Agilent HPLC & UHPLC Financing:
1260 and 1290 Infinity Systems.

Agilent's liquid chromatography portfolio includes routine HPLC systems, higher-pressure HPLC/UHPLC platforms, high-performance UHPLC systems, biocompatible Bio LC configurations and specialized purification and application-specific systems. For a laboratory financing Agilent LC equipment, the exact model and configuration matter because an Agilent 1260 Infinity III LC, 1260 Infinity III Prime LC and 1290 Infinity III LC are not interchangeable systems.

Configuration can be just as important as the model name. Pumps, autosamplers, detectors, column compartments, fraction collectors, software and other modules can represent a substantial part of the complete acquisition. An Agilent LC being purchased as the front end for an LC-MS system also presents a different equipment package from a standalone HPLC being purchased for routine QC work. The secondary market adds another consideration. Laboratories continue to buy earlier Infinity II and older Agilent LC equipment from analytical-equipment dealers, and for financing purposes the exact generation, included modules, condition, software, service history and seller should all be clearly documented. For broader, brand-agnostic guidance across HPLC, UHPLC, ion chromatography, and SFC, see our HPLC & chromatography financing page.

Understanding the Agilent HPLC and UHPLC Lineup

Agilent's current Infinity III analytical LC portfolio is built around three primary platforms: the 1260 Infinity III LC, 1260 Infinity III Prime LC and 1290 Infinity III LC. Agilent also offers biocompatible versions for bioanalysis. The systems overlap in some applications but they occupy different positions within the portfolio, and understanding those differences is important when documenting what a laboratory is actually acquiring.

The Agilent 1260 Infinity III LC is Agilent's current routine analytical HPLC platform, positioned for both analytical HPLC and entry-level UHPLC analysis, with a broad selection of modules for different laboratory workflows. This is an important point from a financing perspective because 1260 Infinity III does not necessarily describe one fixed equipment package. The laboratory may select different pumps, autosampling configurations, detectors and other modules depending on the application, so a routine pharmaceutical QC configuration may look different from a system used in food testing or environmental analysis. The financing request should therefore include the complete system quote rather than identifying the asset only as an Agilent 1260.

The Agilent 1260 Infinity III Prime LC sits between routine HPLC and higher-performance UHPLC applications. Agilent describes it as an HPLC system with the flexibility to perform UHPLC analysis using sub-2 micron particle columns, states that it can operate at pressures up to 800 bar and flow rates up to 5 mL/min, and identifies it as a system that can be used as the LC front end for LC/MS. That LC/MS relationship is especially relevant for equipment financing. A laboratory may not be acquiring the 1260 Prime as an isolated HPLC. It may be purchasing the LC as one component of a larger mass spectrometry acquisition, and when that is the case the complete LC/MS quote should be provided so the financing company can evaluate the equipment as the actual system being purchased.

The Agilent 1290 Infinity III LC is Agilent's current high-performance analytical UHPLC platform. Agilent specifies a power range up to 1300 bar and 5 mL/min and positions the system for high-efficiency separations, high chromatographic resolution and flexible HPLC/UHPLC applications. For a laboratory buyer, the 1290 may be selected where speed, resolution and UHPLC performance justify moving beyond a routine HPLC configuration, and it may also be paired with high-end LC-MS instrumentation. That distinction matters to a lender because the acquisition may involve a higher-value modular system with multiple components rather than one standalone instrument, so a quote should identify the pump, sampler, detector, column compartment, software and other modules being acquired with the 1290.

Agilent also offers biocompatible configurations of its 1260 Infinity III platforms for laboratories working with biomolecules and applications involving conditions such as high salt concentrations or extreme pH. These configurations should be identified accurately in the financing request rather than being grouped under a generic Agilent 1260 description, since a laboratory acquiring Bio LC equipment may be purchasing a specialized system for biopharmaceutical analysis rather than a conventional small-molecule HPLC workflow. The Agilent 1290 Infinity III Bio LC extends the 1290 platform into biocompatible UHPLC workflows in binary and quaternary configurations at pressures up to 1300 bar, and Agilent also offers a 1290 Infinity III Bio Online LC System for real-time bioprocess monitoring. That is a more specialized acquisition and should be described as such when financing is requested, because a lender evaluating a standard 1290 analytical UHPLC and one evaluating a configured 1290 Bio Online LC are looking at different equipment packages even though both carry the 1290 name.

Current Infinity III Systems vs. the Used Agilent HPLC Market

Agilent introduced the Infinity III LC Series in 2024, and the previous Infinity II generation remains particularly important in the secondary equipment market. Used buyers may encounter systems and modules from the 1260 Infinity II LC, 1260 Infinity II Prime LC, 1290 Infinity II LC, 1260 and 1290 Infinity II Bio configurations, and earlier 1260 Infinity and 1290 Infinity systems. Agilent continues to maintain product and sustainability documentation for Infinity II equipment, and several Infinity II platforms remain represented in specialized configurations. That does not mean every older system has the same support status, so manufacturer support, software compatibility and parts availability should be verified for the specific equipment being purchased. The modular nature of HPLC also creates an important secondary-market issue, since a used Agilent 1260 may be assembled from several modules and the exact module numbers, generation and configuration can matter. See our broader guide on laboratory equipment financing for how we approach analytical instruments generally.

Specialized Agilent LC Systems

Not every Agilent LC acquisition fits neatly into routine analytical HPLC or UHPLC. Agilent also offers specialized configurations including preparative LC, GPC/SEC, SFC and online LC systems. The 1260 Infinity III Prime Analytical-Scale LC Purification System is designed for purification workflows and can incorporate automated sample injection and fraction collection, and earlier 1260 Infinity II Preparative LC and Preparative LC/MSD systems added mass-spectral detection to purification workflows. The 1260 Infinity II GPC/SEC System is designed for polymer analysis and can include a vialsampler, column thermostat, isocratic pump and refractive index detector with additional detection options, and Agilent also offers a 1260 Infinity III SFC System for supercritical fluid chromatography applications. These systems should be identified by their actual application and configuration when financing is requested. A preparative LC system with fraction collection should not be documented as if it were a routine analytical 1260 HPLC.

