What LCTech does

LCTech GmbH is a German specialist in automated sample preparation for analytical chemistry laboratories, founded in 1998 and headquartered in Obertaufkirchen, Bavaria. The company designs and manufactures capital equipment and consumables that automate the extraction, cleanup, and evaporation steps required before samples can be analyzed by chromatography or mass spectrometry. Its core product lines include the X-TRACTION® Pressurised Fluid Extraction system, the DEXTech family of automated cleanup systems for persistent organic pollutants (PCDD/F, PCB, PBDE, PCN, chlorinated paraffins), the FREESTYLE modular xyz-robotics platform, the D-EVA vacuum concentrator, and a broad consumables portfolio (AflaCLEAN™, OtaCLEAN™, DONeX™, CrossTOX®, EluCLEAN® PFAS, GPC, and QuEChERS columns). The company serves food and feed testing labs, environmental and water testing labs, POPs specialists, forensic labs, and pharmaceutical/cannabis QC labs, with end markets driven by regulatory compliance for contaminants including mycotoxins, PFAS, dioxins, pesticides, and mineral oil hydrocarbons.

LCTech monetizes through a hybrid model: capital-equipment sales of automated instruments, recurring revenue from proprietary consumable columns (IAC and SPE columns with re-order cycles tied to routine testing throughput), and professional services including the company's dioxin/PCB training programs and installation/maintenance support. Go-to-market is consultative enterprise field sales combined with a global distributor network supported by a dedicated distributor portal, supplemented by technical marketing via webinars, application notes, and industry trade shows (Pittcon, IAIA). Customers cite outcomes such as 80% time savings with ThermELUTE, sub-20-minute sample preparation, aflatoxin recovery rates above 90%, and the ability to analyze 18 mycotoxins in a single step using CrossTOX.

LCTech is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Velaris (formerly Advanced Automation Technologies), a Battery Ventures-backed laboratory automation platform that also includes Skalar Analytical, GERSTEL, PromoChrom, EST Analytical, TE Instruments, and Markes International. The company is currently being integrated into the GERSTEL brand as part of Velaris's consolidation strategy, while continuing to operate from its 51–100 employee German headquarters with a global customer footprint. Leadership comprises CEO Amod Kher, CTO Dr. Uwe Aulwurm, and founder Michael Baumann, supported by a team of application specialists covering dioxin, sample cleanup, and process automation.

Name

LCTech

Legal name

LCTech GmbH

Website

https://lctech.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

LCTech GmbH is a German specialist in automated sample preparation for analytical chemistry laboratories, providing extraction, cleanup, evaporation, and robotic systems plus proprietary consumables for food, feed, environmental, water, POPs, forensic, and pharmaceutical testing labs worldwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Laboratory Sample Preparation Equipment

NAICS

Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing (334516)

SIC

Laboratory Analytical Instruments (3826), Laboratory Apparatus & Furniture (3821)

akta.pro primary industry

Liquid Handling & Laboratory Automation (Pipettes, Robots, Workstations) (HLAGAIAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Laboratory Consumables & Plasticware (Tips, Tubes, Plates, Filters) (HLAGAIAH), Emerging Contaminants Testing & Risk Management (PFAS, microplastics, pharmaceuticals) (EUANAJAF)

Keywords

• Sample preparation equipment
• Analytical laboratory instruments
• Immunoaffinity columns
• Automated extraction systems
• Mycotoxin analysis consumables

Headquarters

HQ city

Obertaufkirchen

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Laboratory Equipment Sales: Sale of automated sample preparation instruments including X-TRACTION extraction systems, DEXTech cleanup systems, D-EVA evaporators, and FREESTYLE robotics platforms. Equipment is sold as capital expenditure to analytical laboratories.
2. Consumables and Columns: Recurring revenue from consumable products including IAC columns (AflaCLEAN, OtaCLEAN), SPE columns (EluCLEAN, CrossTOX), GPC columns, cleanup columns, and accessories. Consumables are sold in packs (25, 100, 500, 1000 units) with regular reorders from active customers.
3. Professional Services and Training: Dioxin/PCB training programs delivered by LCTech experts for laboratory personnel establishing analytical capabilities. Training covers extraction, cleanup, evaporation, and chromatography interpretation. Service support including installation, maintenance, and repairs.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

