What DWK Life Sciences does

DWK Life Sciences is a global manufacturer and supplier of precision laboratory glassware and primary pharmaceutical packaging, headquartered in Wertheim, Germany. The company operates under three heritage brands—DURAN® (borosilicate glass 3.3 laboratory glassware, since 1887), WHEATON® (pharmaceutical vials and packaging, since 1888), and KIMBLE® (specialty laboratory glassware including KIMAX®, since 1901)—offering more than 30,000 SKUs from 14 manufacturing and distribution sites across Europe, North America, and Asia. Core technology centers on borosilicate glass 3.3 formulation, with proprietary features including the Retrace Code traceability system (covering up to 100 million products), safety coatings (DURAN® protect+, KimCote®), RAY-SORB® UV protection meeting USP/EP/JP pharmacopeial standards, and the GLS 80® wide-mouth thread standard. Pharmaceutical primary packaging products include tubular glass vials, molded glass vials, ampoules, and closure systems, complemented by value-added services such as USP-compliant particulate cleaning, depyrogenation, sterilization, siliconization, and barcoding.

DWK Life Sciences serves a horizontally diversified customer base spanning pharmaceutical discovery-to-delivery (drug discovery, development, manufacturing, and delivery), analytical sciences, cell culture, lab essentials, diagnostics, organic chemistry, compound pharmacy, and personal care applications. The go-to-market model combines direct enterprise field sales for pharmaceutical and bulk custom customers, an e-commerce platform (dwk.com with regional variants), and a global distributor network covering all major world regions. Revenue mechanics are anchored in hardware sales of consumable laboratory and packaging products, augmented by professional services revenue from custom processing and finishing. The company is privately held by One Equity Partners, which acquired DURAN® Group in 2014 and subsequently rolled in WHEATON® Industries (2015), KIMBLE® Chase (2016), Müller + Müller (2020), and Assem-Pak | Aluseal (2023) to form the current platform. The company employs approximately 1,700 people globally and has appointed Michael Werth as CEO in April 2026 following Armin Reiche's 25-year tenure.

Name

DWK Life Sciences

Legal name

DWK Life Sciences

Website

https://dwk.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

DWK Life Sciences is a private equity-backed German manufacturer of precision laboratory glassware and primary pharmaceutical packaging under the heritage brands DURAN®, WHEATON®, and KIMBLE®, serving pharmaceutical, research, diagnostic, and industrial customers across 14 global sites with ~1,700 employees and 30,000+ products.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Laboratory Glassware and Pharmaceutical Primary Packaging

NAICS

Glass Container Manufacturing (327213)

SIC

Glass Containers (3221)

akta.pro primary industry

Pharmaceutical & Medical Glass Packaging (Vials, Ampoules, Syringes) (IMALAEAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Primary Pharmaceutical Packaging (Blister Packs, Bottles, Vials, Ampoules) (IMALAIAA), Diagnostic & Laboratory Packaging (Specimen Containers, Transport Tubes) (IMALAIAF)

Keywords

• Laboratory glassware
• Pharmaceutical packaging
• Borosilicate glassware
• Primary packaging containers
• Life sciences supplies

Headquarters

HQ city

Melville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Laboratory Glassware Sales: Sale of precision laboratory glassware including DURAN®, WHEATON®, and KIMBLE® branded products such as bottles, vials, flasks, beakers, and volumetric glassware to research laboratories, pharmaceutical companies, and industrial customers.
2. Pharmaceutical Primary Packaging: Sale of primary packaging solutions including tubular glass vials, molded glass vials, ampoules, and closure systems for pharmaceutical drug delivery and diagnostic applications.
3. Custom Solutions Services: Value-added services including particulate cleaning (USP <788>/Ph. Eur. 2.9.19 compliant), depyrogenation (USP <85>/Ph. Eur. 2.6.14), sterilization (USP <71>/Ph. Eur. 2.6.1), siliconization, barcoding/labeling, and custom secondary packaging.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

DWK Life Sciences manufactures and globally distributes precision laboratory glassware and primary pharmaceutical packaging under three heritage brands: DURAN® (borosilicate laboratory bottles and equipment), WHEATON® (pharmaceutical vials and packaging), and KIMBLE® (specialty volumetric glassware including KIMAX®). The company also provides value-added custom services such as USP/EP-compliant particulate cleaning, depyrogenation, sterilization, siliconization, and barcoding/labeling for pharmaceutical customers.

