Cloup

What Cloup does

Cloup (legal entity: Ateliers Cloup S.A.R.L.) is a French family-owned laboratory equipment distributor and scientific glassware manufacturer founded in 1928 by André CLOUP and headquartered in Champigny-sur-Marne, in the Paris region. The company operates as an independent S.A.R.L. with 11–50 employees and no affiliation to any larger group, approaching its 100-year operating anniversary. Originally established to manufacture and engrave thermometers, Cloup progressively specialized in scientific glassware production before broadening into distribution of laboratory consumables and equipment. A distinguishing feature is its in-house glassblowing workshop, which produces standard glassware, custom-fabricated pieces, modifications, and repairs of damaged glass apparatus — a capability few pure resellers offer.

The product portfolio centers on laboratory glassware (beakers, volumetric flasks, condensers, pipettes, Burettes, ampoules, in ordinary glass, borosilicate 3.3, and quartz), supplemented by reactor systems (Duran cylindrical and spherical, Quickfit/SVL, double-walled thermostatable, PTFE, GLS80 double-walled flask reactors, and agitation flasks), pressure reactors (PressureSyn, Quadracell, Multicell), photochemistry reactors (LightSyn Lighthouse in monoposition and thermostatable variants, DrySyn Illumin8 parallel station), electrosynthesis platforms (Asynt Electroreact), stirring equipment (shafts, bearings, supports, couplings), and a wide range of consumables and instruments from partner brands including Asynt, Brand, Buchi, Duran, IKA, Heidolph, Mettler Toledo, Pyrex, Sartorius, and Vacuubrand. The customer base spans secondary and higher education, public and private research, cosmetics, pharmaceutical, nuclear, environmental, and general industrial laboratories, distributed across France.

Revenue is generated through two streams: (1) one-time sales of distributed laboratory equipment and consumables via a direct e-commerce storefront, phone, and email orders, with a request-only print catalog and free shipping on orders over €300 net HT ex-works; and (2) professional-services revenue from bespoke glassware fabrication and repairs priced on quotation. No subscription, licensing, or recurring-revenue component is evident. Pricing is quoted in euros net HT. No revenue figure, customer logos, patents, certifications, API, or AI capabilities are disclosed in the available material.

Name

Cloup

Legal name

Ateliers Cloup S.A.R.L.

Website

https://cloup.fr

Company type

Private

Founded year

1928

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Cloup is a French family-owned laboratory equipment distributor and scientific glassware manufacturer founded in 1928, serving French research, education, cosmetics, pharmaceutical, nuclear, and industrial laboratories through direct e-commerce and consultation, with in-house glassblowing capabilities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Champigny-sur-marne

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Laboratory Equipment and Consumables Sales: Distribution of laboratory equipment, glassware, and consumables through direct sales. Products include beakers, magnetic stirrers, balances, pumps, microscopes, pipettes, and workbenches. Revenue generated through one-time product transactions.
2. Custom Glassware Fabrication: Custom glassware manufacturing and repair services using in-house glassblowing expertise. Produces bespoke glass pieces according to customer specifications.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Cloup (Ateliers Cloup S.A.R.L.) manufactures, distributes, and engraves laboratory glassware, with an in-house glassblowing workshop enabling custom fabrication and repair of scientific glassware. The company distributes laboratory equipment and consumables from partner brands such as Asynt and Duran, including photochemistry reactors, pressure reactors, beakers, agitation flasks, and rotary evaporator adapters, serving educational, research, and industrial laboratory customers across France.

