What Gerber Instruments does

Gerber Instruments AG is a privately held Swiss distributor and specialist of analytical laboratory equipment headquartered in Effretikon (canton of Zurich), operating continuously since 1892. The company serves dairies, grain and feed companies, food processors, water and wastewater laboratories, and chemical and pharmaceutical laboratories with a portfolio built around the original Dr. N. Gerber method for milk fat determination and an extensive catalog of distributed analytical instruments from FOSS, Dickey-john, WaterSam, Erlab, WTW, and others. Core product categories include butyrometers, milk centrifuges, water baths, cryoscopes, hydrometers, acidity titrators, microbiology incubators, falling-number analyzers (Alphatec), hammer mills, and a full line of FOSS NIR/FTIR platforms (Infratec 1241, Infratec NOVA, MilkoScan FT1, MilkoScan Mars, DairyScan, FoodScan, WineScan, OenoFoss) plus Kjeltec, Soxtec, and Fibertec chemical analysis systems. Beyond instruments, Gerber runs a dedicated laboratory solutions division offering modular lab furniture, fume hoods, hazardous-substance storage, and turnkey laboratory design and implementation in partnership with MERCI, BIMOS, MIELE, and FORS.

Revenue is generated through three primary streams: (1) hardware sales of analytical instruments (both proprietary Dr. N. Gerber instruments and large distributed systems from FOSS and Dickey-john), (2) professional services for consulting, planning, and on-site laboratory implementation, and (3) consumables, reagents, titration indicators, and accessories sold through a B2B online shop. Go-to-market combines regional field sales consultants covering German-speaking Switzerland, Western Switzerland, Eastern Switzerland/Ticino, and the Midlands with an e-commerce channel for consumables and smaller equipment; pricing is quote-based for large instruments and unit-priced in CHF for consumables. The company's competitive position rests on 130+ years of brand heritage tied to the Gerber fat-determination method, multi-decade OEM distribution relationships, and a single-source bundled offering that combines instruments, consumables, and full laboratory builds for its primarily Swiss enterprise and mid-market customer base.

Name

Gerber Instruments

Legal name

Gerber Instruments AG

Website

https://gerber-instruments.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1892

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Gerber Instruments AG is a Swiss distributor and specialist in analytical laboratory equipment founded in 1892, serving dairy, food/feed, water, and chemical/pharmaceutical laboratories with proprietary Gerber-method instruments, distributed FOSS/Dickey-john analyzers, and turnkey laboratory solutions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Analytical Laboratory Instruments

NAICS

Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing (334516)

SIC

Laboratory Analytical Instruments (3826), Laboratory Apparatus & Furniture (3821)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Laboratory Consumables & Plasticware (Tips, Tubes, Plates, Filters) (HLAGAIAH), Mass Spectrometry & Spectroscopy Instruments (HLAGAIAB), Liquid Handling & Laboratory Automation (Pipettes, Robots, Workstations) (HLAGAIAD)

Keywords

• Analytical laboratory instruments
• Dairy testing equipment
• Grain analysis instruments
• Milk fat determination
• Laboratory furniture solutions

Headquarters

HQ city

Effretikon

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Analytical Instruments Distribution: Distribution of laboratory analytical instruments from multiple manufacturers including Dr. N. Gerber, FOSS, and others. Products sold through online shop and direct sales.
2. Laboratory Solutions (Consulting, Planning, Implementation): Turnkey installation of laboratory equipment including modular laboratory furniture, fume hoods, media supply systems, and hazardous substance cabinets. Services include consulting, planning, and on-site implementation through partner Merci.
3. Consumables and Accessories: Sale of laboratory consumables, reagents, titration indicators, and accessories through online shop.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Gerber Instruments AG supplies analytical laboratory instruments and consumables used in the dairy, food and feed, water and wastewater, and chemical and pharmaceutical industries. The portfolio includes both proprietary instruments under the Dr. N. Gerber brand (notably butyrometers and accessories for the Gerber method of milk fat determination, Mojonnier fat extraction equipment, density and acidity hydrometers, cryoscopes, microbiology and dry matter apparatus) and distributed products from international manufacturers such as FOSS, Dickey-john, WaterSam, Erlab, and WTW. The company also operates a dedicated laboratory solutions division offering consulting, planning, and turnkey installation of laboratory furniture, fume hoods, and media supply systems.