Financing a New Agilent HPLC or UHPLC

A new Agilent LC purchase should begin with the complete system quote. Because Agilent LC systems are modular, the quote may include the base LC platform plus a pump, autosampler, detector, column compartment, thermostat, software, workstation and application-specific accessories. Financing may allow a laboratory to spread the equipment acquisition over a defined term rather than deploying the entire purchase price from working capital upfront. The business reason for the purchase should also be clear. A laboratory may be replacing aging HPLC systems, increasing sample throughput, moving methods into UHPLC, adding another LC front end for mass spectrometry, expanding pharmaceutical QC capacity or building a new biopharma workflow. Those are materially different reasons for purchasing equipment and they help explain why the laboratory is making the investment.

Financing a Used or Refurbished Agilent HPLC or UHPLC

Used and refurbished Agilent HPLC and UHPLC systems can be financeable. The challenge is documenting exactly what equipment is included. For a used Agilent LC system, prepare the exact system family, individual module numbers where available, serial numbers when available, year of manufacture when available, pump configuration, autosampler configuration, detector type and model, column compartment, sample thermostat if included, fraction collector if applicable, computer and software, software license status, current operating condition, service and preventive-maintenance history when available, refurbishment performed by the seller, warranty or post-sale support, installation or qualification included in the purchase, and the complete purchase price. Module identification is particularly important with used HPLC. A dealer quote describing equipment only as an Agilent 1260 HPLC may not provide enough information to understand the actual system, since the lender should be able to see what pump, sampler, detector and other major modules are included.

Upgrading From an Older Agilent HPLC or UHPLC

The introduction of Infinity III creates a natural upgrade path for laboratories operating earlier Infinity II and Infinity systems. A laboratory may move from an earlier 1260 into a current 1260 Infinity III to replace aging routine HPLC capacity, another may move into a 1260 Infinity III Prime to gain additional UHPLC flexibility, and a laboratory requiring higher UHPLC performance may move into the 1290 Infinity III. Agilent specifically designed its Infinity LC architecture to support method transfer between platforms, and the current systems support method transfer from legacy instrumentation. The financing request should explain why the laboratory is upgrading. Possible reasons include replacing aging equipment, reducing downtime, increasing throughput, adding UHPLC capability, improving method transfer, expanding sample capacity or pairing the new LC with a mass spectrometer.

Buying Direct From Agilent vs. a Dealer vs. Private Party

New Agilent LC equipment purchased through Agilent or an authorized sales channel generally comes with a detailed quote identifying the modules and configuration. Used equipment requires closer review because modular LC systems can be assembled in many different ways. A laboratory-equipment dealer should identify the major modules, condition, testing or refurbishment performed, software included, installation terms and any warranty or post-sale support. Private-party purchases can potentially be financed but may require additional verification of ownership, serial numbers, condition, equipment location and purchase price. For a used modular system, photographs and complete module identification can also help establish exactly what is being purchased.

Don't Forget the Rest of the HPLC System

The LC stack may include substantially more equipment than the pump itself. Depending on the Agilent configuration, a complete acquisition may include a binary or quaternary pump, autosampler or multisampler, sample thermostat, column compartment, diode array detector, variable wavelength detector, fluorescence detector, refractive index detector, fraction collector, solvent-selection hardware, workstation, OpenLab CDS, MassHunter software when integrated with MS, preparative pumps, additional LC modules, UPS or power-conditioning equipment, installation and qualification. If the LC is being purchased as the front end for an LC-MS, include the complete mass spectrometry quote as well so the financing company can review the acquisition as the complete analytical system rather than separating equipment that will operate together.

Why the Exact Agilent HPLC Model and Modules Matter to a Lender

"Agilent HPLC" is not a complete collateral description. A 1260 Infinity III routine HPLC configuration, 1260 Infinity III Prime HPLC/UHPLC system and 1290 Infinity III UHPLC system represent different equipment, and the modules add another layer. Two used 1260 systems may carry the same family name while containing different pumps, detectors, autosamplers and module generations, and those differences can affect the purchase price, functionality and secondary-market value of the equipment. For financing purposes, the lender needs to understand the actual asset rather than the broad product family, which means identifying both the system generation and the important modules.

What You'll Need to Finance an Agilent HPLC or UHPLC

Start with the complete equipment quote. Useful information includes the exact Agilent LC family and generation, major module numbers when available, the complete system configuration, whether the equipment is new, used or refurbished, the vendor or seller, the purchase price, serial numbers and manufacture years when available, operating condition for used equipment, service history when available, software and workstation included, installation and qualification included in the purchase, business information and ownership, and a brief explanation of how the laboratory will use the equipment. Qualifying smaller transactions may be eligible for application-only financing, while larger or more complex equipment acquisitions may require additional business and financial documentation.

Financing Agilent HPLC and UHPLC Through iLease Capital

iLease Capital works with laboratories acquiring new, used and refurbished analytical equipment including HPLC, UHPLC and complete LC/MS systems. Financing may be available for transactions up to $5 million plus, and qualifying smaller transactions may be eligible for application-only financing. If you are evaluating a 1260 Infinity III, 1260 Infinity III Prime, 1290 Infinity III, Bio LC system or used Agilent Infinity II equipment, send the complete system quote including the major modules. The exact configuration, condition and seller help us understand the acquisition and structure the financing request correctly.

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