Published: October 2023
Bioreactors and fermenters play a vital role in the upstream bioprocessing industry by providing the optimal conditions for the production of high-value products such as recombinant proteins, tissue-engineered constructs, and in-vitro cell-based models. Several specialized fermenters and bioreactor manufacturers are crucial partners for biopharmaceutical companies seeking to optimize their production processes and achieve consistent, high-quality products at different scales of operation. We analyzed more than 255 fermenter and bioreactor manufacturers which claim to possess the necessary technical expertise for manufacturing high-quality bioreactors and fermenters. In this article, we discover 10 leading fermenter and bioreactor manufacturers.
In order to accelerate the drug manufacturing processes, companies are continually seeking ways to implement new technologies for enhancing, improving, and optimizing bioprocessing. According to the Biopharma Resilience Index by Cytiva, the manufacturing agility parameter has shown improvement over the past two years.1 This improvement is largely attributed to significant investments and attention directed towards the COVID-19 pandemic. This aligns with the surge in bioreactor sales, specifically for stainless steel bioreactors in 2020 as many organizations expanded their facilities in order to meet the demand for COVID-19 vaccine production. Beyond high volume production, there is a growing demand for specialized biologics tailored for patient-specific therapy. This trend has led to an increased demand for diverse bioreactor systems, including single use bioreactors, stirred tank bioreactors, small scale bioreactors, air-lift bioreactors, and others like rocker, perfusion, wave bed, bubble column, fixed-bed, fluidized bed, membrane bioreactor, packed bed, fibrous bed, and photobioreactors. These vessels, which come in various fermenter and bioreactor sizes, cater to bioprocessing demand at different scales of operation. Presently, manufacturers of biomolecules, including the in-house and biologics contract manufacturing organizations (CMOs), are relying on several original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) that produce different components of bioreactors, and as well as engineering, procurement, and construction (EPCs) companies that integrate all the equipment designed by OEM engineers into a complete performing system. In addition to commissioning bioprocessing equipment, several fermenter and bioreactor manufacturers provide bioprocess engineering and consulting services, as well as support in the form of offering upgrades / retrofits and troubleshooting / repairs.
Roots Analysis has conducted an exhaustive study on Fermenters and Bioreactors Market, featuring the current market landscape and future opportunities for fermenter and bioreactor manufacturers.
The top ten companies manufacturing fermenters and bioreactors are listed below (in alphabetical order):
| Company | Year of Establishment | Year of Establishment | Employee Count |
| Applikon Biotechnology | 1973 |  |
51-200 |
| BioNet | 1999 |  |
51-200 |
| Cytiva | 1968 |  |
5,001-10,000 |
| Eppendorf | 1945 | .webp) |
1,001-5,000 |
| Merck | 1668 |  |
10,000+ |
| Ollital Technology | 2010 |  |
150+ |
| Parr Instrument Company | 1899 |  |
51-200 |
| Sartorius | 1870 |  |
10,001+ |
| Shanghai Bailun Biological Technology | 1998 |  |
51-200 |
| Solaris Biotech | 2002 |  |
11-50 |
Interested in exploring all 250+ fermenter and bioreactor manufacturers across various regions?
This article highlights ten leading fermenter and bioreactor manufacturers catering to the needs of the biologics manufacturing industry. The companies presented in this article are based on their product portfolio / capabilities (including diversity of their bioreactors and fermenters, their working volumes, scales of operation, types of bioprocesses, modes of operation, number of end users and types of cell culture). It is essential to note that the selection of top players can differ substantially according to the defined criteria(s).
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Applikon Biotechnology is a spin-off from a Vlaardingen-based glass technology company, and a global supplier of diverse line of bioreactor systems required for the production of antibodies, bioplastics, enzymes, and vaccines, in the biopharmaceutical and industrial biotechnology sectors. Additionally, the firm has a strong research and development pipeline of bioreactors and leverages a worldwide distribution network to access its customer base. It offers reactors with the capability to transition from laboratory to commercial scale. The company's product portfolio is complemented by an attractive recurring revenue model based on single use reactors, service, and sensors.
