Erlab

What Erlab does

Erlab is a France-based, privately held manufacturer founded in 1968 that designs and produces ductless laboratory fume hoods, chemical storage cabinets, PCR workstations, and indoor air purification systems. The company's core technology is the ABOVE molecular filtration platform, which combines proprietary activated carbon formulations with a chemical validation database covering more than 700 substances, and is delivered inside SMART-equipped enclosures that use MoleCode sensors for real-time monitoring of filter saturation, face velocity, and usage. Its product lines — including Captair ductless fume hoods, GreenFumeHood 3 ductless technology, and the HALO Air Purification Stations launched in 2023 — are positioned for laboratory and indoor air quality applications, with the firm emphasizing compliance with AFNOR NF X 15-211, ANSI Z9.5, ASHRAE 110, EN 1822-1, and NFPA 45 standards.

Erlab operates three regional headquarters in Val de Reuil, France; Rowley, Massachusetts; and Kunshan, China, and sells through direct enterprise field sales augmented by inside sales and architect and laboratory designer specification channels. The business model combines one-time capital equipment revenue with recurring filter replacement sales driven by chemistry-specific filter SKUs, supplemented by the eValiQuest, eValiPass, and eValiGuard validation, installation, and guard service workflow. The firm serves a diversified end-market mix that includes biotech and pharmaceutical laboratories, industrial R&D and quality control facilities, clinical laboratories, academic and K-12 STEM programs, and public-sector buyers.

Customer adoption signals include Harvard, Tefal, Ajinomoto, NYSDOT, Astellas, Merck Animal Health, 24M Technologies, and Alpha Analytical, spanning consumer products, food, advanced energy, environmental services, and pharmaceutical end markets. Erlab has no disclosed external funding rounds and is structured as a family-held operating company, consistent with steady, self-financed expansion. In 2026 the company announced nationwide US field service technician coverage to support its installed base and recurring service revenue stream.

Name

Erlab

Legal name

Erlab, Inc.

Website

https://usa.erlab.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1968

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Erlab is a France-based, family-held manufacturer founded in 1968 that designs ductless laboratory fume hoods and indoor air purification systems using proprietary ABOVE molecular filtration and SMART sensor monitoring, serving biotech, pharmaceutical, academic, K-12, industrial R&D, and public-sector laboratories globally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Laboratory Air Filtration Equipment

NAICS

Industrial and Commercial Fan and Blower and Air Purification Equipment Manufacturing (333413), Ventilation, Heating, Air-Conditioning, and Commercial Refrigeration Equipment Manufacturing (3334), Automatic Environmental Control Manufacturing for Residential, Commercial, and Appliance Use (334512)

SIC

Laboratory Apparatus & Furniture (3821), Industrial & Commercial Fans & Blowers & Air Purifing Equip (3564)

akta.pro primary industry

HVAC Air Filtration & Air Purifier Installation (HSAOAIAC)

Keywords

• Ductless fume hoods
• Laboratory air filtration
• Chemical storage cabinets
• Air purification systems
• Indoor air quality monitoring

Headquarters

HQ city

Saint-maur-des-fossés

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Ductless Fume Hoods and Filtration Equipment: One-time hardware sales of ductless fume hoods, chemical storage cabinets, PCR workstations, balance enclosures, air purification stations, and filtration boxes. Includes Captair product line (321, 391, 392, 481, 483, 633, 714 models), HALO systems, and GreenFumeHood 3 integrated technology.
2. Replacement Filters: Recurring filter replacement revenue. Chemical-specific filter formulations (Type AS, BE+, F, K) for storage cabinets; fume hood filters; HEPA/ULPA filters for PCR and air purification. Filters typically replaced every 6-18 months depending on usage and chemical exposure.
3. Service Plans: Ongoing service contracts covering filter replacements, preventative maintenance, repairs, and filter disposal. Includes Installation, Filter Replacement/Preventative Maintenance, On Call Service, and Full Service Extended Warranty (1-3 year options).
4. eValiQuest Chemical Validation: Pre-purchase chemical analysis service that validates filtration compatibility for specific customer chemistry. Included in purchase but generates service touchpoint for customer education and solution matching.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Erlab manufactures and sells ductless fume hoods, filtering chemical storage cabinets, PCR workstations, balance enclosures, and connected air purification systems for laboratories, schools, and industrial facilities. Its proprietary ABOVE molecular filtration technology captures chemicals, particles, and VOCs without ductwork, while the AirGradient and eGuard platforms provide real-time air quality monitoring. Recurring revenue comes from replacement filters and ongoing service plans (eValiQuest chemical validation, eValiPass installation, eValiGuard lifetime support).

Product overview

Erlab offers a comprehensive ecosystem of air filtration products and services for laboratories, schools, and industrial facilities. The core portfolio centers on ductless fume hoods (Captair line including models 321 through 714), balance enclosures, filtering chemical storage cabinets, PCR workstations, and the HALO air purification system for ambient air quality control. Supporting services include eValiQuest (chemical validation), eValiPass (professional installation), eValiGuard (lifetime support), and the AirGradient monitoring system for continuous IAQ tracking. The GreenFumeHood 3 provides integration technology for architectural projects. Products use ERLAB ABOVE filtration with H14 HEPA and proprietary activated carbon technologies, validated for 700+ chemicals since 1968.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Captair: Product line for ductless filtering fume hoods, weighing stations, and storage cabinets
• GreenFumeHood 3
• CaptairBio
• CaptairFlow
• HALO
• ChemTrap
• Pyramid
• AirGradient
• eValiQuest
• eValiPass
• eValiGuard

