What Lagarde Autoclaves does

Lagarde Autoclaves is a French industrial manufacturer of autoclaves and retorts used for thermal treatment (sterilization and pasteurization) in food processing and pharmaceutical production. Founded in 1921 by Joseph Lagarde in Montélimar, France, and now headquartered in Malataverne, the company has operated as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Germany's Scholz Group (Scholz Maschinenbau) since 1983. Combined with Scholz, the group forms the world's largest autoclave manufacturer, with approximately 425 employees, €95 million in group-wide turnover, and over 500,000 doors and autoclaves sold globally across 4,500+ cumulative installations on five continents.

The company's competitive foundation is its proprietary Steam and Air process (Patent FR2225702, 1972), which uses direct steam injection combined with forced air circulation to deliver 30-80% energy savings versus conventional water-based autoclaves. The product portfolio spans horizontal autoclaves from Ø900mm to Ø2000mm in static or rotary configurations, tunnel autoclaves for high-throughput lines, quick-closing door systems (inherited from Scholz), the Green Cooling add-on (up to 60% water savings), and the All-Retorts digital platform for thermal treatment monitoring. Equipment is certified to ISO 9001, FDA 21CFR Part 11, CE, ASME U-Stamp (since 1978), EAC/TR CU, and GMP standards, supporting sales to regulated food and pharmaceutical manufacturers.

Revenue is generated through one-time capital equipment sales of bespoke-configured autoclaves, supplemented by aftermarket accessories (baskets, loading systems), project engineering services (needs assessment, installation, commissioning, ongoing support), and emerging digital service revenue via All-Retorts. The company sells through a direct enterprise field sales team in France combined with a global network of 45 commercial partner agencies, including dedicated regional distributors such as R-FoodTech for Latin America and partners like Holmach for the Green Cooling technology. Customer segments are split between food/agroalimentary (primary — canned, bottled, pouched, and retort-packaged foods including pet food, baby food, prepared meals) and pharmaceutical (secondary — IV solutions, blood derivatives, ampoules).

Name

Lagarde Autoclaves

Legal name

LAGARDE AUTOCLAVES

Website

https://lagarde-autoclaves.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1921

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Lagarde Autoclaves is a French manufacturer of industrial autoclaves and retorts for thermal sterilization and pasteurization, serving enterprise food processing and pharmaceutical customers globally through its proprietary Steam and Air process.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Autoclaves

NAICS

Power Boiler and Heat Exchanger Manufacturing (332410), Food Product Machinery Manufacturing (333241)

SIC

Industrial Process Furnaces & Ovens (3567)

akta.pro primary industry

Heat Transfer Equipment (Heat Exchangers, Boilers, Condensers) (IMAHAEAC)

Keywords

• Industrial autoclaves
• Thermal processing equipment
• Retort sterilization systems
• Pressure vessel manufacturing
• Food processing machinery

Headquarters

HQ city

Malataverne

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Autoclave and Retort Equipment Sales: Sale of industrial autoclaves, retorts, and pressure vessels tailored to customer specifications. Products range from standard models (Ø900-Ø2000mm) to bespoke configurations. Equipment includes static and rotary autoclaves, tunnel autoclaves, and quick-closing door systems.
2. Aftermarket Services and Accessories: Sale of handling accessories (baskets, crates, loading systems) that maximize space utilization and productivity in autoclaves. Aftermarket support and customer service accompaniment throughout project lifecycle.
3. Project Engineering and Support Services: Full customer project accompaniment from needs assessment and solution selection through installation, commissioning, and ongoing technical support, delivered by commercial teams in France and worldwide.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Lagarde designs, manufactures, and sells industrial autoclaves and retorts for the thermal sterilization and pasteurization of packaged food products and pharmaceutical goods. Its equipment portfolio spans diameters from Ø900mm to Ø2000mm, integrating patented Steam and Air process technology, Green Cooling water-saving systems, and full compliance with FDA, CE, ASME, and GMP regulatory standards for industrial processors.

