HYDRO-BIOS Apparatebau

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.

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

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

• Oceanographic instruments
• Water sampling equipment
• Plankton sampling nets
• Sediment sampling gear
• Limnological research instruments

Headquarters

HQ city

Altenholz

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. 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

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core 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

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

22 partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Environmental Analytical Systems (Canada & USA)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional 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)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional distribution partner for France. Contact: Yves Primault. Provides sales and support for HYDRO-BIOS products in French market.
• Ekonia Oy (Finland)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional distribution partner for Finland. Located at Ohrahuhdantie 4, FIN-00680 Helsinki. Contact: Juho Iso-Kuusela.
• Swale Technologies Ltd (United Kingdom)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional 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)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional distribution partner for Italy. Located at Via Triulziana, 40, 20097 San Donato Milanese (Milan), Italy. Contact: Roberto Balistrieri.
• Casco Antiguo Oceanografía (Spain)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional distribution partner for Spain. Located at C/ De Senda Galiana, D15, 28821 Coslada, Madrid. Contact: Wenceslao González-Garra.
• Swedaq (Sweden)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional distribution partner for Sweden. Located at Gamla Bo 101, Klintebo, SE-243 85 Höör, Sweden. Contact: Jan Bergenfelt.
• ECOTONE Ecological Analyses & Projects (Poland)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional distribution partner for Poland. Located at ul. Stryjska 24. Contact: Marcin Kowalczyk.
• Stephen Messaritis (Greece)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional distribution partner for Greece. Located at 10, Thermopilon & 45 Thessalonikis str., 14561 Kifissia.
• Wonderstatus Unipessoal Lda. (Portugal)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional distribution partner for Portugal. Located at Rua de São Roque Nº 33, 5060-325 Sabrosa. Contact: Bruno Guerra.
• Qingdao Watertools Technology Co., Ltd. (China)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional 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)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional distribution partner for Bangladesh. Located at 12/1 Sangsad Avenue, Monipuripara, Dhaka 1216. Contact: Mr. Jennur Hossain.
• Pan India Consultants Pvt Ltd (India)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional 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)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional 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)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional 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)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional 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)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional 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)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional 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)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional distribution partner for Brazil. Located at Rua Dom Gaspar Afonseca, 02 - Gonzaga, Cep 11055-360 Santos-SP, Brasil.
• MASED REPRESENTACIONES SAC (Peru)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional distribution partner for Peru. Located at Av. Universitaria Sur 1091, (antes Ramón Herrera 499), Cercado de Lima, Lima 01, Peru.
• CLS Southern Africa (Africa)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional 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)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional distribution partner for Australia. Located at 1059 Cambridge Road, Cambridge, Tas 7170, Australia.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad 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

• YouTubeyoutube.com/HydroBios
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hydro-bios-apparatebau
• Instagraminstagram.com/hydro_bios_apparatebau_gmbh
• Facebookfacebook.com/1433897726680623

Compliance1 record

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 HYDRO-BIOS Apparatebau