What Phywe does

PHYWE Systeme GmbH & Co. KG is a German manufacturer and supplier of scientific equipment and integrated experiment systems for science education, headquartered in Göttingen. Founded in 1913, the company serves primary/secondary schools, universities, vocational training institutions, science museums, and research establishments across more than 95-120 countries, and has cumulatively served over 145,000 customers. Its product architecture combines modular hardware with proprietary digital platforms: TESS student experiment sets and DEMO teacher demonstration sets form the curricular backbone, complemented by the Cobra SMARTsense sensor platform, the Cobra SMARTlink 10-inch Android tablet with seven integrated measurement sensors, and the award-winning curricuLAB learning management platform (recognized with the Comenius-EduMedia-Seal 2021). Specialized didactic equipment includes the XR 4.0 X-ray apparatus with computed tomography, the didactic Magnetic Resonance Tomography (MRT), and compact scanning tunneling and atomic force microscopes. All products are manufactured at the company's 100,000 sqm facility in Göttingen, including dedicated 12,000 sqm metal and 6,600 sqm furniture production halls.

Revenue derives from three streams: hardware sales of physical scientific equipment (9,890+ catalog items covering 100% of natural science curricula), software and digital platform licensing (curricuLAB, measureAPP/measureLAB), and professional services including installation guidance, educator training, and consulting. Pricing follows a B2B quote-based model with multi-year contracts and 40-60% advance payment terms for orders exceeding €25,000, characteristic of project-based mid-ticket sales rather than commodity distribution. PHYWE distributes through four parallel channels: a direct enterprise sales team, a global network of 60+ authorized International Sales Partners (ISPs), a multi-language e-commerce webshop (English, French, Spanish, Russian), and a strategic cooperation with Lucas-Nülle-GmbH for vocational training solutions. The company is privately held under the ownership established by Rolf Lucas-Nuelle following the 1988 bankruptcy-driven acquisition and conversion from PHYWE AG to GmbH, with CEO Jörg Siekmann currently leading operations. No external venture capital or private equity ownership has been disclosed.

The go-to-market is anchored on enterprise field sales complemented by channel partners, with technical differentiation built around an integrated content-and-hardware stack. PHYWE's competitive moat rests on more than 100 years of brand equity, ISO 9001 certification held for ten consecutive years, an ecosystem in which Cobra sensors are combinable with 110+ experiments and the TESS modular system spans 40+ sets covering 700+ experiments, and a global distribution footprint that would require years and significant capital to replicate. Strategic momentum has shifted toward digital integration since the 2017 launch of curricuLAB and the subsequent Cobra SMARTlink (2021) and Cobra SMARTsense (2018) launches, alongside expansion into STEM, coding, robotics, and 3D printing product lines that broaden the addressable curriculum beyond traditional physics, chemistry, and biology.

Name

Phywe

Legal name

PHYWE Systeme GmbH & Co. KG

Website

https://phywe.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1913

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

PHYWE Systeme GmbH & Co. KG is a German manufacturer of scientific equipment and integrated experiment systems for science education, serving schools, universities, and research institutions in over 120 countries with hardware, digital platforms, and software across physics, chemistry, biology, and applied sciences.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Scientific Education Equipment

NAICS

Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing (334516), Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing (33451)

SIC

Laboratory Analytical Instruments (3826), Laboratory Apparatus & Furniture (3821)

akta.pro primary industry

Science & STEM Lab Equipment & Supplies (Chemistry, Biology, Physics, Makerspaces) (EDAEAIAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Makerspace, Innovation Lab & Fab Lab Operations (Tools, Safety, Programming) (EDAEAGAI), Maker / DIY Electronics & Physical Computing Platforms (EDAFANAC), Robotics Kits, Parts & Lab Equipment Providers (Education-Focused) (EDAMADAN)

Keywords

• Scientific laboratory equipment
• Physics education apparatus
• Digital learning platforms
• Measurement sensor systems
• Science education solutions

