Pilodist
PILODIST GmbH is a German manufacturer of laboratory and process-scale distillation systems — wiped thin film, short path, and fractional — serving petroleum refiners, chemical/pharmaceutical firms, and academic institutions globally through a 70+ country distributor network.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1995
- HeadquartersMeckenheim, Germany
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Pilodist does
PILODIST GmbH is a German manufacturer of laboratory and process-scale distillation systems, headquartered in Meckenheim near Bonn. The company designs and builds wiped thin film, short path, and fractional distillation systems for thermally sensitive products under vacuum conditions, with its portfolio organized under two main brand lines: PETRODIST for petroleum and crude oil testing (compliant with ASTM D-2892, D-5236, and D-1160 standards) and PILODIST for general laboratory and specialty separations. The product range spans benchtop laboratory units (TF 100) to high-capacity industrial systems (PILODIST 104 HC 200L, PETRODIST 600 S), supported by proprietary technology including the Concentric Tube Column (up to 90 theoretical plates) and a German patent for automatic phase separation. The business model is B2B capital equipment sales (EXW Meckenheim, 30-day payment terms) complemented by spare parts, customization/upgrades of existing systems, and professional installation/training services.
The company serves three primary verticals: oil & gas and refining (BP, Shell, Saudi Aramco, Petronas, PDVSA, Repsol, Bayernoil, Tüpras), chemical and pharmaceutical manufacturers, and academic/research institutions (KU Leuven, Curtin University, PITO). Pilodist operates exclusively through a global network of 70+ distributors spanning Europe, the Americas, APAC, Middle East, Africa, and Oceania, with no direct sales force, generating leads via industry exhibitions (ARABLAB, ACHEMA, Asia Lubricant Exhibition) and a multilingual English/German website. Distribution is supplemented by strategic partnerships with JULABO (temperature control technology), ASG Analytik-Service (training and seminars), and Prescott Logic Technologies (exclusive cannabis pharmaceutical channel).
The company is privately held by the Fischer family, traces its origins to FISCHER Labor- und Verfahrenstechnik GmbH founded in 1967, and has been recognized as a German Growth Champion five times since 2015. In 2019 it inaugurated a new production hall and relocated corporate headquarters from Bonn to Meckenheim to consolidate production, and a German patent was granted in 2018 for its automatic phase separation technology. Ownership is concentrated with the founding family, with no disclosed external institutional investors or funding rounds.
Pilodist firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Pilodist
- Legal name
- PILODIST GmbH
- Website
- https://pilodist.de
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1995
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- PILODIST GmbH is a German manufacturer of laboratory and process-scale distillation systems — wiped thin film, short path, and fractional — serving petroleum refiners, chemical/pharmaceutical firms, and academic institutions globally through a 70+ country distributor network.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Pilodist industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Industrial Distillation Equipment
- NAICS
- Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing (334516)
- SIC
- Laboratory Analytical Instruments (3826)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Refinery Blending & Product Quality Control (Gasoline/Diesel/Jet Blending, Additives) (EUALAGAJ)
Keywords
Where Pilodist is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Meckenheim
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Pilodist business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Distillation System Sales: One-time capital equipment sales of complete distillation systems ranging from laboratory scale (TF 100) to high capacity industrial systems (PILODIST 104 HC 200L). Systems are offered with various configurations and ASTM compliance standards.
- Spare Parts Supply: Due to in-house production facilities and comprehensive spare parts stock, Pilodist supplies spare parts at short notice for existing systems.
- Customization and Upgrades: Customized systems and upgrades of existing ASTM distillation plants. Modernization services for old plants, including major component integration.
