What Vapourtec does

Vapourtec is a UK-based manufacturer of flow chemistry equipment, founded in 2003 and headquartered in Bury St Edmunds. The company designs and produces laboratory and process-scale continuous-flow reactor systems that replace traditional batch chemistry with continuous-flow operation, enabling more precise control of reaction conditions, improved safety profiles, and easier scale-up from milligram to kilogram quantities. Its core product platforms include the R-Series (modular research-scale flow chemistry system with staged software releases), the E-Series (process-scale system), and a peptide synthesis product family (Peptide-Builder, Peptide-Explorer, Peptide-Explorer LT, Peptide-Scaleup, and PS-30). The company's technology stack centres on proprietary components including the V-3 pump, the VBFR (Variable Bed Flow Reactor), and the Micro-Ion Flow Reactor, supported by a portfolio of patents and 22+ years of accumulated engineering know-how. Over 1,000 Vapourtec systems have been installed across 23 countries and are referenced in more than 1,360 peer-reviewed publications, making the platform one of the more widely validated flow chemistry systems in academic and industrial research.

Vapourtec serves two principal customer segments: academic and government research institutions (including universities such as Cambridge and Princeton), and commercial pharmaceutical and chemical companies (including Eli Lilly, Novo Nordisk, and GSK). Its business model is built on capital-equipment sales of integrated systems (priced at the £50K–£300K+ range depending on configuration), supplemented by recurring revenue from consumables, replacement parts, and service contracts. The company operates a hybrid go-to-market combining direct sales in the UK and to key pharma accounts with a distributor network and localised websites across continental Europe (France, Germany, Spain, Italy) and Asia (Japan, China). Recent strategic activity has emphasised platform extension into peptide synthesis, integration with OPC-UA and Python automation pipelines to enable AI/ML-driven closed-loop optimisation, and continued geographic buildout. Vapourtec is a privately held, founder-owned limited company with 11–50 employees and no disclosed external funding.

Name

Vapourtec

Legal name

Vapourtec Ltd

Website

https://vapourtec.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Vapourtec is a UK-based manufacturer of flow chemistry reactor systems, serving academic researchers and pharmaceutical companies in 23 countries. Its R-Series, E-Series, and peptide synthesis platforms have been installed in 1,000+ systems and cited in 1,360+ peer-reviewed publications.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Flow Chemistry Equipment

NAICS

Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing (334516), Pump and Compressor Manufacturing (33391), Measuring, Dispensing, and Other Pumping Equipment Manufacturing (333914)

SIC

Laboratory Analytical Instruments (3826), Pumps & Pumping Equipment (3561)

akta.pro primary industry

Flow Chemistry & Process Intensification Services (HLAGAHAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Single-Use Technologies (SUT) & Disposable Fluid Management (bags, assemblies, connectors) (HLAAAJAC), Pump & Compressor Packages (Skids, Booster Sets) (IMAHANAG)

Keywords

• Flow chemistry equipment
• Continuous flow reactors
• Peptide synthesizers
• Laboratory pumps
• Flow chemistry software

Headquarters

HQ city

Bury Saint Edmunds

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Flow Chemistry Systems (R-Series and E-Series): Sale of modular flow chemistry systems including pumps, reactors, software, and accessories. R-Series is the flagship modular platform; E-Series is the entry-level robust system.
2. Peptide Synthesizers: Sale of peptide synthesis equipment including Peptide-Builder, Peptide-Explorer, Peptide-Scaleup, and PS-30 pilot scale systems based on Fast Flow SPPS technology.
3. Software Licenses and Upgrades: R-Series software with multiple license levels (2-pump, 4-pump, 8-pump), API packages with OPC-UA, and software upgrades for existing customers.
4. Laboratory Pumps and Tools: Sale of SF-10 and SF-10+ laboratory pumps, accessories, and specialized tools for chemistry applications. Pump compatible with batch and flow chemistry.
5. easy-HC10 Disinfectant Sprayer: Consumer/professional device for producing hypochlorous acid disinfectant from salt water using patented micro-Ion flow reactor technology.
6. Professional Services and Support: Technical support, training, installation, and after-sales services for flow chemistry systems and peptide synthesizers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Vapourtec designs, manufactures, and sells laboratory-scale flow chemistry systems, peptide synthesizers, and supporting chemistry tools. Its two flagship platforms are the R-Series modular flow chemistry system (1-8 pumps, up to 10 reactors) and the E-Series integrated flow chemistry system, complemented by a peptide synthesizer range built on patented Variable Bed Flow Reactor (VBFR) technology and ancillary tools such as laboratory pumps, back-pressure regulators, and UV detectors. The company also sells proprietary R-Series software with OPC-UA API and provides professional installation, training, and after-sales support.