Product overview

Cloup is a family-owned French laboratory equipment distributor founded in 1928, offering two core activities: (1) distribution of a comprehensive range of laboratory equipment, consumables, and scientific glassware, and (2) in-house manufacturing and repair of laboratory glassware using traditional glassblowing techniques. The product portfolio centers on scientific glassware (vials, beakers, flasks, pipettes, tubes, reactors) supplemented by reactor systems, stirring equipment (shafts, bearings, supports), and specialized instruments. Key branded product lines include LightSyn Lighthouse and Lighthouse Thermostatable photochemistry reactors, DrySyn Illumin8 parallel photochemistry stations, Asynt Electroreact electrosynthesis systems, and PressureSyn/Quadracell/Multicell pressure reactors. The company distributes internationally recognized glassware brands (Duran, Pyrex, Kimble, Simax, Quickfit, Wheaton, Witeg) alongside its own manufactured products, serving diverse sectors including education, research, cosmetics, nuclear, pharmaceutical, environmental, and industrial laboratories across France.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Custom Laboratory Glassware Fabrication

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• AsyntcoreTechnology or IntegrationBrand partner offering specialized laboratory equipment including photochemistry reactors like LightSyn Lighthouse and Electroreact electrosynthesis systems.
• BrandcoreTechnology or IntegrationMajor laboratory equipment brand providing volumetrics and precision instruments distributed by Cloup.
• BuchicoreTechnology or IntegrationLaboratory equipment manufacturer specializing in evaporation, extraction, and chromatography solutions.
• DurancoreTechnology or IntegrationPremium glassware brand known for borosilicate 3.3 laboratory glass meeting DIN ISO 3585 standards.
• IKAcoreTechnology or IntegrationLaboratory equipment manufacturer providing stirrers, shakers, and other instruments distributed by Cloup.
• HeidolphcoreTechnology or IntegrationGerman laboratory equipment manufacturer specializing in magnetic stirrers, overhead stirrers, and vortex mixers.
• SartoriuscoreTechnology or IntegrationLaboratory equipment and biomaterial company providing balances, filtration systems, and bioprocessing solutions.
• VacuubrandcoreTechnology or IntegrationVacuum technology specialist for laboratory applications including pumps and vacuum systems.
• PyrexcoreTechnology or IntegrationWell-known brand for borosilicate laboratory glassware.
• Mettler ToledocoreTechnology or IntegrationPrecision instruments manufacturer for weighing, analytics, and process analytics.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• IKA: German manufacturer of laboratory, analytical, and process equipment (stirrers, shakers, calorimeters) — both a supplier to Cloup and a direct-to-end-customer competitor in France for the same instrument categories.
• Fisher Scientific (Thermo Fisher): Global lab products and supplies distributor serving pharma, biotech, academic, and industrial customers — overlapping customer base with Cloup but offering a much wider catalog and enterprise procurement tooling.
• Sartorius: Global bioprocessing and lab products company (balances, filtration, bioprocessing) — supplies Cloup while also serving French pharma and research customers directly, creating both partnership and competitive overlap.
• VWR (Avantor): Global laboratory supplies distributor with multi-country warehousing and procurement platforms; competes for the same French institutional buyers that Cloup serves, but at vastly greater scale and breadth.
• DWK Life Sciences (Duran): Premium manufacturer of borosilicate 3.3 laboratory glassware under the Duran, Wheaton, and Kimble brands — both a key Cloup supplier and a potential upstream competitor with own distribution capabilities.
• Heidolph: German manufacturer of magnetic stirrers, overhead stirrers, shakers, and rotary evaporators — supplier to Cloup with comparable mid-sized private-company profile and overlapping product categories distributed to French labs.

Direct peers

• Dutscher: Major French distributor of laboratory consumables, instruments, and small equipment serving research, academic, and industrial labs — directly comparable to Cloup's distribution-led model with a similar customer base in France.
• Witeg Labortechnik: German manufacturer and distributor of laboratory glassware and scientific instruments — closely comparable product mix (volumetric glassware, lab equipment) and overlapping supply roles with Cloup's catalog.

Emerging players

• Asynt: UK-based developer of sustainable laboratory tools including LightSyn photoreactors and Electroreact electrosynthesis systems — currently a Cloup distribution partner, but with growing direct-sales capability that could shift the partnership balance.

Regional players

• Häberle Labortechnik: German specialist in laboratory and medical equipment distribution — comparable mid-sized regional lab distributor with a similar focus on quality instruments and consumables, primarily serving DACH rather than France.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ateliers-cloup

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Cloup