Fameco
Fameco (operating via Surplus Solutions) is a private France-headquartered company that buys and sells used medical, laboratory, packaging, and processing equipment through a global online marketplace and weekly auctions, serving pharmaceutical, biotech, and life sciences firms worldwide.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2000
- HeadquartersVendenheim, France
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Fameco does
Fameco (operating through Surplus Solutions LLC and related entities) is a private company specializing in the purchase and sale of used medical, laboratory, packaging, and processing equipment. Founded circa 2000 and headquartered in Vendenheim, France, with operational infrastructure in Woonsocket, Rhode Island, the company operates a global online marketplace and weekly auction platform serving pharmaceutical, biotechnology, life sciences, packaging, and medical equipment verticals. The platform lists equipment across more than 120 categories from over 1,200 brands, with individual auctions frequently featuring 650+ lots sourced from facility closures, lease returns, and operational transitions at enterprise pharma and biotech firms.
The core technology is a two-sided digital marketplace combining a catalog-based storefront with timed online auctions and direct-sale options. Underlying capabilities include appraisal workflows, logistics coordination, equipment relocation services, and dedicated enterprise sales support. The company earns revenue through transaction fees on auction sales, commissions on direct sales, and professional services such as detailed equipment appraisals and global logistics management. Pricing is quote-based rather than transparently listed, reflecting the heterogeneity of used-asset valuations.
Since 2025, the company has operated as a portfolio company of NMS Capital, a private equity firm, and has expanded its service surface through the acquisition of DCM BioServices to add technical service capabilities. Buyer-side customers span enterprise biopharma, biotech startups, food technology companies, and diagnostics firms, while seller-side supply comes predominantly from enterprise pharmaceutical and biotechnology organizations liquidating surplus assets.
Fameco firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Fameco
- Legal name
- Surplus Solutions LLC
- Website
- https://fameco.eu
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2000
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Fameco (operating via Surplus Solutions) is a private France-headquartered company that buys and sells used medical, laboratory, packaging, and processing equipment through a global online marketplace and weekly auctions, serving pharmaceutical, biotech, and life sciences firms worldwide.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Fameco industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Used Laboratory and Medical Equipment Resale
- NAICS
- Medical, Dental, and Hospital Equipment and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers (423450)
- SIC
- Wholesale-Medical, Dental & Hospital Equipment & Supplies (5047), Laboratory Apparatus & Furniture (3821)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Medical, Dental & Lab Supply Marketplaces (CRAFAHAG)
Keywords
Where Fameco is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Vendenheim
- HQ country
- France
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Fameco business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Auction Transaction Fees: Weekly online auctions providing exceptional deals on used laboratory, packaging, and processing equipment accessible worldwide with transaction-based fees
- Direct Sales Commission: Direct sale of equipment through their marketplace with accurate, detailed appraisal reports to help clients make decisions on how to handle surplus equipment
- Surplus Asset Management Services: Professional services including equipment appraisals, listings, logistics coordination, and comprehensive transaction support for buying and selling surplus equipment
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Auction-based pricing |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels3 records
Fameco product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Fameco specializes in the purchase and sale of medical and laboratory equipment, operating an online marketplace and weekly online auction platform that lists more than 120 categories of used lab, packaging, processing, and medical equipment across 1,200+ brands. The offering is supplemented by professional services including equipment appraisals, surplus asset management, equipment relocation, and global logistics for buyers and sellers in the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and life sciences industries.
Product overview
Surplus Solutions LLC operates a single unified marketplace platform for buying and selling used laboratory, packaging, processing, and medical equipment. The core offering consists of an online marketplace with more than 120 equipment categories featuring brands from over 1,200 manufacturers, supplemented by weekly online auctions for both buyers and sellers. Additional services include equipment appraisals, direct purchase options, and relocation/logistics services. The company serves pharmaceutical, biotech, and life sciences industries with equipment sourced from ongoing operations, facility closures, and lease returns.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Used Lab Equipment Marketplace Online marketplace featuring more than 120 categories of used lab, packaging, processing, and medical equipment across 1,200+ brands, with new inventory arriving daily; serves enterprise buyers in pharma, biotech, and life sciences.
