What Kuhner Shaker does

Kuhner Shaker (legal name: Adolf Kühner AG) is a Swiss family-owned developer and manufacturer of orbital shaking equipment and orbital shaken bioreactors (OSB), headquartered in Birsfelden, Basel, Switzerland, founded in 1946. The company produces benchtop and floor-standing laboratory shakers (ISF1-Z, ISF4-X, LT-X, LS-Z, Kelvin+), an industrial shaker (SR200-X), an automation system (MPS-Z Automated), and a single-use OSB family (SB10-X, SB50-X, SB200-X, SB2500-Z) that enables scale-up from microliter to 2500L working volumes. Its core technology is a proprietary maintenance-free direct drive system with adjustable shaking diameter (3-70mm), complemented by precise environmental control (Peltier and EcoDew-based temperature/humidity, NDIR CO2, zirconium oxide O2), GMP-compliant Kuhner Insight software supporting 21 CFR Part 11 and EU GMP Annex 11, and an online measurement system (Kuhner TOM/microTOM) for oxygen transfer rate monitoring. Kuhner serves biopharmaceutical and cell therapy companies, life sciences research institutions, biotech/biomanufacturing firms, and industrial microbiology customers through a hybrid go-to-market model comprising 8 wholly-owned regional subsidiaries (Switzerland, Germany, France, UK, Ireland, Spain, Netherlands, USA with West and East coast offices, Singapore) and a distributor network covering more than 50 countries. Revenue is generated primarily through capital equipment sales with five-year warranties, recurring single-use bag consumables for OSB systems, service contracts and IQ/OQ qualification, custom manufacturing via the Kuhner Atelier, and a factory-certified pre-owned instrument program in the USA.

Name

Kuhner Shaker

Legal name

Adolf Kühner AG

Website

https://kuhner.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1946

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Kuhner Shaker (Adolf Kühner AG) is a Swiss family-owned manufacturer of orbital shakers, incubator shakers, and single-use orbital shaken bioreactors (1.5L to 2500L), serving biopharmaceutical, cell therapy, and life sciences research customers globally through 8 subsidiaries and 50+ country distributor network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Laboratory Shakers and Bioprocessing Equipment

NAICS

Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing (3345), Other Measuring and Controlling Device Manufacturing (334519), Automatic Environmental Control Manufacturing for Residential, Commercial, and Appliance Use (334512)

SIC

Laboratory Apparatus & Furniture (3821)

akta.pro primary industry

General Lab Equipment (Centrifuges, Incubators, Shakers, Ovens) (HLAGAIAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Automation, Controls & Manufacturing Execution for Bioprocessing (SCADA/DCS/PLC/MES) (HLAAAJAE), Process Analytical Technology (PAT) & In-Line/At-Line Analytics (spectroscopy, sensors, monitoring) (HLAAAJAD)

Keywords

• Orbital shaker equipment
• Incubator shaker systems
• Orbital shaken bioreactors
• Laboratory shaking machines
• Bioprocess cultivation equipment

Headquarters

HQ city

Birsfelden

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices11 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Laboratory Shakers and Incubator Shakers: Sale of benchtop and floor-standing orbital shakers including ISF1-Z, ISF4-X, LT-X, LS-Z models. These are capital equipment purchases with 5-year warranty.
2. Orbital Shaken Bioreactors (OSB): Single-use bioreactor systems with gamma-sterilized bags. Includes SB10-X, SB50-X, SB200-X models. Revenue from both the shaker units and recurring single-use bag consumables.
3. Accessories and Add-ons: Wide range of accessories including trays, clamps, holders, Duetz system, trays for microtiter plates, single-use bags, water baths, and add-on technologies like Kuhner TOM, Feeding Technology, FlowCon gas mixing, and SUN light module.
4. Service and Maintenance: Installation, qualification, IQ/OQ documentation, preventative maintenance, calibration, repair services, upgrades, retrofits, and service contracts. Also includes consulting and training services.
5. Custom Manufacturing (Kuhner Atelier): Custom-made solutions for unconventional shaking vessels, measuring systems integration, and specialized shaking machine features.
6. Pre-Owned Equipment (USA): Factory-certified pre-owned instruments with rigorous sanitization and quality control. Each machine ships with current calibration certificate and three-year warranty.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Kuhner Shaker develops, manufactures and sells orbital shaking machines, incubator shakers and orbital shaken bioreactors (OSB) for laboratory and bioprocessing applications. Core products include benchtop and floor-standing incubator shakers (ISF1-Z, ISF4-X, LT-X, LS-Z, Kelvin+, SR200-X), automated cell culture systems (MPS-Z), and single-use bioreactor systems (SB10-X, SB50-X, SB200-X, SB2500-Z) with gamma-sterilized bags enabling scale-up from microliter to 2,500 litres. The portfolio is supported by proprietary Kuhner Insight GMP-compliant software, online measurement (TOM), feeding technology, and direct drive mechanics, plus installation, qualification, maintenance and custom manufacturing services.

