HYDRO-BIOS Apparatebau
HYDRO-BIOS Apparatebau is a family-owned German manufacturer (founded 1927) of precision plankton nets, water samplers, CTD-equipped rosettes, and sediment sampling instruments, selling exclusively B2B to oceanographic and limnological research institutions and government agencies worldwide through a global regional distributor network.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1927
- HeadquartersAltenholz, Germany
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What HYDRO-BIOS Apparatebau does
HYDRO-BIOS Apparatebau GmbH is a German, family-owned manufacturer of precision sampling instruments for oceanographic and limnological research and environmental monitoring, headquartered in Altenholz near Kiel. Founded in 1927 as Walter Schweder Precision Engineering and operating under the HYDRO-BIOS name since 1960, the company has remained fully family-owned since 1980 and is managed by Marc Fischer and Julian v.Borries. Its product portfolio spans plankton nets (including the proprietary MultiNet multi-depth sampler), water samplers (Niskin-type bottles, Ruttner samplers, Carousel/Rosette systems with optional CTD probes), and sediment sampling equipment (bottom samplers, single and multiple sediment traps).
The company's technological backbone is the fifth-generation Gen5 electronics platform, which integrates a universal Command Unit controller with a rugged IP65 sunlight-readable interface and interchangeable use across MultiNets, Multi Water Samplers, Depth Meters, NetProbes, and Single- and Twin-Fire-Modules. Gen5 instruments feature user-adjustable sampling rates up to 10Hz, 120 Mbyte onboard memory, and high-precision sensor specifications (±0.02% f.s. pressure, ±0.007 mS/cm conductivity, ±0.004°C temperature). The OceanLab 4 PC application, provided free of charge, supports deployment preparation, remote control, real-time data viewing and export, and is backward-compatible with Gen4 instruments.
HYDRO-BIOS operates a B2B-only model, selling exclusively to legal entities (companies, business people, public institutions) on a quote-based pricing model with 30-day payment terms for domestic German orders and advance payment generally required for international sales. Distribution is executed through a global network of more than 20 regional channel partners covering Europe, Asia (including the Middle East), North America, South America, Sub-Saharan Africa, and Australia. The company employs between 11 and 50 staff, maintains an in-house electronics department and a dedicated plankton net sewing workshop at its Altenholz facility, and reports no external investors, subsidiaries, or M&A activity.
HYDRO-BIOS Apparatebau firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- HYDRO-BIOS Apparatebau
- Legal name
- HYDRO-BIOS Apparatebau GmbH
- Website
- https://hydrobios.de
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1927
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- HYDRO-BIOS Apparatebau is a family-owned German manufacturer (founded 1927) of precision plankton nets, water samplers, CTD-equipped rosettes, and sediment sampling instruments, selling exclusively B2B to oceanographic and limnological research institutions and government agencies worldwide through a global regional distributor network.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
HYDRO-BIOS Apparatebau industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Scientific Sampling Instruments
- NAICS
- Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing (334516)
- SIC
- Laboratory Analytical Instruments (3826), Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, And Control (3823)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Sampling Programs & Field Services (grab/composite sampling, chain-of-custody, logistics) (EUANAJAD)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Aquatic Ecology & Fisheries Assessments (EUAHAHAB), Data Management, LIMS & Compliance Software (ELN, eDMS, reporting automation) (EUANAJAE)
Keywords
Where HYDRO-BIOS Apparatebau is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Altenholz
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
HYDRO-BIOS Apparatebau business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Precision Sampling Instruments: Manufacture and sale of high-quality instruments for oceanographic and limnological applications including plankton nets, water samplers, CTD systems, sediment samplers, and related equipment. Products include the MultiNet plankton sampler, Niskin-type bottles, Ruttner water samplers, Carousel/Rosette systems, bottom samplers, and sediment traps.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Quote-based pricing for specialized scientific instruments |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels5 records
HYDRO-BIOS Apparatebau product offering
Product offeringCore offering
HYDRO-BIOS Apparatebau manufactures and sells precision sampling instruments for oceanographic and limnological applications, including plankton nets (MultiNet series), water samplers (Niskin bottles, Ruttner samplers, Carousel/Rosette systems), sediment samplers and traps, and CTD-capable electronic depth/net monitoring instruments. The portfolio is anchored by a proprietary Gen5 electronics platform and supported by the free OceanLab 4 PC software for deployment preparation and data management.
Product overview
HYDRO-BIOS Apparatebau is a manufacturer of smart sampling equipment for oceanographic and limnic environments. The portfolio includes plankton nets (MultiNet series), water samplers (Niskin bottles, Ruttner samplers, Carousel/Rosette systems), sediment sampling equipment (bottom samplers, sediment traps), and electronic depth/net monitoring instruments. The Gen5 Electronics platform serves as the core technology across multiple instruments (MultiNet, Multi Water Sampler, Depth Meters, NetProbes, Fire-Modules), controlled via the universal Command Unit. OceanLab 4 PC software provides free deployment preparation, remote control, and data management. The company was founded in 1927 as Walter Schweder Precision Engineering and became HYDRO-BIOS Apparatebau GmbH in 1960.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- MultiNet Unique Multi Plankton Sampler for collecting plankton samples at multiple depths in oceanographic and limnic environments; ranges from small simple versions to advanced multi-net systems.
