AFI Groups
AFI Groups designs and manufactures laboratory centrifuges and rotors for clinical analysis, biomedical research, pharmaceutical, and industrial laboratories, selling its French-made MultiLab range through 40+ distributors worldwide.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2009
- HeadquartersChâteau-gontier, France
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What AFI Groups does
AFI Groups, operating through its legal entity SARL AFI CENTRIFUGE, is a French designer and manufacturer of laboratory centrifuges headquartered in Château-Gontier, France. Founded in 2009 by Philippe LE GUYADER and Mickaël OLIVIER following the closure of the THERMO FISHER (formerly JOUAN) site, the company serves clinical analysis, biomedical research, pharmaceutical, and industrial laboratories requiring sample separation and preparation equipment. Its product portfolio spans seven core models — ISA, SIRENA, LISA, LOREENA, KATRINA, and the LIA family (Mini, Micro, Labo) and LINA — ranging from compact 0.6L benchtop units to large-capacity 8L floor-standing centrifuges, all available in ventilated or refrigerated variants and compatible with swing-out, angular, and microplate rotors.
The company's technical differentiation rests on three proprietary pillars: the Clickspin™ tool-free quick-change rotor system with automatic recognition, Power Factor Correction (PFC) electronics that deliver cycle-to-cycle reproducibility, and an intelligent touchscreen control center with data traceability, password protection, and preventive-maintenance notifications. Five registered patents (three French, two US) protect these designs, and the founders' 20+ years of inherited JOUAN/THERMO FISHER expertise underpins an in-house R&D, production, and customer service operation run by approximately 20 employees.
AFI generates revenue primarily through one-time hardware sales of centrifuges, rotors, and accessories, distributed via a network of more than 40 international distributors complemented by a direct sales team. About 80% of the €2.7M turnover is achieved outside France, and the company also offers end-of-life equipment take-back, biodegradable packaging, and operates from low-energy (BBC) headquarters. End-markets include clinical chemistry, haematology, blood banking, immunology, microbiology, cell and molecular biology, genomics, proteomics, and industrial-scale sample processing, with no disclosed external investors or parent company ownership.
AFI Groups firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- AFI Groups
- Legal name
- SARL AFI CENTRIFUGE
- Website
- https://afigroups.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2009
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- AFI Groups designs and manufactures laboratory centrifuges and rotors for clinical analysis, biomedical research, pharmaceutical, and industrial laboratories, selling its French-made MultiLab range through 40+ distributors worldwide.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where AFI Groups is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Château-gontier
- HQ country
- France
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
AFI Groups business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Centrifuge Equipment Sales: Design and sale of centrifuges including various models (ISA, SIRENA, LISA, LOREENA, KATRINA, LIA, LINA) with different rotors and accessories. Products are sold as one-time hardware purchases with accompanying user manuals, service manuals, and quickstart guides. Accessories and replacement parts also available.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels3 records
AFI Groups product offering
Product offeringCore offering
AFI Groups designs and manufactures a range of laboratory centrifuges (ISA, SIRENA, LISA, LOREENA, KATRINA, LIA, LINA) for clinical analysis, biomedical research, and industrial applications. The centrifuges are available in ventilated and refrigerated versions and integrate proprietary technologies such as the Clickspin™ quick-change rotor system, Power Factor Correction (PFC) for reproducibility, intelligent touchscreen control, and reinforced safety barriers.
Product overview
AFI Centrifuge is a French designer and manufacturer of laboratory centrifuges based in Château-Gontier, France. Founded in 2009 by former THERMO FISHER/JOUAN executives, the company offers a comprehensive portfolio of seven centrifuge models across three product lines: Compact Line (ISA, 0.6L), Performance Line (SIRENA, 0.6L), Routine Line (LISA 1-2.5L, LOREENA 3-4L), and Large Capacity (KATRINA 6-8L), plus the LIA family (Mini, Micro, Labo) and LINA multifunction model. Products feature proprietary technologies including Clickspin quick-change rotor system, Power Factor Correction (PFC) for reproducibility, intelligent touchscreen control centers, and temperature management (4°C to 37°C). The centrifuges serve clinical chemistry, hematology, blood banking, pharmaceutical research, and industrial applications in over 40 countries through an international distributor network.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- MultiLab: AFI's product line brand for centrifuges suitable for multiple laboratory applications including clinical, research, and industrial use.
