What Cryolab does

Cryolab Ltd is a UK-based, privately held specialist distributor of cryogenic equipment and consumables serving the IVF, biological research, blood banking, tissue banking, and cell banking sectors. Founded in 2000 by Paul Hague, the company is headquartered in Chichester, West Sussex, with operations based at Station Road, Bognor Regis, and operates with a 1-10 employee footprint under ISO 9001:2015 certification. Its product range spans proprietary branded capital equipment (CryoCan series LN2 storage dewars, CryoNest high-capacity vessels up to 175 litres, CryoStork dry shippers, CryoCrest liquid nitrogen dispensers, SpermScope reusable cell analysis chamber), distributed CBS consumables (embryo and sperm straws, vitrification kits, cryocanes, cryosleeves, visotubes, micropipettes, oocyte retrieval needles), accessories (data loggers, stainless steel dewars, sealing systems), and AI-powered digital tools (CryoGPT assistant, CryoSearch specialist search engine). The company's commercial model combines quote-based one-time capital equipment sales with recurring consumables revenue and equipment servicing/maintenance contracts for HFEA-licensed fertility clinics. Go-to-market is direct via its own e-commerce storefront, email, post, and fax orders, with next-day UK delivery for orders placed before 2pm, supplemented by content marketing, LinkedIn engagement, and regular exhibition at ESHRE and other reproductive medicine conferences. Its customer base is diversified across NHS trusts, private fertility clinics, sperm banks, university research institutions, biobanks, and animal breeding facilities.

Name

Cryolab

Legal name

Cryolab Ltd

Website

https://cryolab.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Cryolab Ltd is a UK-based specialist distributor of cryogenic storage equipment, dry shippers, and IVF laboratory consumables serving NHS trusts, private fertility clinics, sperm banks, biobanks, and research institutions. Founded in 2000 by Paul Hague.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cryogenic Laboratory Equipment

SIC

Surgical & Medical Instruments & Apparatus (3841), Wholesale-Medical, Dental & Hospital Equipment & Supplies (5047)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Cryogenic Logistics (LN2 Dry Shippers, -150°C) (HLAGAMAB), Cold Chain, Cryopreservation & Biologics Storage/Handling Technologies (HLAAAJAN), Cryopreservation & Germplasm Banking (Semen/Embryos/Oocytes) (AFAEAJAH)

Keywords

• Cryogenic storage equipment
• IVF laboratory supplies
• Liquid nitrogen dewars
• Cryopreservation consumables
• Biological sample preservation

Headquarters

HQ city

Chichester

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Cryogenic Equipment Sales: Sale of cryogenic storage equipment including LN2 storage tanks, dry shippers, controlled rate freezers, and associated hardware. One-time capital purchases with potential for servicing and maintenance contracts.
2. IVF Consumables: Sale of consumable supplies including cryocanes, cryosleeves, visotubes, goblets, straws, cryovials, micropipettes, oocyte retrieval needles, and work wear. Recurring revenue from repeat purchases by existing laboratory customers.
3. Equipment Servicing: Maintenance, validation, and servicing support for cryogenic equipment in HFEA-licensed fertility clinics. Includes consultation support for facility planning and capacity needs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Cryolab supplies cryogenic storage equipment, consumables, accessories and servicing to IVF laboratories, fertility clinics, biobanks and research facilities. Core offerings include liquid nitrogen storage vessels (CryoCan and CryoNest series), LN2 dry shippers (CryoStork series), liquid nitrogen dispensers (CryoCrest), controlled rate freezers, and a wide range of cryopreservation consumables (CBS straws, vitrification kits, cryocanes, cryosleeves, visotubes, micropipettes, oocyte retrieval needles). The company also distributes CBS-branded products in the UK and offers specialist AI tools (CryoGPT, CryoSearch) for IVF professionals.