LCTech develops, manufactures, and distributes automated sample preparation systems and consumables for analytical chemistry laboratories. Its portfolio spans pressurised fluid extraction (X-TRACTION®), automated cleanup (DEXTech family for dioxins/PCBs/POPs), modular robotics (FREESTYLE), vacuum evaporation (D-EVA), and a full line of proprietary immunoaffinity and SPE columns for mycotoxin, PFAS, pesticide, and mineral oil analysis. The company also delivers Dioxin/PCB training and service support to testing laboratories worldwide.

Product overview

LCTech offers a comprehensive portfolio of laboratory automation products for sample preparation in analytical chemistry. The core offerings include: the X-TRACTION® Pressurised Fluid Extraction system for initial sample extraction; the DEXTech product family (Pure, 16, Heat) for automated clean-up of dioxins, PCBs, and other POPs; the FREESTYLE modular robotic system supporting multiple configurations for SPE, GPC, evaporation, and specialized applications; and the D-EVA vacuum concentrator for parallel evaporation. Supporting consumables include immunoaffinity columns (AflaCLEAN™, OtaCLEAN™, DONeX™) for mycotoxin analysis, CrossTOX® multi-toxin SPE columns, EluCLEAN™ PFAS SPE columns, clean-up columns, GPC columns, and QuEChERS products. The portfolio serves food/feed safety, environmental, water, and forensic testing laboratories with complete workflow solutions from extraction through sample preparation for chromatography analysis.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• X-TRACTION®: Pressurised Fluid Extraction system for sample extraction
• DEXTech
• FREESTYLE
• D-EVA
• AflaCLEAN™
• CrossTOX®
• EluCLEAN®
• DONeX™
• OtaCLEAN™
• ThermELUTE
• UVE
• QuEChERS

