Fermenters and Bioreactors Market

Fermenters And Bioreactors Market Overview

The global fermenters and bioreactors market was estimated to be worth USD 20.4 billion in 2023 and is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 11.3% during the forecast period. Since their introduction in 1982, biologics have gained popularity owing to their therapeutic efficacy, favorable safety profiles, and the ability to treat a wide variety of disease indications, which are otherwise hard to treat. In fact, in the past two decades, over 170 biopharmaceuticals have already been granted approval by the FDA and over 7,500 biological interventions are under evaluation in clinical trials. It is a well-known fact that the commercial and clinical scale manufacturing of such complex biomolecules require highly specialized bioprocessing equipment to facilitate the maintenance of ideal conditions, such as optimal temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, fluid delivery, and other critical bioprocess parameters that are essential for steady cell growth. Bioreactors are capable of providing such optimal conditions and are critical to the upstream manufacturing processes. These systems are designed to increase the concentration of viable cells, thereby enabling the production of large amounts of recombinant proteins, such as vaccines, fusion proteins, antibodies and enzymes. Apart from producing conventional therapeutic proteins, bioreactors can also be used to produce advanced medicinal products (ATMPs), namely cell and gene therapy, retroviral vectors for gene therapy and cellular components of 3D tissue. In contrast to bioreactors, fermenters are used for the anaerobic cultivation of microbial (fungal or bacterial) cell populations to produce biologics that do not require significant post translational modifications. It is worth highlighting that the use of fermenters for the manufacturing of biologics provides faster development, higher yields and quality, reduced variation between batches, better scalability, and lower production costs, in comparison to the manufacturing carried out in bioreactors.

Key Market Insights

The Global Fermenters and Bioreactors Market- Distribution by Type of Product (Bioreactors and Fermenters), Fabrication Material (Glass, Stainless Steel and Single-use), Type of Bioprocess (Batch, Fed-batch and Continuous), Type of Biologic (Antibodies, Vaccines, Cell Therapies and Other Biologics), and Key Geographical Regions (North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Middle East and North Africa, and Latin America): Industry Trends and Global Forecasts, 2023-2035 market report features an extensive study of the current market landscape, market size, and future opportunities for the global bioreactors market and global fermenters market, during the given forecast period. Further, the market report highlights the efforts of several stakeholders engaged in this rapidly emerging segment of the bioprocess engineering industry.  Key takeaways of the bioreactors and fermenters market report are briefly discussed below.

Industry Analysis: Growing Demand for Bioreactors and Fermenters

Over the past 25 years, there has been a steady increase in the sales of biologics, growing at a rate of 12–14% annually. In order cater to this growing market demand, over 1,500 commercial scale biomanufacturing and contract manufacturing organization (CMO) facilities, equipped with bioreactors and / or fermenters have been established, globally.  In December 2022, Thermo Fisher Scientific opened a cGMP biologics manufacturing facility in Hangzhou, China. The facility is equipped with Thermo Fisher 2,000-liter HyPerforma single use bioreactors.

Further, during the COVID-19 pandemic, several companies enhanced their vaccine production capabilities (through capacity expansion / technology upgradation), resulting in a surge in the sales of bioreactors and fermenters. Moreover, the transition in the industry from high-volume biologics towards innovative specialized biologics, particularly those focused on treating rare conditions, has created a requirement for flexible manufacturing systems.  Consequently, there is an increasing demand for a diverse range of bioreactor systems (in term of design and mechanism of action), which primarily include single use bioreactor, stirred tank bioreactor, mini bioreactor, and air lift bioreactor, along with other bioreactor systems such as, rocker, perfusion, wave bed, bubble column, fixed-bed, fluidized bed, membrane bioreactor, packed bed, fibrous bed and photobioreactors. All these developments represent an additional avenue for revenue generation in the growing fermenters and bioreactors market during the forecast period.

Key Market Drivers: Role of Fermenter and Bioreactor Manufacturers

The design aspect of both bioreactors and fermenters, operational across different types of bioprocesses (batch, fed batch and continuous), is a complex engineering task, requiring extensive understanding of cell growth, metabolism, genetic manipulation, and product expression. As a result, industry and non-industry players producing biomolecules / cell and gene therapies, are relying on original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) that produce different components of bioreactors, and / or engineering, procurement, and construction (EPCs) companies that integrate all the equipment designed by OEM engineers into a complete performing system. Fermenter and bioreactor manufacturers that can offer their clients with modern bioprocess equipment and infrastructure upgrades, effective life cycle management for their products, responsive customer service, expert troubleshooting of equipment issues, and annual maintenance contracts to ensure efficient functioning of installed bioreactors without disruption, are the preferred partners. 

