Sartorius
Leading partner for the life science and biopharmaceutical industry
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Sartorius is an internationally leading supplier for the life science and biopharmaceutical industries, offering laboratory products and services as well as bioprocess solutions. Founded in 1870 and headquartered in Göttingen, Germany, the company operates globally with multiple production sites and sales offices.
History
Sartorius traces its origins to 1870, when 24-year-old Florenz Sartorius established the Feinmechanische Werkstatt F. Sartorius in Göttingen. The company was founded around precision mechanics and the development of a short-beam analytical balance. The balance gained international recognition, and production reached 3,000 units by 1895. From this initial focus on weighing, Sartorius developed into a broader manufacturer of laboratory and scientific instruments. In 1906, the company expanded its capabilities by acquiring August Becker in Göttingen and Ludwig Tesdorf in Stuttgart. These businesses manufactured microtomes and instruments for astronomical, geodetic, and physical applications. The acquisitions helped move Sartorius beyond a single product category and established a wider scientific-equipment base. The company's instruments later found applications in major research programs. In 1969, Sartorius equipment was used to test lunar samples collected during the Apollo 11 mission. This episode reflected the company's continuing involvement in high-precision scientific measurement, although the business would later shift more decisively toward biotechnology and pharmaceutical production technologies. A significant strategic transformation took place from 2000 onward. Sartorius acquired B. Braun Biotech International in 2000, gaining fermenters, bioreactors, and cell-culture systems. The business was integrated into the group as Sartorius Stedim Systems. In 2005, Sartorius acquired Omnimark Instrument Corporation in Arizona, adding moisture analyzers. In 2007, Sartorius combined its biotechnology division with French company Stedim. The resulting Sartorius Stedim Biotech became a separately listed group focused on biopharmaceutical process technologies. Sartorius also acquired Toha Plast in 2007, subsequently operating it as Sartorius Stedim Plastics. The company continued to build its single-use and bioprocess portfolio. In 2008, Sartorius Stedim Biotech acquired Swiss single-use bioreactor provider Wave Biotech. In 2011, Sartorius acquired the liquid-handling business of Finnish laboratory-equipment manufacturer Biohit. Manufacturing and regional infrastructure expanded in 2013, when Sartorius opened a Göttingen facility for injection-moulded plastic components and an Asia sales center in Shanghai. Cell-line development, analytics, and research instrumentation became increasingly important. Sartorius acquired Cellca in 2015, adding cell-line and process-development expertise. In 2016, it bought IntelliCyt and ViroCyt in North America, expanding into flow cytometry and viral analysis. During 2017, Sartorius Stedim Biotech acquired kSep Systems, while Sartorius acquired Essen BioScience, a cell-based assay and instrumentation company. A new bioanalytical and biosafety testing facility also opened in Boston that year. Cellca subsequently developed collaborations concerning synthetic promoters and large-scale cell-culture experimentation. In 2019, Sartorius acquired Israeli cell-culture media company Biological Industries. In 2020, it acquired selected Danaher assets related to cell-therapy research and development. In 2021, the company added Xell, CellGenix, and ALS Automated Lab Solutions. These transactions strengthened its position in cell-culture media, cell and gene therapy materials, and automated laboratory analysis. Sartorius's modern business is organized around Bioprocess Solutions and Lab Products & Services. The first supplies technologies used from biopharmaceutical process development through manufacturing, including single-use systems, bioreactors, filtration, chromatography, cell culture, automation, and process analytics. The second serves laboratories with weighing, liquid handling, cell analysis, and related instruments and services. In 2025, Sartorius partnered with Tulip Interfaces to connect Tulip's digital platform with the Sartorius Biobrain automation suite, continuing the group's movement toward digitally integrated laboratory and manufacturing workflows.
- 2025
Tulip Interfaces partnership
[1]The companies partnered to integrate Tulip's platform with Sartorius Biobrain automation.
