FAQs

Yes. SmartLabs is a South African laboratory equipment supplier based in Boksburg, Gauteng. We stock over 2,000 science and laboratory products, including microscopes, laboratory glassware, plasticware, heating and stirring equipment, measurement instruments, anatomy models, physics apparatus, educational posters, lab safety gear, and consumables. We have been supplying schools, universities, hospitals, and industrial laboratories across South Africa since 2008.

We supply a wide range of customers across South Africa:

• Primary, secondary, and high schools (CAPS curriculum aligned)
• Universities, technikons, and research institutions
• Hospitals, pathology labs, and medical research units
• Industrial quality control, food production, and environmental testing labs
• Independent researchers, hobbyists, and science enthusiasts

Our warehouse and offices are situated at:

Unit 6, N12 Industrial Park
188 Dr Vosloo Road
Bartlett, Boksburg, 1459
Gauteng, South Africa

Monday to Thursday: 8:00 to 16:00
Friday: 8:00 to 15:00
We are closed on weekends and public holidays.

You can order directly on our website at any time. Browse our catalogue, add items to your cart, and proceed to checkout. You can check out as a guest or register an account for faster checkout on future orders. You can also call us on 0861 777 876 or email info@smartlabs.co.za and our team will assist you.

Yes, absolutely. Call us during office hours and we will assist you with orders, quotes, product advice, or any other query.

National: 0861 777 876
International: +27 11 894 2070
Email: info@smartlabs.co.za

Online orders:

• Visa and Mastercard credit and debit cards
• Instant EFT (secure and fast)
• Manual EFT / bank transfer

In-store at our Boksburg office:

• Card payments only (we do not accept cash)

All transactions are processed in South African Rands (ZAR).

All standard orders require payment before release. We do not offer general credit terms. For large institutional orders from universities, government departments, or established businesses, credit arrangements may be considered on a case-by-case basis and require a formal contract. Please contact us at info@smartlabs.co.za to discuss your requirements.

Yes. Email info@smartlabs.co.za or call 0861 777 876 with your requirements. Schools, universities, and industrial buyers receive tailored quotes on the same business day where possible. Quotes are valid for 30 days and pricing is subject to change without notice.

We stock over 2,000 products. If you cannot find what you need on the website, email info@smartlabs.co.za or call 0861 777 876. We may have it in stock but unlisted, or we may be able to source it for you.

Delivery rates are calculated in real time at checkout based on your delivery address and the size and weight of your order. You will see the exact cost before you confirm payment.

Orders are processed within 1 to 3 business days. Courier delivery takes an additional 2 to 4 business days depending on your location. For EFT payments, processing only begins once payment reflects in our account, which may add time. Timelines are targets and cannot be guaranteed.

Once your order is dispatched you will receive a tracking number via email. Enter your tracking number on the SmartLabs tracking page to get real-time updates on your delivery status.

Yes. You have three options:

1. Order online and collect: select "pay on collection" at checkout and your order will be ready when you arrive.
2. Walk in: visit us during office hours and our team will assist and pack your items on the spot. Please allow a short waiting period.
3. Email ahead for large orders: for bigger orders, email us in advance so we can have everything packed and ready for collection.

Please note: our office accepts card payments only. We do not accept cash.

We strongly recommend adding protected shipping at checkout, especially for fragile items such as glassware. If you select protected shipping and your items are damaged or lost in transit, SmartLabs will replace the affected items at no additional cost to you. If you choose not to add protected shipping, we will assess any transit damage on a case-by-case basis but cannot guarantee a replacement for damage that occurs after your order leaves our warehouse.

You have 7 days from the date of delivery to request a change-of-mind return, in line with the ECTA cooling-off period. Items must be unused and in their original packaging with all original components included. Email info@smartlabs.co.za with your order number and reason for return. Once approved, you will need to arrange and pay for the return courier to our Boksburg warehouse. A 10% handling fee is deducted from your refund to cover packing materials, boxes, and administration. Please do not send goods back without first obtaining written approval.

Returns outside the 7-day window may be considered at our discretion. Contact us at info@smartlabs.co.za and we will assess your request on a case-by-case basis.

If your goods are defective or damaged, return shipping is arranged and covered by SmartLabs. See "I have received a broken product" below.

Order not yet dispatched: Contact us as soon as possible. We will cancel the order and issue a full refund.

Order already dispatched, within 7 days of delivery (ECTA cooling-off): Under the Electronic Communications and Transactions Act you have the right to return the goods and receive a refund. The cost of returning the goods to our Boksburg warehouse is for your account. Once we receive the item in its original, unused condition we will process your refund. The original outbound shipping cost is non-refundable.

Order already dispatched, after 7 days of delivery: Returns outside the 7-day cooling-off period are considered on a case-by-case basis at our discretion. Contact us at info@smartlabs.co.za with your order number and reason, and we will do our best to assist.

To initiate a cancellation or return, email info@smartlabs.co.za with your order number. Do not send goods back without written approval from us first.

We do not offer direct exchanges. You are welcome to return an unwanted item in line with our returns policy and place a new order for the product you need.

Please inspect your parcel while the courier driver is present. If the packaging shows signs of damage, open and inspect the contents before signing the delivery note. If items are broken, do not sign for the delivery and do not accept the parcel. Returning it with the driver immediately gives us the best chance of resolving the matter with the courier provider on your behalf.

If you have already accepted the delivery and only discovered the damage afterwards, email info@smartlabs.co.za with your order number, a photo of the damaged item and packaging, and a description of the damage. We will arrange collection at no cost to you and send a replacement or issue a full refund. If you selected protected shipping at checkout, transit damage is covered and your items will be replaced at no cost to you.