Product overview

Vapourtec develops and manufactures world-class flow chemistry equipment, offering two main system platforms: the R-Series (flagship modular flow chemistry system) and the E-Series (entry-level integrated system), complemented by a comprehensive range of flow reactors, peptide synthesizers, and tools for chemistry. The R-Series supports up to 8 pumps and 10 reactors with advanced software featuring OPC-UA API and Python scripting. The peptide synthesizer portfolio is based on patented Variable Bed Flow Reactor (VBFR) technology and spans from the compact Peptide-ExplorerLT (0.05–1.0 mmol) through Peptide-Explorer and Peptide-Scaleup (0.5–5.0 mmol) to the pilot-scale PS-30 (2.0–30.0 mmol). The Tools for Chemistry range includes SF-10 and SF-10+ laboratory pumps, Fmoc-UV detectors, and precision back pressure regulators. The R-Series software provides experiment editing, reaction control, real-time data graphing, and AI/ML integration capabilities. Over 1,000 systems have been installed in 23 countries, cited in over 1,360 peer-reviewed publications.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• R-Series: Modular flow chemistry system platform offering best-in-class performance with over 700 installations worldwide. Includes configurations RS-100 through RS-600 for various reaction scales.
• E-Series
• Peptide-Builder
• Peptide-Explorer
• Peptide-ExplorerLT
• Peptide-Scaleup
• PS-30 (Peptide-Pilot)
• SF-10
• SF-10+
• Variable Bed Flow Reactor (VBFR)
• UV-150

