What Westburg Life Sciences does

Westburg Life Sciences (legal entity Westburg BV) is a privately held Dutch distributor of laboratory consumables, reagents, and capital equipment for life science research, founded in 1982 and headquartered in Leusden, Netherlands. The company operates exclusively in the Benelux region (Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg) and serves universities, technical universities, research institutes, hospitals, tissue banks, and government testing laboratories, with named accounts including Antoni van Leeuwenhoek, Erasmus University Rotterdam, TU Delft, Jeroen Bosch Ziekenhuis, and ETB-BISLIFE.

Its product surface spans three layers: (1) consumables and reagents, including its own registered TripleA® brand of PFAS-free pipette tips and Westburg-branded products such as Rapid Protein Stain; (2) third-party reagents and cell culture media, primarily the Capricorn Scientific portfolio (~199 SKUs, including FBS Xtra and FBS Advanced developed with the University of Applied Science Frankfurt); and (3) capital equipment distributed under exclusive Benelux agreements with Logos Biosystems (LUNA-III and related automated cell counters), Polyplus (jetOPTIMUS transfection reagent), Nikon (microscopy and imaging), Implen (OD600 Diluphotometer), Phoenix Instrument (small lab equipment), and Innuscreen (PurePrep nucleic acid extraction).

The business model is product distribution and resale under a sales-led, RFQ-based pricing structure: account managers (e.g., Martijn Rotteveel) and inside-sales/scientific-support staff (e.g., Vincent de Maat) handle institutional relationships, while a webshop supports direct ordering and stock-program/warehousing arrangements for repeat accounts. Revenue is generated on a one-time purchase basis across the catalog with bulk discounts on selected items.

Name

Westburg Life Sciences

Legal name

Westburg BV

Website

https://westburg.eu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1982

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Westburg Life Sciences is a Benelux-exclusive distributor of laboratory consumables, reagents, and equipment for life science research, serving universities, hospitals, research institutes, and tissue banks under brands including Capricorn Scientific, Logos Biosystems, Nikon, and its own TripleA® pipette line.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Life Science Laboratory Products Distribution

NAICS

Drugs and Druggists' Sundries Merchant Wholesalers (42421)

SIC

Laboratory Analytical Instruments (3826), Laboratory Apparatus & Furniture (3821), Wholesale-Professional & Commercial Equipment & Supplies (5040)

akta.pro primary industry

Laboratory Consumables & Plasticware (Tips, Tubes, Plates, Filters) (HLAGAIAH)

Keywords

• Laboratory consumables distribution
• Life science reagents
• Cell culture products
• Lab equipment supply
• Scientific support services

Headquarters

HQ city

Leusden-zuid

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Product Distribution & Sales: Westburg Life Sciences generates revenue through the distribution and sale of laboratory consumables, reagents, and equipment to life science researchers and institutions in the Benelux region. The company acts as a distributor for multiple international brands including Capricorn Scientific, Logos Biosystems, Polyplus, Phoenix Instrument, and others.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Westburg Life Sciences is a Benelux-exclusive distributor of laboratory consumables, reagents, and capital equipment for life science research. The company distributes international brands (Capricorn Scientific, Logos Biosystems, Polyplus, Phoenix Instrument, Implen, Nikon) and sells its own Westburg-branded products such as TripleA® PFAS-free pipette tips and Rapid Protein Stain. It supplements product distribution with scientific advisory services, quickscans, warehousing/stock-program solutions, and maintenance and repair.

Product overview

Westburg Life Sciences is a Benelux distributor offering laboratory consumables, reagents, and equipment for life science research. The product portfolio includes cell culture products (Capricorn Scientific serum and media), automated cell counters (Logos Biosystems LUNA series), transfection reagents (Polyplus jetOPTIMUS), molecular biology reagents (Westburg-branded Rapid Protein Stain), and general lab equipment (Phoenix Instrument, Implen). The company also distributes specialty products like TripleA® PFAS-free pipette tips and provides scientific support services alongside its e-commerce platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Westburg: The company's own branded product line including pipette tips and other lab essentials.

