Sotera Health

What Sotera Health does

Sotera Health Company (NASDAQ: SHC), headquartered in Broadview Heights, Ohio with operational headquarters in Oak Brook, Illinois, is a publicly traded mission-critical sterilization and laboratory testing provider operating through three wholly-owned subsidiaries: Sterigenics (contract sterilization services), Nordion (Cobalt-60 radioisotope supply), and Nelson Labs (over 800 microbiological and analytical laboratory tests). The company operates 49 facilities across 13 countries serving 2,800+ customers in 52 countries, with primary end-markets in medical device manufacturing, pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical production, food safety, packaging, and advanced radiation processing applications.

Sterigenics delivers terminal sterilization and irradiation across five modalities — Gamma (Cobalt-60, accounting for ~30% of single-use medical device sterilization globally), Ethylene Oxide (EO/ETO), Electron Beam (E-beam, including the IMPELA accelerator), X-ray, and Nitrogen Dioxide (Noxilizer NO2) — supported by proprietary digital systems including the Sterigenics GPS real-time customer portal and the VeriCycle automated EO process verification platform. Nordion supplies Cobalt-60 to over 40 countries and is currently partnering with Westinghouse and PSEG Nuclear to deploy first U.S. Pressurized Water Reactor Cobalt-60 production, pending NRC authorization targeted for 2026. The platform is supported by extensive certifications (ISO 9001:2015, ISO 13485:2016, ISO 17025, EU GMP, JPAL, FDA registrations) and 30+ seats across ISO, AAMI, NFPA, and ASTM standards committees.

The business model is enterprise contract sterilization priced on a quote-based, volume-and-modality-dependent fee structure under multi-year contracts, with switching costs enforced by FDA/EU MDR validation and dossier requalification requirements. FY2025 revenue totaled $1.164B with 51% Adjusted EBITDA margins ($593.8M), and 2026 guidance points to $1.233–1.251B in revenue and $632–641M in Adjusted EBITDA. The company holds over 70% share of the global contract sterilization services market and a leading 41.3% share of the EO sterilization segment, serving a market projected to grow at a 6.8% CAGR through 2032.

Name

Sotera Health

Legal name

Sotera Health Company

Website

https://sterigenics.com

Company type

Public

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Sotera Health (NASDAQ: SHC) provides mission-critical contract sterilization services (Gamma, EO, E-beam, X-ray, NO2), Cobalt-60 supply, and laboratory testing to 2,800+ medical device, pharmaceutical, and food safety customers worldwide across 49 facilities in 13 countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Contract Sterilization Services

NAICS

Irradiation Apparatus Manufacturing (334517), Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing (334516)

SIC

X-Ray Apparatus & Tubes & Related Irradiation Apparatus (3844), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Sterilization Services & Contract Reprocessing (ETO/Gamma/E-beam providers) (HLAHANAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Radiation Processing & Sterilization Services (Medical device sterilization, food irradiation, materials modification) (EUAKAIAG), Sterile Fill-Finish & Aseptic Manufacturing CDMO (HLAGABAH), Aseptic Processing, Fill-Finish & Sterile Manufacturing Tech (isolators, lyophilization interfaces) (HLAAAJAG)

Keywords

• Contract sterilization services
• Medical device sterilization
• Gamma irradiation processing
• Ethylene oxide sterilization
• Pharmaceutical lab testing

Headquarters

HQ city

Oak Brook

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices26 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Contract Sterilization Services: Mission-critical outsourced terminal sterilization and irradiation services for medical devices, pharmaceuticals, food safety, and commercial applications. Revenue generated through processing fees based on volume, modality, and contract terms. Q4 2025 total company revenue of $1.164 billion with 5.7% growth.
2. Laboratory Testing Services: Testing and advisory services provided through Nelson Labs sister company, including more than 800 microbiological and analytical laboratory tests
3. Expert Advisory Services: Consulting services including feasibility testing, process development, validation, regulatory support, and training for sterilization processes
4. Cobalt-60 Supply: Radioisotope supply for gamma irradiation provided through Nordion, a leading provider for more than 70 years

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Sotera Health, through its Sterigenics subsidiary, provides outsourced contract terminal sterilization and irradiation services to medical device, pharmaceutical, food safety, and commercial manufacturers using five modalities: Gamma, Ethylene Oxide (EO), Electron Beam (E-beam), X-ray, and Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2). The company operates an integrated global network of sterilization facilities and is complemented by Nelson Labs laboratory testing/advisory services and Nordion Cobalt-60 radioisotope supply.