Product overview

DWK Life Sciences is a global manufacturer and supplier of precision laboratory glassware and primary pharmaceutical packaging solutions, operating under three core brands: DURAN® (premium borosilicate laboratory glassware and bottles), WHEATON® (pharmaceutical vials, packaging, and laboratory products), and KIMBLE® (specialty laboratory glassware including KIMAX® products). The portfolio spans over 30,000 products including laboratory bottles, volumetric glassware, vials, tubes, beakers, flasks, safety-coated glass, funnels, laboratory equipment, and measuring devices. DWK also offers pharmaceutical primary packaging with value-added services including particulate cleaning, depyrogenation, sterilization, siliconization, and barcoding. Key innovations include YOUTILITY® ergonomic bottles, DURAN® protect+ safety coatings, RAY-SORB® UV protection, Retrace Code traceability system, and WHEATON® COMPLETEPAK ready-to-use vial configurations. The company distributes the Stevanato Group EZ-fill® platform under a non-exclusive agreement and serves pharmaceutical, diagnostic, research, and industrial markets worldwide.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• DURAN®: Laboratory glassware brand known for borosilicate glass products including bottles, flasks, and laboratory equipment
• WHEATON®
• KIMBLE®
• WHEATON® COMPLETEPAK
• Stevanato Group EZ-fill® Platform

Products and services

• DURAN® Lab Bottles Premium borosilicate 3.3 glass laboratory bottles available in multiple sizes and neck finishes (GL 25/32/45, GLS 80) with options for safety coatings and Retrace Code lot traceability, used by pharmaceutical manufacturers, research laboratories, and industrial customers worldwide.
• WHEATON® Vials and Pharmaceutical Packaging Pharmaceutical-grade vials, serum bottles, ampoules, microplates, and closure systems including tubular glass vials, moulded glass vials, and diagnostic containers for drug delivery, vaccine manufacturing, and in-vitro diagnostic applications.
• KIMBLE® Laboratory Glassware Comprehensive range of specialty laboratory glassware including the KIMAX® product line, volumetric flasks, pipettes, graduated cylinders, burets, chromatography vials, and disposable products for analytical, research, and industrial applications.
• YOUTILITY® Ergonomic Lab Bottles Innovative ergonomic DURAN® laboratory bottles featuring an improved grip and handling design that reduces hand fatigue during repetitive laboratory tasks.
• DURAN® TILT Media Preparation Bottles Specialty DURAN® bottles with a tilting neck design that enables efficient media preparation and liquid handling workflows in laboratory and bioprocess settings.
• WHEATON® ACT® Crimping Tools High-performance crimping tools and jaw sets for secure pharmaceutical vial sealing, including battery-powered crimping options for improved aseptic filling workflow efficiency.
• WHEATON® COMPLETEPAK Ready-to-Use Vials Pre-configured sterile vial and closure combinations available in clear, amber, and ModPAK configurations for streamlined pharmaceutical filling operations.
• DURAN® PURE Pharmaceutical Bottles Pharmaceutical-grade DURAN® bottles designed for drug manufacturing and primary packaging applications meeting regulatory requirements for API storage and aseptic processing.
• MicroLiter™ Clean-Packed Chromatography Vials Class 10K clean-packed chromatography vials designed for MS-critical analytical applications requiring high material purity and low particulate background.
• Driplok® Wash Bottles Laboratory wash bottles with vapor-venting valve technology that prevents hazardous solvent drips during dispensing, used in routine wet-lab workflows.
• Stevanato Group EZ-fill® Platform Ready-to-use pharmaceutical vials distributed through DWK Life Sciences under a non-exclusive agreement with Stevanato Group, featuring standardized EZ-fill configurations for efficient filling-line integration.
• Particulate Cleaning Services USP <788> / Ph. Eur. 2.9.19 compliant particulate cleaning for pharmaceutical vials and containers, delivered in Ready-to-Process (RTP) format for aseptic filling lines.
• Depyrogenation Services Heat treatment services achieving USP <85> / Ph. Eur. 2.6.14 compliant endotoxin removal, delivered in Ready-to-Sterilize (RTS) format for parenteral packaging applications.
• Sterilization Services Sterilization processing meeting USP <71> / Ph. Eur. 2.6.1 requirements, delivered in Ready-to-Use (RTU) format for pharmaceutical packaging and bioprocess containers.
• Siliconization Services Internal siliconization treatment for pharmaceutical vials and containers to improve sample release, reduce adsorption, and enhance compatibility with injectable products.
• Barcoding and Labeling Services Pre-labeled or barcoded pharmaceutical vials and containers for identification and traceability throughout the supply chain and into customer filling operations.

