Priorclave North America is the exclusive US and Canadian distributor of Priorclave Ltd. Laboratory Autoclaves (also known as steam sterilizers). Priorclave Ltd. was founded by Charles Prior in February 1988, in a modest manufacturing facility on the former Royal Arsenal site of Thamesmead, London. The Company initially manufactured laboratory autoclaves and climatic test chambers. The early product portfolio was a small range of innovative, 100L and 150L capacity, top and front loading autoclaves, with copper pressure vessels. These were ideally suited to food manufacturers who found an increasing demand for microbiological testing. The range shifted to grade 316L stainless steel pressure vessels, and gradually expanded with a bench top, then larger rectangular and steam jacketed models, autoclaves with power doors, and most recently a large capacity front loader. Priorclave now leads the market with features such as Thermal Safety Locks, Full Microprocessor Controls, and Media Warming Cycles, offered as standard on every model. The adoption of Biomaster Protected patented powder coating technology, proven to reduce bacteria, reducing cross contamination risks, established Priorclave as the only brand with a proven ability to destroy bacteria, both inside and out. In a world of increased safety regulation and certification Priorclave has kept up with the times. BS9001 certification was achieved in 1995 and maintained as this progressed to BS EN ISO 9001:2008. To support its growing servicing, testing, and calibration operations, in 1998 Priorclave was accredited by UKAS as a calibration laboratory. Priorclaves pressure vessel designs have always been independently checked and approved by external insurance assessors, a process formalized in 2004 by certification under the European Pressure Equipment Directive.