Product overview

Sotera Health operates as a mission-critical end-to-end sterilization solutions and laboratory testing provider through three primary business units: Sterigenics, Nordion, and Nelson Labs. Sterigenics is the core contract sterilization services brand offering five primary sterilization technologies: Ethylene Oxide (EO), Gamma irradiation, Electron Beam (E-Beam), X-Ray, and Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2 via Noxilizer). The company operates 48-49 facilities across 13 countries, serving medical device, pharmaceutical, biopharmaceutical, food safety, and commercial markets. Supporting services include the GPS customer portal for supply chain visibility, VeriCycle automated process verification for EO sterilization, and Expert Advisory Services. Nordion supplies Cobalt-60 radioisotope for gamma sterilization, while Nelson Labs provides laboratory testing and advisory services with over 800 microbiological and analytical tests. Additional services include advanced radiation processing applications for polymer modification, semiconductor enhancement, hardness/aging testing, and gemstone coloring.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Sterigenics Contract Sterilization Services Outsourced contract terminal sterilization and irradiation services delivered across a global integrated network of 49 facilities in 13 countries for medical device, pharmaceutical, food safety, and commercial manufacturers.
• Ethylene Oxide (EO/ETO) Sterilization

Quantifiable outcome

• Cobalt-60 sterilizes approximately 30% of all single-use medical devices globally
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature8 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Westinghouse Electric CompanycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 January 2026Strategic collaboration for development of Cobalt-60 production technology implementation in US Pressurized Water Reactors. Westinghouse developed the production technology; agreements target deployment at PSEG's Salem nuclear generating station with Cobalt-60 supply to Nordion. NRC review underway with 2026 implementation target.
• PSEG Nuclear LLCcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 January 2026Long-term commercial agreements for Cobalt-60 production at PSEG's Salem Nuclear Generating Station (Units 1 and 2) in New Jersey. PSEG is implementing the technology developed by Westinghouse with Cobalt-60 to be supplied to Nordion. Subject to NRC authorization.

Scale indicators14 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• STERIS plc: Global leader in infection prevention and sterilization products and services, formed through STERIS's merger with Cantel Medical. Provides sterilization products, equipment, and contract sterilization services across medical, pharmaceutical, and industrial markets — directly overlapping with Sotera's Sterigenics business but with broader scope including capital equipment and consumables.
• Getinge: Swedish medical technology company offering sterilization equipment, infection control, and surgical workflow solutions. While primarily an equipment manufacturer rather than contract service provider, Getinge competes for the same hospital and pharmaceutical customers and provides sterilization systems that compete with Sterigenics' service offerings.

Direct peers

• Ionisos: European contract sterilization services provider offering Gamma, E-beam, X-ray, and beta irradiation across facilities in France, Spain, Germany, Italy, Poland, and the Nordics. Closest direct competitor to Sotera/Sterigenics in European Gamma and E-beam sterilization services.
• Medistri: Swiss-based contract sterilization and laboratory services provider specializing in EO, Gamma, and X-ray sterilization for medical device and pharmaceutical customers. Direct competitor in European sterilization services market with comparable modality offerings.

Regional players

• CGN Dasheng Electron Accelerator Co. China General Nuclear Power Group subsidiary providing electron beam irradiation services for medical devices, food, and industrial applications. Regional peer serving Chinese market — competes with Sotera's Shanghai facilities and is a notable emerging player in Asia.

Others

• Cosette Health (Cosette Pharmaceuticals): U.S. pharmaceutical manufacturer with vertically integrated contract manufacturing and packaging capabilities. Indirect adjacency — overlapping end customers (pharmaceutical manufacturers) requiring sterilization, though Cosette is a customer of contract sterilization services rather than a competitor.
• Stericycle: U.S.-based regulated waste management and infection prevention services company. While Stericycle focuses on medical waste disposal rather than sterilization services, it overlaps with Sotera's customer base of hospitals, medical device manufacturers, and pharmaceutical companies requiring compliance-driven services.
• Ecolab: Global leader in water, hygiene, and infection prevention solutions serving healthcare, life sciences, food, and industrial markets. Broad adjacency — Ecolab's life sciences division supplies cleaning, sanitization, and contamination control products to many of the same pharmaceutical and medical device customers served by Sterigenics.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Sterigenics1
• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sterigenics

Compliance8 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A5 records

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Sotera Health