Quantifiable outcome

• 100 million products traceable through Retrace Code system
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Stevanato GroupcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2022DWK Life Sciences and Stevanato Group signed a non-exclusive distribution agreement making the Stevanato Group EZ-fill® platform products available through DWK Life Sciences, enabling Life Science and Pharmaceutical customers to access standardized ready-to-use vial solutions through DWK's global distribution network.
• Vaccines Manufacturing and Innovation Centre (VMIC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020DWK Life Sciences announced a primary packaging supply chain agreement with the UK's Vaccines Manufacturing and Innovation Centre (VMIC) to support vaccine development, providing reliable access to high-quality pharmaceutical packaging during the COVID-19 pandemic response.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Eppendorf AG:
• Stevanato Group: Stevanato Group is a major pharmaceutical glass packaging manufacturer and the originator of the EZ-fill® ready-to-use vial platform — DWK distributes EZ-fill® products via a non-exclusive partnership, making Stevanato both a partner and a direct competitor in pharma primary packaging.
• Gerresheimer AG: Gerresheimer is a leading global manufacturer of pharmaceutical glass and plastic primary packaging, including vials, ampoules, syringes, and containers — directly competing with DWK's WHEATON®, Müller + Müller, and Assem-Pak | Aluseal product lines.
• Corning Life Sciences: Corning's Life Sciences segment manufactures cell culture vessels, laboratory glassware, and pharmaceutical glass packaging, overlapping directly with DWK's KIMBLE® and DURAN® lab products and WHEATON® cell culture offerings.

Broad incumbents

• Schott AG: Schott is the original inventor of borosilicate glass and the historical owner of the DURAN® brand. It remains the largest direct competitor in laboratory borosilicate glassware and pharmaceutical glass packaging globally.
• Sartorius AG: Sartorius supplies bioprocessing containers, single-use systems, and laboratory products to the pharmaceutical and biotech industries — competing with DWK's DURAN® PURE and WHEATON® bioprocessing offerings in cell culture and API storage.
• Merck KGaA (Life Science / MilliporeSigma): MilliporeSigma is the life science division of Merck KGaA, offering a broad portfolio of laboratory consumables, glassware, and bioprocessing containers — directly competing with DWK's lab products and pharmaceutical packaging across multiple categories.
• Thermo Fisher Scientific: Thermo Fisher offers a broad portfolio of laboratory consumables, vials, and bioprocessing containers through its Laboratory Products and Services segment — a wide-incumbent competitor with overlapping catalog breadth in vials and lab consumables.
• Avantor:

Emerging players

• DWK Life Sciences (self-reference for benchmarking) — Nipro Medical Corporation: Nipro is a Japanese-headquartered medical device and pharmaceutical glass packaging manufacturer with growing global presence in vials and ampoules — an emerging global competitor with partial product overlap in DWK's pharmaceutical primary packaging business.

Market position

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCug_YdhEl8Rty7wS5HVmI9Q
• Facebookfacebook.com/DWKLifeSciences
• LinkedInin.linkedin.com/company/dwklifesciences
• Instagraminstagram.com/dwklifesciences
• Xx.com/DURAN_Labware

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries6 records

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 DWK Life Sciences