Products and services

• R-Series Modular Flow Chemistry System Vapourtec's flagship modular flow chemistry platform, supporting 1 to 8 pumps and up to 10 reactors with multiple configurations (RS-100 manual through RS-600 multi-step). Includes R-Series software, OPC-UA API, Python scripting, and integration with FTIR, mass flow controllers, and chillers. Over 700 installations worldwide cited in 1,360+ peer-reviewed publications. For pharmaceutical, biotech, and academic research laboratories.
• E-Series Integrated Flow Chemistry System Entry-level, robust, affordable integrated flow chemistry system featuring the patented V-3 pump. Supports pumping of strong/concentrated acids/bases, light slurries/suspensions, and sensitive reagents. Standard configurations include easy-Scholar, easy-Polymer, easy-MedChem, and easy-Photochem. Over 350 installations globally. For academic and industrial research laboratories seeking a reliable benchtop platform.
• Peptide-Builder Fully automated benchtop peptide synthesizer featuring patented Variable Bed Flow Reactor (VBFR) technology. Smallest high-throughput synthesizer available; scale range 0.05 to 1 mmol; compatible with any resin. Sequential synthesis producing one GLP-1 analogue in under 4 hours and 16 analogues over a weekend with low solvent and reagent consumption. For pharmaceutical and academic peptide synthesis laboratories.
• Peptide-Explorer Peptide synthesizer launched in 2020 producing high-quality peptides via Fast Flow SPPS. Handles amino acids susceptible to racemisation and cyclisation, with automated side chain addition through solvent change and Mtt deprotection. Upgradable to Peptide-Scaleup. For research and process development peptide chemists.
• Peptide-ExplorerLT Compact and flexible peptide synthesizer for exploring and optimising linear peptide synthesis. Scale range 0.05 to 1.0 mmol with three reactor sizes (4 ml, 9.5 ml, 21 ml working volumes). Lower price point than Peptide-Explorer while delivering same peptide quality. Touchscreen software with sequence generator and real-time in-line analytics. For academic and industrial peptide research labs.
• Peptide-Scaleup Continuous flow configuration for peptide scale-up synthesis. Scale range 0.5 to 5.0 mmol; synthesises 30-mer peptide at 4 mmol scale in just 16 hours. Uses patented VBFR for fast cycle times at scale; Fmoc SPPS with DIC and oxyma activation; continuous in-line analytics. Chemistry can be transferred from Peptide-Explorer without further development. For peptide chemists scaling from discovery to pilot.
• PS-30 Pilot Scale Peptide Synthesizer (Peptide-Pilot) Pilot scale peptide synthesizer using Variable Bed Flow Reactor at 2.0 to 30.0 mmol scale. Synthesises 30-mer peptide at 20 mmol scale in under 16 hours, reducing drug development cycle times by up to 3 weeks. Fmoc SPPS with DIC and oxyma activation; continuous in-line analytics with resin solvation and UV absorption data. Developed through 2-year collaboration with a major global pharmaceutical company. For pharmaceutical process development and pilot manufacturing of peptide APIs.
• SF-10 Laboratory Pump Self-priming laboratory pump with high chemical compatibility for suspensions, light slurries, and gases. Operates up to 10 bar pressure with precise measurement and data logging, compatible with batch and flow chemistry. For chemistry research laboratories requiring reliable reagent pumping.
• SF-10+ Heated Laboratory Pump Enhanced version of SF-10 with temperature control from ambient to 80°C. Inlet, outlet tubes and all components heated to eliminate cold spots. Touchscreen or serial data command control. Enables pumping of hotter, viscous, and solid-at-room-temperature reagents in both batch and flow chemistry applications.
• R-Series Software Flow chemistry control software for the R-Series platform featuring experiment editor, reaction control, real-time data graphing, OPC-UA server and client, Python scripting, boiling point simulator, tubing compatibility checker, and concentration model. License levels: 2-pump, 4-pump, 8-pump, and API package with OPC-UA. For R-Series flow chemistry system operators needing automation and lab integration.
• E-Series Automation Software Automation software upgrade for E-Series systems. Touchscreen interface enabling fully automated reactions running unattended, with data logging, real-time graphing, schematic editor, and integration of external equipment including pumps, reactors, recirculators, and in-line analytics. Foundation for automated reaction optimisation and ML algorithms via OPC-UA. For existing E-Series system owners.
• easy-HC10 Disinfectant Sprayer Handheld device using patented micro-Ion flow reactor technology to instantly convert tap water with 0.25% salt into hypochlorous acid disinfectant. Enables up to 96% cost reduction versus NHS-grade disinfectants. For professional and consumer disinfectant applications.

Quantifiable outcome

• Peptide synthesis time reduced from weeks to less than 16 hours for 30-mer peptides at 20mmol scale
• +8 more outcomes

Named customers16 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration11 records

AI capability6 records

Feature14 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and historical core.