Headquarters

HQ city

Göttingen

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Scientific Equipment Sales: Sale of physical scientific equipment including teaching materials, apparatus, sensors, measurement devices, laboratory glassware, chemicals, microscopes, and accessories to educational institutions.
2. Software and Digital Solutions: Sale of software licenses including curricuLAB platform, measurement software, and digital education tools. May include subscription components for platform access.
3. Professional Services: Comprehensive services including installation guidance, ongoing technical support, training sessions for educators, and consulting services.
4. Project and Custom Solutions: Tailor-made solutions development and project management for educational institutions, including budget consultation, delivery, and user training.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Phywe manufactures, supplies, and installs scientific equipment and experiment systems for science education across physics, chemistry, biology, and applied sciences. The portfolio combines modular physical experiment sets (TESS, DEMO) with proprietary digital platforms (curricuLAB, Cobra SMARTsense, Cobra SMARTlink) and advanced didactic instruments (XR 4.0 X-ray apparatus, Compact STM/AFM microscopes, MRT) for schools, universities, and research institutions. The company delivers complete solutions including installation guidance, training, and consulting services worldwide.

Product overview

PHYWE is a science education solutions provider offering an integrated portfolio of hardware, software, and digital products for Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and Applied Sciences education. The core offerings include TESS (Teaching Experimental System Solutions) - modular student experiment sets, and DEMO (Teacher Demonstration Sets) - classroom demonstration systems. Digital products include Cobra SMARTsense (sensor technology), Cobra SMARTlink (tablet with integrated sensors), Cobra DigiCart/DigiMotion (motion analysis), curricuLAB (award-winning learning management platform), measureAPP/measureLAB (measurement software), and PHYWE CubiCode (coding introduction). Advanced equipment includes XR 4.0 X-ray apparatus, Compact Scanning Tunneling Microscope, Atomic Force Microscope, and MRT Magnetic Resonance Tomography. The company also offers Augmented Reality experiments (TESS-AR), SMARTfloor movement-based learning, and interTESS e-Learning software. All products are designed for schools, universities, and research institutions with over 100 years of manufacturing experience.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• TESS: Student experiment sets - modular equipment system for individual student workspaces in natural sciences
• DEMO
• Cobra SMARTsense
• Cobra SMARTlink
• Cobra SMARTexperiments
• curricuLAB
• Cobra DigiCart
• XR 4.0
• PHYWE CubiCode
• SMARTfloor
• PHYWE XR 4.0 X-ray Equipment
• measureAPP & measureLAB

Products and services

• TESS (Teaching Experimental System Solutions) Modular student experiment system with complete equipment sets designed for varying educational levels, featuring minimal preparation time and tailored alignment with educational plans.
• DEMO (Teacher Demonstration Sets) Demonstration system for teachers and lecturers featuring large magnetic demonstration boards and undestroyable elements for classroom presentations.
• Cobra SMARTsense Easy-to-use digital sensor technology for data acquisition in student experiments, combinable with over 110 PHYWE experiments.
• Cobra SMARTlink 10-inch Android tablet with 7 integrated measurement sensors serving as a high-performance 3-in-1 tablet for measuring and displaying digital science teaching data.
• Cobra DigiMotion Motion capture and analysis system for physics experiments, complementing the Cobra DigiCart and Cobra SMART family.
• curricuLAB Award-winning teaching and learning platform awarded the Comenius-EduMedia-Seal 2021 for outstanding pedagogical, content, and design quality.
• measureAPP & measureLAB Advanced measurement software for data collection, analysis, and visualization in science experiments.
• PHYWE CubiCode Modular introduction to programming with sensors, actuators, and Blockly for STEM education.
• PHYWE Augmented Reality (TESS-AR) Augmented reality enhancement for classic experiments with digital data acquisition and virtual content to enhance understanding of physical phenomena.
• SMARTfloor Playful learning through movement solution - flexible, mobile and versatile floor-based interactive system for active lessons.
• XR 4.0 X-ray Equipment Advanced X-ray apparatus with innovative technology and quick-changing tube system for physics education, including computed tomography capabilities.
• Cobra3 Measuring System Modular, multifunctional measuring system that set the benchmark for computer-assisted experiments.
• Compact Scanning Tunneling Microscope (STM) Didactic scanning tunneling microscope for nanotechnology education and entry into the nano world.
• Compact Atomic Force Microscope University-level physics and applied sciences training equipment for atomic-level imaging.
• MRT Magnetic Resonance Tomography Didactic device for magnetic resonance spectroscopy and tomography for physics and medicine education at university level.
• LabManager Organization platform for managing teaching materials.
• interTESS Revolutionary combination of experiments in natural sciences and computer-based lab manuals for e-Learning.
• Cobra DigiCart System Digital all-in-one solution for dynamics and kinetics in physics lessons, paired with the DigiCartAPP.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 145,000 customers served worldwide
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature14 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, research and minor.