Recognizing the immense potential of Applikon Biotechnology in the bioreactors market, Getinge announced its intent to acquire 100% of Applikon Biotechnology's shares in December 2019, successfully finalizing the acquisition in January 2020. At the time of this acquisition, Applikon Biotechnology reported annual net sales of approximately SEK 450 million. Mattias Perjos (President and CEO of Getinge) highlighted that Applikon Biotechnology's exceptional bioreactor solutions would be a valuable addition to Getinge's portfolio, particularly within the rapidly expanding biopharma segment, contributing to both net sales and EBITA growth.
The section below highlights the specifications of bioreactors and fermenters offered by Applikon Biotechnology:
Recent Developments: In March 2023, Getinge announced the launch of a 3D printed bioreactor, AppliFlex ST bioreactor, curated for lab-scale usage and available in capacities of 500 mL, 3 L and 5 L. Further information related to fermenter and bioreactor manufacturers is available in the full report.
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BioNet is a leading provider of bioprocess equipment and software, functional across all scales of operation including laboratory, pilot and industrial scale for industries and R&D organizations. At the outset, the company's primary endeavor was the mass production of antibiotics through fermentation. However, it later redirected its efforts towards research and development, transitioning from an engineering company specializing in bespoke solutions for clients to a company focused on product manufacturing. It is worth highlighting that the product portfolio of the company consists of software solutions, bioreactors and fermenters, cleaning in place systems, and tangential filtration. In addition, the company claims to offer its industrial clients a comprehensive solution for bioproduction plants, by combining the company's proprietary equipment with technologies from other prominent vendors.
Ricardo Egea (CEO and Founder of BioNet) stated that in 2019, 55% of their sales came from exports. This highlighted the substantial growth potential of BioNet, especially when considering the relatively small size of the Spanish market on a global scale. As a result, company has been seeking new opportunities for distribution of its products in the international bioreactors market.2 In fact, in November 2021, Sartorius’ company BIA Separations and BioNet initiated a collaboration to enhance their development and production capacities for nucleic acid vaccines across Europe, Australia, and low-middle income countries.3
The section below highlights the specifications of bioreactors and fermenters offered by BioNet:
Recent Developments: In May 2021, the firm announced the launch of a novel bioreactor, designed for improving the flexibility of vaccine production. Further, in the same year, it upgraded its Factory Acceptance Test (FAT) capabilities, enabling it to perform quality assurance tests on bioreactors of working volume above 3,000 L, as well as complete bioproduction lines. Further information related to fermenter and bioreactor manufacturers is available in the full report.
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Cytiva, formerly known as GE Healthcare Life Sciences, is another leading bioreactor manufacturer that claims to offer a wide range of technologies and services for manufacturing and delivery of therapeutics. In March 2020, Danaher acquired GE Healthcare Life Sciences business, which now operates as a standalone operating company within Danaher’s Life Sciences segment. Cytiva’s diverse portfolio includes well-recognized brands, such as ÄKTA, Amersham, Biacore, FlexFactory, HyClone, MabSelect, Sefia, Whatman, Xcellerex and Xuri. The firm offers its products / services through 16 manufacturing sites, in more than 40 countries across the globe. The company’s key customers include firms engaged in research and development of innovative vaccines, biologic drugs, and novel cell and gene therapies. Further, the company’s cell culture portfolio encompasses a variety of products, including bioreactors, fermenters, cell culture medium, feeds, and serum, which provide an ideal environment for cell growth and are suitable for applications in research and bioprocessing.