- 2021
Expansion into media, cell therapy materials, and laboratory automation
[1]Sartorius acquired Xell, CellGenix, and ALS Automated Lab Solutions.
- 2017
Expansion into centrifugation and cell-based assays
[1]Sartorius Stedim Biotech acquired kSep Systems and Sartorius acquired Essen BioScience.
- 2015
Cellca acquisition
[1]Cell-line and process-development capabilities were added to the bioprocess portfolio.
- 2008
Wave Biotech acquisition
[1]The transaction strengthened Sartorius's position in single-use bioreactor technologies.
- 2007
Creation of Sartorius Stedim Biotech
[1]Sartorius merged its biotechnology division with Stedim, creating a separately listed biopharmaceutical-process group.
- 2000
B. Braun Biotech International acquisition
[1]The acquisition added fermenters, bioreactors, and cell-culture systems.
- 1969
Equipment supports Apollo 11 lunar-sample testing
[1]Sartorius equipment was used in testing samples collected during the Apollo 11 mission.
- 1906
Expansion through two instrument-company acquisitions
[1]Acquisitions of August Becker and Ludwig Tesdorf broadened the company into microtomes and astronomical, geodetic, and physical instruments.
- 1895
Production reaches 3,000 analytical balances
[1]The company reached production of its 3,000th balance, indicating the early commercial success of its precision-weighing technology.
Products and positioning
High-value, integrated biopharmaceutical process and laboratory technology provider.
Bioprocess equipment
Single-use bioreactor systems
Sartorius supplies single-use bioreactor technologies for cell-culture and biopharmaceutical process development and manufacturing. These systems use disposable process-contact components and are intended to reduce cleaning and validation requirements while allowing facilities to change products or production campaigns more flexibly. The portfolio spans development-scale and manufacturing applications and is connected with related fluid-management, monitoring, and automation technologies.
Bioprocess purification
Filtration and membrane chromatography systems
These technologies support the clarification, concentration, purification, and separation stages of biopharmaceutical production. Sartorius's portfolio includes membrane adsorbers and other membrane-chromatography devices, together with filtration systems used in development and manufacturing workflows for biological products.
Cell and gene therapy workflow
Cell-culture media and cell-line technologies
Sartorius develops and supplies cell-culture media, cell-line development tools, and expression technologies used to produce biological medicines. Its capabilities include a Chinese hamster ovary expression platform and media-related technologies added through acquisitions including Cellca, Biological Industries, Xell, and CellGenix.
Bioprocess automation
Automated cell-banking systems
Automated cell-banking systems support the controlled handling and storage of cryovials used in biopharmaceutical development and manufacturing. The systems are designed to improve repeatability and reduce manual intervention in cell-line and sample-management workflows.
Laboratory instruments · 1870
Laboratory balances and moisture analyzers
Precision weighing is part of Sartorius's historical and continuing laboratory business. The company provides laboratory balances and moisture-analysis instruments for research, quality control, pharmaceutical testing, and other regulated laboratory applications.
Analytical instruments
Flow-cytometry and cell-analysis instruments
Sartorius's analytical portfolio includes flow-cytometry, viral-analysis, and cell-based assay technologies. These instruments and software support characterization of cells, biological activity, and experimental responses in pharmaceutical and biotechnology research.
Laboratory services
Bioanalytical testing services
Sartorius Stedim BioOutsource provides analytical services for biopharmaceutical development and manufacturing. Its work includes chemistry testing for therapeutic monoclonal antibodies and assessment of physicochemical and structural properties.
Process software and automation
Sartorius Biobrain automation suite
Biobrain is Sartorius's automation platform for bioprocess applications. The company has positioned it as a digital control and automation layer for bioprocess equipment, and in 2025 announced a partnership to integrate it with Tulip Interfaces' platform.
Brand decisions
2025
Integrate Tulip's platform with Sartorius BiobrainOtherBackground
Biopharmaceutical manufacturers increasingly require connected digital workflows and automation across laboratory and production operations.