Products and services

• LUNA-III™ Automated Cell Counter Automated brightfield cell counter from Logos Biosystems with machine learning algorithms for improved cell detection and counting accuracy; targeted at life science research labs performing routine cell counting.
• LUNA-FL Automated Fluorescence Cell Counter Automated fluorescence cell counter from Logos Biosystems designed for fluorescence-based cell analysis; used by life science researchers requiring fluorescence viability or staining assays.
• LUNA-BX7 Automated Cell Counter Brightfield cell counter from Logos Biosystems with advanced imaging capabilities for life science lab cell counting workflows.
• LUNA-FX7 Automated Cell Counter Premium automated cell counter from Logos Biosystems with advanced features for life science research labs.
• Capricorn Scientific Fetal Bovine Serum (FBS) Cell culture supplement from various origins (South America, USA, Australia) with multiple modifications including Advanced, Charcoal Stripped, Dialysed, Exosome Depleted, Heat Inactivated, Gamma Irradiated, IgG Depleted, Low Endotoxin, and Tetracycline Negative; used by life science researchers and clinical tissue banks.
• FBS Xtra More defined fetal bovine serum with reduced serum content for minimal batch-to-batch variation, developed in collaboration with University of Applied Science Frankfurt; for cell culture researchers requiring consistent serum performance.
• jetOPTIMUS Transfection Reagent DNA transfection reagent from Polyplus for efficient gene delivery into easy- and difficult-to-transfect cells with minimal impact on cell viability; for researchers performing gene expression and cell engineering studies.
• Implen OD600 Diluphotometer Compact photometer from Implen for accurate cell density measurements at 600 nm with up to 4 A absorbance range and no maintenance required; for microbiology and cell culture quality control.
• Phoenix Instrument Small Lab Equipment German-manufactured brand of small lab equipment including magnetic stirrers, shakers, centrifuges, pipettes, water baths, incubators, and vacuum aspiration systems; for general life science lab use.
• TripleA® PFAS-Free Pipette Tips Westburg proprietary PFAS-free pipette tips available in sizes from 10 to 1250 μL; for safe pipetting in research and clinical labs avoiding per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances.
• Rapid Protein Stain Coomassie Blue Westburg-branded protein staining reagent for gel electrophoresis with simple 1-step protocol, stable for 18 months at 2-25°C, up to 50x more sensitive than other rapid stains; for protein analysis researchers.
• Logos Biosystems Sustainable Cell Counting Package Eco-friendly sustainable cell counting package from Logos Biosystems for environmentally conscious life science labs.
• Innuscreen PurePrep Benchtop Systems PurePrep family of benchtop systems from Innuscreen for automated DNA/RNA extraction; for molecular biology and genomics sample preparation workflows.

Quantifiable outcome

• BKD processes up to 1,500 samples per week with well-managed stock of reagents and pipette tips
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered strategic and core.