Key Challenges in the Fermenters and Bioreactors Market: Leaching is a Major Concern

Although single use bioreactors and fermenters have gained popularity due to their advantages, such as lower water and energy consumption (by approximately 45%), reduced initial investment costs (by 40%), and faster processing times for biologics (by 33%), they pose a risk of leachables and extractables (L&E). These  bioreactors are constructed using plastic materials that can release organic or inorganic chemicals into liquid pharmaceutical products, potentially jeopardizing the safety of the drug and the well-being of the patient.  The need for frequent purchases, variable costs per run, recurrent plastic disposal, and restricted capacity are some other potential bottlenecks restricting the widespread use of single use bioreactors.  While bioreactor manufacturers are striving to tackle these challenges through innovation in design and manufacturing methods, the increasing costs of procuring raw materials still remain a pressing concern.

Current Market Landscape: Fermenters and Bioreactors Market is Dominated by Small Companies

The global fermenters and bioreactors market landscape features more than 255 companies, which claim to possess the necessary technical expertise for manufacturing high-quality bioreactors and fermenters, in order to serve the biotechnology and biopharmaceutical industry. The market is currently dominated by small companies (1-50 employees), which represent 56% of the total number of players. Based on the requirement, bioreactors are produced using different fabrication materials, such as stainless steel bioreactors, glass bioreactors, and plastic bioreactors, and are available in varying dimensions and volumes, ranging from micro-mini (less than 1 mL and 1 to 10 mL) to large-scale (more than 10,000 L). It is interesting to highlight that companies manufacturing miniature and small-scale bioreactors represent nearly 30% of the total players in this market. These bioreactor models are essential for conducting high-throughput experimental studies related to media development, strain improvement or process optimization.  Further, recent developments in this industry indicate that majority of the bioreactor manufacturers have switched to advanced bioprocessing technology by integrating an automated mode of operation.

Fermenters and Bioreactors Market Size: Antibody Production is the Fastest Growing Market Segment by Product

Fermenters and bioreactors market for the biomanufacturing of biologics is estimated to be $20.4 billion in 2023. Specifically, in terms of types of biologics, the market is anticipated to be driven by the high demand for manufacturing different antibody formats, including monoclonal and bispecific antibodies. Currently, majority of the revenues are generated from the sales of bioreactors that operate in batch and fed-batch modes; however, during the forecast period, market size for bioreactors that operate in continuous mode is anticipated to grow at a relatively higher rate.  

Fermenters and Bioreactors Market Size: Stainless Steel Bioreactors is the Largest Market Segment by Fabrication Material

Currently, in terms of fabrication material, stainless steel bioreactors / stainless steel fermenters capture the largest share of this market. However, single use bioreactors / fermenters are likely to witness higher annual growth rates in the upcoming years. Single use bioreactors offer various advantages over conventional stainless steel bioreactors. These advantages include ~50% reduction in total energy and water consumption and ~40% cost saving by elimination of cleaning and sterilization processes after every batch production. Apart from the aforementioned benefits, use of single-use bioreactors also lowers the risk of cross-contamination, making these disposable bioreactors more user-friendly and efficient. Further, these systems are portable and have a smaller footprint as compared to the conventional systems, which reduces the total space required for installation. Owing to the aforementioned benefits associated with single use bioreactors, we believe that there is significant market growth opportunity for the companies engaged in this industry during the forecast period. PBS Biotech, a US based single use bioreactor manufacturer raised USD 22 million in January 2023. The company uses vertical wheel technology in its single use bioreactors for cell therapy manufacturing.

Key Emerging Trends in Bioreactors and Fermenters Market: Technology Advancements and Automation in Bioprocessing is Paving the Way Forward

The bioreactors and fermenters market is witnessing the adoption of bioprocessing 4.0 solutions that leverage machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI) for real-time bioprocess monitoring. For instance, a US based company, Culture Biosciences, has designed an integrated bioreactor platform to design, monitor and analyze experiments, remotely via the cloud.  The industry is also embracing advanced modular bioreactors that can be configured sequentially or in parallel. Further, the integration of controllers and automated systems is another technological advancement, that not only ensures that the processes continue to run within precise limits but also make the necessary adjustments, while minimizing the risk of human errors. 

Furthermore, the bioreactor manufacturers are also working on advancing the technology in order to allow the manufacturing of additional biologics / microorganisms. Technological developments will support the adoption of novel bioreactors, driving the market growth over the forecast period.

Top Fermenter and Bioreactor Manufacturers

Examples of the key fermenter and bioreactor manufacturers in this industry (which have also been captured in this market report) include Applikon Biotechnology, Bionet, Cytiva, Eppendorf, Merck, Ollital Technology, Parr Instrument Company, Sartorius, Shanghai Bailun Biological Technology, Solaris Biotech, Solida Biotech and Zhengzhou Laboao Instrument Equipment (LABAO). The market report includes an easily searchable excel database of all the fermenter and bioreactor manufacturers worldwide.