Quantifiable outcome
- Data memory capacity of 120 Mbyte supporting ~3400 hours of continuous recording at 1Hz sampling rate
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use HYDRO-BIOS Apparatebau
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
HYDRO-BIOS Apparatebau technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
HYDRO-BIOS Apparatebau partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
22 partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- Environmental Analytical Systems (Canada & USA)coreRegional distribution partner for Canada and United States. Located at 286 Mask Island Dr., Barry's Bay, ON, Canada K0J 1B0. Provides sales and support for HYDRO-BIOS products in North American market.
- Bionef – Environement, Mesure, Contrôle (France)coreRegional distribution partner for France. Contact: Yves Primault. Provides sales and support for HYDRO-BIOS products in French market.
- Ekonia Oy (Finland)coreRegional distribution partner for Finland. Located at Ohrahuhdantie 4, FIN-00680 Helsinki. Contact: Juho Iso-Kuusela.
- Swale Technologies Ltd (United Kingdom)coreRegional distribution partner for United Kingdom. Located at 6 Greenacres, Monument Park, Chalgrove, Oxfordshire OX44 7RW, UK. Contact: Mr. Philip Gibbs.
- Mepeco s.r.l. (Italy)coreRegional distribution partner for Italy. Located at Via Triulziana, 40, 20097 San Donato Milanese (Milan), Italy. Contact: Roberto Balistrieri.
- Casco Antiguo Oceanografía (Spain)coreRegional distribution partner for Spain. Located at C/ De Senda Galiana, D15, 28821 Coslada, Madrid. Contact: Wenceslao González-Garra.
- Swedaq (Sweden)coreRegional distribution partner for Sweden. Located at Gamla Bo 101, Klintebo, SE-243 85 Höör, Sweden. Contact: Jan Bergenfelt.
- ECOTONE Ecological Analyses & Projects (Poland)coreRegional distribution partner for Poland. Located at ul. Stryjska 24. Contact: Marcin Kowalczyk.
- Stephen Messaritis (Greece)coreRegional distribution partner for Greece. Located at 10, Thermopilon & 45 Thessalonikis str., 14561 Kifissia.
- Wonderstatus Unipessoal Lda. (Portugal)coreRegional distribution partner for Portugal. Located at Rua de São Roque Nº 33, 5060-325 Sabrosa. Contact: Bruno Guerra.
- Qingdao Watertools Technology Co., Ltd. (China)coreRegional distribution partner for China. Located at Room 910, Haidu Business Center, No. 345-2 Zhongcheng Road, Qingdao, Shandong, P.R.China 266109. Contact: Howard Chang.
- Babel Corporation Ltd (Bangladesh)coreRegional distribution partner for Bangladesh. Located at 12/1 Sangsad Avenue, Monipuripara, Dhaka 1216. Contact: Mr. Jennur Hossain.
- Pan India Consultants Pvt Ltd (India)coreRegional distribution partner for India. Located at 105, Phase-IV, Udyog Vihar, Gurgaon-122 015(HR), India. Contact: Sachin Jain.
- PSN LIFESCIENCES INTERNATIONAL FZ-LLC (UAE)coreRegional distribution partner for United Arab Emirates. Located at Ground floor # G04B, P.B. 500349, Nucleotide Complex, Dubai Science Park, Dubai, UAE. Contact: Mr. Jennur Hossain.
- REECO TECH CO.,LTD (Vietnam)coreRegional distribution partner for Vietnam. Located at No.01 Street 1, VNU-ITP, Quarter 6, Linh Trung Ward, Thu Duc District, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Contact: Hai Minh Tran.
- AQUA & LAB SYSTEM Co. (Korea)coreRegional distribution partner for Korea. Located at No. 2-350, Siheung-daero 97, Geumcheon-gu, Seoul, Korea 08639.
- Sea and Land Technologies Pte Ltd (Southeast Asia)coreRegional distribution partner covering Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, and Brunei. Located at 7 Tuas Basin Link, Singapore 638761. Contact: Edmund Goh.
- Today's Instruments Co. Ltd. (Taiwan)coreRegional distribution partner for Taiwan, Republic of China. Located at 8 FL., No. 71, Zhongshan Road, Linkou Dist., New Taipei City 24446. Contact: Kevin Huang.
- HidroMares (Brazil)coreRegional distribution partner for Brazil. Located at Rua Dom Gaspar Afonseca, 02 - Gonzaga, Cep 11055-360 Santos-SP, Brasil.
- MASED REPRESENTACIONES SAC (Peru)coreRegional distribution partner for Peru. Located at Av. Universitaria Sur 1091, (antes Ramón Herrera 499), Cercado de Lima, Lima 01, Peru.