The section below highlights the specifications of bioreactors and fermenters offered by Cytiva:
Recent Developments: In April 2023, Cytiva launched X-platform bioreactors in 50 and 200 L bioreactor sizes. These bioreactors come with Figurate automation software and aim to simplify single use upstream bioprocessing, improving efficiency, production, and supply chain operations. In January 2021, Cytiva and Pall invested a sum of USD 1.5 billion to meet growing demand for biotechnology solutions; of this, over USD 300 million was invested in single-use technologies.4 Additionally, in partnership with Wego Pharmaceutical, a prominent healthcare technology provider in the nation, the two firms are enhancing an already-established facility they jointly initiated in 2018. The introduction of these new production lines will result in a threefold increase in the supply capacity of single-use consumables in the Asia-Pacific region. Further information related to fermenter and bioreactor manufacturers is available in the full report.
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Eppendorf is a life sciences firm, focused on the development and marketing of consumables and instruments. Its vast product portfolio encompasses instruments, such as bioreactors, cell manipulation systems, centrifuges, CO2 incubators, DNA amplification equipment, dispensers, fermenters, mixers, spectrometers, shakers, ultra-low temperature freezers, pipettes and automated pipetting systems. The company’s customer base comprises stakeholders from academic institutes, commercial research laboratories, biotechnological, chemical, food, and pharmaceutical industries.
The section below highlights the specifications of bioreactors and fermenters offered by Eppendorf:
Recent Developments: In September 2022, the company announced the expansion of the high-tech site located in Jülich, Germany engaged in the production of bioreactor systems and software solutions. The construction of a new state-of-the-art multifunctional building boosted its production capacity, especially dedicated to the international bioreactors markets, by up to 20%. According to Eva van Pelt (Co-CEO of the Eppendorf Group), the investments at the Germany site is a part of company’s growth strategy to become the preferred provider of drug product and analytical services in the pharmaceutical industry.5 Further information related to fermenter and bioreactor manufacturers is available in the full report.
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Merck is a multinational science and technology company that operates across healthcare, life science, and electronics sectors, through its 250 affiliated companies. In 2010, Merck acquired Millipore and subsequently established Merck Millipore to provide products and services for the bioresearch and bio-production markets. Merck Millipore provides a comprehensive range of products that are intended to cater to the needs of development and production processes in the pharmaceutical industry. The products offered by the firm include MQuant test strips, Clarisolve depth filter, Readybag granulated media pouches, and Mobius single-use manufacturing related products.
Mobius® single-use manufacturing provides individuals and organizations with the means to work more efficiently and cost-effectively, supported by a team of experts who guide them throughout the entire process. From the initial exploration of single-use alternatives to the optimization of single-use unit operations, the company offers solutions across various stages, including buffer and media preparation, bioreactor operations, clarification, chromatography, virus clearance, ultrafiltration/diafiltration, and formulation and filling.
The section below highlights the specifications of bioreactors and fermenters offered by Merck:
Recent Developments: The company invested around EUR 255 million across 2021 and 2022 to expand its Mobius® single-use bioreactor and manufacturing facilities in France and China. According to Matthias Heinzel (Member of the Executive Board of Merck and CEO Life Science Merck Group), the robust growth in the single-use technology market among biopharmaceutical manufacturers, driven by factors like flexibility, cost savings, speed, and reduced contamination risk, has been further accentuated by the COVID-19 pandemic. The investment in Merck’s facilities gears towards hastening the provision of crucial products and technologies for advancing breakthrough treatments globally.6 Further information related to fermenter and bioreactor manufacturers is available in the full report.
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Established in 2003, Ollital Technology is a technology provider, specializing in the development of products for use across a wide range of applications, including biosafety protection, disinfection and sterilization, life science, medical microbiological detection, and sample handling. Through its global network of 52 distributors, the company offers its products and affiliated technical support to numerous organizations, including industries, inspection agencies, research institutes, and universities, across 130 countries. The company has obtained a total of 108 certifications, which include International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 9001, ISO 14001, Conformité Européenne (European Conformity, CE), National Sanitation Foundation (NSF), Europäische Norm (National Sanitation Foundation, EN), and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) certificates, for manufacturing products including biochemistry analyzers, lab reactors, life science instruments, medical microbiological detection equipment, and ultrasonic equipment.
