, Organomation has focused on helping labs improve their evaporation workflows with reliable, purpose-built systems. But behind every commercial solution is the same kind of problem-solving mindset seen in DIY setups.
This contest is a way to celebrate that mindset.
By highlighting the creative solutions labs are already using, Organomation hopes to connect with the community in a more meaningful way, and help one lab take the next step with a professionally designed evaporator.
If you’re currently using a homemade evaporator, don’t keep it to yourself. This is your chance to showcase your work, gain recognition, and potentially win a system that takes your workflow to the next level.
Submit your entry and let your lab’s ingenuity speak for itself.