Product overview

Gerber Instruments AG is a specialist for analytical solutions headquartered in Switzerland, distributing both proprietary products under the Dr. N. Gerber brand and products from major international suppliers. The core product portfolio centers on the original Gerber method for fat determination in milk and dairy products, along with complementary analytical instruments for density, acidity, freezing point, microbiology, and dry matter determination. The company also distributes an extensive range of FOSS analytical instruments (milk analyzers such as MilkoScan and DairyScan, near-infrared analyzers including Infratec 1241 and Infratec NOVA, chemical analysis systems like Kjeltec and Soxtec, and specialty analyzers for meat and wine), Dickey-john grain moisture meters, WaterSam water samplers, and Erlab air quality systems. Additionally, Gerber Instruments offers laboratory furniture solutions and planning services through its dedicated laboratory solutions division.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Fat Determination acc. to Gerber Analytical instruments for fat determination in milk and dairy products using the Gerber method, including butyrometers, water baths, milk centrifuges, sampling devices, and measuring accessories.
• Fat Extraction acc. to Mojonnier Equipment and extraction flasks for fat extraction analysis following the Mojonnier method for dairy and food products.
• Density Determination Products Hydrometers acc. to Gerber and Quevenne and specialized hydrometers for dairy products, sulfuric acid, amyl alcohol, brine and alcohol measurement.
• Acidity Determination Products Acidimeter Salut and automatic burettes for acidity measurement in dairy and food products.
• Cryoscope (Freezing Point Determination) Cryoscope instruments and accessories for freezing point determination to detect water adulteration in milk.
• Microbiology Products Incubators, inoculation loops, and sterile closures for microbiology testing in laboratory settings.
• Dry Matter Determination Products Ovens and evaporating dishes for determining dry matter content in dairy and food products.
• MilkoScan Mars FOSS milk analyzer for rapid compositional analysis of raw milk including fat, protein, lactose and solids.
• MilkoScan FT1 FOSS milk analyzer using Fourier Transform infrared technology for comprehensive milk quality testing.
• DairyScan FOSS rapid dairy analyzer for measuring fat, protein, lactose, solids and casein in milk and dairy products.
• Infratec 1241 FOSS near-infrared analyzer for rapid grain and feed analysis measuring moisture, protein, oil, test weight and sedimentation; official payment-by-grain system worldwide.
• Infratec NOVA FOSS near-infrared transmittance analyzer, smaller and lighter than Infratec 1241, with intelligent subsample handling and built-in touch screen for grain and feed analysis.
• Alphatec Falling Number Analyzer FOSS analyzer for measuring falling number in wheat, rye and their flours to assess alpha-amylase activity, with insulated sample bath, cooling lid, and touch screen interface.
• Hammertec Hammer Mill FOSS hammer mill for sample preparation in falling number analysis with 16,800 rpm hammer speed, reduced-noise, and compact design.
• Kjeltec Systems FOSS automated Kjeldahl systems for protein determination in food, feed and agricultural samples.
• Soxtec Systems FOSS fat extraction systems for determination of fat content in food and feed samples.
• Fibertec Systems FOSS systems for crude fibre determination in food and feed analysis.
• mini GAC 2500 Dickey-john portable moisture meter for rapid grain moisture testing.
• GAC 2500 INTL Moisture Meter Dickey-john grain moisture meter designed for international markets.
• Water Samplers (WS Series) WaterSam portable, compact, versatile, and variable water samplers for environmental monitoring applications.
• Air Sensors and Air Cleaners Erlab air sensors and air cleaners, plus filter hoods without exhaust ducting, for laboratory air quality management.
• FoodScan FOSS near-infrared analyzer for meat, sausage, and dairy product compositional analysis.
• WineScan FOSS wine analyzer for rapid quality assessment in winemaking.
• OenoFoss FOSS wine analysis solution for measuring multiple parameters in wine samples.
• Laboratory Furniture Solutions Customizable modular laboratory furniture for complete laboratory setup including fume hoods, media supply systems, and hazardous substance cabinets, delivered in partnership with MERCI.
• Laboratory Planning and Consulting Expert consulting and planning services for laboratory equipment implementation and turnkey installation by dedicated project managers across Switzerland.
• Laboratory Consumables and Accessories Sale of laboratory consumables, reagents, titration indicators (e.g., Universal indicator, Starch solution, Phenol Red), pipettes, and accessories via the online shop, with unit-based and pack pricing.

