Apricot Designs
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1989
- HeadquartersCovina, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Apricot Designs does
Apricot Designs, founded in 1989 and headquartered in Covina, California (with the apricot brand now operated within UK-based SPT Labtech Ltd), designs and manufactures automated multichannel micro-volume pipettors and the disposable tips that supply them. Its product line centers on four instruments — the apricot S3 (96/384-channel, high-performance, tool-free interchangeable pipetting cores), S1 (entry-level 96/384-channel), PP5 (compact multi-channel shared-resource instrument), and DC1 (tube-to-plate pipetting) — complemented by proprietary EZ-load and AL consumables manufactured exclusively for apricot systems. The underlying technology emphasizes small-footprint liquid handling, application flexibility through swappable cores, and workflow standardization for genomics, drug discovery, and screening applications.
The business operates a capital-equipment-plus-consumables model: instruments are sold via a quote-based, sales-led motion with demo and pricing CTAs, while proprietary tips drive a recurring revenue stream with high switching costs. Customers are predominantly enterprise biotech, pharmaceutical, contract research, and genomics laboratories (e.g., Paraza Pharma, Eurofins Beacon Discovery, seqWell), with the company pursuing horizontal segmentation across genomics research, drug discovery and screening, and shared resource laboratories. Distribution combines direct enterprise engagement, a dedicated e-commerce storefront for consumables, and a global distributor network. Recent strategic activity — including 2026 collaborations with Illumina, EMBL GeneCore, and BellBrook Labs — signals an offensive push into decentralized clinical genomics, walkaway automation, and high-throughput oncology screening.
Apricot Designs firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Apricot Designs
- Legal name
- SPT Labtech Ltd
- Website
- https://apricotdesigns.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1989
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Apricot Designs industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Laboratory Automation Instruments
- NAICS
- Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing (334516)
- SIC
- Laboratory Analytical Instruments (3826)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Laboratory Consumables & Plasticware (Tips, Tubes, Plates, Filters) (HLAGAIAH)
Keywords
Where Apricot Designs is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Covina
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
Apricot Designs business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Technology or R&D, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Instrument Sales: Sale of automated liquid handling instruments including apricot S3, S1, PP5, and DC1 models. These are capital equipment purchases for laboratory automation.
- Consumables and Tips: Recurring revenue from apricot-specific consumables including EZ-load and AL tips designed exclusively for apricot instruments.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Quote-based pricing for apricot instruments and consumables |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
Apricot Designs product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Apricot Designs manufactures multichannel micro-volume pipettors and disposable pipette tips marketed under the apricot brand. The product line comprises four core automated liquid handling instruments — the apricot S3 (96/384-channel high-performance), apricot S1 (entry-level 96/384-channel), apricot PP5 (multi-channel shared resource), and apricot DC1 (tube-to-plate) — sold alongside exclusive apricot EZ-load and AL tips consumables. The instruments are designed for biotech and pharmaceutical laboratories conducting genomics, drug discovery, and screening workflows.
Product overview
Apricot Designs offers a unified product line of automated liquid handling instruments designed for convenient general use across laboratory teams. The portfolio consists of four core instruments (apricot S3, apricot S1, apricot PP5, and apricot DC1) plus dedicated consumables. The S3 and S1 provide high-performance 96 and 384 channel pipetting with interchangeable cores, the PP5 serves multi-channel pipetting needs in shared resource environments, and the DC1 handles tube-to-plate operations. All instruments share a small footprint design philosophy and are complemented by exclusive apricot EZ-load and AL tips designed for optimal precision.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- apricot S3: Our most flexible, automated, high performance liquid handler for a range of applications. Offers automated high performance 96 and 384 channel pipetting with interchangeable pipetting cores.
- apricot S1
- apricot PP5
- apricot DC1
Products and services
- apricot S3 Automated high performance 96 and 384 channel liquid handler with interchangeable pipetting cores, suitable for low or high-throughput use, designed for biotech and pharmaceutical laboratories conducting genomics and drug discovery workflows.
- apricot S1 Easy to use 96 and 384 channel liquid handling system with interchangeable pipetting core, up to 12x faster than an 8-channel handheld pipettor, targeted at laboratories taking their first step towards automation.
- apricot PP5 Multi-channel pipetting system combining the functionality of several pipettors into one space-saving unit suited for both production and laboratory environments, ideal for shared resource environments.
- apricot DC1 Automated pipetting system that handles tubes to plates, enabling copying, mixing, pooling, aliquoting, and serial dilution of liquids with increased throughput, reliable standardization, and enhanced data quality.
- apricot tips and consumables Disposable pipette tips and consumables manufactured exclusively for apricot instruments, including apricot EZ-load and AL tips designed to deliver optimal liquid handling precision and accuracy when used with apricot liquid handling systems.