- Weekly Online Auctions
Quantifiable outcome
- Customers report saving 90% by purchasing used lab equipment at auction compared to new equipment prices
Companies that use Fameco
Customer profileNamed customers9 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Fameco technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
Fameco partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- DCM BioServicesminorSurplus Solutions announced acquisition of DCM BioServices to accelerate technical service capabilities, expanding their service offerings in the biotech services space.
- Industry-leading ManufacturerscorePartnership with industry-leading manufacturers to deliver consistent quality and reliability for all equipment sold through the marketplace.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Fameco competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- EquipNet: Operates a global online marketplace and auction platform for used lab, manufacturing, packaging, and processing equipment. Most direct competitor in the surplus lab equipment resale category.
- American Laboratory Trading: Specializes in buying, refurbishing, and reselling used laboratory and life sciences equipment to pharma, biotech, and academic buyers, with similar enterprise focus.
- GenTech Scientific: Resells refurbished analytical laboratory instruments (mass spectrometers, chromatographs, HPLCs) with calibration services, serving biotech and pharma clients.
- IET Labs (Industrial Exchange & Trading): Buys and sells used industrial and laboratory equipment through auction and direct-sale channels, with overlap in lab and processing equipment categories.
- BioSurplus: Reseller of pre-owned laboratory and biotech equipment; previously a stand-alone competitor and now part of the broader used lab equipment marketplace landscape.
- Apex Scientific: Independent dealer of used and refurbished analytical and life sciences laboratory instruments, comparable in customer base and product mix.
Broad incumbents
- Heritage Global Partners: Established industrial auction house that handles large-scale liquidation events including biotech and pharmaceutical equipment, overlapping in industrial auction capability.
- GoIndustry DoveBid: Global marketplace for used industrial and laboratory assets with online auctions and asset valuation services; broader scope but overlapping in lab equipment resale.
Regional players
- NetBid Industrial Auctions: European-based auction house specializing in used industrial machinery and equipment, with geographic overlap in Europe (France/Germany) where Fameco operates.
Others
- Lot-Organizer (formerly GoIndustry DoveBid): Online auction technology and asset management platform enabling third-party auctioneers to host used equipment sales; ecosystem participant that could partner with or compete against the company's auction infrastructure.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Fameco social profiles
Digital presenceFameco financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Fameco leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Fameco subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Fameco funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Fameco 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 Fameco
What does Fameco do?
Fameco specializes in the purchase and sale of medical and laboratory equipment, operating an online marketplace and weekly online auction platform that lists more than 120 categories of used lab, packaging, processing, and medical equipment across 1,200+ brands. The offering is supplemented by professional services including equipment appraisals, surplus asset management, equipment relocation, and global logistics for buyers and sellers in the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and life sciences industries.
Is Fameco a public or private company?
Fameco is a private company. It is classified as private equity controlled and is currently operating.
When was Fameco founded?
Fameco was founded in 2000. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Fameco based?
Fameco is headquartered in Vendenheim, France, in the Europe region.
How does Fameco make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Auction Transaction Fees are the primary driver. The others are direct Sales Commission and surplus Asset Management Services.
Who are Fameco's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are EquipNet, American Laboratory Trading, GenTech Scientific, IET Labs (Industrial Exchange & Trading), BioSurplus and Apex Scientific. Broad incumbents are Heritage Global Partners and GoIndustry DoveBid. NetBid Industrial Auctions is listed as a regional player. Lot-Organizer (formerly GoIndustry DoveBid) is listed as an others.
Does Fameco have an API?
No public API is recorded for Fameco.
What industry is Fameco in?
Fameco's product category is Used Laboratory and Medical Equipment Resale. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRAFAHAG, Medical, Dental & Lab Supply Marketplaces. Its NAICS code is 423450 and its SIC code is 5047.