The section below highlights the specifications of bioreactors and fermenters offered by Ollital Technology:
Ollital Technology has established a number of partnerships with business entities located in over 130 countries. Further information related to fermenter and bioreactor manufacturers is available in the full report.
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Parr Instrument Company is a US based firm that designs, manufactures, and offers laboratory apparatus and instruments in order to cater to the needs of various industries, such as biotechnology, chemical, petrochemical, and pharmaceutical industries. The firm offers an array of products including high pressure tubular reactors, oxygen bomb calorimeters, pressure vessels, shaker hydrogenators, and stirred reactors. It is worth highlighting that the company’s reactor portfolio consists of horizontal reactors, multiple reactor systems, stirred reactors and tubular reactor systems, which are available in both standard and custom designs. As per the company, the products are designed and manufactured in adherence with its quality assurance program. This ensures that all the procedures are carried out in compliance with regulatory agencies, including American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), CSA (Canadian Standards Association), ISO 9001:2015 (International Organization for Standardization), and several other applicable European Directives (CE)
The section below highlights the specifications of bioreactors and fermenters offered by Parr Instrument Company:
Recent Developments: In March 2023, Parr Instrument Company attended both the AMPP Annual Conference & Expo in Colorado, US, and the ACS Spring 2023 National Meeting and Exposition in Indiana, US. Moreover, during 2022, they actively participated in multiple conferences, including the 2022 AIChE Annual Meeting in Arizona, US, the 28th ORCS Meeting in Florida, US, ACS Fall 2022 in Illinois, US, and the AMPP Annual Conference + Expo in Texas, US. Further information related to fermenter and bioreactor manufacturers is available in the full report.
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Sartorius is a leading life sciences company and an international provider of laboratory equipment and affiliated services to various pharmaceutical industries and research institutes. It operates through two business segments, namely Bioprocess Solutions Division and Lab Products & Services Division. The company's Bioprocess Solutions division is managed by its subsidiary, Sartorius Stedim Biotech, which was incorporated in 2007 as a result of merger between Sartorius and French-based biotech supplier, Stedim. Sartorius Stedim Biotech offers scalable technologies for the production of biopharmaceuticals, as well as digital tools for biopharma data analytics. Additionally, it offers single-use bioreactors that are specifically designed for growing cell therapy and gene therapy, monoclonal antibody, recombinant protein, stem cell, and vaccines.
In April 2017, Sartorius Stedim Biotech announced the launch of its next generation Biostat STR®, a fully scalable, single-use bioreactor family based on a conventional stirred-tank design. This new bioreactor range featuring upgraded hardware and software, as well as a fully integrated, new design of Flexsafe STR® single-use bags, ensures quick and easy bioprocess scale-up of biologics and vaccines. The Biostat STR® bioreactors are equipped with an improved stainless steel bag holder for user-friendly installation of the single-use Flexsafe STR® bag. The bioreactor series consisting of five systems in different sizes offers working volumes from 12.5 L to 2,000 L.
The section below highlights the specifications of bioreactors and fermenters offered by Sartorius:
Recent Developments: In March 2023, the company was actively engaged in various events worldwide, including the 6th Gene Therapy for Rare Disorders USA in Massachusetts, CIM 2023 in Lyon, France, LBMA in London, UK, Biologics Manufacturing Asia in Singapore, Bioprocessing Summit Europe in Barcelona, Spain, Laborama 2023 in Brussels, Belgium, and Forum Labo Paris 2023 at Porte de Versailles, France. Further information related to fermenter and bioreactor manufacturers is available in the full report.
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Shanghai Bailun Biological Technology is an equipment manufacturer and service provider that exclusively focuses on bioreactors and fermenters. Its product catalog includes air lift fermenters, animal and plant cell bioreactors, control systems, laboratory half-glass fermenters, laboratory glass fermenters, laboratory steel fermenters, light bioreactors, magnetic agitation fermenters, mechanical agitation fermenters, microbial fermenters, miniature fermenters, multifunctional fermenters, shake bottle machines, solid fermenters, and vaccine fermenters. These are capable of processing a wide range of biologics, including antibiotics, antibodies, enzymes, recombinant proteins and vaccines. Depending on the application, these products are available in various bioreactor sizes, ranging from 0.1 L to 1,000,000 L.