Quantifiable outcome
- Up to 12x faster than 8-channel handheld pipettor
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Apricot Designs
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Apricot Designs technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Apricot Designs partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- EMBL GeneCorecoreCollaboration to advance fully walkaway automation in genomics workflows, combining SPT Labtech's liquid handling expertise with EMBL's genomic research capabilities.
- IlluminacoreCollaboration to develop automated platform supporting genomics in decentralized healthcare settings, leveraging SPT Labtech's automation technology with Illumina's sequencing infrastructure.
- BellBrook LabscorePartnership to introduce high-throughput screening platform for cancer research, combining BellBrook's biochemical expertise with SPT Labtech's liquid handling automation.
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Apricot Designs competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Gilson: Gilson manufactures manual and electronic pipettes (PIPETMAN, GX-274) along with automated liquid handling solutions targeting academic and biotech laboratories, comparable to Apricot's entry-level and mid-throughput pipetting systems.
- Hamilton Company: Hamilton manufactures automated liquid handling workstations and pipetting robots (e.g., Microlab STAR, Nimbus) used in pharmaceutical, biotech, and clinical laboratories — a direct competitor to Apricot's multichannel automated pipettors in shared-resource and entry-automation lab settings.
- Tecan: Tecan is a leading manufacturer of automated liquid handling platforms (Freedom EVO, Fluent) and consumables serving genomics, drug discovery, and clinical diagnostics — directly comparable to Apricot across instrument class, customer base, and consumables model.
- Beckman Coulter Life Sciences: Beckman Coulter offers automated liquid handlers (Biomek series) and proprietary pipette tips for genomics and drug discovery workflows, competing head-to-head with Apricot in mid-throughput laboratory automation.
- Eppendorf: Eppendorf produces electronic pipettes, multichannel dispensers, and automated liquid handling systems (e.g., epMotion) along with proprietary consumables — closely comparable to Apricot in both instrument and consumables revenue streams.
Broad incumbents
- Thermo Fisher Scientific: Thermo Fisher provides laboratory automation and liquid handling instruments (e.g., Orbitor RS, Spinnaker) as part of its extensive life sciences and instrumentation portfolio — a broader incumbent that overlaps with Apricot in pharma and biotech laboratory workflows.
- PerkinElmer: PerkinElmer offers automated liquid handling and sample preparation solutions as part of a much broader life sciences and diagnostics portfolio, including the JANUS and Sciclone lines that compete with Apricot in pharma and genomics labs.
- Agilent Technologies: Agilent manufactures automated liquid handling platforms (Bravo, BenchCel) alongside its core analytical instrumentation business, competing with Apricot in genomics and drug discovery sample-preparation workflows.
Emerging players
- Analytik Jena: Analytik Jena offers automated pipetting and liquid handling systems (CyBio series) for high-throughput screening and genomics — a comparable emerging competitor with meaningful but more regionally concentrated presence in Europe.
- Formulatrix: Formulatrix develops laboratory automation solutions including liquid handlers (e.g., MANTIS, TEMPEST) for genomics and protein crystallization workflows — an emerging player with overlapping application focus on biotech and pharma lab automation.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Apricot Designs social profiles
Digital presenceApricot Designs financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Apricot Designs leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Apricot Designs funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Apricot Designs M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Apricot Designs
What does Apricot Designs do?
Apricot Designs manufactures multichannel micro-volume pipettors and disposable pipette tips marketed under the apricot brand. The product line comprises four core automated liquid handling instruments — the apricot S3 (96/384-channel high-performance), apricot S1 (entry-level 96/384-channel), apricot PP5 (multi-channel shared resource), and apricot DC1 (tube-to-plate) — sold alongside exclusive apricot EZ-load and AL tips consumables. The instruments are designed for biotech and pharmaceutical laboratories conducting genomics, drug discovery, and screening workflows.
Is Apricot Designs a public or private company?
Apricot Designs is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Apricot Designs founded?
Apricot Designs was founded in 1989. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Apricot Designs based?
Apricot Designs is headquartered in Covina, United States, in the North America region.
How does Apricot Designs make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Instrument Sales are the primary driver. The others are consumables and Tips.
Who are Apricot Designs's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Gilson, Hamilton Company, Tecan, Beckman Coulter Life Sciences and Eppendorf. Broad incumbents are Thermo Fisher Scientific, PerkinElmer and Agilent Technologies. Emerging players are Analytik Jena and Formulatrix.
Does Apricot Designs have an API?
No public API is recorded for Apricot Designs.
What industry is Apricot Designs in?
Apricot Designs's product category is Laboratory Automation Instruments. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAGAIAH, Laboratory Consumables & Plasticware (Tips, Tubes, Plates, Filters). Its NAICS code is 334516 and its SIC code is 3826.