J-Kem Scientific

What J-Kem Scientific does

J-KEM Scientific, Inc. is a privately held St. Louis, Missouri-based manufacturer of precision laboratory instruments founded in 1987 by Dr. Robert Elliott. The company designs and builds temperature controllers with patented 0.1°C regulation, vacuum and pressure regulators, peristaltic and syringe pumps, KEM-Lab parallel reactors, Kugelrohr short-path distillation systems, and laboratory robotics (Eclipse, Endeavour, Titan, and Articulating Arm systems). Its proprietary power control computer uses a FLASH-programmable microprocessor that supports field firmware updates, and its KEM-Net software enables PC-based data logging and control; the KEM-IO option extends controllers into broader lab automation roles. Engineering staff average 20+ years of experience in electronics and industrial chemistry, and the company offers a custom robotics and instrumentation group for bespoke builds.

The company sells primarily through direct e-commerce at www.jkem.com, accepting purchase orders and credit cards, with a published catalog spanning roughly $54 to $5,960 per unit and academic/volume discounts available. International reach is achieved through authorized distributors in seven markets: the UK (Asynt), China and Hong Kong (Universal Analytical and Testing Instruments; Chemfocuslab), India (Spectrum Scientifics), Japan (Hipep Laboratories), Italy (Stepbio), and Malaysia (KGC Resources). Customer segments are horizontally distributed across medical lab technicians, pathologists, biologists, chemists, agriculturalists, ecologists, and pharmaceutical/chemical manufacturers needing precise control of temperature, vacuum, and liquid handling. Revenue is generated almost entirely through hardware sales of catalog instruments plus custom instruments and robotics projects quoted on request.

The company carries no disclosed investors, no subsidiaries, and no public-market indicators. No funding rounds, acquisitions, or leadership changes are recorded in the available data. Operational signals — active product listings, software version updates (KEM-Net 4.21 and 5.0), distributor coverage, and a multi-year robotics program now in its fourth year — indicate a continuing independent operating company with a niche, horizontally-segmented customer base and a self-funded, founder-led structure.

Name

J-Kem Scientific

Legal name

J-KEM Scientific, Inc.

Website

https://jkem.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1987

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Laboratory and Scientific Instruments

NAICS

Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing (334516), Instruments and Related Products Manufacturing for Measuring, Displaying, and Controlling Industrial Process Variables (334513)

SIC

Laboratory Analytical Instruments (3826), Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, And Control (3823)

akta.pro primary industry

General Lab Equipment (Centrifuges, Incubators, Shakers, Ovens) (HLAGAIAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Process Analytical Instrumentation (Gas analyzers, spectroscopy, pH/ORP, conductivity) (IMAGAFAE)

Keywords

• Precision temperature controllers
• Laboratory automation robotics
• Vacuum pressure regulators
• Parallel chemical reactors
• Scientific instrument manufacturing

Headquarters

HQ city

St Louis

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Scientific Instruments and Hardware Sales: J-KEM generates revenue primarily through the sale of scientific instruments including temperature controllers, vacuum regulators, pumps, robotics, reactors, and lab safety equipment. Products are sold directly via e-commerce with prices ranging from under $100 to over $5,000 per unit. The company also offers custom instruments and robotics solutions.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

J-KEM Scientific designs, manufactures, and sells precision scientific instruments and laboratory automation equipment for research and industrial laboratories. Its product line spans precision temperature controllers, vacuum and pressure regulators, peristaltic and syringe pumps, parallel reactors, Kugelrohr short-path distillation systems, robotics systems, and lab safety monitors. The company also builds custom instruments and custom robotics to researcher specifications. All products are anchored on J-KEM's patented 0.1°C power control computer and are sold direct and through international distributors.

Product overview

J-Kem Scientific is a manufacturer of scientific instruments and laboratory automation equipment founded in 1987, based in St. Louis, Missouri. The company offers a comprehensive portfolio of precision laboratory equipment organized into seven main product categories: Lab Automation and Robotics (including Eclipse, Endeavour, and Titan robotic systems, articulating arm robots, fraction collectors, and custom robotics); Temperature Control (featuring precision controllers providing 0.1 degree regulation across models 150-410 and including single-channel, multi-channel, safety, and high-power configurations, plus reaction blocks, thermocouples, and KEM-Net data logging software); Vacuum and Pressure Control (standard and precision vacuum regulators, digital monitors, and accessories); Pumps (including PeriPump peristaltic pumps, single and dual syringe pumps, and custom pump systems for viscous materials); Reactors (KEM-Lab parallel reactors for synthesis and formulation with temperature range from -80 to 130 degrees C); Kugelrohr Short Path Distillation Systems (thin film evaporators for heat-sensitive compounds with temperatures to 220 degrees C); and Lab Safety Equipment (flow sensors, temperature monitors, water shut-off valves, and safety controllers). The products share common technological foundations including J-KEM's patented power control computer, proprietary KEM-Net software for data logging and control, and serial communication interfaces. Custom instruments and robotics solutions are available to meet specific research requirements.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• KEM-Lab: Line of parallel reactors and bench top shakers for laboratory synthesis applications.
• PeriPump