Recent Developments in Fermenters and Bioreactors Market

Several recent developments have taken place in the field of fermenters and bioreactors market, some of which have been outlined below. These developments, even if they took place post the release of our market report, substantiate the overall market trends that we have outlined in our analysis.

• In August 2023, Sartorius and Repligen launched an integrated bioreactor system that includes Repligen’s XCell® ATF system, a cell retention device with Sartorius’ Biostat STR® bioreactor. 
• In June 2023, Beckman Coulter Life Sciences launched a Light Array Module compatible with its BioLector XT Microbioreactor for cultivation of light dependent organisms such as microalgae. 
• In May 2023, Eppendorf launched the bioprocess autosampler which is designed for microbial applications and compatible with DASbox® Mini Bioreactor System and the DASGIP® Parallel Bioreactor System.

Scope of the Report

The market report presents an in-depth analysis of the various firms / organizations that are engaged in the fermenters and bioreactors market, across different segments, as defined in the table below:

Key Report Attributes	Details
Base Year	2023
Forecast Period	2023 – 2035
Market Size 2023	$ 20.4 billion
CAGR	11.3%
Type of Product	Bioreactors Fermenters
Fabrication Material	Glass Stainless Steel Single Use
Type of Bioprocess	Batch and Fed-batch Continuous
Type of Biologic	Antibodies Vaccines Cell Therapies Other Biologics
Key Geographical Regions	North America Europe Asia-Pacific Middle East and North Africa Latin America
Key Companies Profiled	Applikon Biotechnology Bionet Cytiva Eppendorf Merck Ollital Technology Parr Instrument Company  Sartorius Shanghai Bailun Biological Technology Solaris Biotech Solida Biotech Zhengzhou Laboao Instrument Equipment (LABAO) (Full list of 255+ companies captured in the market landscape analysis of the report)
Customization Scope	15% Free Customization Option (equivalent to 5 analysts working days)
PowerPoint Presentation (Complimentary)	Available
Excel Data Packs (Complimentary)	Market Landscape Analysis Company Competitiveness Analysis Capacity Analysis Market Forecast and Opportunity Analysis

 

The market report presents an in-depth analysis, highlighting the capabilities of various stakeholders engaged in the fermenters and bioreactors market, across different regions. Amongst other elements, the report includes:

• An executive summary of the insights captured during our research, offering a high-level view on the current state of the global fermenters and bioreactors market and its likely evolution in the mid-long term.
• A general introduction to bioreactors and fermenters, along with details related to the components of a bioreactor. Additionally, the chapter presents information on different types of bioreactors, based on type of bioprocess and mode of action. Further, it concludes with a discussion on applications of bioreactors and future perspectives in this industry. 
• A detailed assessment of the overall market landscape of companies manufacturing bioreactors and fermenters, based on several relevant parameters, such as year of establishment, company size (in terms of number of employees), region of headquarters, geographical reach (North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific and Rest of the World), type of product (bioreactors and fermenters), capacity (micro-mini, small-scale, bench-scale, lab-scale, pilot-scale and large-scale), scale of operation (preclinical, clinical and commercial), scalability, type of bioprocess (batch, fed-batch and continuous), type of cell culture (2D cell culture, 3D cell culture and 4D cell culture), mode of operation (manual, semi-automatic and automatic) and type of end user (academic institutes and research laboratories, biopharmaceutical and pharmaceutical industries, contract manufacturing organizations, and contract research organizations).
• A detailed competitive landscape of fermenter and bioreactor manufacturers based on manufacturer strength (in terms of years of experience and company size), portfolio strength (considering geographical reach, type of product, number of products in portfolio, type of bioreactor or fermenter, capacity, scale of operation, scalability, type of bioprocess, type of cell culture, mode of operation and end users).
• Elaborate profiles of key fermenters and bioreactor manufacturers (shortlisted on the basis of cumulative strength of manufacturers and product portfolio); each profile includes a brief overview of the company, along with information on its financial information (if available), product portfolio, recent developments and an informed future outlook. 
• An estimate of the global installed bioreactors and fermenters capacity of biologics, based on publicly available information provided by various industry stakeholders. It also features distribution of the available capacity on the basis of fabrication material (glass, stainless steel and single use), source of cell culture (mammalian, microbial and others), reactor volume (less than 2,000 L, 2,000 to 5,000 L, 5,001 to 10,000 L and more than 10,000 L), type of manufacturer (in-house, hybrid and CMOs) and key geographical regions (North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific and Rest of the World).
• A case study on the market landscape of bioprocess controllers     and automation systems, providing information on scale of operation (laboratory, clinical, and commercial), key features (scalability / ease to use, visual data display, remote accessibility, built-in system control sensors, expansive I/O compatibility and provisions for alarms / alerts), compatibility with bioreactor system (stirred tank (glass), single-use bioreactor, stirred tank (steel), fermenter, rocking motion), type of bioprocess (batch, fed-batch and perfusion), and type of process controlled (cell cultivation and microbial fermentation). In addition, the chapter presents details of companies involved in the development of bioprocess control software, upstream and downstream controllers, including information on their year of establishment, company size, and location of headquarters.