- Professional Services: Installation, training, and technical support services for distillation systems. Workshops for complete assembly and training of PETRODIST distillation systems.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels4 records
Pilodist product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Pilodist designs, manufactures, and sells laboratory and process-scale distillation systems for crude oil testing, petroleum analysis, and thermally sensitive organic products. The portfolio spans PILODIST and PETRODIST brand systems including thin film evaporators, short path evaporators, fractional distillation columns, semi-micro distillation units, and vapour-liquid equilibrium apparatus, with most systems designed for compliance with ASTM D-2892, D-5236, and D-1160 standards. Products are sold direct and through a global distributor network to petroleum refiners, chemical and pharmaceutical companies, and academic institutions.
Product overview
Pilodist is a German manufacturer of laboratory and process-scale distillation systems. The product portfolio centers on two main brand lines: PETRODIST systems for crude oil and petroleum testing (including ASTM D-2892, D-5236, D-1160 compliant systems), and PILODIST systems for general laboratory and specialty distillation applications. The company offers thin film evaporators (TF series), short path evaporators (SP series), wiped film rectification systems (TF RC series), semi-micro distillation (HRS series), and specialty equipment including VLE apparatus and bubble cap tray columns. Products range from benchtop laboratory units (TF 100) to high-capacity floor systems (250 GD, 600 S) capable of combining multiple ASTM methods. The portfolio also includes turn-key systems, in-house glassblowing services, and software tools such as the Maxwell-Bonnell Calculator. The company serves chemical, pharmaceutical, petroleum, and academic sectors worldwide through a network of distributors.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- PETRODIST: Product line for crude oil distillation systems including PETRODIST 100, 150, 200, 300, 350, 400 series for ASTM standard testing
- PILODIST
- PULSEDIST
- Quickdist
- VLE
Products and services
- PILODIST SP 1000 CC Continuous Short-Path Evaporator Continuous wiped thin film short path evaporator designed for the distillation of thermally sensitive products under vacuum conditions. Targets chemical, pharmaceutical, botanical extraction, and specialty processing applications where thermal degradation is a concern.
- PILODIST TF 100 Thin Film Distillation System Laboratory-scale thin film distillation system for use in research and small-scale chemical separation applications.
- PILODIST 104 HC 200 L Fractional Distillation System High-capacity version of the PILODIST 104 HC fractional distillation system designed for larger charge volumes up to 200L.
- PETRODIST 400 CC-A Combined Crude Oil Distillation System Combined crude oil distillation system integrating a central fraction collector, vacuum supply, and thermostats for ASTM-compliant petroleum testing.
- TF 1000 RC Wiped Film Rectification System Wiped film rectification system designed for separation of thermally sensitive materials under controlled vacuum conditions.
- Quickdist 500 CC Ultra Fast Distillation System Ultra fast distillation system designed to perform crude oil separations similar to the ASTM D-2892 standard.
- PETRODIST 300 CC Fully Automatic ASTM D-1160 Distillation System Fully automatic distillation system conforming to ASTM D-1160 for determination of boiling ranges of crude oil products under vacuum, with 80-receiver fraction collector and online volume measurement per cut.
- PILODIST HRS 300 C Semi-Micro Distillation System High efficiency semi-micro distillation system with a fully automatic fraction collector containing 6 x 100 ml receivers, designed for small-volume precision separations.
- PETRODIST 350 CC Distillation System Fully automatic replacement model for the PETRODIST 300 CC-F, designed for ASTM D-1160 vacuum distillation of crude oil products.
- PILODIST 250 GD Continuous Rectification System Continuous rectification distillation system for steady-state separation processes.
- PULSEDIST 256 Distillation System Versatile universal distillation system designed to handle diverse mixtures with a variable number of components across a broad range of quantities.
- PETRODIST 600 S Compact Crude Oil Distillation System Compact crude oil distillation system that integrates three ASTM procedures (D-2892, D-5236, D-1160) into a single instrument.
- PETRODIST 100 CC Fully Automatic ASTM D-2892 Distillation System Fully automatic, computer-controlled crude oil distillation system for ASTM D-2892 True Boiling Point (TBP) analysis, with optional dehydration system, 20L stainless steel flask, fraction collector supporting up to 80 cuts, and online volume measurement per fraction.