Products and services

• Eclipse Robotics
• Articulating Arm Robots
• Endeavour Robotics
• Titan Robotics
• Fraction Collectors
• Infinity Controllers
• Reaction Controllers
• Precision Temperature Controllers
• KEM-Net Data Logging Software
• Thermocouples and Temperature Sensors
• Reaction Blocks
• PeriPump-1200
• Single Syringe Pump
• Dual Syringe Pump
• Pump Systems for Viscous Materials
• Precision Balance
• Standard Vacuum Regulators
• Precision Vacuum Regulators
• Digital Vacuum Monitor
• KEM-Lab Parallel Reactors
• KEM-Lab Bench Top Shaker
• Flow Sensor
• Model DM Temperature Monitor
• Model HT Temperature Limit Controller
• Model LSC Temperature and Flow Rate Monitor
• Nitrogen Gas Heater
• Trinity Power Controller
• Water Flow Monitor
• Water Shut-Off Valve
• Kugelrohr Short Path Distillation System
• Short Path Distillation Oven
• Stirring Module
• Vacuum Trap I
• Lab Jack
• Distillation Flask
• Receiving Bulb
• Miniature Overhead Stirrer
• Amicon 8000 Series Replacement O-Rings
• KEM-IO Input/Output Option
• Handheld Meter & Data Logger
• Coolant Valve

Quantifiable outcome

• 0.1 degree temperature regulation precision
• +1 more outcomes

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• ASYNT LTDcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAuthorized distributor for United Kingdom. Located at Unit 29 Hall Barn Road Industrial Estate, Isleham, Cambridgeshire, CB7 5RJ. Contact: +44 (0)1638 781 709.
• Universal Analytical and Testing InstrumentscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAuthorized distributor for China and Hong Kong. Located at Rm 1911 Nan Fung Centre, 264-298 Castle Peak Road, Tsuen Wan, Hong Kong. Contact: (852) 241-67693.
• Chemfocuslab, LTD.coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAuthorized distributor for China. Located at No.82 Fangshan industrial zone, Santun Town, West lake district, Hangzhou City, Zhejiang 310030, PR China. Contact: 0571-88861760.
• SPECTRUM SCIENTIFICScoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAuthorized distributor for India. Located at No. 2-20-5/41/1, Ardash Nagar, Street No. 5, Chilkanagar Road, Uppal – 500 039, Hyderabad (Telangana). Contact: 009140 44721568.
• HIPEP LABORATORIEScoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAuthorized distributor for Japan. Located at Nakatsukasacho 486-46, Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto, 602-8158. Contact: +81-75-813-2101.
• STEPBIO S.R.LcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAuthorized distributor for Italy. Located at via Paolo Nanni Costa 12/3 e-f, 40133 Bologna Italy. Contact: 0039 (051) 6343340.
• KGC RESOURCES SDN BHDcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAuthorized distributor for Malaysia. Contact: [email protected], [email protected]

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves1 record

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Julabo: German manufacturer of high-precision temperature control instruments (heating/refrigerated circulators) for laboratories. Directly competes with J-KEM's precision temperature controller line on accuracy and lab applications, sharing the same primary customer persona of research chemists and biologists.
• Asynt: Asynt designs and supplies laboratory tools including parallel reactors (e.g., ReactoMate), condensers, and synthesis workstations. Directly competitive with J-KEM's KEM-Lab parallel reactors and overlapping distribution relationship — Asynt is also J-KEM's UK distributor.
• Syrris: Syrris specializes in flow chemistry and laboratory automation systems for chemical synthesis, including reactor platforms and process control. Directly comparable to J-KEM's KEM-Lab parallel reactors, robotics, and reaction controllers targeting the same chemistry R&D customer.
• Peter Huber Kältemaschinenbau (Huber): Huber specializes in temperature control technology from -125°C to +425°C for research and industry. Closely comparable to J-KEM's precision temperature controller and KEM-Lab parallel reactor portfolio, targeting the same chemist/biologist persona.

Broad incumbents

• Heidolph Instruments: Heidolph manufactures laboratory equipment including rotary evaporators, magnetic stirrers, overhead stirrers, and shaking devices. Adjacent to J-KEM's Kugelrohr distillation and KEM-Lab shaker lines, with broader portfolio scale.
• IKA Works: IKA is a broad-line laboratory equipment manufacturer offering temperature control, stirring, mixing, and reaction calorimetry products. Overlaps J-KEM's controllers, stirrers, and reactors but operates a much wider catalog and global sales network.
• Mettler Toledo: Mettler Toledo is a global precision instruments leader with laboratory, industrial and retail solutions including balances, pH, titration, and process analytics. Overlaps J-KEM's PeriPump balance integration and analytical instrument positioning at much larger scale.
• Anton Paar: Anton Paar produces high-precision laboratory and process measurement instruments including density, rheology, and sample preparation. Comparable to J-KEM's analytical and process instrumentation footprint at significantly broader scale.
• Thermo Fisher Scientific: Thermo Fisher is the largest scientific instruments conglomerate, spanning lab equipment, analytical instruments, and consumables. Indirect overlap with J-KEM through laboratory temperature control, vacuum, and reaction products bundled into broader enterprise contracts.

Emerging players

• Chemtrix: Chemtrix is a specialist in flow chemistry reactors and scalable process development platforms for pharmaceutical and chemical research. Direct overlap with J-KEM's parallel reactors and custom robotics for chemistry applications, but with a focused flow-chemistry positioning.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/JkemScientific
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/j-kem-scientific

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 J-Kem Scientific