Product overview

Cryolab is a UK-based specialist supplier of cryogenic equipment and IVF laboratory products, established in 2000 and based in Chichester, West Sussex. The company operates as a product portfolio distributor offering a comprehensive range of cryogenic storage solutions (CryoCan and CryoNest series of liquid nitrogen storage tanks), dry shippers for sample transport (CryoStork series), liquid nitrogen dispensers (CryoCrest), and a wide range of consumables including CBS embryo/sperm straws, vitrification kits, cryocanes, cryosleeves, visotubes, goblets, micropipettes (denudation, ICSI, biopsy, ISAS), oocyte retrieval needles, and sperm analysis equipment (SpermScope, SpermTrack). Cryolab also offers AI-powered tools including CryoSearch (a specialist search engine indexing IVF and reproductive science literature) and CryoGPT (an AI assistant for IVF queries). The product ecosystem is completed with accessories such as data loggers, roller bases, and sealing systems. The company supplies NHS trusts, private fertility clinics, sperm banks, biobanks, and research institutions, operating under ISO 9001:2015 certification.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• CryoCan Series LN2 Storage Dewars A range of three cryogenic liquid nitrogen storage dewars (CryoCan 30-6, CryoCan 47-6, CryoCan 47-10) designed for storing biological materials at -196°C. Features lightweight aluminium alloy construction, market-leading holding times, and multiple canister configurations for IVF clinics, biobanks, and research laboratories.
• CryoNest XL LN2 Storage Vessel A 95-litre liquid nitrogen storage vessel featuring a proprietary internal rack system with six racks offering up to 24 compartments for organised, large-volume long-term biological sample storage. Designed for biobanks and IVF clinics.
• CryoNest XXL LN2 Storage Vessel High-capacity cryogenic storage vessel for long-term cryopreservation of biological samples in liquid nitrogen, featuring Cryolab's proprietary internal rack system for organised storage.
• CryoNest XXXL LN2 Storage Vessel A 175-litre cryogenic storage vessel with proprietary internal rack system offering up to 30 compartments for high-throughput cryopreservation programmes requiring maximum storage capacity.
• CryoStork Dry Shipper Series A series of five dry shippers (V2, V3, V4, V6, V10) with capacities from 2 to 10 litres for safe transport of biological samples in LN2 vapour phase. ISO certified with UKCA and CE markings and backed by a three-year vacuum warranty.
• CryoCrest 50L Liquid Nitrogen Dispenser

Quantifiable outcome

• CryoCan and CryoNest tanks designed for market-leading holding times for clinical resilience
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

AI capability4 records

Feature7 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• CBS Cryogenic Equipment Ltd.coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCryolab serves as the UK distributor for CBS Cryogenic Equipment products, including CBS SYMS I and SYMS III manual sealing systems, CBS High Security Vitrification Kits, CBS embryo/sperm straws, CBS visotubes, and CBS daisy goblets. This distribution relationship provides Cryolab customers with access to CBS's high-security cryogenic storage product line.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Planer plc: UK-based specialist manufacturer of controlled-rate freezers and cryogenic equipment for IVF, cell therapy, and biobanking. Direct competitor to Cryolab in the HFEA-regulated fertility and cryopreservation space, with overlapping customer base of NHS and private clinics.
• CBS Cryogenic Equipment: France-based manufacturer of high-security cryogenic straws, SYMS sealing systems, and vitrification kits. Cryolab is the UK distributor for CBS products, making them both a partner and the upstream supplier of many Cryolab consumable SKUs; functionally overlapping product portfolio in straws and high-security storage.
• Rocket Medical: UK-based manufacturer of medical devices including IVF consumables, oocyte retrieval needles, and reproductive health products. Directly competes in the UK fertility clinic segment with overlapping product categories such as oocyte retrieval needles.

Broad incumbents

• Taylor-Wharton: Long-established manufacturer of cryogenic storage dewars, LN2 tanks, and dry shippers used in fertility, biobanking, and life sciences. Overlaps directly with Cryolab's CryoCan and CryoNest storage vessel lines but operates at substantially larger scale globally.
• Chart Industries (MVE): Global cryogenic equipment manufacturer (including the MVE brand) producing LN2 storage tanks, dry shippers, and biological storage systems. Comparable offering to Cryolab's storage and transport portfolio at much larger scale across biopharma and life sciences.
• Worthington Industries (Cryo Science): Diversified manufacturer with a cryogenic storage business producing LN2 dewars and biological storage vessels. Competes with Cryolab in the storage vessel category but serves a much broader industrial and life sciences customer base.
• CooperSurgical: Large diversified provider of IVF and reproductive health consumables, devices, and media, including Wallace and Origio brands. Overlaps with Cryolab's micropipette, straw, and consumables lines but operates at significantly larger scale across global fertility markets.
• Vitrolife: Global provider of IVF media, consumables, and time-lapse systems. Comparable to Cryolab on the consumables side (vitrification kits, straws) with overlapping IVF clinic customers, though much larger and broader in product scope.

Emerging players

• Hamilton Thorne: Specialist supplier of IVF and reproductive science equipment including laser systems, sperm analysers, and consumables. Overlaps with Cryolab's IVF consumables and sperm analysis categories (e.g., SpermScope/SpermTrack) and addresses a similar HFEA-regulated customer base.
• Genea Biomedx: IVF equipment manufacturer offering benchtop incubators, time-lapse systems, and culture media. Adjacent competitor to Cryolab in the broader IVF laboratory equipment category, though with less focus on cryogenic storage specifically.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cryolablimited
• Xx.com/cryolab_info
• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Cryolab