Product overview

Kuhner Shaker is a manufacturer of orbital shaking machines, incubator shakers, and orbital shaken bioreactors (OSB). The product portfolio centers on the Kuhner direct drive technology enabling uniform, reliable performance with low energy consumption. Core products include benchtop and incubator shakers (ISF1-Z, ISF1-Z Basic Beluga, ISF4-X, LT-X, LS-Z, Kelvin+), automation systems (MPS-Z Automated), industrial shakers (SR200-X), and single-use orbital shaken bioreactors (SB10-X, SB50-X, SB200-X, SB2500-Z) ranging from microliter to 2500L scale. Supporting add-ons include Feeding Technology for fed-batch processes, Kuhner TOM and microTOM online measurement systems, FlowCon gas mixing, Duetz System, and Kuhner SUN light control. A comprehensive range of accessories encompasses trays, clamps, holders, interfaces, and consumables. The Kuhner Atelier provides custom solutions. Scale-up from lab to production maintains consistent hydrodynamics through orbital shaking technology.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Kuhner Insight Software: GMP-compliant software for data logging, calibration, programming, and control of Kuhner shakers and orbital bioreactor systems
• Kuhner Direct Drive
• EcoDew
• Kuhner Atelier

Products and services

• ISF1-Z incubator shaker Compact incubator shaker with a new heating and cooling concept using Peltier technology, designed for GMP-compliant use and adaptable for various cell cultures in research and regulated environments.
• ISF1-Z Basic Beluga incubator shaker Basic incubator shaker model engineered for integration with automation systems, suitable for laboratories requiring automated cell culture handling.
• Kuhner Kelvin+ benchtop incubator shaker Compact benchtop incubator shaker with excellent temperature distribution and customizable options for diverse cell cultures, marketed to universities, start-ups and small research laboratories.
• LS-Z benchtop shaker Flexible and robust laboratory benchtop shaker for cultivation of microbial, plant and animal cell cultures in research and bioprocess laboratories.
• ISF4-X incubator shaker Large-capacity incubator shaker with a minimal footprint, customizable shaking parameters and environmental control for high-throughput cell culture applications.
• LT-X incubator shaker Incubator shaker designed for biotech and pharmaceutical laboratories with efficient shaking, compact footprint and a 5-year warranty.
• SR200-X industrial shaker Customizable industrial shaker for heavy loads with orbital shaking up to 300 rpm, ideal for placement in climate-controlled rooms at industrial bioprocess scale.
• MPS-Z Automated system Automated platform for robust 24/7 cell culture handling in microtiter plates, with or without the Duetz lid system, designed for high-throughput and continuous bioprocess laboratories.
• SB10-X single-use bioreactor Orbital shaken benchtop bioreactor for single-use gamma-sterilized bags with working volumes from 1.5 to 12 litres, used for process development and small-scale bioproduction.
• SB50-X single-use bioreactor Orbital shaken bioreactor for single-use gamma-sterilized bags with working volumes from 15 to 50 litres, bridging benchtop and production scale.
• SB200-X single-use bioreactor Production-scale orbital shaken bioreactor for single-use gamma-sterilized bags with working volumes from 50 to 200 litres, used in GMP bioproduction.
• SB2500-Z single-use bioreactor Large-scale orbital shaken bioreactor for single-use gamma-sterilized bags with working volumes up to 2,500 litres, available on request for high-volume bioproduction.
• SBM/SS-X rack shaker Extendable rack system with integrated shaking units suitable for placement in temperature-controlled rooms, enabling scaling across multiple vessels.
• Kuhner TOM Online Measurement Online measurement add-on that quantifies oxygen transfer rate (OTR), carbon transfer rate (CTR) and respiratory quotient (RQ) for up to 16 individual shake flasks, supporting real-time bioprocess understanding and optimization.
• Kuhner microTOM Micro-scale Transfer-Rate Online Measurement system for oxygen transfer rate (OTR) in microtiter plates, enabling high-throughput bioprocess characterization.
• Feeding Technology for Fed-Batch Fed-batch enhancement product line comprising FeedPlate, FeedBeads and FeedTubes for glycerol or glucose feeding in microtiter plates, shake flasks and tubes, enabling higher product formation and improved screening.
• FlowCon 2/3/4 Gas mixing Gas mixing add-on (2/3/4 channel versions) designed for R&D and initial bioreactor production steps, usable standalone or integrated with Kuhner shakers and bioreactors.
• Kuhner SUN light module Light module add-on that transforms a Kuhner incubator into a controlled light environment for photosynthetic cultures and light-sensitive biological experiments.
• Humidification and Controlled gas composition add-on Add-on enhancement for small-capacity shaking incubators providing humidification and controlled gas composition for sensitive cell cultivations.
• Kuhner Insight Software Standalone software product for supervision, monitoring, calibration, programming and recording of shaker data across up to 8 shakers simultaneously, available with a GMP-compliant version for regulated environments.
• Kuhner Atelier (Custom Manufacturing) Custom manufacturing service that develops specialized clamps, adapters and bespoke shaking machine solutions for unconventional vessels or unique application requirements.
• Service and Maintenance Professional service portfolio including installation, IQ/OQ documentation and qualification, preventative maintenance, calibration, repair, upgrades, retrofits, customizable service contracts, consulting and training for Kuhner equipment.
• Pre-Owned Certified Instruments (USA) Factory-certified pre-owned (refurbished) Kuhner instruments offered exclusively in the USA, each rigorously sanitized and quality-controlled, and shipped with a current calibration certificate and three-year warranty.