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature8 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• MERCI, s.r.o.coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLeading European laboratory furniture and fume hood manufacturer operating since 1993. Provides laboratory furniture made of particle board or high-pressure laminates, microprocessor-controlled metal fume hoods, and metal service cells for media distribution. Gerber Instruments uses MERCI for turnkey laboratory installations.
• BIMOSsupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLeading manufacturer of industrial and laboratory chairs in Europe with over 50 years of experience. Provides ergonomic seating solutions for laboratory environments.
• MIELEsupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorProvider of automated laboratory reprocessing solutions for over 6 decades. Offers dishwashers and sterilization equipment for research and industrial laboratories.
• FORSsupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorManufacturer of laboratory refrigerators and freezers known for maximum temperature constancy using state-of-the-art components and precise controls for medicine and drug storage.
• FOSScoreTechnology or IntegrationMajor supplier of analytical instruments including MilkoScan, DairyScan, FoodScan, Infratec, and wine analysis systems. Products cover milk analysis, chemical analysis, cereals/flour/feed analysis, meat analysis, and wine analysis.
• Dr. N. GerbercoreTechnology or IntegrationCore product line including fat determination acc. to Gerber method, fat extraction acc. to Mojonnier, density determination, acidity determination, freezing point determination, microbiology equipment, and dry matter determination.
• Dickey-johnsupportingTechnology or IntegrationSupplier of moisture meters for grain including mini GAC 2500, GAC 2100 series, and accessories for moisture measurement.
• ErlabsupportingTechnology or IntegrationProvider of air sensors, air cleaners, filter hoods without exhaust ducting, chemical safety cabinets, and PCR workbenches.
• WaterSamsupportingTechnology or IntegrationSupplier of water samplers including WS Porti (portable), WS 312 (compact), WS 316 (versatile), and WS 98 (variable) models.
• WTWsupportingTechnology or IntegrationSupplier of laboratory analytics and online measurement technology for water analysis applications.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Mettler Toledo: Mettler Toledo is a large Swiss-headquartered manufacturer of precision laboratory instruments including balances, titrators, pH meters, and density meters. It overlaps with Gerber's acidity/density determination offerings but serves a much broader laboratory market.
• Anton Paar: Anton Paar is an Austrian manufacturer of high-precision laboratory and process instruments, including density meters, refractometers, and rheometers used in dairy and food analysis. It is a broader incumbent with overlapping product categories (e.g., density determination) but a wider portfolio beyond Gerber's niche.
• Thermo Fisher Scientific: Thermo Fisher is a global life-sciences and laboratory equipment conglomerate offering analytical instruments, consumables, and services for food safety, environmental, and pharmaceutical labs. It is a broad incumbent with overlapping analytical instrument categories but far greater scale and a much wider portfolio.

Direct peers

• FOSS: FOSS is a Danish manufacturer of analytical instruments for dairy, food, feed, and wine — the same verticals Gerber Instruments targets. While Gerber is a distribution partner, FOSS is also a direct peer offering competing products (MilkoScan, Infratec, Kjeltec) to overlapping end-customers.
• LECO Corporation: LECO is a US-based manufacturer of analytical instrumentation for food, feed, agricultural, and environmental testing, including combustion nitrogen/protein analyzers and sulfur/carbon analyzers. It is directly comparable to Gerber's chemistry-based food/feed testing portfolio.
• C. Gerhardt: C. Gerhardt is a German manufacturer of analytical laboratory equipment for food, feed, agriculture, and environmental testing (Kjeldahl, Soxhlet, fiber analysis). It is highly comparable to Gerber's core analytical instrument business, particularly for chemistry-based food/feed testing.
• BÜCHI Labortechnik: BÜCHI is a Swiss manufacturer of laboratory instruments for Kjeldahl protein, NIR, extraction, and spray drying used in food, feed, pharmaceutical, and chemical QC. Like Gerber, it is a Switzerland-based specialist serving dairy/food/chemical laboratories with comparable instruments (including NIR analyzers that overlap with FOSS Infratec).
• CEM Corporation: CEM is a US manufacturer of analytical laboratory instruments for food composition, moisture, ash, and protein analysis using proprietary rapid methods. It addresses similar dairy and food QC applications as Gerber's Gerber method and FOSS instrument portfolio.
• Skalar Analytical: Skalar is a Dutch manufacturer of wet chemistry analyzers and discrete analyzers for food, feed, dairy, water, and environmental laboratories. It competes directly with the Gerber/FOSS analytical chemistry portfolio (Kjeltec, discrete analysis) for similar QC workflows.

Emerging players

• VELP Scientifica: VELP is an Italian manufacturer of analytical instruments and laboratory equipment for food, feed, and environmental analysis, including Kjeldahl, Soxhlet, and fiber systems. It is a smaller, growing competitor with overlapping applications in nitrogen/fat/fiber determination served by Gerber Instruments.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/gerber-instruments-ag

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 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 Gerber Instruments