Ionisos

What Ionisos does

Ionisos is a France-headquartered B2B industrial sterilization services provider operating across 12 European sites in five countries (France, Germany, Spain, Switzerland, and Estonia). The company delivers treatment services using four core technologies: gamma radiation from cobalt-60 sources (photon energies of 1.17 and 1.33 MeV), electron beam sterilization at 9.8 MeV, X-ray sterilization (new Henriville facility under construction), and low-temperature (30–60°C) ethylene oxide gas sterilization. Beyond sterilization, Ionisos offers radiation-induced crosslinking services that improve mechanical properties of thermoplastics and polymers, plus R&D programs in radiation chemistry, materials compatibility, and radiative aging.

The company serves enterprise customers in the medical device, pharmaceutical, veterinary pharmaceutical, cosmetic, food packaging, and laboratory equipment industries. Customers are acquired and managed through direct B2B field sales with dedicated account managers, custom-tailored quality assurance contracts, and project-specific treatment parameters (dose, exposure duration, temperature). Pricing is not publicly disclosed and is structured per engagement based on product type, volume, and sterilization method. Sterilization and decontamination constitute the majority of revenue, with crosslinking representing the remainder.

Ionisos was formed in 1993 through the merger of Conservatome and Amphytrion, both gamma sterilization companies, with heritage dating to the 1956 creation of Centre Lyonnais d'Application Atomique. The company is privately held by private equity firm Ardian (since July 2016, acquired from Agilitas), operates with approximately 300 employees, and has expanded via acquisitions including IONMED (Spain, 2007), Leoni Studer Hard (Germany, 2016), STERMED (2017), and Scandinavian Clinics Estonia (2017), plus an 11th site acquired in Switzerland in January 2023. The Dagneux site holds the only AFSSAPS pharmaceutical establishment authorization granted to an ionizing radiation provider (reference F 06/263), and the company holds ISO 9001, 11137, 13485, 14001, and 45001 certifications across relevant sites.

Name

Ionisos

Legal name

IONISOS

Website

https://ionisos.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Ionisos is a France-based B2B industrial sterilization services provider operating 12 sites across five European countries, offering gamma, electron beam, X-ray, and ethylene oxide sterilization plus polymer crosslinking to medical device, pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and packaging manufacturers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Contract Sterilization Services

akta.pro primary industry

Radiation Processing & Sterilization Services (Medical device sterilization, food irradiation, materials modification) (EUAKAIAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Industrial Isotope Production & Supply (Co-60, Ir-192, Cs-137, Am-241, etc.) (EUAKAIAB), Sealed Source Manufacturing, Encapsulation & Recycling/Take-Back (Source lifecycle management) (EUAKAIAI)

Keywords

• Contract sterilization services
• Radiation sterilization
• Ethylene oxide sterilization
• Medical device sterilization
• Polymer crosslinking

Headquarters

HQ city

Civrieux-d'azergues

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices13 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Sterilization Services: Core revenue stream from sterilization of medical devices, pharmaceutical products, cosmetics, and packaging using gamma, e-beam, X-ray, and ethylene oxide technologies. Services are provided on a custom basis with quality assurance contracts.
2. Crosslinking Services: Treatment to improve mechanical properties of thermoplastic materials and polymers through radiation-induced crosslinking, representing a smaller portion of revenue alongside sterilization.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Ionisos is a European contract sterilization services provider that applies ionizing radiation (gamma, electron beam, X-ray) and ethylene oxide gas to medical devices, pharmaceutical products, cosmetics, veterinary products, food packaging, and polymers. The company also performs polymer crosslinking and offers radiation chemistry R&D and material compatibility studies, operating from approximately a dozen industrial sites across France, Germany, Spain, Switzerland, and Estonia.

Product overview

Ionisos is a specialized B2B provider of industrial sterilization and radiation treatment services, operating across Europe with 10-12 sites in France, Germany, Spain, Switzerland, and Estonia. The company offers four core treatment technologies: Gamma radiation sterilization (using cobalt-60), Electron beam (e-beam) sterilization, X-ray sterilization (new facility under construction), and Ethylene oxide (EtO/EO) gas sterilization. Beyond sterilization, Ionisos provides polymer crosslinking services using ionizing radiation to improve material properties. The company maintains R&D activities in radiation chemistry, materials compatibility, and radiative aging. Services target medical device, pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and packaging industries.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• IONMED: Spanish subsidiary specializing in ionizing radiation treatment by accelerated electrons (e-beam). Located in Tarancón near Madrid, Spain.