Products and services
- ISA Centrifuge
Quantifiable outcome
- Temperature below 37°C in ventilated models at all speeds
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use AFI Groups
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
AFI Groups technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature7 records
AFI Groups partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators5 records
Recent moves4 records
Expansion highlights4 records
AFI Groups competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Eppendorf: German manufacturer of premium laboratory centrifuges (e.g., 5420, 5910 R, CR22N) alongside pipettes and bioreactors. Closest direct competitor to AFI across bench-top clinical and refrigerated research centrifuges.
- Beckman Coulter Life Sciences: Major US centrifuge brand (Avanti, Optima, Allegra lines) now part of Danaher. Directly competes with AFI in clinical and research bench-top centrifuges, particularly at higher capacity and refrigerated tiers.
- Hettich Lab Technology: German family-owned specialist in bench-top and floor-standing centrifuges (Rotina, Universal, Mikro lines). Comparable European mid-sized competitor targeting the same clinical and research laboratories as AFI.
- Sigma Laborzentrifugen: German centrifuge specialist offering a comparable range of ventilated, refrigerated, and high-capacity floor-standing centrifuges for clinical and industrial applications. Closest match to AFI on product breadth and Made-in-Europe positioning.
- Kubota Corporation: Japanese manufacturer of laboratory centrifuges (Kubota 3700, 5200, 5500 series) primarily serving clinical and life-science labs across Asia. Comparable niche specialist competitor with similar capacity and clinical-research positioning.
- Drucker Diagnostics: US specialist in clinical and horizontal-rotor centrifuges (Horizon, DASH series). Comparable mid-sized competitor focused on the same medical practice and small-lab segment AFI serves with the LIA and ISA lines.
- Centurion Scientific: UK manufacturer of bench-top, high-speed, and large-capacity centrifuges for clinical, research, and industrial markets. Closely comparable in product range, European manufacturing base, and mid-market positioning.
- LW Scientific: US-based centrifuge and microscope specialist offering compact clinical centrifuges and micro-centrifuges. Comparable scale and channel-led go-to-market model targeting physician offices and small labs similar to AFI's LIA line.
Broad incumbents
- Thermo Fisher Scientific: Global lab-tools giant that acquired AFI's founders' former employer JOUAN. Sells the Sorvall and Heraeus centrifuge brands alongside a much broader portfolio, dominating enterprise procurement frameworks where AFI lacks presence.
- Sartorius AG: German lab-equipment and bioprocessing major whose centrifuge line (originally via Sigma) competes in clinical and research segments. Wider portfolio and significantly larger scale position it as a benchmark incumbent for AFI's European market.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
AFI Groups social profiles
Digital presenceAFI Groups financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
AFI Groups leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
AFI Groups funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
AFI Groups 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 AFI Groups
What does AFI Groups do?
AFI Groups designs and manufactures a range of laboratory centrifuges (ISA, SIRENA, LISA, LOREENA, KATRINA, LIA, LINA) for clinical analysis, biomedical research, and industrial applications. The centrifuges are available in ventilated and refrigerated versions and integrate proprietary technologies such as the Clickspin™ quick-change rotor system, Power Factor Correction (PFC) for reproducibility, intelligent touchscreen control, and reinforced safety barriers.
Is AFI Groups a public or private company?
AFI Groups is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was AFI Groups founded?
AFI Groups was founded in 2009. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is AFI Groups based?
AFI Groups is headquartered in Château-gontier, France, in the Europe region.
How does AFI Groups make money?
One revenue line is on record: centrifuge Equipment Sales.
Who are AFI Groups's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Eppendorf, Beckman Coulter Life Sciences, Hettich Lab Technology, Sigma Laborzentrifugen, Kubota Corporation, Drucker Diagnostics, Centurion Scientific and LW Scientific. Broad incumbents are Thermo Fisher Scientific and Sartorius AG.
Does AFI Groups have an API?
No public API is recorded for AFI Groups.