- PETRODIST 100 S Semi-Automatic TBP ASTM D-2892 Distillation System Semi-automatic TBP (ASTM D-2892) crude oil distillation system with new fraction collector design, home-made lifting jack, and configurable flask sizes from 1 to 50L. Optional fire extinguisher system with acoustic and visual alarm.
- PILODIST 105 Universal Multipurpose Distillation System Universal multipurpose high-efficiency distillation system with two interchangeable columns (Concentric Tube Column up to 90 theoretical plates; packed column with wire gauze packing up to 30 theoretical plates), supporting flask sizes from 1 to 20L via modular design.
- PETRODIST 150 S Bitumen Recovery Distillation System Automatic distillation system for bitumen recovery from crude oil and separation of crude oil fractions up to approximately 400°C AET, with 33L stainless steel flask, DN 100 column, dual condenser, tempered gear pump discharge, and PC-based process control.
- PETRODIST 400 CC Combined ASTM D-2892 and D-5236 Distillation System Processor-controlled combined crude oil distillation system enabling fully automatic simultaneous operation per ASTM D-2892 (TBP) and ASTM D-5236 (Potstill) with combined 10/6L flask capacity.
- PETRODIST 100 CC-S Customized ASTM D-2892 R&D Distillation System Customized fully automatic crude oil distillation system meeting ASTM D-2892 with additional features suited to research and development requirements.
- VLE 110 Vapour-Liquid Equilibrium Apparatus Vapour-Liquid Equilibrium apparatus for determining theoretical separation stages and distillation conditions, with approximately 100 ml charge volume, operating at atmospheric, vacuum, or overpressure up to 3 bar absolute and temperatures up to 250°C, with quartz-sand immersion heater and stirred reflux circulation.
- SP 200 Short Path Evaporator Re-designed short path evaporator offering broader vacuum range flexibility for molecular distillation applications.
- VLE 100 Vapour-Liquid-Equilibrium Apparatus Redesigned Vapour-Liquid-Equilibrium apparatus manufactured in cooperation with research institutes for vapor-liquid equilibrium studies.
- Bubble Cap Tray Columns Borosilicate glass distillation columns with bubble cap trays used for educational simulation at universities and for studying mass transfer processes in rectification and absorption.
- PILODIST 250 Continuous and Batch Distillation System Customized computer-controlled continuous distillation system for complex mixtures of organic compounds, operable in both continuous mode (circulating evaporator with level sensor) and batch mode (flask with electrical heating).
Quantifiable outcome
- Separation efficiency up to 90 theoretical plates with Concentric Tube Column
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Pilodist
Customer profileNamed customers12 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Pilodist technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Pilodist partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.
- JULABOcoreCooperation between Pilodist and JULABO announced on company website. JULABO is a manufacturer of temperature control equipment for laboratory and industrial applications, providing complementary technology for distillation system temperature management.
- ASG Analytik-Service Gesellschaft mbHcorePartner for trainings and seminars. ASG is described as a prestigious and worldwide accepted company for analytical services throughout all industries with a comprehensive range of high-profile professional instruments.
- Prescott Logic TechnologiescoreExclusive channel partner for distillation solutions customized for cannabis applications in the pharmaceutical and medical sector.
- Optimus Instruments (France/Belgium/Netherlands)majorDistributor for France, Belgium, and Netherlands regions. Part of the European distributor network.
- MTB EspañamajorSpanish distributor partner for distillation systems. Collaborated with PILODIST at Expoquimia exhibition.
- Tegent Scientific Ltd.majorHeadquarters in Hong Kong with offices in Beijing and Shanghai. Participated together with Pilodist at BCEIA exhibition in Beijing, China.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights7 records
Pilodist competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- BRUKER Corporation: Large global analytical instruments manufacturer with broad product portfolio including NMR, mass spectrometry, and laboratory tools — competes for analytical lab budgets adjacent to Pilodist's separation systems.
