What Propper Manufacturing Company does

Propper Manufacturing Company, Inc. is a family-owned U.S. medical device manufacturer founded in 1945 and headquartered at 36-04 Skillman Avenue, Long Island City, New York. The company specializes in disposable medical devices with a primary focus on sterilization monitoring products and services, serving hospitals and healthcare systems, dental practices, veterinary clinics, biotechnology and pharmaceutical firms, scientific research laboratories, and body modification studios in the United States and internationally.

Its core product portfolio centers on sterilization assurance, including biological indicators (Duo-Spore® dual-species tests, BI-O.K.™ self-contained vials), chemical indicators (Vapor Line® Type 5 steam integrators, OK®, Steam-Dot™, Steri-Dot®, Gas-Chex®, EO Chex™), Bowie-Dick test packs (Once-A-Day®), and packaging/record-keeping systems (Chex-All® pouches, Steri-Wrap®, Duo-Record®). Supporting lines include cleaning efficacy products (WD chex™ washer-disinfector monitors, OK-Sonic™ ultrasonic bath monitors, ProExpose™ protein detection tests), surgical instruments (sterile carbon and stainless steel blades, scalpels, fine blades), fiber optic laryngoscope blades and handles, fecal occult blood tests (Seracult®), thermometers, tourniquets, and laboratory supplies (microscope slides, cover glass, solid glass beads, hemacytometers). The company is ISO 13485:2016 certified (BSI, 2025-02-18) and holds an FDA clearance for EO Chex™, positioned as the only FDA-cleared ethylene oxide indicator tape on the U.S. market.

Propper generates revenue through three principal streams: one-time product sales via its direct e-commerce storefront and distributor channels, a recurring Culture Service Program that provides mail-in biological monitoring with 48-hour results through a secure online portal, and OEM/private label manufacturing for major healthcare brands. Distribution combines a domestic sales team and proppermfg.com e-commerce for U.S. customers with a network of international distributor partners for global markets. The company supports its sales motion with a digital-first marketing approach including the Propper Pulse newsletter, the Propper Connects community platform, and a YouTube content channel targeting sterile processing professionals.

Name

Propper Manufacturing Company

Legal name

Propper Manufacturing Company, Inc.

Website

https://proppermfg.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1945

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Propper Manufacturing Company is a family-owned U.S. medical device manufacturer founded in 1945, specializing in sterilization monitoring products (biological and chemical indicators, Bowie-Dick tests, indicator tape) plus surgical instruments, laryngoscopes, and lab supplies for hospitals, dental, veterinary, biotech, and research customers domestically and internationally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Sterilization Monitoring Medical Devices

NAICS

Surgical Appliance and Supplies Manufacturing (339113), Surgical and Medical Instrument Manufacturing (339112)

SIC

Surgical & Medical Instruments & Apparatus (3841)

akta.pro primary industry

Single-Use Medical Disposables & Procedure Kits (Drapes, Tubing, Catheters, Syringes, Custom Packs) (HLAHANAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Single-Use Surgical Devices & Procedure Packs (Disposable instruments, drapes, kits) (HLAHADAM), Laboratory Consumables & Plasticware (Tips, Tubes, Plates, Filters) (HLAGAIAH), Sterilization, Infection Control & PPE (Autoclaves, Disinfectants, Barriers) (HLAMAFAH)

Keywords

• Sterilization monitoring devices
• Biological indicators
• Chemical indicators
• Surgical instruments
• Medical device manufacturing

Headquarters

HQ city

Long Island City

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

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. Medical Device Product Sales: One-time product sales of sterilization monitoring devices (biological/chemical indicators), surgical instruments, laboratory equipment, and other medical devices through e-commerce platform.
2. Culture Service Program: Mail-in biological monitoring service where customers send processed spore tests to Propper's laboratory and receive results within 48 hours. Subscription-like recurring revenue from regular testing customers.
3. OEM/Private Label Manufacturing: Original equipment manufacturing services for other healthcare brands, creating custom products under partner branding while maintaining ISO and FDA compliance.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Propper Manufacturing Company manufactures and sells disposable medical devices specializing in sterilization monitoring products including biological indicators, chemical indicators, sterilization integrators, and Bowie-Dick test packs. The company also produces surgical instruments (blades, scalpels, laryngoscopes), laboratory supplies (microscope slides, glass beads, hemacytometers), cleaning efficacy products, fecal occult blood tests, and offers a mail-in Culture Service Program for biological monitoring with 48-hour results, plus OEM/private label manufacturing services.