• Lucas-Nülle-GmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-term cooperation where Lucas-Nülle-GmbH develops and produces teaching and learning systems for vocational training. Together with more than 60 PHYWE-authorised International Sales Partners, they offer individually tailored solutions from a single source.
• Laser-Laboratorium GöttingenresearchStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partnership for laser physics and related scientific fields.
• TeilchenweltresearchStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork partnership focused on particle physics education and outreach.
• Universität GöttingenresearchStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperation agreement signed in 2011 for research and development, events, support and collaboration.
• HAWK (Hochschule für angewandte Wissenschaft und Kunst)researchStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperation contract signed in 2012 to tighten partnership for training of students as well as for product development.
• XLAB GöttingenresearchStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperation since 2003 with XLAB, an experimental laboratory for young people in Göttingen.
• DESY (Deutsches Elektronen Synkrotron)researchStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperation partner in scientific research and education.
• Deutsches Museum BonnminorOthersCooperation partner for science education and outreach.
• Deutsches Röntgen-MuseumminorOthersCooperation partner for X-ray physics education and heritage.
• phäno (Experimentier-landschaft)minorOthersPartnership with science center for experiential learning.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Edibon: Edibon designs and supplies engineering and applied-science teaching equipment for technical universities and vocational schools, overlapping with PHYWE's university, applied sciences and STEM product portfolio.
• Festo Didactic (Lab-Volt): Festo Didactic, through the Lab-Volt range, provides hands-on technical and mechatronics training systems for vocational and engineering education, overlapping with PHYWE's physics/applied sciences equipment and Lucas-Nuelle vocational partnership.
• 3B Scientific: 3B Scientific manufactures anatomical models, simulation equipment and physics/biology teaching aids for schools, universities and medical training, directly competing with PHYWE's biology, physics and medicine-laboratory offerings.
• PASCO Scientific: PASCO Scientific is one of the closest direct competitors to PHYWE, manufacturing scientific sensors, data-acquisition interfaces and curriculum-aligned experiment systems for physics, chemistry and biology education in schools and universities worldwide.
• Vernier Software & Technology: Vernier is a leading US-based direct competitor offering probeware sensors, LabQuest interfaces and experiment software for science education that closely overlaps with PHYWE's Cobra SMARTsense and curricuLAB product lines.

Emerging players

• Hägglunds / Christian Berger's Didactic Solutions: This regional German/Austrian supplier offers school laboratory fittings and science-teaching equipment, partially overlapping with PHYWE's lab furniture and basic science apparatus lines in the DACH region.
• Lucas-Nuelle GmbH: Lucas-Nuelle is PHYWE's strategic partner (same ownership lineage via Rolf Lucas-Nuelle) producing teaching and learning systems for vocational training, making it a partial adjacent peer in didactic equipment manufacturing.
• Arduino Education: Arduino Education offers STEM electronics, coding and physical-computing kits for schools, overlapping with PHYWE CubiCode and Cobra SMARTlink in the maker/physical-computing segment of science education.

Broad incumbents

• VWR / Avantor: Avantor (via VWR) is a broad distributor of laboratory equipment, consumables and instruments globally. While not specialized in didactics, it supplies general lab apparatus to many of the same educational institutions, providing indirect competitive overlap.
• Thermo Fisher Scientific (Education): Thermo Fisher is a global incumbent in laboratory instruments (microscopy, spectroscopy, life sciences) whose educational and academic division overlaps with PHYWE's advanced university equipment for physics and biology research teaching.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCj4qgoTCxiFz6WDnuGxBcpw
• Xx.com/phywe

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries1 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 Phywe