- Agilent Technologies: Diversified laboratory analytical instrument and consumables company serving the same petroleum, chemical, and pharmaceutical lab customers as Pilodist, though with a much broader instrument portfolio and global direct sales force.
- Thermo Fisher Scientific: World's largest analytical instruments provider offering overlapping laboratory solutions for petroleum QC and chemical separation — competes for lab capital budgets at Pilodist's largest customers.
- Shimadzu Corporation: Japanese analytical and measurement instruments major with a broad product range spanning chromatography, spectroscopy, and physical property testing — overlaps with Pilodist's petroleum and chemical laboratory customer base.
Direct peers
- PAC (Petroleum Analyzer Company): Direct competitor manufacturing ASTM-compliant petroleum testing instruments including distillation, density, flash point, and viscometer systems — the closest analogue to Pilodist's PETRODIST product line serving the same refiners and labs.
- Koehler Instrument Company: US manufacturer specializing in ASTM petroleum testing instruments including distillation, flash point, and carbon residue analyzers; a like-for-like competitor in Pilodist's core refinery laboratory market.
- Stanhope-Seta: UK-based manufacturer of petroleum testing instruments covering distillation, vapor pressure, and oxidation stability per ASTM/IP methods — overlapping deeply with Pilodist's PETRODIST portfolio across the petroleum QC market.
- Herzog (PAC subsidiary): Heritage manufacturer of automated petroleum distillation systems now within PAC — competes head-to-head with Pilodist's PETRODIST series for ASTM D-86/D-2892/D-5236 work in refineries and testing labs.
- Pope Scientific / B/R Instrument: Manufacturers of laboratory and pilot-scale wiped-film, short-path, and fractional distillation systems serving chemical and pharmaceutical customers — closely analogous to Pilodist's PILODIST TF/SP/HRS/GD product families.
Emerging players
- BÜCHI Labortechnik: Swiss specialty manufacturer of laboratory evaporation and distillation equipment for chemical, pharmaceutical, and food applications; competes in the same niche as Pilodist's short-path and thin-film product line but with broader food/pharma focus.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Pilodist social profiles
Digital presencePilodist financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Pilodist leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Pilodist funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Pilodist 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 Pilodist
What does Pilodist do?
Pilodist designs, manufactures, and sells laboratory and process-scale distillation systems for crude oil testing, petroleum analysis, and thermally sensitive organic products. The portfolio spans PILODIST and PETRODIST brand systems including thin film evaporators, short path evaporators, fractional distillation columns, semi-micro distillation units, and vapour-liquid equilibrium apparatus, with most systems designed for compliance with ASTM D-2892, D-5236, and D-1160 standards. Products are sold direct and through a global distributor network to petroleum refiners, chemical and pharmaceutical companies, and academic institutions.
Is Pilodist a public or private company?
Pilodist is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Pilodist founded?
Pilodist was founded in 1995. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Pilodist based?
Pilodist is headquartered in Meckenheim, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does Pilodist make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Distillation System Sales are the primary driver. The others are spare Parts Supply, customization and Upgrades and professional Services.
Who are Pilodist's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are BRUKER Corporation, Agilent Technologies, Thermo Fisher Scientific and Shimadzu Corporation. Direct peers are PAC (Petroleum Analyzer Company), Koehler Instrument Company, Stanhope-Seta, Herzog (PAC subsidiary) and Pope Scientific / B/R Instrument. BÜCHI Labortechnik is listed as an emerging player.
Does Pilodist have an API?
No public API is recorded for Pilodist.
What industry is Pilodist in?
Pilodist's product category is Industrial Distillation Equipment. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EUALAGAJ, Refinery Blending & Product Quality Control (Gasoline/Diesel/Jet Blending, Additives). Its NAICS code is 334516 and its SIC code is 3826.