What Starlab does

Starlab is a privately held European laboratory consumables and equipment manufacturer headquartered in Hamburg, Germany, operating through wholly-owned subsidiaries in Germany, France, Italy and the United Kingdom plus a Rest-of-World e-commerce site. Founded in 1999, the company designs, produces and distributes liquid handling products for life science, clinical and academic laboratories, with its core portfolio built around the TipOne universal-fit pipette tip system and the ErgoOne manual and electronic pipette line, supplemented by CytoOne cell culture consumables, GuardOne PCR workstations, PlateOne microplates, TubeOne microcentrifuge tubes, StarGuard gloves, robotic tips compatible with Beckman Coulter, Tecan, Packard and Qiagen platforms, and small laboratory equipment such as centrifuges, vortex mixers and thermomixers. The company extends its catalog through a distribution partnership with Eppendorf, offering over 668 Eppendorf SKUs via its platform, and operates ancillary service lines including UKAS-accredited pipette calibration in the UK and a TipOne closed-loop polypropylene recycling program.

Starlab's commercial model combines direct e-commerce sales through country-specific regional websites (Germany/Austria, UK, France, Italy and Rest of World) with an international dealer network for non-direct markets. Pricing is publicly listed and tiered by pack size, spanning entry-level consumables (TipOne pipette tips from €15.97) through mid-priced equipment (centrifuges around €287, ErgoOne starter packs around £405 promotional) up to recurring annual pipette calibration and maintenance contracts. Institutional customers are supported through Quickorder reordering, requisition lists, ProductFinder/Tipfinder selection tools and eProcurement integration.

The company markets to research laboratories, clinical and hospital laboratories, biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies, and educational institutions, with stated usage in leading universities, hospitals and global bioscience companies. ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and ISO 45001 certifications, together with UKAS accreditation for calibration, provide quality, environmental and occupational credentials underpinning institutional procurement. Ownership is management-controlled with no disclosed external investors, no reported venture or private equity funding events, and an absence of public listing signals, indicating an organically grown, bootstrapped operating model.

Name

Starlab

Legal name

Starlab International GmbH

Website

https://starlabgroup.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Starlab is a privately held Hamburg-based manufacturer and distributor of liquid handling laboratory consumables and equipment, including TipOne pipette tips, ErgoOne pipettes, cell culture products and PCR consumables, serving research, clinical and biotech laboratories across Europe.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Hamburg

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Laboratory Consumables Sales: Direct sales of pipette tips, tubes, plates, gloves, and other single-use laboratory consumables. Revenue generated through one-time product purchases with recurring reorder patterns from established customers.
2. Laboratory Equipment Sales: Sales of reusable laboratory equipment including pipettes, centrifuges, vortex mixers, thermomixers, and other instruments. Equipment includes both proprietary brands (ErgoOne, Starlab equipment) and distributed brands (Eppendorf).
3. Pipette Service and Calibration: Pipette service offerings including calibration (UKAS-accredited for UK), decontamination, maintenance, and repair services. Provides recurring service revenue from laboratory pipette assets.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Starlab manufactures and distributes a comprehensive range of laboratory consumables and small equipment centred on liquid handling — pipette tips (TipOne®), manual and electronic pipettes (ErgoOne®), serological pipettes, cell culture products (CytoOne®), PCR consumables, microplates (PlateOne®), gloves (StarGuard®), PCR workstations (GuardOne®), sample storage, and laboratory instruments (centrifuges, vortex mixers, thermomixers). It also offers pipette calibration, maintenance, and decontamination services, plus a closed-loop TipOne® polypropylene recycling program, sold primarily through regional e-commerce storefronts and an international dealer network.

Product overview

Starlab is a laboratory equipment and consumables company offering a comprehensive liquid handling portfolio centered around its core TipOne® pipette tips and ErgoOne® pipettes brands. The product range spans pipetting solutions (manual and electronic pipettes, pipette controllers, robotic tips), cell culture consumables (CytoOne® dishes, plates, flasks), general lab consumables (PCR products, tubes, plates, reservoirs), sample storage solutions, laboratory equipment (centrifuges, vortex mixers, thermomixers), and personal protection (StarGuard® gloves, GuardOne® workstations). The company also provides pipette calibration and maintenance services with UKAS accreditation, and operates a TipOne® recycling program for sustainability. Starlab serves leading universities, hospitals and bioscience companies globally through regional websites for Germany, France, Italy, UK, and international markets.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• TipOne®: Pipette tips product line featuring filter tips, standard tips, and specialty tips for various laboratory applications
• ErgoOne®
• ErgoOne® FAST
• ErgoOne® E
• TubeOne®
• StarGuard®
• GuardOne®
• CytoOne®
• Vortex Mixer
• PlateOne®
• Freezer Racking