Product overview

Propper Manufacturing Company is a manufacturer of disposable medical devices specializing in sterilization monitoring products and services. The company operates from Long Island City, New York, and has been in business since 1945. The product portfolio centers on sterilization assurance through chemical indicators (Vapor Line® Integrators, OK® Strips, Steam-Dot®, Steri-Dot®, Gas-Chex®), biological indicators (Duo-Spore®, BI-O.K.™), Bowie-Dick test packs, and packaging solutions (Chex-All® pouches/tubes, Steri-Wrap®). Supporting this core business are cleaning efficacy products (WD chex™ monitors, OK-Sonic™ ultrasonic monitors, ProExpose™ protein detection), laboratory products (microscope slides, cover glass, solid glass beads, hemacytometers), surgical instruments (blades, scalpels, fine blades), laryngoscopes (Macintosh and Miller fiber optic blades with Green System handles), fecal occult blood tests (Seracult®), and other medical devices (thermometers, tourniquets, otoscope specula). The company also offers a mail-in Culture Service Program for biological monitoring and OEM/private labeling services for other healthcare brands. All products are ISO 13485:2016 certified and manufactured in the USA.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Vapor Line®: Steam sterilization integrator product line including Type 5 chemical indicators
• WD chex™
• OK-Sonic™
• Chex-All®
• Duo-Spore®
• BI-O.K.™
• Steri-Wrap®
• Seracult®
• Gas-Chex®
• Seraket®
• Superlume®
• ProExpose™
• EO Chex™
• Once-A-Day®
• Duo-Record®

Products and services

• EO Chex™ Ethylene Oxide Indicator Tape FDA-cleared ethylene oxide indicator tape that distinguishes processed from unprocessed sterilization packages through a distinct pink-to-orange-brown color change after EO exposure, for healthcare facilities performing EO gas sterilization.
• Vapor Line® Steam Sterilization Integrator Type 5 chemical indicator that monitors all critical parameters in steam sterilization processes, providing an easy-to-read PASS or FAIL indicator for healthcare sterile processing departments.
• Biological Indicators (Duo-Spore® and BI-O.K.™) Biological monitoring indicators containing highly resistant microorganisms for steam, ethylene oxide, and dry heat sterilization verification; Duo-Spore® uses dual-species bacterial spores (Geobacillus stearothermophilus and Bacillus atrophaeus) and BI-O.K.™ provides self-contained vials with 48-hour results.
• Chemical Indicators (OK®, Steam-Dot™, Steri-Dot®, Gas-Chex®, Strate-Line®, Twindicator®, SmalStrip®) Complete line of chemical indicators for monitoring steam and ethylene oxide sterilization processes, available in strips, self-adhesive process indicators, and integrator formats compliant with ISO 11140-1 for healthcare and dental sterilization assurance.
• WD chex™ Washer-Disinfector Monitor Monitor measuring integrated results of detergent concentration, time, and temperature during washer-disinfector processing to verify cleaning effectiveness before sterilization, for sterile processing departments in hospitals and dental offices.
• OK-Sonic™ Ultrasonic Bath Monitor Monitor measuring cavitation, time, and temperature to effectively monitor cleaning effectiveness in ultrasonic baths used in sterile processing workflows.
• ProExpose™ Protein Detection Test Protein detection test that quickly verifies whether proteins remain on surfaces and inside lumens or tubular structures after manual or automated cleaning in healthcare sterile processing environments.
• Once-A-Day® Bowie-Dick Test Packs (including Ecos™) Daily steam sterilizer air removal test packs for verifying proper air evacuation and steam penetration in autoclaves, available in standard and Ecos™ environmentally-friendly formats for healthcare and dental facilities.
• Chex-All® Sterilization Pouches and Tubes Self-sealing and heat-sealable sterilization pouches and tubes with built-in chemical indicators to differentiate processed from unprocessed packages for sterile storage and transportation.
• Steri-Wrap® I, II, III Sterilization Wraps Single-use non-woven fabric wraps for O.R. and C.S.R. wrapping applications, available in multiple grades (I, II, III) for sequential wrapping to maintain sterility of surgical instrument trays.
• Culture Service Program Mail-in biological monitoring service where customers send processed spore test strips to Propper's laboratory for analysis, with results available within 48 hours of culturing through a secure online account dashboard.
• Microscope Slides and Cover Glass (Bev-L-Edge®) Laboratory microscope slides made from first-quality water-white glass and high-quality cover glass for blood smears and routine microscopy in clinical and research laboratories.
• Solid Glass Beads Laboratory glass beads designed to reduce bumping during boiling, refluxing, and distillation operations in research and pharmaceutical laboratories.
• Lumicyte™ Blood Counting Chamber (Hemacytometer) Hemacytometer for blood cell counting in clinical and research laboratory applications.
• Surgical Blades (Carbon Steel and Stainless Steel) Precision surgical blades available in sterile and non-sterile options, made from carbon steel or stainless steel for clinical effectiveness in surgical procedures.
• Sterile Stainless Steel Scalpels Sterile surgical scalpels for healthcare procedures, including surgical and clinical settings.
• Propper Fine Surgical Blades Fine surgical blades for precision procedures requiring enhanced control in surgical and specialty clinical applications.
• Macintosh and Miller Fiber Optic Laryngoscope Blades Reusable laryngoscope blades featuring integrated fiber optic bundles for tracheal intubation; Macintosh blades (sizes 1-5) and Miller blades (sizes 0-4) made of 304 Stainless Steel for anesthesia and emergency airway management.
• Propper Green System Laryngoscope Handles Laryngoscope handles available in stubby, AA, and C sizes, with xenon or Superlume® LED light bulbs; all handles are green system compliant for airway management in hospitals and surgical centers.
• Seracult® and Seracult® Plus Fecal Occult Blood Tests Qualitative guaiac fecal occult blood tests for colorectal cancer screening, available in single and triple slide formats for use in doctors' offices, hospitals, and laboratories.
• FDA Approved Thermometers FDA-approved infrared digital thermometers and oral digital thermometers for clinical temperature measurement in healthcare facilities.
• Seraket® Universal Automatic Tourniquet Reusable tourniquet with quick-release mechanism for use in phlebotomy, IV placement, and other medical procedures.
• OEM Private Labeling Services Original equipment manufacturing services creating cost-effective, environmentally friendly, ISO and FDA compliant private-label medical devices for other healthcare brands under partner branding.