Product overview

Lagarde Autoclaves is a worldwide leader in industrial autoclave manufacturing, offering a comprehensive portfolio of thermal treatment equipment. The core product line includes horizontal autoclaves/retorts available in static or rotary configurations, sizes from Ø900mm to Ø2000mm, with 1-12 baskets and various door configurations. The proprietary Steam and Air Process (patented in 1972) serves as the foundational technology across all equipment, delivering 30-50% energy savings. Supporting offerings include the All-Retorts e-solution platform for thermal treatment management, Green Cooling innovation for water-free cooling (up to 60% water savings), and specialized handling accessories. The company serves food and pharmaceutical industries with equipment certified to FDA 21CFR, CE, ASME, ISO 9001, and EAC standards.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Industrial Autoclaves and Retorts Batch retort autoclaves for thermal sterilization and pasteurization of packaged food and pharmaceutical products, available in diameters from Ø900mm to Ø2000mm, designed for industrial processors requiring FDA/CE/ASME/GMP-compliant sterilization.
• Autoclave Tunnel Ø2000 Large-diameter Ø2000mm industrial autoclave for high-volume batch thermal sterilization of packaged food products.
• Steam and Air Process Technology Patented Steam and Air thermal treatment process integrated into Lagarde retorts to deliver uniform heat distribution, improved product quality, and 30–80% energy savings.
• Green Cooling System Proprietary water-saving cooling system for Lagarde autoclaves that reduces water consumption by 60% during post-sterilization cooling cycles.
• All-Retorts E-Solution Platform Online e-catalog platform enabling customers to browse and configure Lagarde retort product offerings digitally.
• Handling Accessories Complementary handling accessories (baskets, trays, loading equipment) designed for use with Lagarde industrial autoclaves and retorts.

Quantifiable outcome

• 30-80% energy savings compared to water-spray or immersion processes
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core, regional and minor.

• Scholz Maschinenbau (Scholz Group)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1983In 1983, Lagarde Autoclaves joined the Scholz Group (Scholz Maschinenbau), becoming the world's largest autoclave manufacturing group. Scholz is the inventor of the quick-closing door system for pressure vessels. The combined entity has 425 employees, €95 million in revenue, and has sold 500,000 doors and autoclaves globally. Scholz also develops autoclaves for heavy industry sectors including aerospace, automotive, glass, construction materials, wood, and plastics.
• R-FoodTechregionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorR-FoodTech serves as the dedicated distributor for Lagarde Autoclaves in Latin America. The partner promotes Lagarde technology across the region and has its own news section covering Lagarde products including the Steam and Air process for pet food and food processing applications.
• HolmachminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHolmach is a certified partner of Lagarde Autoclaves, jointly promoting the Green Cooling technology. Featured in Food Packer magazine coverage highlighting water preservation tools for manufacturers.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Steriflow (Roucaire Group): French-based manufacturer of autoclaves and sterilizers for the food and pharmaceutical industries, directly overlapping with Lagarde's core product lines and customer verticals.
• ZIRBUS Technology GmbH: German manufacturer of industrial and laboratory autoclaves/sterilizers with comparable pressure-vessel technology and food/pharma customer base to Lagarde.
• Surdry: Spanish manufacturer of industrial autoclaves and retorts for food sterilization, directly comparable to Lagarde's static and rotary batch thermal processing systems.
• HOF Sonderanlagenbau GmbH: German specialist in custom industrial autoclaves and pressure vessels, serving similar food and pharma sterilization use cases as Lagarde.
• Allpax Products (ProMach): US-based manufacturer of batch and continuous retort systems for the food industry, providing directly comparable thermal processing equipment to Lagarde's portfolio.
• Stock America (Federation of Sterilizer Systems): US-based manufacturer of industrial retort and sterilization systems serving food processors, closely comparable to Lagarde's batch retort product range.

Broad incumbents

• GEA Group: Large global supplier of food and pharma processing equipment, including separation, homogenization, and thermal processing lines that intersect with Lagarde's customer base.
• JBT Corporation: Large US-listed food processing and sterilization equipment provider (including legacy JBT Avure food sterilization technology), offering overlapping capabilities to Lagarde but across a much broader portfolio.
• Marel: Global food processing equipment provider whose thermal processing and sterilization offerings overlap with Lagarde's food-industry autoclave business.
• Tetra Pak: Global incumbent in food processing and packaging equipment, including thermal processing lines that overlap with Lagarde's autoclave-based food sterilization solutions.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/LagardeAutoclav

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries1 record

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 Lagarde Autoclaves