An autoclave is the most important hygiene solution for many nail salons, foot care, and cosmetic areas. But which device is the right one, and when is sterilization even necessary?

In this guide, you'll learn what to consider when buying an autoclave, what differences there are, and which solution best suits your studio.

Therefore, when you want to buy an autoclave, it's not just about a device, but about safety, legal requirements, and smooth studio operations. But which autoclave is right for you? And when do you even need one?

What requirements apply to your studio?

Before choosing a device, you should ask yourself three central questions:

• What treatments do you perform?
• Is there contact with blood or injured skin?
• What regulations apply in your federal state?

👉 These points determine whether sterilization is necessary.

Important to know:
Legal requirements in Germany are not uniformly regulated but are specified by the respective health authorities. However, the trend is clear:

➡️ Hygiene standards are becoming increasingly stringent

When do you need a B-class autoclave?

A B-class autoclave operates with a pre-vacuum, ensuring that steam can penetrate even packaged and complex instruments.

👉 This is particularly important for:

• packaged instruments
• hollow instruments
• applications with increased hygiene risk

In many areas – especially in foot care, podiatry, or cosmetics with invasive applications – this standard is already mandatory or is becoming increasingly so.

Cassette system or chamber autoclave?

The choice of system depends heavily on your daily workflow.

Cassette system (e.g., STATIM)

• extremely fast sterilization cycles
• compact and space-saving
• ideal for small quantities of instruments

👉 perfect for classic nail salons

Chamber autoclave (e.g., Bravo)

• larger capacity
• versatile
• ideal for continuous operation

👉 particularly suitable for:

• foot care
• podiatry
• studios with high throughput

What size do you need?

The right size for your autoclave depends directly on your workload.

👉 small studio
→ compact devices like STATIM 2000 or smaller chamber devices

👉 medium studio
→ STATIM 5000 or Bravo 17–22 liters

👉 large studio or practice
→ Bravo 22–28 liters

Speed vs. Volume

A crucial difference:

• Cassette systems → faster, but less capacity
• Chamber autoclaves → more volume, but longer cycles

👉 The right choice depends on whether you:

• need small quantities quickly
• or want to sterilize larger batches efficiently

Documentation & Safety

Modern autoclaves today offer significantly more than just sterilization:

• digital protocols
• automatic documentation
• traceability of processes

👉 This is particularly important for:

• official inspections
• legal security
• professional studio management

Emmi Steri 15 – compact hygiene solution for daily studio use

The Emmi Steri 15 is a practical solution for quick and easy hygiene in daily studio life. UVC-LED technology reliably reduces germs, making instruments ready for use again in a short time.

Especially in nail salons, the Emmi Steri 15 is ideal for tools that do not come into contact with blood or injured skin. It complements existing hygiene concepts and ensures additional safety between treatments.

👉 Important:
The Emmi Steri 15 does not replace an autoclave for applications requiring sterilization, but it is an efficient addition for many cosmetic applications.

Alternative for studios: Emmi Steri UVC LED

Not every studio immediately needs a classic autoclave.
For many applications – especially in nail design without invasive procedures – a supplementary solution can be beneficial.

👉 The Emmi Steri UVC LED offers:

• fast disinfection in a few minutes
• reduction of germs by up to 99.99%
• easy application in daily studio life

👉 ideal for:

• nail salons
• tools without blood contact
• additional hygiene safety

⚠️ Important:
The Emmi Steri does not replace an autoclave for applications requiring sterilization, but it is a strong addition for many studios.

Conclusion – which autoclave suits you?

The right choice always depends on your studio and your treatments:

👉 small nail salon
→ compact solution or supplement like Emmi Steri

👉 growing studio
→ STATIM 2000 or 5000

👉 foot care / podiatry
→ Bravo 17–22 liters

👉 high throughput / practice
→ Bravo 28 liters

Our Tip

If you are unsure:

• always refer to your daily workflow
  and the regulations of your health authority

Because one thing is clear:
👉 Hygiene will become even more important in the future

Find the right solution for your studio now

Discover our selection of:

• autoclaves for nail salons & foot care
• professional sterilization solutions
• supplementary hygiene systems like Emmi Steri

👉 and bring your studio to the next hygiene standard