Products and services

• TipOne® Pipette Tips Color-coded universal-fit pipette tips covering a 10µl to 1250µl volume range, available in non-sterile, filter, and sterile formats with refill and rack packaging options for research laboratories.
• ErgoOne® Pipettes Manual and electronic pipettes color-coordinated by volume for intuitive laboratory use, designed for ergonomic everyday pipetting workflows.
• ErgoOne® FAST Pipette Controller Electronic pipette controller covering a 1.0–100 ml volume range for efficient liquid handling with serological pipettes.
• ErgoOne® E Electronic Pipette Electronic pipette delivering precision and efficiency for routine laboratory liquid handling applications.
• TubeOne® Microcentrifuge Tubes Microcentrifuge tubes offered in multiple formats for sample handling and processing in laboratory workflows.
• StarGuard® Laboratory Gloves Personal protection gloves for laboratory use, available in nitrile, neoprene, and latex options.
• GuardOne® PCR Workstations PCR cabinets and workstations designed to provide contamination-free environments for sensitive laboratory sample handling.
• CytoOne® Cell Culture Consumables Cell culture dishes, multi-well plates, flasks, and related consumables for cell growth and research applications.
• Vortex Mixer Laboratory vortex mixer used to mix and stir samples during routine protocols.
• Freezer Racking Stainless steel storage racks for upright and chest freezers supporting efficient organisation of laboratory samples.
• Centrifuges Laboratory centrifuges, including minicentrifuges, for routine sample separation and processing.
• PCR Consumables PCR tubes, strips, plates, and seals including Rotor-Gene® compatible tubes and discs for PCR workflows.
• PlateOne® Microplates and Mats Microplates, deepwell plates, and sealing mats designed for high-throughput screening and analysis workflows.
• Robotic Tips Tips compatible with major automated liquid handling platforms including Beckman Coulter®, Tecan®, Packard®, and Qiagen® systems.
• Robotic Reservoirs Reagent reservoirs designed for use with robotic liquid handling systems in high-throughput workflows.
• Serological Pipettes Serological pipettes for precise liquid transfer in cell culture and general laboratory applications.
• Cell Scrapers Cell scrapers designed for harvesting cells from culture vessels during cell culture workflows.
• Bottle Top Filtration Systems Vacuum filtration systems including bottle top filters and media bottles for sterile filtration of culture media and buffers.
• Sample Storage Products Storage boxes, tube racks, cryogenic storage solutions, transport cases, and coolers for preservation and organisation of laboratory samples.
• Laboratory Equipment General laboratory equipment including thermomixers, mixers, aspirators, timers, dry bath incubators, shakers, and stirrers.
• Labelling Products Cryogenic labels, Startags, label printers, cartridges, and ID tape for sample identification in laboratory environments.
• Pipette Service Calibration, maintenance, and decontamination services for pipettes with UKAS-accredited calibration options available in the UK.
• TipOne® Recycling Service Closed-loop recycling program that captures used polypropylene pipette tips, supporting sustainability mandates and reducing reliance on virgin plastic.
• Eppendorf Product Distribution Over 668 Eppendorf products including pipettes, centrifuges, consumables, and laboratory equipment distributed through Starlab's sales channels.

Quantifiable outcome

• Products used in leading universities, hospitals, and global bioscience companies worldwide

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• EppendorfcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorStarlab announced a new partnership to offer Eppendorf products through their platform. Over 668 Eppendorf products are now available through Starlab, including precision pipettes, centrifuges, consumables, and more. This partnership expands Starlab's portfolio with trusted Eppendorf products that have been used by scientists worldwide for over 75 years.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Gilson: US/European manufacturer of manual and electronic pipettes (PIPETMAN) plus associated tips and liquid handling consumables — directly comparable catalog and customer base to Starlab.
• Brand (part of Thermo Fisher): German-headquartered manufacturer of liquid handling products (Transferpette, BRAND pipette tips) with comparable European mid-market positioning to Starlab.
• Integra Biosciences: Swiss-based manufacturer of pipettes (PIPETBOY, EVOLVE), electronic pipetting solutions, and liquid handling consumables. Closely comparable mid-sized European peer with similar product mix.
• Mettler Toledo (Rainin): Global lab equipment manufacturer whose Rainin brand is a market leader in pipettes and BioClean tips. Competes head-to-head with Starlab's TipOne and ErgoOne lines in liquid handling.
• Eppendorf: German-headquartered manufacturer of pipettes, pipette tips, centrifuges, and lab consumables — Starlab's closest direct peer in product, customer base, and European footprint. Also currently a channel partner via Starlab's 668-product distribution agreement.

Broad incumbents

• Sartorius: Large bioprocessing and lab products incumbent with a broad portfolio that includes pipette tips, cell culture consumables, and lab balances. Competes with Starlab in CytoOne-equivalent and consumables categories but is significantly larger and more diversified.
• Thermo Fisher Scientific: Global life sciences tools giant that supplies laboratory consumables, plastics, and pipette tips (including under the Thermo Scientific and Nunc brands). Overlaps with Starlab's consumables and equipment portfolios from a scale advantage.
• VWR (part of Avantor): Global lab supplies distributor and brand owner (VWR Collection) that competes with Starlab's catalog across tips, tubes, plates, and general lab consumables, including via private-label lines.
• Corning Life Sciences: Major manufacturer of cell culture consumables (Corning®, Falcon®) that competes directly with Starlab's CytoOne® dishes, plates, and flasks in biotech and academic accounts.

Emerging players

• Hamilton Company: Manufacturer of precision liquid handling robotics, automated pipetting workstations, and consumables. Competes with Starlab's robotic tips and high-throughput automation offerings at the more specialized/automation end of the market.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/starlabukltd
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC-yu6VaAEJxkFbCk7IBS_UQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/starlabinternational
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/starlabgroup
• Instagraminstagram.com/starlabinternational

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

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 Starlab