One of the key objectives of this market research report was to estimate the current market size, opportunity, and the future market growth potential of the global fermenters and bioreactors market over the forecast period. We have provided an informed estimate on the likely evolution of the bioreactors and fermenters market in the mid-to-long term for the forecast period, 2023-2035. Our year-wise projections of the current and forecasted opportunity have been further segmented based on relevant parameters, such as type of product (bioreactors and fermenters), fabrication material (glass, stainless steel and single use), type of bioprocess (batch, fed-batch and continuous), type of biologic (antibodies, vaccines, cell therapies and other biologics), and key geographical regions (North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Middle East and North Africa, and Latin America). In order to account for future uncertainties associated with some of the key parameters and to add robustness to our model, we have provided three market forecast scenarios, portraying the conservative, base and optimistic scenarios of the industry’s evolution.

The opinions and insights presented in this study were influenced by discussions conducted with multiple stakeholders in this industry. The market report features detailed transcripts of interviews held with the following individuals:

• Sachin Kishor Chauhan (Director and Business Unit Head, Power and Energy, Oil and Gas, and Renewable Energy, Ensofa Projects)
• N. V. Chaudhari (Founder and Director, Sunrise Process Equipments)
• Per Stobbe (Chief Executive Officer, Marketing, Technical Support, CerCell)
• Torsten Due Bryld (Chief Commercial Officer, CelVivo)

All actual figures have been sourced and analyzed from publicly available information forums and primary research discussions. Financial figures mentioned in this market report are in USD, unless otherwise specified.

Frequently Asked Questions

Question 1: What is the current market size of bioreactors and fermenters?

Answer: The current global bioreactors and fermenters market size is estimated to be over USD 20 billion. 

Question 2: Which are the top players in the global bioreactors and fermenters market?

Answer: Presently, more than 255 companies are engaged in manufacturing bioreactors and fermenters, worldwide. The top players engaged in this domain (which have also been captured in this report) include Applikon Biotechnology (acquired by Getinge), Bionet, Cytiva, Eppendorf, Merck, Ollital Technology, Parr Instrument Company, Sartorius, Shanghai Bailun Biological Technology, Solaris Biotech, Solida Biotech and Zhengzhou Laboao Instrument Equipment (LABAO).

Question 3: What are the factors driving the global bioreactors and fermenters market?

Answer: The factors driving the global bioreactors and fermenters market include advancements in bioprocessing technologies, and the surge in demand for novel biopharmaceuticals, such as precision and regenerative medicine.

Question 4: Which region has the highest share in global bioreactors and fermenters market?

Answer: North America and Europe capture around 70% share in the current global bioreactors and fermenters market, followed by Asia-Pacific. It is worth mentioning that, within Asia-Pacific, majority of the market share is contributed by China and India.

Question 5: What are the leading market segments in global bioreactors and fermenters market?

Answer: Currently, in terms of fabrication material, stainless steel bioreactors / fermenters capture the largest share of this market. However, single-use bioreactors / fermenters are likely to witness higher annual growth rates in the upcoming years, owing to their smaller footprint, cost efficiency and increased productivity. Further, in terms of type of biologic, cell culture systems used for the production of antibodies are anticipated to capture a prominent share of the current and future market.

Question 6: Which segment, in terms of bioreactor / fermenter capacity, accounts for the largest share in the global bioreactors and fermenters market?

Answer: The capacity of the bioreactors varies, ranging from a few milliliters to several liters, contingent upon the specific design and operational mode employed across diverse bioprocesses.  At present, the global bioreactors and fermenters market is dominated by laboratory-scale bioreactors / fermenters. This category considers bioreactors / fermenters in the volume range of 1 L to 299 L. This is followed by pilot-scale bioreactors (300 L to 10,000 L) and bench-scale bioreactors (101 mL to 999 mL).

Question 7: What is the growth rate (CAGR) in the global bioreactors and fermenters market?

Answer: The global bioreactors and fermenters market size is projected to grow at a CAGR of ~11% between 2023 and 2035.

Question 8: What are the upcoming trends in the global bioreactors and fermenters market?

Answer: The industry is presently witnessing the rising adoption of bioprocessing 4.0 solutions leveraging AI and ML for real-time process monitoring. Further, in order to ensure that the bioprocess runs within the precise limits, several players have integrated automated bioprocess controllers that offer various additional benefits, such as lowering of production and labor cost (by 20-30%), optimizing the energy consumption (by 5-30%) and increasing the overall productivity (by 10-20%).