Products and services

• Gamma Radiation Sterilization Industrial gamma (cobalt-60) radiation sterilization service for medical devices, pharmaceutical products, cosmetics, and packaging; sold to manufacturers that require validated terminal sterilization under ISO 11137 and equivalent standards.
• Electron Beam (E-beam) Sterilization High-throughput electron beam sterilization service used for medical devices and pharmaceutical products; offered as a faster, lower-penetration alternative to gamma where dose uniformity and cycle time are priorities.
• X-ray Sterilization X-ray based sterilization service for medical devices and pharmaceutical products, providing deep penetration with shorter cycle times and no radioactive source material; targeted at customers seeking an alternative to gamma and EO.
• Ethylene Oxide (EO/ETO) Sterilization Contract ethylene oxide gas sterilization service for heat- or moisture-sensitive medical devices and pharmaceutical products where radiation is not suitable; performed under validated cycles (ISO 11135) with controlled aeration.
• Polymer Crosslinking via Ionizing Radiation Radiation crosslinking service that uses e-beam or gamma to enhance mechanical, thermal, or chemical properties of polymers for industrial applications such as cables, pipes, foams, and specialty materials.
• Radiation Chemistry R&D and Material Compatibility Testing Contract research service that performs radiation chemistry studies, dose-selection work, and material compatibility testing to help customers qualify products for radiation sterilization or crosslinking processes.

Quantifiable outcome

• 30% increase in production capacity achieved through Dagneux modernization in 2009
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi)minorOthersGlobal initiative providing framework for companies to set science-based emissions reduction targets. IONISOS joined in 2025 committing to 42% reduction by 2030.
• AxeleraminorOthersCompetitiveness cluster for chemistry and environment in Lyon and Rhône-Alpes region. Sophie Rouif, Project Manager for Chemistry and Materials activity, participated in interview and collaborative projects.
• IAR/BIONICOMPminorOthersCompetitiveness cluster project (FUI 14) aimed at improving overall performance of bio-sourced composite materials through radiation treatment.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Belimed: Swiss-based provider of sterilization, disinfection, and infection control solutions for hospitals, labs, and life sciences. Adjacent incumbent offering in-house sterilization solutions to the same end customers Ionisos serves via contract services.
• Getinge: Swedish-listed global leader in sterilization equipment, infection control, and surgical workflows. Competes with Ionisos on the equipment and sterile processing side rather than contract services, but targets overlapping hospital/pharma customers.
• 3M (Health Care / Infection Prevention): Global diversified incumbent offering sterilization monitoring products, sterilization equipment, and a broad healthcare portfolio. Overlaps with Ionisos at the customer interface (sterilization workflow products) rather than direct contract sterilization services.

Direct peers

• Medistri: Swiss contract sterilization specialist offering EtO, gamma, and e-beam services to medical device and pharmaceutical companies. Direct competitor in the Swiss/European market and a relevant comparable given overlapping customer base and technology mix.
• Synergy Health (now part of STERIS): Was a major UK/European contract sterilization player (gamma, EtO, e-beam) before being acquired by STERIS. Relevant historical peer given Ionisos's stated goal of building a pan-European sterilization network.
• Sotera Health (Sterigenics): Global market leader in contract sterilization (gamma, EtO, e-beam) via its Sterigenics subsidiary, with a broad U.S./European footprint and integrated Nelson Labs testing. Direct competitor to Ionisos in serving medical device and pharmaceutical OEMs across multiple sterilization modalities.
• BGS (Beta-Gamma-Service): German-headquartered contract sterilization provider offering gamma and e-beam services across multiple European sites. Closest direct German competitor to Ionisos's Bautzen and Chaumesnil e-beam operations, serving the same medical device, pharmaceutical, and polymer customers.
• STERIS: Major global provider of sterilization products, services, and lab testing following the Cantel Medical and Synergy Health integrations. Competes directly with Ionisos in European contract sterilization (gamma, EtO) and offers broader capital equipment and sterile processing solutions to the same medical/pharma customers.
• Comecer: Italian sterilization and containment equipment/services company serving radiopharma, pharmaceutical, and hospital end-markets. Comparable to Ionisos in European customer base, with overlapping expertise in radiation-based processing for medical applications.

Emerging players

• TSO3 / STERIZON (now part of Stryker): Developed low-temperature terminal sterilization technology (V-PRO / STERIZON VP4) using vaporized hydrogen peroxide, ultimately acquired by Stryker. Relevant emerging technology peer addressing some of the same heat-sensitive medical device use cases as Ionisos's EtO service.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ionisos
• Xx.com/ionisos1

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries5 records

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 Ionisos