Quantifiable outcome

• Reduce costs by up to 60% compared to traditional bioreactor methods (with Scale-X Nexo competitor reference)
• +5 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature10 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Zurich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic research partnership for scientific studies on orbitally shaken bioreactors. ZHAW researchers have published on Baculovirus-based r-protein production in orbitally SUB and other cell culture topics using Kuhner equipment.
• École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic collaboration including development of Disposable orbitally shaken TubeSpin bioreactor 600 and CO2 pH control research for shaken mammalian cell cultures.
• RWTH Aachen UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partnership covering Fed-batch micro plates, fed-batch mode in shake flasks, and characterization of orbitally shaken single-use bioreactors.
• Hamburg University of Technology (TUHH)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partnership for oxygen transport phenomena research and AerationCaps development for shake flask gas supply.
• Universitat Autònoma de BarcelonaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic research collaboration in shaken bioreactor technology.
• UCL EngineeringminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic research partnership in engineering aspects of shaking technology.
• Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrestigious academic research partnership for advanced bioprocessing research.
• Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology (IME)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerApplied research partnership bridging academic research and industrial applications in biotechnology.
• ExcellGenecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustrial partnership for cell culture and bioreactor technology development and optimization.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• INFORS HT: Swiss-headquartered manufacturer of laboratory shakers, incubator shakers, and bioreactors. Closest direct competitor to Kuhner, offering overlapping Ecotron, Multitron, and Minifors product lines targeting the same biopharma and academic research customers.
• Applikon Biotechnology (Getinge): Specialist bioreactor manufacturer acquired by Getinge, offering stirred-tank bioreactors from laboratory to production scale. Direct competitor to Kuhner's OSB portfolio in microbial and cell culture bioprocess applications.
• IKA: German laboratory equipment manufacturer offering a range of shakers, mixers, and bioreactors including the KS 4000 incubator shaker series. Overlaps with Kuhner's benchtop and incubated shaker lines for general life science research customers.
• Heidolph: German laboratory equipment manufacturer specializing in shakers, mixers, and rotary evaporators. Competes with Kuhner across laboratory-scale shakers for academic and industrial research customers.
• PBS Biotech: US-based manufacturer of vertical-wheel single-use bioreactors for cell therapy and biopharma applications. Competes with Kuhner's OSB platform with an alternative single-use bioreactor architecture targeting the same cell therapy customers.

Broad incumbents

• Eppendorf: German life science equipment major offering New Brunswick incubator shakers and the BioFlo series of stirred-tank bioreactors. Overlaps with Kuhner across both shaking and bioprocessing categories with a much broader portfolio and global scale.
• Sartorius: Global bioprocessing leader offering BIOSTAT stirred-tank single-use bioreactors and a broad upstream/downstream portfolio. Competes with Kuhner in biopharmaceutical manufacturing-scale bioreactors and benefits from cross-platform pull-through in larger accounts.
• Thermo Fisher Scientific: Diversified life sciences instruments company offering incubator shakers, CO2 incubators, and the HyPerforma/Gibco single-use bioreactor lines. Competes with Kuhner across both laboratory shakers and production-scale bioprocess equipment.
• Cytiva (Danaher): Bioprocessing-focused subsidiary of Danaher offering Xuri cell expansion systems and single-use bioreactors for cell therapy and biopharma. Directly competes with Kuhner's OSB platform in cell therapy manufacturing applications.

Emerging players

• Benchmark Scientific: US manufacturer of laboratory equipment including benchtop shakers, incubators, and bioreactors. Partially overlaps with Kuhner's benchtop shaker portfolio at the lower-price, smaller-laboratory end of the market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCqWqMqjW5Z5J5J5J5J5J5Jw
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kuhner-shaker-inc
• Facebookfacebook.com/100063510403358

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries8 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 Kuhner Shaker