What Promicol does

Promicol is a privately held Dutch biotechnology company headquartered in Geleen, the Netherlands, founded in 2000 and self-described as a 20-year 'Hidden Champion'. It develops and commercializes rapid microbial and sterility testing platforms based on proprietary ATP (adenosine triphosphate) bioluminescence chemistry, in which non-microbial ATP is removed from a sample so that only microbial ATP triggers a light-emitting reaction quantified in Relative Light Units (RLU). Its product portfolio spans five patented platform families: PRENOVA COV1 for COVID-19 vaccine sterility release (14 days compressed to ~48-72 hours); PRENOVA TCT3 for T-cell and CAR-T therapy sterility release (2-3 days with human-vs-microbial ATP differentiation); SANYGO BVT1 with the SANYTEC 10 benchtop analyzer for point-of-care platelet function and DOAC monitoring in whole blood (≤5 minutes on 75 µL); the PROMILITE M1, PROMILITE M4A, PROMITEC 10 luminometer hardware family; and PROMICOL ATP Microbial Detection Kits paired with proprietary PROSCREEN/Photonix control software.

The company's commercial model combines one-time hardware sales (luminometers, readers, robotic sampling systems) with recurring consumable revenue from PROMICOL ATP Detection Kits, supplemented by professional services in which Promicol's laboratories evaluate customer product matrices and develop tailor-made reagents on-site. Scientific Sales Engineers, credentialed at MSc/PhD level, run a direct field-sales motion segmented into two territories — Cell Gene/Vaccine/Hematology/IVD and Food/Refreshments/Personal Care/Cosmetics — supported by lab-based application support and on-site technical service. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed; no third-party distributors, e-commerce channels, or named customer logos are referenced. The company operates an owned-media marketing footprint (corporate website, YouTube channel, LinkedIn, Facebook, newsletter) and is privately owned with no disclosed funding rounds, revenue, or external shareholders; CEO Remy Cima leads a team of 11-50 employees across its HQ and Tech Center in Geleen.

Name

Promicol

Legal name

Promicol

Website

https://promicol.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Promicol is a privately held Dutch biotech company that develops proprietary ATP-bioluminescence platforms for rapid microbial and sterility testing, serving biopharma (vaccines, CAR-T), hematology diagnostics, and food/cosmetics QC labs worldwide via direct scientific field sales.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Rapid Microbial Detection Systems

NAICS

Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing (334516), Biological Product (except Diagnostic) Manufacturing (325414)

SIC

Laboratory Analytical Instruments (3826), Biological Products, (No Disgnostic Substances) (2836)

akta.pro primary industry

Mass Spectrometry & Spectroscopy Instruments (HLAGAIAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Proteomics & Mass Spectrometry Services (HLAGANAB), Microbiology & Sterility Assurance (Bioburden/Endotoxin/Sterility) (HLAGADAE), Release Testing & Batch Certification (QC) (HLAGADAC), Analytical Testing & QC Release Services (potency, purity, sterility) (HLAAAKAG)

Keywords

• Rapid microbial testing
• Sterility testing systems
• ATP bioluminescence detection
• Luminometer equipment
• Microbial detection kits