Contact us as soon as possible by emailing info@smartlabs.co.za or calling 0861 777 876. Include your order number and a description of the issue (wrong item, missing item, or incorrect quantity) and we will resolve it as quickly as possible.

SmartLabs stocks laboratory glassware in two glass types:

• Borosilicate glass: the industry standard for lab use. Low thermal expansion, excellent chemical resistance, and suitable for heating applications including Bunsen burners, hotplates, and autoclaving.
• Soda-lime glass: a more economical option suited to basic storage and low-risk applications where heat resistance is not required.

Our range includes beakers, conical flasks, volumetric flasks, test tubes, glass tubes, burettes, pipettes, funnels, condensers, desiccators, glass bottles, and distillation setups. We also offer custom glassblowing for bespoke applications.

Please check the product page before ordering to confirm you are selecting the correct glass type for your application. If you are unsure, email info@smartlabs.co.za and we will help you choose. Browse our full glassware range online.

It depends on the glass type.

Borosilicate glass is specifically engineered for thermal stability and chemical resistance. It handles the temperatures typically encountered in school and university labs, including Bunsen burner heating, hotplate use, and autoclaving. Always heat glassware gradually and avoid sudden temperature changes (thermal shock), which can cause cracking even with borosilicate.

Soda-lime glass is not suitable for heating applications. It has a high thermal expansion coefficient and will crack under rapid or uneven temperature changes. Soda-lime glassware is intended for storage and low-risk use only.

Check the product page to confirm the glass type before using any glassware in a heating application. If you are unsure, contact us at info@smartlabs.co.za before purchase.

A pH meter measures how acidic or alkaline a liquid solution is on a scale of 0 to 14. A reading of 7 is neutral, below 7 is acidic, and above 7 is alkaline. pH meters are used across many fields:

• School and university labs: chemistry experiments, titrations, and solution analysis
• Water testing: drinking water, swimming pools, aquariums, and environmental monitoring
• Agriculture: soil pH testing to determine crop suitability
• Food and beverage production: quality control for dairy, juice, wine, and fermented foods
• Industrial and pharmaceutical labs: chemical process monitoring and wastewater neutralisation

SmartLabs stocks the Hanna Instruments HI98103 Checker, one of the most trusted pH testers in education and industry.

Both measure pH, but they differ in accuracy and application.

pH Test Strips (from R55)
Dip into liquid and compare colour to a chart. Accurate to plus or minus 0.5 to 1.0 pH units. Inexpensive, no calibration needed, and ideal for quick classroom checks and rough field tests. Colour interpretation can vary between users.

pH Meter, Hanna HI98103 (R1,650)
Gives a precise digital reading accurate to plus or minus 0.1 pH. Removes subjective colour comparison and delivers consistent, repeatable results. Suited for experiments, research, food production, and any application requiring accurate, documented measurements.

Not sure which is right for you? Email info@smartlabs.co.za and we will help you choose.

Our laboratory wire is sold by weight on a reel, not per metre. We stock three types:

• Copper Bare Wire: 250g reels, available in 14 SWG to 32 SWG
• Nichrome Wire: 125g reels, available in 18 SWG to 32 SWG
• Eureka (Constantan) Wire: 125g quantities, available in 16 SWG to 34 SWG

The number of metres per reel depends on the gauge. Thinner wire (higher SWG number) gives significantly more metres. For example, a 125g reel of 18 SWG Nichrome contains approximately 15m, while the same weight of 32 SWG Nichrome contains approximately 304m. Unsure which gauge suits your application? Call us on 0861 777 876 or email info@smartlabs.co.za.

We carry both as standard stock lines. In the rare event that we are out of stock or cannot fulfil your required quantity, we source both items locally within South Africa.

• Educational posters: approximately 2 to 5 business days on back-order
• Filter paper: approximately 5 to 10 business days on back-order

Once received from our suppliers, orders are shipped via our standard courier service with full tracking. For large or urgent quantities, email info@smartlabs.co.za so we can plan ahead.

Lead times vary depending on the product type:

• Locally sourced items (filter paper, posters): 2 to 10 business days
• Imported products on an active shipment: contact us for a specific ETA; we import on a continuous basis via sea freight
• Imported products not yet on order: approximately 3 to 6 months from order placement
• Standard laboratory glassware: most glassware is manufactured specifically for SmartLabs; allow 3 to 6 months for items not currently in stock
• Custom glassblowing (bespoke glassware to your specifications): approximately 2 to 4 weeks depending on workload
• Products we have never stocked: contact us and we will investigate availability and lead times for you

Call us on 0861 777 876 or email info@smartlabs.co.za for a specific update on any product.

Phone (national): 0861 777 876
Phone (international): +27 11 894 2070
Email: info@smartlabs.co.za

Office hours:
Monday to Thursday: 8:00 to 16:00
Friday: 8:00 to 15:00
Closed on weekends and public holidays.

Yes, walk-ins are welcome during office hours. Our team will assist you directly. For large orders, we recommend emailing ahead so we can have your items ready for collection.

SmartLabs
Unit 6, N12 Industrial Park
188 Dr Vosloo Road
Bartlett, Boksburg, 1459
Get directions

Card payments only at our office. We do not accept cash.

Yes. If you are calling from outside South Africa, use +27 11 894 2070. Our national number (0861 777 876) is for South African calls only and cannot be dialled internationally.

Our team is happy to help. Call us on 0861 777 876, email info@smartlabs.co.za, or visit our Contact Us page to send us a message directly.