Action taken
Sartorius partnered with Tulip Interfaces to integrate Tulip's platform with the Sartorius Biobrain automation suite.
2020
Expand cell-therapy research and development capabilitiesStrategyBackground
Cell and gene therapies were becoming an important area of biopharmaceutical research and manufacturing.
Action taken
Sartorius acquired selected Danaher assets related to cell-therapy research and development.
Aftermath
The transaction broadened Sartorius's tools and technologies for cell-therapy workflows.
2007
Combine the biotechnology division with StedimM&ABackground
Sartorius sought to build a larger and more specialized biopharmaceutical-process business.
Action taken
The biotechnology division was merged with French biotechnology company Stedim, producing Sartorius Stedim Biotech.
Aftermath
Sartorius Stedim Biotech became listed on the Paris Stock Exchange and served as a major vehicle for the group's bioprocess activities.
Recent events
- 2025
Sartorius partners with Tulip Interfaces on bioprocess automation[1]
Other · Product launch
Sartorius partnered with Tulip Interfaces to integrate Tulip's digital platform with the Sartorius Biobrain automation suite.
- 2021
Sartorius expands cell and gene therapy capabilities through three acquisitions[1]
M&A
Sartorius acquired Xell, CellGenix, and ALS Automated Lab Solutions, adding cell-culture media, cell and gene therapy raw materials, and laboratory automation capabilities.
- 2020
Sartorius acquires selected Danaher assets[1]
M&A
Sartorius acquired selected Danaher assets related to research and development of cell therapies.
- 2019
Sartorius acquires Biological Industries[1]
M&A
The acquisition of the Israeli company expanded Sartorius's cell-culture media development and manufacturing activities.
- 2017
Sartorius Stedim Biotech acquires kSep Systems[1]
M&A
The acquisition added preparative centrifugation technologies for recombinant proteins, vaccines, and cell-therapy products.
- 2017
Sartorius acquires Essen BioScience[1]
M&A
Sartorius acquired Essen BioScience, a provider of cell-based assays and instrumentation, strengthening its analytical and research portfolio.
- 2017
Sartorius opens bioanalytical and biosafety facility in Boston[1]
Other
A new Boston facility expanded Sartorius's bioanalytical and biosafety testing presence.
- 2016
Sartorius acquires IntelliCyt and ViroCyt[1]
M&A
The acquisitions expanded Sartorius's North American flow-cytometry, viral-analysis, and cell-analysis capabilities.
- 2015
Sartorius acquires Cellca[1]
M&A
The acquisition of Cellca added cell-line and process-development capabilities, including a Chinese hamster ovary expression platform.
- 2013
Sartorius opens new injection-moulding facility in Göttingen[1]
Other
A new production building for injection-moulded plastic components opened in Göttingen. Sartorius also inaugurated an Asia sales center in Shanghai.
Showing the 10 most recent.
Sources9 sources
- 1Sartorius AGen.wikipedia.org
- 2Sartorius official websitesartorius.com
- 3丹纳赫(DHR.US)7.5亿美元出售部分业务，为收购通用电气生物医药业务铺路finance.sina.com.cn
- 4赛多利斯与五加和基因科技达成战略合作，赋能本土基因治疗_行业综合_行业_中金在线hy.stock.cnfol.com
- 5RoosterBio Partners with Sartorius to Advance Cell and Gene Therapy Manufacturingfinanznachrichten.de
- 6Sartorius acquires cell culture specialist Xell AGprnewswire.com
- 7Sartorius introduces BioPAT Spectro to enable Raman Spectroscopybiospectrumindia.com
- 8Sartorius Introduces BioPAT® Spectro to Enable Raman Spectroscopy Capability and QbD with its ambr® and BIOSTAT STR® Platformsbiotechnewswire.ai
- 9Sartorius launches the new Incucyte SX5 for live-cell analysis, offering new possibilities for live-cell analysis experimentsselectscience.net
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