Headquarters

HQ city

Geleen

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. ATP Detection Kits (Consumables / Reagents): Sale of PROMICOL® ATP Detection Kits in various formats tailored to customer product type (dairy UHT/ESL, plant-based beverages, fruit juices, wine, beer, infant food, soups, sauces, puddings, cosmetics). Reagents are often selected or custom-developed in PROMICOL's laboratories to satisfy unique customer matrices, generating repeat consumable revenue. Used with PROMILITE equipment.
2. PROMILITE® / PROMITEC® / Modular Robotic Equipment Sales: One-time hardware sales of the PROMILITE M1, PROMILITE M4A, PROMITEC 10 benchtop luminometers, and the modular robotic sampling system, including PROSCREEN/Photonix software. Creates installed base that drives recurring reagent/kit sales.
3. PRENOVA® Assay + Reader Platform Sales: Sale of the PRENOVA® TCT3 rapid test (assay reagents + NOVILITE reader) for CAR-T and T-cell therapy sterility release, and PRENOVA® COV1 microbial detection system (instrument + reagents + software + customized support) for vaccine sterility testing. Includes mass-production capability for global vaccine/biopharma demand.
4. SANYGO® BVT1 + SANYTEC® 10 Platform Sales: Sale of the SANYGO® BVT1 whole-blood rapid test platform paired with the SANYTEC® 10 point-of-care benchtop analyzer for platelet function / DOAC measurement in hematology and diagnostics markets.
5. Tailor-Made Application Services & On-Site Technical Support: Professional services where PROMICOL's laboratories examine customer products for suitability with PROMICOL kits, selects or develops reagents for optimal sensitivity, and provides on-site expert technical support to maximize customer confidence and experience.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Promicol designs, manufactures, and sells ATP-bioluminescence-based rapid microbial detection platforms that compress conventional sterility and contamination release timelines from days or weeks to hours. Its offering is a fully integrated system of proprietary luminometer instruments (PROMILITE M1/M4A, PROMITEC 10, NOVILITE, SANYTEC 10), tailor-made reagent kits (PROMICOL® ATP Detection Kits), and proprietary control software (PROSCREEN®, Photonix®), sold with application lab support and on-site technical service to biopharma, vaccine, cell/gene therapy, hematology/diagnostics, and food/personal-care QC customers globally.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• PRENOVA®: Patented rapid precision testing platform for sterility testing, including PRENOVA®COV1 (COVID-19 vaccine sterility testing in ~48 hours) and PRENOVA®TCT3 (sterility testing for T-cell/CAR-T therapies in 2-3 days).
• SANYGO®
• PROMILITE®
• PROMITEC® 10
• PROSCREEN®
• SANYTEC®
• NOVILITE
• Photonix®

Products and services

• PRENOVA® COV1 Rapid microbial detection system built on a proprietary ATP testing method, developed during the COVID-19 pandemic to reduce COVID-19 vaccine sterility testing from a 14-day wait to approximately 48–72 hours. Includes instrument, reagents, software, and customized support for biopharma and vaccine manufacturers.
• PRENOVA® TCT3 Rapid sterility test engineered for T-cell and CAR-T cell therapies, using patented proprietary technology to differentiate human from microbial ATP. Shortens test release time to 48–72 hours (2–3 days) with a smaller required test volume for detecting total microbial load in human cellular matrices.
• SANYGO® BVT1 Rapid whole blood assay platform for analysis of ATP release from platelets, used to identify patients at risk for platelet-based bleeding or thrombotic complications and to monitor direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) and antiplatelet agents in real time at the point of care.
• SANYTEC® 10 Proprietary benchtop point-of-care analyzer that pairs with the SANYGO® BVT1 rapid test system, analyzing the amount of light emitted during the bioluminescence reaction in a single cuvette. Fully automated, with small footprint, small sample size, fast processing time, user-friendly operation, and temperature control at 37 °C.
• PROMILITE® M1 Luminometer Compact, PC-controlled tube luminometer ideal for performing 10–50 tests per day, based on measuring 10 cuvettes with up to 4 injectors. Uses a highly sensitive, low-noise, single photon counting photomultiplier, operated by the proprietary Photonix® software.
• PROMILITE® M4A Luminometer Compact, highly sensitive automated microplate luminometer with two or three injectors, operated by dedicated PROSCREEN® software. Processes up to 96 samples in microplate format in a single run within minutes, with fully automated reagent additions and data analysis; can be integrated with the PROMICOL® robotic sampling system for further automation.
• PROMITEC® 10 Luminometer Compact, automated single-test luminometer with an onboard screen that eliminates the need for an additional computer. Uses a highly sensitive, low-noise, single photon counting photomultiplier with user-friendly software that can be linked to a computer if needed.
• NOVILITE Reader Luminometer reader specifically engineered for the sensitivity requirements of the kinetic measurement of the PRENOVA® TCT3 assay. Pairs with the PRENOVA® TCT3 rapid test reagents as part of the complete rapid test system for cell and gene therapy sterility release.
• PROMICOL® Modular Robotic System Turn-key automated sampling and data-capture system that bridges the production line to the point of analysis, with integrated barcode scanning for accurate automatic sampling from a variety of product package types. Achieves high sample throughput with minimal labor and transfers complete sampling data automatically to PROSCREEN® software for analysis on the PROMILITE® M4A.
• PROMICOL® ATP Microbial Detection Kits Microbial ATP detection test kits for detecting microbial contamination across a wide range of products including dairy (UHT/ESL, goat, sheep), plant-based beverages, fruit juices, wine, beer, infant food, soups, sauces, puddings, desserts, non-alcoholic beverages, and cosmetics/toiletries. Available in multiple formats and designed to be used with PROMICOL®'s PROMILITE® equipment, often with tailor-made reagent selection in Promicol's laboratories.
• PROSCREEN® Software Proprietary software platform that controls the PROMILITE® M4A luminometer, with a specialized PROSCREEN® Cosmetic variant for cosmetics and toiletries testing. Features separate administrator and user functions, clear sample identification and audit trail, fast data retrieval with direct spreadsheet export, and automatic backup and archive.