- CLS Southern Africa (Africa)coreRegional distribution partner covering South Africa, Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burundi, Cameroon, Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, DRC Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe. Located at Unit B3, Millside Park, Morningside Road, Ndabeni, Cape Town, South Africa 7405.
- Imbros PTY LTD (Australia)coreRegional distribution partner for Australia. Located at 1059 Cambridge Road, Cambridge, Tas 7170, Australia.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights4 records
HYDRO-BIOS Apparatebau competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Teledyne Marine: Large diversified marine technology portfolio (including Teledyne RD Instruments, Teledyne Oceanscience, and others) covering acoustic doppler, underwater vehicles, and sampling tools. Overlaps with HYDRO-BIOS in serving oceanographic research customers but offers a much broader product suite.
Direct peers
- Valeport: UK manufacturer of oceanographic and hydographic instruments (CTDs, current meters, sound velocity sensors). Comparable to HYDRO-BIOS in target customer (research and environmental monitoring institutions) and overlapping instrument categories.
- General Oceanics: Long-established maker of oceanographic sampling equipment including Niskin bottles, rosettes, and plankton nets — directly overlapping with HYDRO-BIOS's Niskin, Carousel/Rosette, and plankton net lines for marine research institutions.
- Sea-Bird Scientific: A leading manufacturer of oceanographic measurement instruments (CTDs, profilers, water samplers) widely used by the same research and government institutional buyers HYDRO-BIOS serves. Highly comparable in product category (sampling and profiling) and customer base.
- ROMOR: Canadian ocean technology distributor and equipment provider offering plankton nets, sediment traps, and sampling instrumentation to research institutions — directly comparable product categories and shared North American research customer base.
- KC Denmark A/S: Danish oceanographic equipment manufacturer specializing in plankton nets, Bongo nets, and biological sampling gear — a close functional peer for HYDRO-BIOS's plankton net and MultiNet lines serving European and global research institutes.
- AML Oceanographic: Designs and manufactures oceanographic instrumentation including CTDs, sound velocity probes, and multi-parameter sensors. Competes with HYDRO-BIOS's CTD and DepthMeter offerings for oceanographic research customers.
- Ocean Scientific International Ltd (OSIL): UK-based manufacturer of oceanographic and limnological sampling equipment including water samplers, sediment grabs, and plankton nets. Directly competes with HYDRO-BIOS across its core product portfolio.
- Aqua-Tech (T.N.S.) Pvt. Ltd. Indian manufacturer of oceanographic instruments including CTDs, water samplers, and current meters, serving research institutes and environmental agencies. Competes with HYDRO-BIOS in the Asian research instrumentation market.
Emerging players
- Benthic LandOcean Technology (BLT): Smaller specialized manufacturer of benthic and sediment sampling equipment with overlap to HYDRO-BIOS's bottom samplers and sediment trap lines, primarily serving academic and environmental research customers.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
HYDRO-BIOS Apparatebau social profiles
Digital presenceHYDRO-BIOS Apparatebau compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
HYDRO-BIOS Apparatebau financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
HYDRO-BIOS Apparatebau leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
HYDRO-BIOS Apparatebau funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
HYDRO-BIOS Apparatebau 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 HYDRO-BIOS Apparatebau
What does HYDRO-BIOS Apparatebau do?
HYDRO-BIOS Apparatebau manufactures and sells precision sampling instruments for oceanographic and limnological applications, including plankton nets (MultiNet series), water samplers (Niskin bottles, Ruttner samplers, Carousel/Rosette systems), sediment samplers and traps, and CTD-capable electronic depth/net monitoring instruments. The portfolio is anchored by a proprietary Gen5 electronics platform and supported by the free OceanLab 4 PC software for deployment preparation and data management.
Is HYDRO-BIOS Apparatebau a public or private company?
HYDRO-BIOS Apparatebau is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was HYDRO-BIOS Apparatebau founded?
HYDRO-BIOS Apparatebau was founded in 1927. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is HYDRO-BIOS Apparatebau based?
HYDRO-BIOS Apparatebau is headquartered in Altenholz, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does HYDRO-BIOS Apparatebau make money?
One revenue line is on record: precision Sampling Instruments.
Who are HYDRO-BIOS Apparatebau's main competitors?
Teledyne Marine is listed as a broad incumbent. Direct peers are Valeport, General Oceanics, Sea-Bird Scientific, ROMOR, KC Denmark A/S, AML Oceanographic, Ocean Scientific International Ltd (OSIL) and Aqua-Tech (T.N.S.) Pvt. Ltd.. Benthic LandOcean Technology (BLT) is listed as an emerging player.
Does HYDRO-BIOS Apparatebau have an API?
No public API is recorded for HYDRO-BIOS Apparatebau.
What industry is HYDRO-BIOS Apparatebau in?
HYDRO-BIOS Apparatebau's product category is Scientific Sampling Instruments. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EUANAJAD, Sampling Programs & Field Services (grab/composite sampling, chain-of-custody, logistics), with a secondary code of EUAHAHAB, Aquatic Ecology & Fisheries Assessments. Its NAICS code is 334516 and its SIC code is 3826.