• Sierra InstrumentscoreTechnology or IntegrationIntegration partnership for mass flow controllers. R-Series software has built-in control for Sierra mass flow controllers via serial RS232 protocols, enabling automated gas flowrate control (2-100 scc/min) for flow chemistry reactions. Supports 10 pre-programmed gases.
• BronkhorstcoreTechnology or IntegrationIntegration partnership for mass flow controllers. Vapourtec R-Series software supports Bronkhorst mass flow controllers in addition to Sierra, providing flexibility for gas addition in automated flow chemistry processes.
• BrukercoreTechnology or IntegrationIntegration of Bruker ALPHA FTIR Spectrometer into R-Series software. Provides plug-and-play FTIR analysis with easy setup, excellent sensitivity, x-axis reproducibility, and stability. Full spectral region coverage with swappable diamond and silicon sensors.
• Mettler ToledocoreTechnology or IntegrationIntegration of Mettler Toledo FlowIR in-situ FTIR system since 2011. Enables real-time chemical composition monitoring of flow reactor output with sub-millimolar sensitivity across wide range of functional groups and chemistry concentrations.
• Major Global Pharmaceutical Company (unnamed)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerTwo-year intensive collaboration to develop the PS-30 pilot scale peptide synthesizer. This co-development partnership yielded revolutionary technology reducing drug development cycle times from weeks to under a day for peptide synthesis.
• University of Cardiff (Wirth Group)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProductive collaboration since early 2018 to develop the Ion electrochemical reactor. Prof. Thomas Wirth's research group contributed significant expertise leading to development of electrochemical flow reactor technology for chlorination and other reactions.
• GSKhistorical coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEarly collaboration in 2003 with Dr Elizabeth Farrant that was instrumental in establishing the company. Represents foundational partnership supporting Vapourtec's early development.
• University of Cambridgehistorical coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEarly collaboration with Professor Steven Ley's group starting in 2006 (first publication citation). Continuous collaboration including work on automated continuous flow synthesis, lab automation studies, and AI integration research.
• Novo NordiskcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on oligonucleotide synthesis research. Scientists at Novo Nordisk used Vapourtec R-Series system to enhance cleavage of oligonucleotides, reducing process time from 15+ hours to under 3 minutes. Results shared as application note.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Uniqsis: UK-based manufacturer of flow chemistry systems including the FlowSyn and Binary Pump modules. Direct competitor to Vapourtec's R-Series and E-Series in laboratory-scale flow chemistry equipment for academic and pharma research customers.
• Chemtrix: Netherlands-based manufacturer of continuous flow reactors (Labtrix, KiloFlow, Plantrix) for laboratory to production scale. Direct competitor to Vapourtec in flow chemistry reactor systems with comparable target customers in pharma and fine chemicals.
• Syrris (Blacktrace Holdings): UK-based flow chemistry specialist with Asia, Atlas, and Titan product ranges. Direct competitor to Vapourtec in modular flow chemistry systems for pharma, biotech, and academic customers.
• FutureChemistry: Netherlands-based flow chemistry technology provider offering custom flow solutions and microreactor systems. Named alongside Vapourtec as a key player in the global flow chemistry market by market research firms.
• ThalesNano: Hungary-based flow chemistry and hydrogenation equipment manufacturer (H-Cube, Phoenix). Direct competitor in continuous flow laboratory equipment with overlap in pharma and academic research customers.
• Gyros Protein Technologies (part of Cytiva): Peptide synthesis instrument manufacturer offering PurePep and Symphony systems. Direct competitor in peptide synthesis equipment, frequently cited alongside Vapourtec by market research reports covering the peptide synthesis equipment market.

Broad incumbents

• Corning Advanced-Flow Reactors: Corning's Advanced-Flow Reactor (AFR) business provides continuous flow reactors from lab (Lab Reactor) through production (G1, G4, G5) scales. Larger, broader industrial conglomerate competitor with much greater resources and global reach.
• Biotage: Swedish-based analytical and preparative chemistry instrument company offering peptide synthesis (Syro I, Syro II) and flash chromatography systems. Larger incumbent with overlapping peptide synthesis product line and broader installed base.

Emerging players

• AM Technology: UK-based developer of Coflore flow reactor technology for laboratory and small-scale production chemistry. Direct competitor in flow chemistry equipment with focus on multi-stage continuous processing.
• HEL Group: UK-based manufacturer of bench-top automated reactors (PolyBLOCK, AutoMATE) for chemistry research and process development. Adjacent competitor in laboratory automation for chemistry, with partial overlap in automated reaction screening workflows.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@Vapourtec
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/vapourtec-ltd
• Xx.com/vapourtec

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Vapourtec