What Cryo Bio System does

Cryo Bio System is a French Société par Actions Simplifiée (SAS) and the Life Sciences division of IMV Technologies, a diversified French biotechnology group founded in 1963. Headquartered in Saint-Ouen-sur-Iton (L'Aigle), France, the company designs and manufactures high-security cryopreservation devices and consumables for human assisted reproductive technology (ART), biobanking, and specialized applications including transgenics, biodiversity conservation, and pharmaceutical storage. Its product portfolio centers on three equipment pillars—the Digitcool Alpha CBS programmable freezer, the ULISS hermetic tube welder, and the SYMS/SYMS III straw welding systems—supported by automation (PACE, MAPI, SYSO) and a recurring consumables line including High Security CBS Tubes, CBS High Security Straws, and HSV Vitrification Straws. The technical differentiator is a proprietary closed-system architecture that prevents cross-contamination between samples, liquid nitrogen, and operators, enabled by nitrogen-tight seals and biocompatible ionomer resins free of plasticizers, backed by over 200 patents within the IMV Technologies Group.

The company operates a B2B enterprise sales model serving laboratories, research centers, fertility clinics, biobanks, and medical facilities, with distribution across 70+ countries through four wholly-owned regional subsidiaries (USA, Netherlands, India, China) and approximately 40-54 independent distributors. Pricing is quotation-based with net 45-day end-of-month payment terms; orders under €500 HT incur €150 HT administrative fees. Revenue is generated through a razor-and-blade model combining capital equipment sales with recurring consumables and accessories, supplemented by the CryoBioSoft sample-tracking software integrated across the equipment line. Cryo Bio System holds CE MDR Class IIa and Class Is certifications under EU Regulation 2017/745, plus ISO 13485:2016 certification with GMed as Notified Body, qualifying its products as regulated medical devices in European and adjacent markets.

Marketing channels combine a multilingual website (French, English, Spanish), LinkedIn, YouTube, and Instagram presence with event-driven engagement at the annual ESHRE (European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology) conference. The company is led under the IMV Technologies Group umbrella, which appointed Olivier Kohlhaas as CEO in April 2025 with a stated mandate to strengthen international development and innovation in assisted reproduction. No private equity, venture capital, or public ownership signals were disclosed; the company remains a wholly-owned subsidiary of the privately held IMV Technologies Group.

Name

Cryo Bio System

Legal name

Cryo Bio System

Website

https://cryobiosystem.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Cryo Bio System is a French medical-device manufacturer (Life Sciences division of IMV Technologies) that designs closed-system cryopreservation equipment and consumables for fertility clinics, biobanks, and research laboratories across 70+ countries, differentiated by proprietary nitrogen-tight sealing and 200+ patents.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cryopreservation Equipment and Medical Devices

NAICS

Air-Conditioning and Warm Air Heating Equipment and Commercial and Industrial Refrigeration Equipment Manufacturing (333415)

SIC

Air-Cond & Warm Air Heatg Equip & Comm & Indl Refrig Equip (3585)

akta.pro primary industry

Sample Preparation, Storage & Cryogenics (Freezers, Cryovials, Cryostats) (HLAGAIAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Cold Chain, Cryopreservation & Biologics Storage/Handling Technologies (HLAAAJAN), Cold Chain Storage & Cryopreservation Services (LN2/Ultra-low) (HLAGAGAK)

Keywords

• Cryopreservation equipment
• Assisted reproduction devices
• Biobanking supplies
• Biological sample storage
• Medical device manufacturing

Headquarters

HQ city

L'aigle

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Cryopreservation Equipment Sales: Sale of programmable freezers, straw welders, vitrification containers, and storage equipment for cryopreservation of biological samples. Products include Digitcool Alpha CBS, ULISS, SYMS III, HSV Integral, and related equipment.
2. Consumables: Recurring sales of cryopreservation consumables including High Security CBS Tubes, CBS High Security Straws, HSV vitrification straws, PETG straws, Visotubes, goblets, canisters, ICSI pipettes, LEJA slides, filling nozzles, and identification accessories.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Cryo Bio System designs, manufactures, and distributes high-security cryopreservation equipment and consumables used to freeze and store biological samples at ultra-low temperatures (-196°C). The offering spans programmable freezers (Digitcool range), straw and tube welders (SYMS, SYMS III, ULISS), automatic packaging systems (PACE, MAPI), vitrification containers (HSV Integral), and a consumables line of CBS High Security Tubes, vitrification straws, and accessories for fertility clinics, biobanks, and research laboratories. The portfolio is differentiated by a 100% closed-system design that prevents cross-contamination between samples, liquid nitrogen, and operators.