Products and services

• Captair Ductless Filtering Fume Hoods Ductless chemical containment fume hoods that capture toxic gases, particles, and CMR substances using ABOVE filtration technology; available in multiple sizes with 700+ validated chemicals for laboratories that cannot install ductwork.
• Captair Weighing Stations (Balance Enclosures) Ventilated balance enclosures that protect operators from airborne powders while providing stable, draft-free airflow for precise analytical weighing down to 10^-6 g, with FLEX filtration combining HEPA with carbon cartridges.
• Captair Filtering Chemical Storage Cabinets Storage cabinets that prevent acid, solvent, formaldehyde, and ammonia vapors from leaking into laboratories using chemical-specific filter types (AS, BE+, F, K) with real-time MoleCode saturation monitoring.
• ChemTrap Filtration Packs Retrofit filtration units compatible with most flammable and acid safety cabinets, providing 24/7 inhalation protection by filtering vapors, solvents, powders, and particles through configurable filtration systems.
• CaptairBio PCR Workstations HEPA/ULPA filtered PCR hoods with UV decontamination that protect molecular biology samples from contamination, featuring vertical laminar flow and models 320/321/391 with 99.99995% particle filtration efficiency.
• CaptairFlow Clean Air Enclosures High-efficiency filtration clean air enclosures designed to protect sensitive biological applications against environmental pollution and cross-contamination using particulate matter filtration.
• HALO Air Purification Stations Ceiling-mounted smart air purification system with H14 HEPA filtration and proprietary Carbon AX for VOC adsorption, providing one complete air change per hour per 1,000 sq ft with BMS/BAS integration and real-time monitoring.
• GreenFumeHood 3 Integrated air filtration technology available through Erlab's network of integration partners for designers and architects on large-scale projects, reducing infrastructure cost, design time, and operational cost while increasing safety.
• Pyramid Transportable Glove Enclosure Multi-function portable enclosure for field research operations including opening packages, taking samples, and fingerprint work, providing dust and humidity protection anywhere.
• AirGradient Monitoring System Indoor air quality monitor measuring CO2 (NDIR sensor), PM2.5 (laser scattering), TVOCs/NOx (Sensirion SGP41), and temperature/humidity (Sensirion SHT3x/4x), with auto-calibration every 7 days, real-time data dashboard, and wellness scores.
• Erlab Service Plans Comprehensive maintenance programs covering filter replacements, preventative maintenance, repairs, and filter disposal, including Installation, Filter Replacement/PM, On Call Service, and Full Service Extended Warranty (1-3 year) options.
• eValiQuest Chemical Validation Service Chemical analysis service that evaluates customer chemistry against a 700+ validated chemicals database to determine filter compatibility, capacity calculations, and honest recommendations before purchase.
• eValiPass Installation and Validation Service Professional installation and validation service where certified technicians install, test, and validate Erlab equipment, including ASHRAE 110 containment testing with full documentation report.
• eValiGuard Lifetime Protection Program Lifetime protection program providing annual safety inspections, filter optimization as chemistry changes, software updates, monitoring upgrades, and complete reconfiguration at no additional cost.
• eGuard Connected Monitoring Platform Free real-time safety monitoring platform providing continuous verification, mobile app access for filter efficiency tracking, face velocity monitoring, and six months of data logging for audits.

Quantifiable outcome

• 94% energy reduction and up to $6,700 annual savings per hood compared to ducted fume hoods ($4,600-$9,300/year vs. $700-$2,600/year)
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers13 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

AI capability5 records

Feature8 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Integration Partners (GreenFumeHood 3)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNetwork of integration partners offering GreenFumeHood 3 integrated air filtration technology. Partners include architects, lab designers, and facility planners who incorporate the technology into large-scale projects. Saves customers infrastructure cost, design time, and operational cost while increasing safety.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• IQAir: Premium air purification company selling HEPA/carbon filtration systems to schools, commercial buildings, and healthcare; adjacent rather than directly competitive — relevant comparator for Erlab's HALO indoor air quality push.

Broad incumbents

• Thermo Fisher Scientific: Global life-sciences and lab equipment giant offering fume hoods, biological safety cabinets, and clean air products as part of a much broader portfolio; competes for the same institutional procurement budgets as Erlab.
• Kewaunee Scientific: Designer and manufacturer of laboratory furniture and ventilation systems, including fume hoods; serves overlapping educational, government, and pharmaceutical customers with broader architectural offerings.
• Hamilton Scientific: Broader laboratory ventilation and fume hood portfolio including ducted and ductless options; serves overlapping end-customers in pharma, biotech, and academic labs at greater scale than Erlab.

Direct peers

• Cruma: Spanish manufacturer of ductless fume hoods, filtering storage cabinets, and PCR workstations; competes with Erlab DFS SAS across European laboratory and education segments.
• AirClean Systems: US-based manufacturer of ductless fume hoods, PCR workstations, and filtered enclosures; competes head-to-head with Erlab's Captair line in North American laboratory and life-science markets.
• Bigneat: UK-based specialist in ductless fume hoods, filtered enclosures, and clean air equipment for laboratories; directly comparable ductless filtration portfolio targeting UK and European research customers.
• Mystaire: Manufacturer of ductless fume hoods, laminar flow workstations, and carbon-filtered enclosures serving pharmaceutical, research, and industrial labs; comparable product mix to Erlab with a US manufacturing footprint.
• Envair (formerly Envair Labtech): UK manufacturer of containment and clean air solutions including ductless fume hoods and isolators; competes with Erlab in European pharma and life-science containment applications.
• Labconco: Established US laboratory equipment manufacturer offering ductless fume hoods, balance enclosures, and biological safety cabinets — directly overlapping with Erlab's Captair, weighing station, and PCR product families.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/erlab-usa
• Xx.com/erlab_usa

Compliance8 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries2 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 Erlab