What Astec does

Astec Co., Ltd. (株式会社アステック) is a privately held Japanese manufacturer founded in 1978 and headquartered in Shime-machi, Fukuoka Prefecture. The company designs, manufactures, and globally distributes medical and laboratory equipment for the assisted reproductive technology (ART) and life-science research markets, with manufacturing carried out in an ISO 13485-certified facility. Its portfolio centers on time-lapse embryo incubators (CCM-CHRONOS, CCM-iBIS), CO2 and multi-gas cell-culture incubators (SCA, VCI, SD, EC, Penguin AQ, MN-2), liquid-nitrogen storage and monitoring systems (LN2 container series, NLO weight-sensing monitor), IVF workstations (Bio-Station, Smart Station SS-250), an automated stem-cell culture device (CELLA i4.0), a cloud-based monitoring platform (LabKeeper), and consumables such as IVF dishes and VOC filters. Following the October 2024 acquisition of Life Whisperer, the company also offers AI-based image analysis for embryo selection.

Astec sells primarily to IVF clinics and fertility treatment centers, life-science research laboratories, and a smaller set of conservation organizations (e.g., Nature's SAFE). Revenue is generated through direct B2B sales of capital equipment and a recurring consumables/accessories stream, supported by a Japanese domestic e-commerce store and active participation in international fertility and life-science conferences such as ESHRE, ALPHA, and Aspire. The company employs 101-250 people, markets across Japan, Asia Pacific, Europe, and the Americas, and has received the 2026 Manufacturing Japan Award (Kyushu Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry Director's Award) and the 43rd Excellent Manager Award from Nikkan Kogyo Shimbun.

Name

Astec

Legal name

ASTEC CO.,LTD.

Website

https://astec-bio.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1978

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Astec is a Japanese manufacturer founded in 1978 that designs, builds, and globally distributes IVF and life-science laboratory equipment—including time-lapse incubators, CO2/multi-gas incubators, LN2 storage, workstations, and the Life Whisperer AI embryo-selection tool—selling to fertility clinics, research labs, and conservation organizations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Medical Laboratory Equipment (IVF / ART)

NAICS

Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing (33451), Electromedical and Electrotherapeutic Apparatus Manufacturing (334510)

SIC

Surgical & Medical Instruments & Apparatus (3841), Laboratory Apparatus & Furniture (3821)

akta.pro primary industry

General Lab Equipment (Centrifuges, Incubators, Shakers, Ovens) (HLAGAIAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Reproductive & Breeding Devices & Supplies (AI Equipment, Pregnancy Detection Aids) (HLAMAFAM)

Keywords

• IVF laboratory equipment
• Time-lapse embryo incubators
• CO2 multi-gas incubators
• Liquid nitrogen storage
• Assisted reproductive technology

Headquarters

HQ city

Fukuoka

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Laboratory Equipment Sales: Sale of laboratory equipment including time-lapse incubators, CO2/multi-gas incubators, LN2 containers, IVF workstations, and accessories. Revenue generated from direct equipment sales to medical clinics and research institutions.
2. IVF Consumables: Sale of IVF-related consumables including dishes, culture media accessories, and disposable products used in fertility treatment procedures.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Astec manufactures and sells medical laboratory equipment for assisted reproductive technology (ART) and life science research. The core product portfolio includes time-lapse embryo incubators (CCM-CHRONOS, CCM-iBIS), CO2/multi-gas incubators, liquid nitrogen storage containers, IVF workstations, and the LabKeeper cloud monitoring system. All equipment is designed and manufactured in an ISO 13485 certified facility in Fukuoka, Japan, and sold to IVF clinics, fertility centers, and research laboratories worldwide.

Product overview

Astec is a Japanese manufacturer of medical laboratory equipment specializing in IVF (in vitro fertilization) and life science products since 1978. The product portfolio centers around time-lapse incubators (CCM-CHRONOS, CCM-iBIS) for embryo observation, CO2/multi-gas incubators (SCA, VCI, SD, EC, and Penguin series) for cell culture, and liquid nitrogen storage containers for biological sample preservation. Supporting products include IVF workstations (Bio-Station, Smart Station SS-250), the LabKeeper monitoring system for quality assurance, automated cell culture devices (CELLA i4.0), clean benches, gas analyzers, thermal cyclers, and specialized consumables like IVF dishes. The company also offers AI-based embryo selection through Life Whisperer image analysis technology. All equipment is designed and manufactured in an ISO 13485 certified facility in Fukuoka, Japan, with products distributed globally to IVF clinics and life science laboratories.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CCM-CHRONOS: Time-lapse embryo incubator product line including CCM-CHRONOS and CCM-iBIS models
• CCM-iBIS
• Penguin AQ
• Life Whisperer
• NLO Series
• LabKeeper
• SureGrip
• EC6S-MD
• EC10
• Bio-Station
• SS-250