Product overview

Cryo Bio System (a subsidiary of IMV Technologies) manufactures and distributes a comprehensive portfolio of cryopreservation equipment, consumables, and accessories for assisted reproductive technology (ART), biobanking, and specialized applications. The product ecosystem centers on three core equipment lines: the Digitcool Alpha CBS as the flagship programmable freezer, ULISS for hermetic tube welding, and SYMS/SYMS III straw welding systems. Supporting these are automatic packaging systems (PACE, MAPI) and the SYSO automatic tube opener. The consumables portfolio includes High Security CBS Tubes, HSV Vitrification Straws, CBS High Security Straws, PETG Straws, ICSI Pipettes, LEJA Slides, filling nozzles, and emptying rods. Storage solutions include Visotubes, goblets, and canisters with color-coded identification accessories. The entire product line emphasizes four key principles: safety (closed-system design preventing cross-contamination), biocompatibility (ionomer resin materials free of plasticizers), traceability (color labeling and printed sleeves), and optimized storage (compact designs maximizing cryogenic storage efficiency). Products serve ART (fertility preservation), biobanking (epidemiological research, cell and gene therapy, oncology, regenerative medicine, blood transfusion), and other applications (transgenics, biodiversity, pharmaceutical industry).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Digitcool Alpha CBS Programmable refrigerated workstation for controlled freezing and handling of cryopreserved biological samples, featuring precise temperature control and integration with the CryoBioSoft traceability system. Used by ART labs, biobanks, and research facilities that require reproducible, traceable cryopreservation protocols.
• Digitcool Range Line of programmable freezers for biological samples featuring vertical liquid nitrogen flow, reinforced insulation, and integrated CryoBioSoft traceability software, designed for ART and biobanking workflows.
• Nano-Digitcool Compact programmable freezer for biological samples with CryoBioSoft traceability, offering enhanced safety and performance for small-scale cryopreservation in clinics and research labs.
• ULISS Secure hermetic welding device for sealing two CBS High Security tubes, featuring LHS integration, semi-autonomous operation, and high welding speed for high-throughput ART and biobanking packaging.
• SYMS Manual straw welder for CBS High Security straws, mains powered with push-button control and optional foot pedal for easy cleaning and operation in laboratory environments.
• SYMS III Advanced thermal welding device for precise sealing of CBS 0.3/0.5 mL straws, tubes, and vitrification products, featuring a multilingual touch screen interface for laboratory use.
• PACE Semi-automatic biological sample packaging system for filling CBS High Security straws, designed to be compatible with MAPI for integrated workflow automation.
• MAPI Fully automatic system for packaging biological samples in CBS High Security straws with integrated workflow automation for high-volume cryopreservation operations.
• SYSO Automatic tube opening device with intuitive touch screen interface, featuring effective sterilizing pyrolysis and safe operation under fume hood for ART and biobank labs.
• HSV Integral MD-class vitrification container for HSV high-security straws, enabling secure handling, opening, and cold chain maintenance during embryo and oocyte vitrification procedures.
• High Security CBS Tubes High-security tubes for cryogenic storage of biological samples, including ovarian and testicular tissue, and sperm for fertility preservation, using biocompatible ionomer resin and nitrogen-tight seal.
• HSV Vitrification Straws High-security vitrification straws for secure freezing of embryos and oocytes, made with biocompatible transparent resin and supplied in sterile individual packaging.
• CBS High Security Straws Secure cryopreservation straws for sperm with nitrogen-tight seal, biocompatible resin construction, reliable traceability, available in 0.3 mL and 0.5 mL formats.
• PETG Straws and Emptying Rods PETG straws and non-DM sealing rods for research use only, available in 0.15 mL and 0.25 mL capacities for laboratory cryopreservation workflows.
• ICSI Pipettes, Micromanipulation High-quality micromanipulation pipettes for ICSI procedures, blastomere restraint, and biopsy applications in fertility clinics.
• LEJA Slides Specialized slides with 2- and 4-well configurations at various depths for accurate, reproducible, high-quality CASA (Computer-Assisted Sperm Analysis) in fertility labs.
• Filling Nozzles Sterile transparent tips for manual filling of CBS High Security straws, compatible with SYMS and SYMS III welding devices.
• Nozzles Sterile injection/aspiration tips for automatic filling of CBS straws, compatible with PACE and MAPI automated packaging systems.
• Emptying Rods Cotton plug removal rods for emptying CBS High Security straws after cryopreservation, used in laboratory sample retrieval workflows.
• Visotubes and Goblets Colored vials and goblets for clear, convenient, and secure storage of biological samples in cryogenic conditions inside liquid nitrogen tanks.
• Canisters Cylindrical racks with modular stacking of goblets, providing secure access to samples stored in liquid nitrogen storage tanks.
• Craft Pump Aspiration device for gentle and controlled collection of oocytes and follicular fluid with predefined negative pressure settings, used in ART procedures.
• M210 LAB and M510 Printers Thermal transfer printers for durable labeling of CBS High Security straws and tubes, providing multi-line printing for cryo-resistant sample identification.
• Micro Aspirator Manual filling device for straws without contamination risk, supplied with additional tips and tubes for laboratory cryopreservation workflows.
• HSV Opening Clip Ergonomic tweezers specifically designed for precise and secure handling of HSV vitrification straws during embryo and oocyte procedures.
• Insulated Box Isothermal transport container for prepared sperm maintained at 37°C, compatible with 5 mL to 15 mL tubes, used during ART sample handling and transport.

