Exilab

What Exilab does

Exilab NV is a specialized laboratory design and engineering firm headquartered in Antwerp, Belgium, operating as a subsidiary within the Sweco group. The company delivers integrated, multidisciplinary laboratory projects — combining architecture, engineering, and construction management within a single office — for clients in the pharmaceutical, biotech, healthcare, education, and science/technology sectors. Its history traces back to the 1977-founded Van Looy Group, from which Exilab was spun off as a dedicated laboratory-focused entity.

Service offerings span the full project lifecycle — from feasibility studies and concept design through detailed engineering, construction documentation, and project management — across a portfolio of facility types including analytical and quality laboratories, biosafety laboratories (BSL1–BSL4), cleanrooms, clinical and medical laboratories, incubator and production laboratories, and R&D labs. Technical capabilities include Computational Fluid Dynamic (CFD) modeling and LEED/BREEAM-accredited sustainable design.

Exilab generates revenue through project-based professional services, with custom quotes per engagement and no published pricing. The firm serves both multinational enterprises and small/startup clients, with primary geographic focus on Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, and Luxembourg, and broader European reach. Notable engagements include the Universiteit Antwerpen Vaccinopolis facility, demonstrating credibility in high-containment research infrastructure.

Name

Exilab

Legal name

Exilab NV

Website

https://exilab.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1977

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Exilab NV is an Antwerp-based, Sweco-affiliated engineering consultancy that designs and delivers specialized laboratory facilities — including biosafety, cleanroom, and R&D labs — for pharmaceutical, biotech, healthcare, and research clients across the Benelux region and Europe.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Laboratory Engineering Services

NAICS

Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services (5413), Engineering Services (541330)

SIC

Laboratory Apparatus & Furniture (3821), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Lab Furniture, Facilities & Utilities (Benches, Casework, Gas/Water Systems) (HLAGAIAM)

Keywords

• Laboratory engineering services
• Lab design consulting
• Cleanroom design
• Biosafety laboratory design
• Lab construction management

Headquarters

HQ city

Antwerp

HQ country

Belgium

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Laboratory Design and Engineering Services: Project-based professional services revenue derived from consulting, design, engineering, and project management for laboratory construction projects. Services include feasibility studies, concept design, detailed design, construction documents, and construction administration.
2. Project Management Services: Schedule and cost management, bid packages, bid evaluation, construction management, safety management, commissioning and qualification management, project documentation, and start-up support for laboratory projects.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Exilab designs, engineers, and delivers laboratory spaces for clients in the pharmaceutical, biotech, healthcare, education, and science and technology sectors. The firm delivers end-to-end multidisciplinary services — consulting and feasibility studies, architectural and detailed design, integrated engineering (structural, HVAC, mechanical, electrical, security, fire safety, building management), and project/construction management — for specialized laboratory types including biosafety (BSL1–BSL4), cleanrooms, clinical and medical, production, R&D, incubator, and analytical and quality laboratories.

Product overview

Exilab is a laboratory design, engineering and delivery firm offering a comprehensive portfolio of specialized laboratory services and facility types. The company provides end-to-end laboratory solutions including consulting, design, engineering, and project management services across multiple laboratory categories: Analytical and Quality Laboratories, Biosafety Laboratories (BSL1-BSL4), Cleanrooms, Clinical and Medical Laboratories, Incubator Laboratories, Production Laboratories, and Research & Development Laboratories. These are complemented by specialized services such as LEED and BREEAM accredited design, computational fluid dynamic (CFD) modeling, and facilities management support. The company operates across the pharmaceutical and biotech industry, healthcare and education sector, and science and technology companies, with home markets in Belgium, The Netherlands, Germany, and Luxembourg.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Laboratory Design Services (Specialized Laboratory Types) Design and engineering of specialized laboratory facilities across multiple categories (analytical/quality labs, biosafety labs BSL1–BSL4, cleanrooms, clinical and medical labs, incubator labs, production labs, R&D labs) for clients in pharmaceutical, biotech, healthcare, education, and science and technology sectors.
• Consulting Services & Feasibility Studies Strategic planning, programming, option definition and evaluation criteria, and development of laboratory typicals, concepts and standards — typically delivered as the front-end phase of laboratory construction projects for enterprise clients.
• Engineering Services Comprehensive multidisciplinary engineering for laboratory facilities covering architectural, structural, HVAC, mechanical, electrical, security, civil, fire safety engineering, gases and fluids, instruments and alarms, and building management systems.
• Project Management Services End-to-end project management for laboratory builds including schedule and cost management, bid packages, bid evaluation, construction administration, construction management, safety management, commissioning and qualification management, project documentation, and start-up support.
• Special Services (LEED/BREEAM, CFD Modeling, Facilities Management Support) Specialized laboratory project services including LEED and BREEAM accredited sustainable design, Computational Fluid Dynamic (CFD) modeling for design optimization, facilities management support, and project audits and second opinions.

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• SwecocoreOthersExilab is a daughter company of Van Looy Group, which is part of Sweco, a major European engineering consultancy group. This corporate structure provides Exilab with the backing and resources of a large engineering organization while maintaining focus on specialized laboratory design and construction.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights8 records

Direct peers

• SmithGroup: SmithGroup is a US-headquartered architecture and engineering firm with a dedicated Science & Technology practice designing research labs, BSL facilities, cleanrooms, and healthcare laboratories. It is the most direct functional peer to Exilab in lab-focused design and engineering.
• HDR: HDR operates a specialized Lab Planning + Design practice delivering research, healthcare, and BSL laboratory facilities worldwide. Its integrated architecture, engineering, and commissioning services closely mirror Exilab's end-to-end delivery model.
• Affiliated Engineers: Affiliated Engineers is a US engineering consultancy specializing in MEP and structural systems for complex facilities including laboratories, cleanrooms, and healthcare environments. Highly comparable in technical specialization and project-based delivery.
• Perkins&Will: Perkins&Will is a global architecture firm with a dedicated Science + Technology practice designing research, healthcare, and BSL laboratories. Comparable in scope of laboratory typologies and integrated design approach.
• CannonDesign: CannonDesign is an integrated design practice with a Health and Education focus, including research and clinical laboratory projects. Comparable as an integrated architecture/engineering firm serving healthcare and education laboratory clients.

Broad incumbents

• Arcadis: Arcadis is a global design, engineering, and consultancy firm with broad life-sciences and laboratory capabilities across Europe. Comparable as a larger incumbent in laboratory design and engineering with broader geographic reach than Exilab.
• WSP: WSP is a global engineering professional services firm with a Property & Buildings segment covering laboratory and life-sciences facilities. Comparable as a broad incumbent with overlapping lab design/engineering capabilities and larger scale.
• Arup: Arup is a global engineering consultancy with strong life-sciences and healthcare laboratory practices. Comparable as a broad incumbent offering multidisciplinary engineering and design for complex laboratory environments.
• Stantec: Stantec is a global engineering, architecture, and environmental services firm with a dedicated Life Sciences practice. Comparable as a broad incumbent serving pharmaceutical, biotech, and healthcare laboratory clients.

Others

• Sweco: Sweco is Exilab's parent group and a major European engineering consultancy with multi-billion euro revenue and ~22,000 employees. It is the strategic parent providing scale, brand credibility, and potential cross-border pipeline for Exilab's laboratory specialty.

Market position

Strengths3 records

Weaknesses3 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/exilab-part-of-sweco
• Facebookfacebook.com/100065147436536

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Exilab