Products and services

• CCM-CHRONOS Time-lapse incubator system for embryo observation during IVF treatment, enabling continuous monitoring of embryo development without disturbing the culture environment.
• CCM-iBIS Time-lapse incubator for embryo culture observation with integrated imaging capabilities.
• Life Whisperer AI-based image analysis technology for embryo selection in IVF treatments.
• SCA/SMA-30DRS Series CO2/multi-gas incubator with direct heat and water jacket types for cell culture applications.
• VCI Series CO2 incubator VCI model for laboratory cell culture with precise environmental control.
• SCA Series CO2/multi-gas incubator series for general cell culture applications.
• SD830 Multi-Gas Incubator Multi-gas incubator for specialized cell culture requiring controlled oxygen environments.
• EC10 Benchtop Incubator Space-efficient bench top incubator with increased capacity, independently controlled chambers, built-in gas mixer with rapid temperature recovery, and tempered glass observation windows.
• EC6S-MD Benchtop Incubator Medical device classified bench top incubator designed for IVF and cell culture applications.
• MN-2 Mini Bench Top Incubator Compact mini bench top incubator for limited space laboratory environments.
• Penguin AQ World's smallest water jacketed incubator, providing stable cell-culturing environment in compact design.
• CELLA i4.0 Automatic stem cell culture device for regenerative medicine applications.
• ASTEC LN2 Container Series Liquid nitrogen storage containers for biological sample preservation at ultra-low temperatures.
• NLO Series Nitrogen Liquid Observation System using weight sensing for accurate LN2 tank monitoring with remote monitoring capabilities through LabKeeper integration.
• Bio-Station (Integrated Bio-Station) IVF workstation providing integrated environment for embryo handling and observation.
• IVF Smart Station SS-250 Smart workstation for IVF laboratory procedures with integrated functionality.
• LabKeeper Laboratory monitoring and quality assurance system that automatically monitors equipment, sends real-time alerts via email/SMS, and provides automatic continuous logging of temperature, humidity, CO2, O2, flow rate, and LN2 levels.
• Clean Bench / Safety Cabinet Clean bench and safety cabinet for aseptic laboratory work environments.
• VOC Filter VFAS-001 New VOC filter with reduced size by almost half compared to previous model. Features powder form activated carbon, special air tunnel for activated carbon, hydrophobic PTFE membrane filters (0.22), and HEPA filter (99.997% Cartridge). Available with gamma sterilization.
• IVF Dishes Medical device classified IVF dishes for embryo culture, including SureGrip dishes with enhanced grip features.

Quantifiable outcome

• EC10 depth reduced from 171mm to 110mm, enabling easy access to rear chambers
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Nature's SAFEcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 June 2023Astec provides essential laboratory equipment including Penguin AQ Incubator (world's smallest water jacketed incubator) and LN2 tanks to Nature's SAFE, a UK charity dedicated to preserving live cells from animals at risk of extinction. This partnership supports the UN's Sustainable Development Goal 15: LIFE ON LAND. Astec's equipment enables the organization to maintain viable genetic material for biodiversity conservation.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Vitrolife: Swedish-based global leader in IVF/ART media, consumables, and time-lapse incubation systems. Directly comparable to Astec as a manufacturer of IVF laboratory equipment and consumables serving the same fertility clinic customer base worldwide.
• Hamilton Thorne: US/Canada-headquartered provider of precision instruments, disposables, and software for the IVF/ART and animal breeding markets. Closely comparable to Astec's time-lapse incubator and ART equipment portfolio with similar customer segments globally.
• Genea Biomedx: Australian IVF technology company developing and commercializing fertility lab instruments including time-lapse incubators. Directly comparable to Astec's CCM-CHRONOS and benchtop incubator lines serving IVF clinics.
• Esco Medical: Singapore-based manufacturer of IVF equipment including MIRI time-lapse incubators and ART workstations. Directly comparable to Astec's time-lapse incubation, IVF workstation, and benchtop incubator product lines serving global fertility clinics.
• Memmert: German specialty manufacturer of high-precision laboratory incubators, CO2 incubators, and climate chambers. Directly comparable to Astec's benchtop and CO2 incubator product portfolio serving cell culture and IVF laboratory customers.
• BINDER: German manufacturer of laboratory and industrial incubators including CO2 incubators used in IVF and cell culture. Comparable to Astec's incubator manufacturing focus with overlapping customer segments in life science and medical laboratories.
• Labotect: German IVF technology company producing benchtop incubators, workstation systems, and consumables for assisted reproduction. Closely comparable to Astec's EC series benchtop incubators and Bio-Station IVF workstation offering to fertility clinics.

Broad incumbents

• CooperSurgical: US-based women's health and fertility company offering a broad portfolio of IVF media, devices, and lab equipment. Comparable to Astec as an IVF/ART equipment and consumables provider serving the same fertility clinic end market, though much larger and more diversified.
• Thermo Fisher Scientific: Global life sciences tools giant with significant presence in CO2 incubators, cell culture equipment, and laboratory monitoring solutions. Overlaps with Astec's CO2/multi-gas incubator and lab monitoring (LabKeeper) categories, though as part of a much broader portfolio.
• Eppendorf: German manufacturer of laboratory equipment including CO2 incubators, cell culture consumables, and bioreactors. Comparable to Astec on CO2/multi-gas incubator manufacturing and lab consumables, though as a much larger diversified lab equipment incumbent.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/astecChronos
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCHC7ZlDnGrbTi9sOv0_5KlQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/astec-bio
• Instagraminstagram.com/astec_bio

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A1 record

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Astec