Quantifiable outcome

• Reduces COVID-19 vaccine sterility testing time from a conventional 14 days to approximately 48 hours (range 48–72 hours)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature9 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• External R&D Partners (unnamed)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe R&D Microbiology job description states candidates will 'Collaborate with R&D team members and external partners on assay development and evaluation projects related to rapid microbial identification and detection.' No named external R&D partners are disclosed on the website.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Hygiena: Hygiena is a direct competitor in ATP-bioluminescence rapid microbial testing, with the EnSURE Touch and SystemSURE Plus luminometers and a broad portfolio of ATP test swabs and consumables serving food, beverage, dairy, cosmetics, and healthcare QC markets globally — directly overlapping Promicol's PROMILITE and PROMICOL ATP Detection Kit franchise.
• 3M (Food Safety / Clean-Trace): 3M's Clean-Trace ATP hygiene monitoring system is one of the most widely deployed ATP-bioluminescence platforms for food and beverage QC globally. It directly competes with PROMILITE luminometers and PROMICOL ATP Detection Kits in the same food/beverage/dairy customer base with established distribution.
• Celsis (Lonza): Celsis, now part of Lonza, provides ATP-based rapid microbial detection systems (Celsis Accel, AKuScreen) for sterility and bioburden testing in pharmaceutical, personal care, and consumer products manufacturing — a directly comparable technology platform targeting overlapping biopharma and industrial QC customers.

Broad incumbents

• bioMérieux: bioMérieux is a global leader in industrial and clinical microbiology, offering a broad portfolio that includes ATP-based and other rapid microbial detection solutions, compendial sterility testing media, and BACT/ALERT blood culture systems. Its scale, regulatory dossiers, and global distribution make it a broad incumbent competing across Promicol's full vertical set.
• Charles River Laboratories: Charles River provides endotoxin and rapid microbial detection products (e.g., Endosafe nexgen-PTS, Celsis platform pre-acquisition) and sterility testing services for biopharmaceutical manufacturers — a broad incumbent overlapping with Promicol's PRENOVA vaccine and cell-therapy sterility release value proposition.
• MilliporeSigma (Merck KGaA Life Science): MilliporeSigma supplies a comprehensive suite of microbiology testing products, sterility testing consumables, and rapid bioburden detection solutions to biopharma and industrial QC customers — a broad incumbent whose portfolio overlaps materially with Promicol's biopharma sterility and food/PCP QC offerings.
• Lonza Bioscience: Lonza offers cell-therapy manufacturing services and rapid sterility/microbiology testing solutions, and owns Celsis. Its biopharma manufacturing focus and integrated testing portfolio make it a broad incumbent competing with Promicol's PRENOVA TCT3 in the CAR-T/T-cell therapy sterility release market.
• Bio-Rad Laboratories: Bio-Rad offers a broad life-science research and clinical diagnostics portfolio including molecular and immunology-based rapid microbial detection products. While not a pure ATP-play, it competes for budget share within biopharma QC and clinical microbiology labs adjacent to Promicol's end markets.
• Thermo Fisher Scientific: Thermo Fisher's Specialty Diagnostics and Microbiology segments supply rapid microbial identification, sterility testing media, and a wide range of biopharma QC consumables globally. As a broad incumbent it competes indirectly with Promicol across vaccines, cell therapy, food, and cosmetics end markets through its scale and integrated offerings.

Emerging players

• Nelson Labs: Nelson Labs is a contract microbiology and sterility testing laboratory serving medical device, pharmaceutical, and consumer products manufacturers. It represents an emerging testing-services and rapid-method player addressing similar biopharma and industrial QC customers as Promicol's product platforms.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCV8wwAzd068lRrz8pJ271MQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/Promicol-101184871975533
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/promicol

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Promicol