Quantifiable outcome

• Mail-in spore test results delivered within 48 hours of culturing period
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature8 records

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• 3M Health Care: 3M's Health Care division offers sterilization assurance products, autoclave indicator tapes, biological indicators, and sterilization packaging through its well-established Attest and Comply product lines. As a diversified global healthcare conglomerate, 3M is a broad incumbent competitor with substantially larger R&D and distribution resources than Propper.
• Steris plc: Steris is a global leader in sterilization products, infection prevention, and surgical solutions, offering capital sterilization equipment alongside consumables, biological/chemical indicators, and SPD services. It competes with Propper across the full sterilization workflow but at vastly greater scale and with bundled capital + consumables contracts.
• Getinge: Getinge is a Swedish medical technology company providing sterilization, infection control, and surgical workflow solutions, including sterilizers, disinfection equipment, and consumables for sterile processing departments. It competes with Propper in sterilization consumables and instrument processing, especially in international markets.
• Advanced Sterilization Products (ASP, Johnson & Johnson): ASP, part of Johnson & Johnson, is a leading provider of low-temperature sterilization systems (Sterrad) and related consumables, including biological and chemical indicators. ASP competes directly with Propper in sterilization monitoring, particularly for ethylene oxide and hydrogen peroxide workflows in hospital sterile processing departments.

Direct peers

• Cantel Medical (now part of Steris): Cantel Medical, now operating under Steris, was historically a direct competitor in sterilization packaging, sterilization monitoring indicators, and infection prevention consumables (Crosstex, SPSmedical, ConFirm brands). Its sterilization pouches and Bowie-Dick test packs overlap directly with Propper's Chex-All® and Once-A-Day® product lines.
• Hu-Friedy: Hu-Friedy (now part of Cantel/Steris) manufactures dental surgical instruments, scalers, and reusable dental instrument processing solutions, including instrument cleaning and sterilization consumables. It is a direct comparable in Propper's dental segment for surgical blades, scalpels, and sterilization accessories.
• Mesa Laboratories: Mesa Labs (now part of Stevanato Group) manufactures sterilization and disinfection monitoring indicators, biological indicators, and cleanroom/infection-prevention consumables. It is the closest direct competitor to Propper's Duo-Spore®, Vapor Line®, and Bowie-Dick product lines, serving hospitals, dental, pharma, and industrial sterilization customers.
• Crosstex International (now Steris): Crosstex International, now part of Steris, manufactures sterilization pouches, sterilization wraps, biological and chemical indicators, and infection prevention consumables for dental and medical markets. It overlaps significantly with Propper's packaging and indicator portfolios in dental and ambulatory channels.

Emerging players

• Certol International: Certol International manufactures washer-disinfector detergents, instrument cleaning products, and infection prevention consumables for dental, medical, and laboratory settings. Its WD chex™/ProExpose™-adjacent cleaning efficacy products and mail-in spore testing services are direct competitors to Propper's SPD consumables portfolio.
• Integra LifeSciences: Integra LifeSciences manufactures surgical instruments, specialty surgical devices, and regenerative technologies used in neurosurgery, ENT, and plastic surgery. Its surgical instrument portfolio (including scalpels, blades, and specialty handles) overlaps with Propper's surgical blades and laryngoscope offerings in select surgical and acute-care channels.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/propper-manufacturing-company-inc-

Compliance1 record

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 Propper Manufacturing Company