What Hugo Sachs Elektronik does

Hugo Sachs Elektronik (legal entity: Hugo Sachs Elektronik – Harvard Apparatus GmbH) is a Germany-based designer and manufacturer of specialized physiology research equipment, founded in 1960 and operating as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Harvard Bioscience Inc. (NASDAQ: HBIO). The company is headquartered in March-Hugstetten, Germany, with 11-50 employees and managing directors Joe Eyles and Felix Karcher. It sells directly to academic research laboratories, pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, and medical device research institutions across Europe, North America, and the Middle East, leveraging the Harvard Bioscience distribution network that reaches 100+ countries.

The company's core technology centers on two product platforms: isolated organ perfusion systems (heart, lung, liver, kidney) supporting Langendorff and Working Heart protocols, and a comprehensive line of precision small-animal ventilators (MiniVent, MidiVent, MicroVent, VentElite, Models 683 and 613) spanning mouse-prenatal through large-animal (50 kg) research. The PLUGSYS modular measuring and control system serves as the platform backbone, with plug-in modules for pressure, flow, ECG, temperature, and other physiological signals; this is complemented by the TTFM-2 ultrasonic transit time flowmeter for blood/perfusion flow measurement and the MiniVac gas evacuation unit for anesthetic scavenging. Differentiating technical features include proprietary Starling-principle valveless piston pumps delivering tidal volume accuracy of ±3 µl on MiniVent and ±2% relative flow accuracy on TTFM-2.

Hugo Sachs generates revenue through capital equipment hardware sales with quote-based pricing, where most products display "Price on Request" rather than published price lists. Go-to-market is consultative enterprise field sales via phone (+49 7665 9200 0), email ([email protected]), and online quote requests, supplemented by trade show presence (ArabLab, ISHLT, Experimental Biology, SfN Neuroscience) and an extensive technical resource library (manuals, application papers, webinars). The company does not publish standalone revenue; financials are consolidated within Harvard Bioscience, and customer concentration is dispersed across a long tail of university physiology departments, pharma R&D groups, and medical device laboratories rather than concentrated in a few anchor accounts.

Name

Hugo Sachs Elektronik

Legal name

Hugo Sachs Elektronik – Harvard Apparatus GmbH

Website

https://hugo-sachs.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1960

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Hugo Sachs Elektronik, founded in 1960 and headquartered in March-Hugstetten, Germany, designs and manufactures specialized physiology research equipment — including isolated organ perfusion systems, precision small-animal ventilators, and the PLUGSYS modular data acquisition platform — serving academic research laboratories, pharmaceutical R&D groups, and medical device researchers as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Harvard Bioscience Inc.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Physiology Research Equipment

NAICS

Electromedical and Electrotherapeutic Apparatus Manufacturing (334510), Surgical and Medical Instrument Manufacturing (339112), Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing (33451), Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing (334516)

SIC

Surgical & Medical Instruments & Apparatus (3841), Electromedical & Electrotherapeutic Apparatus (3845), Laboratory Analytical Instruments (3826), Laboratory Apparatus & Furniture (3821)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industry

Anesthesia, Ventilation & Patient Monitoring (Machines, Vaporizers, Monitors) (HLAMAFAB)

Keywords

• Isolated organ perfusion
• Small animal ventilators
• Physiology research equipment
• Modular data acquisition
• Preclinical research instruments

Headquarters

HQ city

March

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Research Equipment Hardware Sales: Sale of specialized physiology research equipment including ventilators, perfusion systems, anesthesia machines, and measurement instruments. Revenue generated from one-time capital equipment purchases by research institutions.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Hugo Sachs Elektronik designs, manufactures, and distributes specialized physiology research equipment, including isolated organ perfusion systems (heart, lung, liver, kidney), precision small animal ventilators spanning mouse to large animal models, and the PLUGSYS modular measuring and control data acquisition platform. The company also supplies anesthesia delivery and gas scavenging systems, surgical accessories, and physiological measurement instruments. Products are sold primarily to academic research laboratories, pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, and medical device research institutions for preclinical and cardiovascular research applications.

Product overview

Hugo Sachs Elektronik specializes in state-of-the-art, fully integrated physiology research systems. The product portfolio centers on isolated organ perfusion systems (heart, lung, liver, kidney) and a comprehensive line of ventilators (MiniVent, MidiVent, MicroVent, Models 683 and 613, VentElite) spanning mouse to large animal research. The company offers the PLUGSYS modular measuring and control system as its core data acquisition platform, along with complete anesthesia delivery and scavenging solutions (Tec3 vaporizers, MiniVac, F/Air and Fluosorber filter canisters), surgical equipment, and physiological measurement tools including the TTFM-2 transit time flowmeter. Products are designed for research use only and sold under the Harvard Bioscience corporate umbrella alongside affiliated brands including Biochrom, HEKA, Multi Channel Systems, BTX, CMA, DSI, Panlab, and Warner Instruments.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• PLUGSYS: Modular measuring and control system for physiological measurements
• MiniVent
• MicroVent
• MidiVent
• VentElite