Products and services

• X-TRACTION® Pressurised Fluid Extraction (PFE) system for analytical sample extraction with magnetically sealed extraction cells up to 75 mL, temperature range 20°C–200°C, ~10 bar operating pressure, parallel processing of up to 6 modules, and solvent connections for up to 5 different solvents. Sold as capital equipment to analytical laboratories.
• DEXTech Produktfamilie (Pure, 16, Heat) Automated clean-up systems for PCDD/F, PCB, PCN, PBDE, and chlorinated paraffin analysis. DEXTech Pure serves routine use, DEXTech 16 processes 15 samples per sequence fully automated overnight, and DEXTech Heat is designed for hardening fat samples. Sold to POPs and dioxin testing laboratories.
• FREESTYLE Robotiksystem Modular xyz-robotics platform with interchangeable modules including SPE, GPC, EVA, HPLC Direct Injection, and ThermELUTE configurations. Specialised variants address PFAS, pesticides, mycotoxins, MOSH/MOAH, forensics, and H53 methods. Features intuitive software, pressure monitoring for unattended operation, and compatibility with various column formats. Sold as capital equipment to analytical laboratories.
• D-EVA Vacuum Concentrator Vacuum concentrator for parallel evaporation of up to 53 samples (dioxin) or 23 samples (PCB), with automatic sensor-controlled stopping at defined volumes (30-150 µL for PCDD/F, ~300 µL for PCB). Features a -60°C cryotrap preventing solvent vapors in the lab and is available in PFAS-compatible versions. Sold as capital equipment to analytical laboratories.
• AflaCLEAN™ IAC Column Immunoaffinity column for Aflatoxin B1, B2, G1, G2 analysis in food and feed matrices with high loading capacity (150 ng B1), 24-month shelf life, and >90% recovery for B1/G1. Validated for peanuts, corn, rice, hazelnuts, paprika, figs, and dates. Consumable sold in packs (25, 100, 500, 1000 units) to mycotoxin testing laboratories.
• AflaCLEAN™ SMART IAC Column Compact 3 cm immunoaffinity column for Aflatoxin B1, B2, G1, G2 with reduced solvent consumption, AOAC-compliant performance, and ≥90% recovery for G1 and ≥60% for G2. Consumable sold to mycotoxin testing laboratories.
• AflaCLEAN™ M1 SMART IAC Column Compact SMART immunoaffinity column for Aflatoxin M1 analysis in milk and dairy products, compliant with EN ISO 14501:2007 and AOAC 2000.08. Consumable sold to dairy mycotoxin testing laboratories.
• Afla-OtaCLEAN™ IAC Column Combined immunoaffinity column for Aflatoxins B1, B2, G1, G2 and Ochratoxin A in cereals, dried fruits, nuts, and spices with an 18-month shelf life. Consumable sold to mycotoxin testing laboratories.
• CrossTOX® SPE Column Multi-mycotoxin push-through QuEChERS SPE column enabling simultaneous analysis of 18 mycotoxins (Aflatoxins, OTA, DON, NIV, ZEA, FB1/FB2) in one step using LC-MS/MS. Room temperature storage, ≥85% recovery, applicable to cereals, nuts, dried fruits, and feed. Consumable sold to multi-mycotoxin testing laboratories.
• DONeX™ SPE Column Immunoaffinity SPE column for Deoxynivalenol (DON) analysis in wheat, corn, barley, and oats with high matrix tolerance up to 4 g and >90% recovery. Consumable sold to mycotoxin testing laboratories.
• OtaCLEAN™ IAC Column Immunoaffinity column for Ochratoxin A in cereals, dried fruits, nuts, coffee, and spices with a 24-month shelf life and ≥90% recovery. Consumable sold to mycotoxin testing laboratories.
• OtaCLEAN™ SMART IAC Column Compact 3 cm immunoaffinity column for Ochratoxin A with reduced solvent consumption, suitable for coffee, rice, corn, dried fruits, and beer, with ≥80% recovery. Consumable sold to mycotoxin testing laboratories.
• ThermELUTE Light Manual thermal elution system for mycotoxin analysis processing up to 8 samples in parallel in under 20 minutes without solvents, compatible with SMART cartridges. Denatures antibodies at 98°C enabling direct injectability without solvent exchange. Sold to mycotoxin testing laboratories.
• UVE Photochemical Derivatisation Photochemical reactor for Aflatoxin B1/G1 fluorescence analysis using UV light at 254 nm, AOAC-approved method that eliminates the need for chemical reagents. Module sold to mycotoxin testing laboratories.
• HPLC Column (RP C18 150 mm) RP C18 150 mm HPLC column for mycotoxin analysis (Aflatoxin B/G, M1, OTA, DON, NIV, Fumonisin, ZEA) with guaranteed plate count >120,000. Consumable sold to mycotoxin testing laboratories.
• EluCLEAN™ PFAS SPE Columns Proprietary SPE columns with mixed-mode sorbents (WAX, SDVB, GCB) for PFAS analysis. Universal version for food/feed/environment, WAX for drinking water (EPA 533, DIN EN 17892), and WAX/GCB combo for solid samples (EPA 1633). Optimised for long-chain PFAS recovery. Consumables sold to environmental and water testing laboratories.
• Aufreinigungssäulen (Silica/Alox Clean-up Columns) Clean-up columns for Dioxin/PCB analysis available in glass or plastic (EVOLUTION) with 'just click it' handling and various methods for different analyte groups. Consumables sold to POPs and dioxin testing laboratories.
• GPC Column Gel permeation chromatography columns filled with Bio-Beads for pesticide and contaminant clean-up, available in various lengths with quality certificate and test chromatogram. Consumables sold to environmental and pesticide testing laboratories.
• QuEChERS Columns Non-dispersive SPE columns for pesticide analysis in food and feed, enabling round-the-clock clean-up with optimised analysis capacity. Consumables sold to pesticide testing laboratories.
• Elufix™ Columns Glass columns ready for use for Mineral Oil Hydrocarbon Index (H53 method) analysis, available as TINY columns in ALU packaging. Consumables sold to mineral oil hydrocarbon testing laboratories.
• Dioxin/PCB Training Programs Professional training programs delivered by LCTech's Dioxin Expert covering extraction, clean-up, evaporation, and chromatography interpretation for dioxin/PCB analytical workflows. Includes installation, maintenance, and repair service support. Sold to analytical laboratories establishing or expanding dioxin/PCB testing capabilities.