• Phoenix InstrumentstrategicChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2025Phoenix Instrument is a German manufacturer founded in 2010 by Christian Lieske and Marco Riemer (50+ years combined experience). They produce small laboratory equipment including stirrers/shakers, centrifuges, pipettes, water baths, incubators, and vacuum aspiration systems. Westburg offers their complete product range in Benelux with 10% discount promotion until February 2025.
• Capricorn ScientificcoreTechnology or IntegrationCapricorn Scientific is a key supplier of cell culture products including fetal bovine serum, sera, supplements, and specialized media. Westburg distributes their complete catalog of 199+ products in the Benelux region. Capricorn products include FBS Xtra (innovation with University of Applied Science Frankfurt), FBS Advanced, and various specialized serum modifications.
• Logos BiosystemscoreTechnology or IntegrationLogos Biosystems supplies automated cell counters including LUNA-III, LUNA-FL, LUNA-BX7, and LUNA-FX7. Westburg distributes their complete product line in Benelux. Products include cell counters, stains (Erythrosin B, Trypan Blue), and counting slides.
• PolypluscoreTechnology or IntegrationPolyplus supplies transfection reagents including jetOPTIMUS for DNA transfection in easy- and difficult-to-transfect cells. Westburg distributes Polyplus products in Benelux.
• ImplencoreTechnology or IntegrationImplen is a German company producing precision measurement instruments. Westburg distributes the Implen OD600 Diluphotometer for cell density measurements at 600nm. Products feature German engineering with no maintenance requirements.
• ETB-BISLIFEstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerETB-BISLIFE is a multi-tissue center in Beverwijk, Netherlands specializing in heart valve preservation for transplantation. Westburg collaborated with Capricorn Scientific to develop customized Medium 199 when the previous manufacturer discontinued production. The new product received approval from Paul Ehrlich Institute, enabling ETB-BISLIFE to continue providing tissues to German hospitals.
• NikoncoreTechnology or IntegrationNikon supplies imaging systems and microscopes. Westburg distributes Nikon microscopy and imaging products in the Benelux region.
• University of Applied Science FrankfurtstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative innovation partner with Capricorn Scientific for the development of FBS Xtra - a more defined Fetal Bovine Serum with reduced serum content and minimal batch-to-batch variation. The partnership combined academic research with industrial expertise.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Bioké (Thermo Fisher Scientific): Bioké was the historical Dutch life sciences distributor (founded 1982 in Leiden), now owned by Thermo Fisher Scientific. It serves the same Benelux customer base with overlapping life science consumables, reagents, and equipment — the most direct head-to-head competitor to Westburg.
• Carl Roth: German-based specialist distributor of lab consumables, reagents, and chemicals with a comprehensive private-label portfolio (ROTI®) including pipette tips and sera. Highly comparable regional specialist model, though serving DACH rather than Benelux.
• Sarstedt: German manufacturer and direct distributor of laboratory consumables and plasticware (pipette tips, tubes, plates). Comparable in the consumables category where Westburg sells its TripleA® tips; overlaps in pipette tip SKUs serving European research labs.
• Starlab International: European manufacturer of pipette tips (including Filter/Loose) and other liquid handling consumables with direct sales across Europe. Direct overlap with Westburg's TripleA® pipette tip franchise and broader consumables portfolio.

Broad incumbents

• VWR (Avantor): Global lab supplies distributor (part of Avantor) with extensive Benelux operations and a catalog covering consumables, reagents, and equipment. Significantly broader scale and product breadth than Westburg but serves the same institutional research customers.
• Fisher Scientific (Thermo Fisher): Global lab supply distribution arm of Thermo Fisher Scientific. Competes with Westburg across the full Benelux lab supply market with deeper catalogs, global procurement leverage, and broader service offerings.
• Eppendorf: Manufacturer and direct seller of premium liquid handling, cell handling, and sample preparation equipment including pipettes and consumables. Sells directly to research institutions across Benelux, overlapping with Westburg's equipment distribution portfolio.
• Bio-Rad Laboratories: Global life sciences manufacturer and distributor of reagents, instruments, and consumables for research and clinical diagnostics. Overlaps with Westburg in protein analysis (Coomassie stains), PCR/qPCR reagents, and cell biology workflows across Benelux.
• Bio-Techne: Global life sciences company (R&D Systems, Tocris) selling proteins, antibodies, reagents, and bench-top instruments direct to research customers. Comparable in the cell biology and protein analysis reagent categories distributed by Westburg.

Regional players

• Dutscher Scientific: French-headquartered specialist distributor of laboratory consumables, reagents, and equipment serving primarily France and parts of Europe. Closest regional peer in business model (specialist regional life sciences distribution) though operating in a different geography.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Westburg3
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/westburg-bv

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 Westburg Life Sciences