The section below highlights the specifications of bioreactors and fermenters offered by Shanghai Bailun Biological Technology:
The company showcased its presence at various domestic conferences, including the 20th World Pharmaceutical Raw Materials held in Shanghai, China, in December 2020 and CPhI & P-MEC China in June 2018, held in Shanghai, China. Shanghai Bailun Biological Technology not only serves the domestic market but also exports its bioreactors and fermenters globally, reaching countries like Egypt and Australia.7 Further information related to fermenter and bioreactor manufacturers is available in the full report.
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Solaris Biotechnology specializes in manufacturing bioreactors and fermenters for research, development and production purposes. At present, the company is operating through two business units, namely Solaris Lab and Solaris Industrial. Solaris Lab is dedicated to the production of lab equipment ranging from 120 mL up to 20 L, whereas Solaris Industrial focuses on the customizable cGMP pilot to commercial scale equipment of varying bioreactor sizes, up to 30,000 L. With the help of over 30 distributors worldwide, it serves a wide range of industries, such as agriculture, beverages and food, chemicals, cosmeceuticals, and pharmaceuticals. In November 2021, Donaldson Company acquired Solaris Biotechnology for an amount of nearly EUR 41 million.
The section below highlights the specifications of bioreactors and fermenters offered by Solaris Biotechnology:
Recent Developments: In November 2022, Solaris Biotechnology signed an agreement with Wildtype for developing a novel type of bioreactor to facilitate large-scale production of cultivated seafood. In addition, in November 2021, Solaris Biotech signed a research and development agreement with Algenist, where the latter firm will utilize the former company’s bioreactors for microalgae innovation. Further information related to fermenter and bioreactor manufacturers is available in the full report.
The above presentation features ten promising fermenter and bioreactor manufacturers selected from a pool of over 250 firms that we have compiled. If you're interested, you can download the Sample Report on this topic by Roots Analysis. For personalized assistance in identifying the most relevant solutions based on your specific criteria, please don't hesitate to reach out to us at sales@rootsanalysis.com.
Jasparam Kaur, a senior business analyst, has been a pivotal member of the Roots Analysis team since 2020. She has consistently showcased her expertise in crafting insightful and top-notch quality market research reports across various niche and mature segments within the healthcare industry. Her analytical skills are truly adept, and her unwavering attention to detail is her hallmark. Beyond her work on syndicate market research reports, Jasparam has successfully undertaken various challenging consulting projects for esteemed firms. Her involvement spans from shaping project proposals to defining precise project requirements, devising rigorous methodologies, and ultimately, finding solutions to complex business challenges. During her journey at Roots Analysis, she honed a diverse range of technical skills in data analysis. Her expertise encompasses areas such as forecasting and opportunity assessment, competitive analysis and a variety of other quantitative, qualitative and strategic frameworks tailored to deliver valuable insights for the drugs, medical devices, and service-based markets.
Source 1: https://www.cytivalifesciences.com/en/us/news-center/cytiva-launches-2023-biopharma-resilience-index-10001
Source 2: https://www.iqs.edu/en/noticia/interwiew-ricardo-egea-founder-and-ceo-bionet-ingenier%C3%ADa
Source 3: https://bionet-asia.com/bionet-bia-collaboration-on-mrna/
Source 4: https://www.cytivalifesciences.com/en/us/news-center/investing-for-capacity-expansion-2021-10001
Source 5: https://corporate.eppendorf.com/en/16092022-eppendorf-expands-high-tech-site-in-juelich-and-celebrates-topping-out-ceremony-for-multifunctional-building/
Source 6: https://www.sigmaaldrich.com/IN/en/collections/press/investment-to-strengthen-manufacturing-capabilities-in-molsheim-france
Source 7: https://www.cphi.cn/zt/pre-registration2018s/images/CPhIlist.pdf
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