Products and services

• Isolated Organ Perfusion Systems Advanced isolated perfused organ systems for heart, lung, liver, and kidney research studies. Supports Langendorff and Working Heart perfusion modes for cardiovascular and pulmonary researchers, pharmaceutical drug testing, and academic physiology laboratories.
• PLUGSYS Modular Measuring & Control System Modular data acquisition and control system supporting transducers, amplifiers, flowmeters, ECG modules, and other sensor modules in configurable housings for physiology research laboratories.
• VentElite Small Animal Ventilator Pressure or volume controlled ventilator for animals ranging from mouse to guinea pig (10g to 1kg) with color touchscreen, real-time pressure display, and programmable sigh functions, for use in small animal physiology and anesthesia research.
• MiniVent Ventilator (Model 845) Compact ultra-low volume ventilator specifically designed for mice with tidal volumes of 30-350 µl and respiratory rates of 60-400 breaths/min, intended for mouse physiology and anesthesia research.
• MidiVent Ventilator (Model 849) Ultra-low volume ventilator for large mice and small rats with tidal volumes of 60-700 µl and respiratory rates of 60-400 breaths/min, intended for rodent respiratory and anesthesia research.
• MicroVent Ventilator (Model 848) Ultra-low volume ventilator for prenatal mice and very small animals with stroke volume range 0-130 µl and ventilation rates 60-400 breaths/min, using valveless piston pump technology.
• Large Animal Ventilator (Model 613) Volume controlled ventilator for large animals from 1.5-50kg with tidal volumes of 30-750 cc/stroke and adjustable respiratory rate of 7-50 breaths/min, for larger preclinical research models.
• Small Animal Ventilator (Model 683) Volume controlled ventilator for small animals from 250g to 10kg with tidal volumes of 0.5-30 cc and respiratory rate of 30-150 breaths/min, for general small animal research.
• MiniVac Gas Evacuation Unit Compact gas evacuation unit for safely scavenging anesthetic gases in small animal surgical procedures with adjustable flow control (8-30 LPM) and compatibility with Fluosorber and F/Air filter canisters.
• Tec3 Cagemount Vaporizers Precision vaporizers calibrated for specific anesthetic agents (isoflurane, halothane, sevoflurane) with temperature, flow, and duration compensation for small animal anesthesia delivery.
• Anesthetizing Chambers Anesthesia induction and delivery chambers including anesthetic and CO2 chambers and anesthetizing boxes sized for various small animal research applications.
• HSE-HA Pressure Monitor & Limiter Respiratory pressure monitor and limiter for small animals with adjustable peak pressure (10-50 cmH2O), overpressure valve protection, and analog and TTL outputs for respiratory safety monitoring.
• Anesthesia Brackets & Flowmeters Anesthesia delivery equipment including small animal brackets, mobile post systems, and precision flowmeters for O2 and nitrous oxide used in surgical and anesthesia workstations.

Quantifiable outcome

• MiniVent achieves tidal volume error of only ±3 µl, minimizing hyperventilation or hypoventilation risk
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature8 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Harvard Bioscience, Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHugo Sachs Elektronik is a subsidiary brand of Harvard Bioscience, Inc., a US-based company (84 October Hill Road, Holliston, MA 01746). The company operates as Hugo Sachs Elektronik – Harvard Apparatus GmbH and is part of a portfolio of life science brands. Harvard Bioscience serves as the parent organization providing corporate infrastructure, investor relations, and strategic direction.
• Harvard ApparatuscoreTechnology or IntegrationHarvard Apparatus is a sister brand within the Harvard Bioscience family. Products are often cross-referenced and compatible (e.g., anesthesia masks compatible with Harvard Apparatus ventilators). Shared distribution channels and co-exhibit at trade shows.
• ArabLabminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAnnual laboratory equipment exhibition in Dubai. Hugo Sachs exhibits alongside Harvard Bioscience brands. Key regional trade show for Middle East market.
• ISHLT (International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerAnnual meeting where Hugo Sachs exhibits cardiac research equipment alongside Harvard Apparatus. Key conference for cardiovascular and pulmonary research community.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Kent Scientific: Kent Scientific designs and manufactures physiological research equipment for small animals, including ventilators, anesthesia systems, and physiological monitors — directly comparable to Hugo Sachs's small animal ventilator product family.
• ADInstruments: ADInstruments manufactures PowerLab data acquisition systems and software widely used in physiology and pharmacology research labs — directly comparable to Hugo Sachs's PLUGSYS platform and physiology research product line.
• Radnoti: Radnoti specializes in isolated organ and tissue bath systems for physiological research — directly competing with Hugo Sachs's isolated organ perfusion systems (Langendorff, working heart).
• TSE Systems: TSE Systems develops behavioral, metabolic, and physiological monitoring systems for small animal research — directly comparable in the cardiovascular and respiratory preclinical research market.
• Columbus Instruments: Columbus Instruments manufactures physiological and metabolic monitoring equipment for small animal research, including indirect calorimetry and activity monitors — overlapping with Hugo Sachs's research applications.
• World Precision Instruments (WPI): WPI supplies laboratory research instruments including physiology, electrophysiology, and microinjection equipment for life science research — overlapping with Hugo Sachs's portfolio of small animal research tools.
• Emka Technologies (iWorx): Emka Technologies / iWorx provides physiological data acquisition and analysis systems for cardiovascular and respiratory research — a direct competitor in the same preclinical physiology equipment category.

Broad incumbents

• Data Sciences International (DSI): DSI, another Harvard Bioscience brand, provides telemetry and physiological monitoring for preclinical research — an adjacent incumbent serving the same end-customer set with overlapping measurement capabilities.
• Harvard Apparatus: Sister brand under Harvard Bioscience and a long-standing broader incumbent in physiology research equipment, offering pumps, ventilators, and surgical tools that partially overlap with Hugo Sachs's catalog.

Emerging players

• Charles W. Engineering (CWE): CWE designs and supplies physiology research equipment and instrumentation for small animal studies, including ventilators and surgical accessories — an emerging specialist with partial product overlap to Hugo Sachs.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 Hugo Sachs Elektronik