What STEPBIO does

STEPBIO S.r.l. is a privately held Italian scientific distributor headquartered in Bologna, founded in 1988 (with its Analytical Service Division traceable to 1982). The company distributes consumables and instruments for pharmaceutical, food, toxicological, and environmental analyses, operating through two divisions: the Analytical Service Division (chromatography, GC/HPLC/LC-MS/GC-MS consumables, chiral columns, SPE, sample preparation, gas generators) and the Discovery Division (parallel synthesis, combinatorial chemistry, flow chemistry, peptide synthesis, laboratory robotics for drug discovery and high-throughput screening).

Its product portfolio spans Genevac centrifugal evaporators (EZ-2, Rocket 4D, HT Series), ThalesNano H-Cube hydrogenators and Phoenix Flow Reactor, Radleys reaction stations (Reactor-Ready Pilot, MYA 4, Carousel 12 Plus, Findenser, Heat-On), Activotec peptide synthesizers, Zinsser Analytic laboratory robots, Parker Balston gas generators, Regis chiral columns, Yamato Scientific drying ovens and spray dryers, Silicycle silica-based chromatography products, and ECOdyst rotary evaporators, among others. Notable technical differentiators include the PhotoCube photochemical reactor (R&D100 Award 2021) and the H-Genie programmable high-pressure hydrogen generator.

STEPBIO's business model is a hybrid of one-time hardware/instrument sales and recurring service/maintenance contracts. The company holds exclusive Italian distribution rights for roughly 15+ international OEMs (Yamato Scientific, Radleys, Genevac, ThalesNano, Zinsser Analytic, Eyela, Silicycle, Regis Technologies, Parker Balston, ECOM, PSL, Porvair, Pro Scientific, Frozen in Time, SCAT Europe, among others) and serves as Eyela's official Service Center for Europe. It reaches customers through a sales-led motion combining direct field sales, product demonstrations, webinars with manufacturing partners, trade fairs, and a content/email presence, with in-house trained technicians delivering installation, training, and after-sales support nationwide across Italy. The company is UNI EN ISO 9001:2015 certified (Certificate no. 89924-2010-AQ-ITA-ACCREDIA) for trade, installation, and technical assistance. Customer segments are vertically organized across pharmaceutical (primary), food analysis, environmental testing, toxicological analysis, and chemical synthesis/drug discovery research laboratories.

Name

STEPBIO

Legal name

STEPBIO S.R.L.

Website

https://stepbio.it

Company type

Private

Founded year

1988

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

STEPBIO is a Bologna-based Italian distributor (since 1982) of scientific consumables and instruments for pharmaceutical, food, toxicological, and environmental analysis laboratories, holding exclusive Italian distribution rights for 15+ international OEMs and providing in-house installation and technical service across Italy.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Bologna

HQ country

Italy

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Distribution of scientific instruments and consumables: Stepbio generates revenue through the distribution and sale of consumables and instruments for pharmaceutical, food, toxicological, and environmental analysis. The company also derives revenue from technical assistance services including installation, training, and maintenance of scientific instruments. Revenue is generated through product sales (one-time transactions) and recurring service/maintenance contracts.
2. Technical assistance and maintenance services: Technical support services delivered by the company's own trained technicians who intervene annually across the Italian territory, both on contract and on call. Services include repair, maintenance, and quality improvement of service procedures.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

STEPBIO is a distributor of consumables and instruments for pharmaceutical, food, toxicological, and environmental analyses, operating through two divisions: the Analytical Service Division (since 1982) focused on chromatography and sample preparation, and the Discovery Division (since 1988) focused on parallel synthesis and combinatorial chemistry. The company also provides installation, training, and maintenance services delivered by its own trained technicians across Italy.

Product overview

STEPBIO is a distributor of consumables and instruments for pharmaceutical, food, toxicological, and environmental analysis, operating since 1982 through two divisions: Analytical Service Division and Discovery Division. The product portfolio includes HPLC/GC chromatography columns and consumables, Genevac centrifugal evaporators (EZ-2, Rocket 4D, HT Series), H-Cube hydrogenators (H-Cube, H-Cube Pro, H-Cube Mini) and Phoenix Flow Reactor for continuous flow chemistry, Radleys reaction stations (Reactor-Ready Pilot, MYA 4, Carousel 12 Plus, Findenser, Heat-On) for parallel synthesis, chiral chromatography columns (RegisCell, RegisPack), Parker Balston gas generators, Activotec peptide synthesizers, Pro Scientific homogenizers, Zinsser Analytic laboratory robots, and Yamato Scientific equipment (spray dryers, drying ovens). The Discovery Division serves drug discovery and combinatorial chemistry labs with systems for synthesis, work-up, purification, and evaporation. Technical assistance is provided exclusively by trained company personnel.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Analytical Service Division: Division dedicated to distribution of consumables and instruments for pharmaceutical, food, toxicological, and environmental analyses, with particular specialization in chromatographic techniques.
• Discovery Division