Quantifiable outcome

• 80% time savings achieved with ThermELUTE system downscaling process
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature8 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• VelariscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 January 2026LCTech is being integrated into the GERSTEL brand as part of the strategic development within the Velaris group. Velaris is a laboratory automation platform backed by Battery Ventures, formerly operating as Advanced Automation Technologies (AAT).
• Markes InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 January 2026Velaris acquired Markes International to expand automated sample preparation capabilities. Markes joins the Velaris family of brands including Skalar Analytical, LCTech, PromoChrom, EST Analytical, GERSTEL, and TE Instruments.
• TE InstrumentsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAAT/Velaris acquired TE Instruments (TEI), a specialist for combustion elemental analyzers. TE Instruments, founded in 2009 and headquartered in Delft, Netherlands, strengthens the group's presence in environmental, petrochemical, and industrial sectors.
• GERSTELcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLCTech products will be integrated under the GERSTEL brand as part of the Velaris group restructuring. GERSTEL is a provider of analytical instrumentation for sample preparation and thermal desorption.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Agilent Technologies: Global analytical instrument leader offering chromatography, mass spectrometry, and associated sample-prep consumables and automation, frequently bundled into end-to-end lab workflows that compete with LCTech's specialist offerings.
• Thermo Fisher Scientific: Largest analytical instrument company with broad sample-prep, chromatography, and consumables portfolios, frequently chosen as a single-vendor alternative to LCTech's specialist workflows.

Direct peers

• Markes International: Also part of the Velaris family, Markes specializes in thermal desorption and automated sample preparation for trace-level volatiles and semi-volatiles, closely overlapping LCTech's ultra-trace analysis workflow.
• Biotage: Swedish-listed vendor of sample preparation consumables (SPE, SLE, columns) and automation for clinical, forensic, food, and environmental testing, directly competing with LCTech's column and automation portfolio.
• Skalar Analytical: Velaris brand offering automated wet chemistry analyzers and laboratory robotics for environmental, food, and feed analysis, sharing distribution and customer base with LCTech's automation products.
• EST Analytical: Another Velaris brand focused on automated sample preparation and concentration, overlapping with LCTech's evaporation and cleanup products for trace environmental and food analysis.
• GERSTEL: Sister brand under Velaris and the brand into which LCTech is being integrated. GERSTEL provides automated sample preparation and thermal desorption solutions, directly overlapping with LCTech's robotics, extraction, and cleanup portfolio.
• FOSS Analytical: Danish-headquartered specialist in food, feed, and dairy analytical instrumentation, competing for the same food and feed testing budgets that drive LCTech's mycotoxin and contaminant testing workflows.
• PromoChrom Technologies: Sister Velaris brand focused on automated SPE for PFAS, dioxins, and environmental contaminants, competing head-to-head with LCTech's EluCLEAN PFAS and FREESTYLE PFAS workflows.

Emerging players

• Phenomenex: Specialty chromatography and sample-prep consumables supplier (SPE, IAC, columns) owned by Danaher, competing most directly with LCTech's IAC and SPE column consumables franchise.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 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 LCTech