Quantifiable outcome

• Ultra-low temperature cryopreservation at -196°C preserving cellular viability and sample integrity over long-term storage
• +1 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature8 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• IMV Technologies (Parent Company)coreOthersCryo Bio System is the Life Sciences unit of IMV Technologies, a French company founded in 1963 and world leader in animal-assisted reproductive biotechnology. IMV Technologies operates in sperm analysis, assisted reproduction, artificial insemination, and veterinary imaging. Cryo Bio System manufactures and distributes equipment for human assisted reproduction and biobanks under the IMV Technologies umbrella.
• IMV Technologies USAcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUS subsidiary of IMV Technologies/Cryo Bio System based in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota. Handles sales and distribution of cryopreservation products for ART and biobanking applications in North America.
• IMV Technologies IndiacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorIndian subsidiary of IMV Technologies/Cryo Bio System handling sales and distribution operations in the Indian subcontinent.
• IMV Technologies ChinacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorChinese subsidiary of IMV Technologies/Cryo Bio System managing sales and distribution in China and surrounding Asia-Pacific region.
• IMV Technologies NetherlandscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEuropean subsidiary of IMV Technologies/Cryo Bio System based in the Netherlands, managing sales and distribution in the Benelux region.
• International Distributor NetworkminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCryo Bio System partners with approximately 40-54 independent distributors across Africa, America, Asia, Europe, Middle East, and Oceania to reach customers in 70+ countries beyond subsidiary territories.
• GMed (Groupe GMED)coreOthersGMed is the Notified Body responsible for certifying Cryo Bio System's medical devices under EU Regulation 2017/745 (MDR) and legacy MDD directive. They provide CE marking certification and ongoing conformity assessment.
• Emmanuel Bay (design.wEB)minorOthersWebsite design and creation partner responsible for Cryo Bio System's corporate website development.
• Agence E+PminorOthersWebsite hosting provider for Cryo Bio System's corporate website, located in Marseille, France.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Chart Industries (MVE): Chart Industries' MVE Cryogenics division is one of the most established manufacturers of cryogenic freezers and LN2 storage systems for biological samples, directly overlapping with Cryo Bio System's Digitcool product line for ART and biobanking applications.
• Vitrolife: Vitrolife is a global ART/IVF solutions provider offering media, consumables, and lab devices, directly comparable to Cryo Bio System's ART product portfolio and serving the same fertility clinic customer base.
• Genea Biomedx: Genea Biomedx develops and commercializes ART and IVF lab equipment and software for fertility clinics, overlapping with Cryo Bio System's Digitcool and traceability offerings for the same end customers.
• Hamilton Thorne: Hamilton Thorne manufactures precision instruments and consumables for the ART, reproductive medicine, and cell biology markets, competing in adjacent product categories to Cryo Bio System's CBS straw/tube and lab equipment portfolio.
• BioLife Solutions: BioLife Solutions is a leading supplier of cryopreservation media (CryoStor, HypoThermosol) and biopreservation tools for cell and gene therapy, directly comparable to Cryo Bio System's biological sample storage portfolio for biobanking customers.
• Custom BioGenic Systems: Custom BioGenic Systems specializes in cryogenic freezers and LN2 storage equipment for biological samples, directly competing with Cryo Bio System's Digitcool programmable freezer line for biobanking and research customers.
• Planer plc: Planer is a UK-based manufacturer of controlled-rate freezers and cryopreservation equipment for IVF, stem cell, and biobanking applications, with overlapping product offerings to Cryo Bio System's programmable freezer portfolio.

Broad incumbents

• Azenta Life Sciences: Azenta (formerly Brooks Life Sciences) is a leading provider of biobanking storage, automated sample management, and cryogenic infrastructure, serving many of the same biobanking and cell therapy customers as Cryo Bio System at much greater scale.
• CooperSurgical: CooperSurgical (part of The Cooper Companies) is a broad incumbent in ART and women's health, providing fertility clinic supplies and devices, including Wallace and Sage brands, with overlap to Cryo Bio System's consumables and devices.
• Thermo Fisher Scientific: Thermo Fisher offers cryopreservation products (e.g., Nunc Cryobank, Mr. Frosty freezing containers, cryogenic storage) within its much broader life sciences catalog, competing with Cryo Bio System across multiple product categories.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@cryobiosystem5623
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cryo-bio-system
• Instagraminstagram.com/cryobiosystemfrance

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries4 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 Cryo Bio System