Products and services

• HPLC Columns and Consumables Analytical and preparative HPLC columns, GC columns, SPE cartridges, filters, membranes, vials, PTFE products, and syringes for chromatographic analysis, serving pharmaceutical, food, toxicological, and environmental analysis laboratories.
• Genevac EZ-2 Evaporator Centrifugal evaporator for efficient solvent removal and sample concentration in laboratory settings, featuring DriPure technology and SampleGuard for sample safety.
• Rocket 4D Evaporator
• HT Series Evaporators High-throughput centrifugal evaporators for parallel processing of multiple samples with controlled evaporation under nitrogen flow or vacuum.
• H-Cube Hydrogenator
• H-Cube Mini Hydrogenator
• H-Cube Pro Hydrogenator
• Phoenix Flow Reactor
• PhotoCube Photochemical Reactor Photochemical reactor for R&D that enables advanced photoirradiation studies in cuvettes, vials, or flow configurations with total safety, winner of R&D100 Award 2021.
• Reactor-Ready Pilot Universal reaction station for interchangeable glass reactors from 5L to 35L, designed for process development, scale-up, pilot labs, and kilo labs with quick-release mechanisms.
• Reactor-Ready Controlled Lab Reactor
• MYA 4 Reaction Station Extremely flexible system for single or parallel reaction development, reaction optimization, and lead compound screening with 4 independent operating zones.
• Carousel 12 Plus Reaction Station
• Findenser
• Heat-On
• RegisCell Chiral Columns
• RegisPack Chiral Columns
• Parker Balston Gas Generators
• Activotec P-11 Peptide Synthesizer
• Frozen in Time Lyophilizers
• GFD Glass Filter Dryer
• Yamato Spray Dryers Japanese-made spray dryers for converting liquid solutions into dry powders, distributed exclusively in Italy by Stepbio.
• Yamato Drying Ovens Laboratory drying ovens and forced-air ovens from Yamato Scientific, distributed exclusively in Italy by Stepbio.
• Pro Scientific Homogenizers
• Zinsser Analytic Laboratory Robots
• ECODYST Rotary Evaporators
• Sample Genie
• ILMVAC Vacuum Systems
• EYELA Chillers and Circulators
• Technical Assistance and Maintenance Services Technical support services including installation, repair, maintenance, and quality improvement of scientific instruments, delivered by Stepbio's own trained technicians across Italy on contract and on-call basis.

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

23 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Yamato ScientificcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 14 October 2019Stepbio is the official exclusive distributor for Italy of Yamato Scientific products, specifically for drying ovens (Stufe Essiccanti) and Spray Dryers. Yamato Scientific is a historic Japanese company dedicated to R&D innovations. The products are high-performance, reliable, and robust, marked CE.
• RadleyscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 14 February 2017Stepbio has been the exclusive Italian partner and distributor of Radleys for 20 years. Radleys offers smart solutions for combinatorial chemistry, parallel synthesis, and special scientific glassware for process development.
• EyelacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 16 January 2017Stepbio is the Eyela Service Center for Europe, providing service and support for Eyela instruments across the European market. Eyela is a Japanese company, a leader in the production of instrumentation for research/development/process laboratories, offering a wide range of solutions in organic synthesis, evaporation, and lyophilization.
• ThalesNanocoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorStepbio distributes ThalesNano flow chemistry reactors including H-Cube, H-Cube Pro, H-Cube Mini, and Phoenix Flow Reactor. ThalesNano is a market leader in flow chemistry with over 700 instruments installed worldwide. Stepbio also distributes the PhotoCube, which won the R&D100 Award 2021.
• GenevaccoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorStepbio distributes Genevac centrifugal evaporators and related products. Genevac is known for DriPure technology and SampleGuard for sample safety in evaporation systems.
• Zinsser AnalyticcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorStepbio distributes Zinsser Analytic laboratory robotics, including SOPHAS, SPEEDY, LISSY, and other liquid handling and automated synthesis systems for combinatorial chemistry and drug discovery.
• SilicyclecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorStepbio distributes Silicycle products including silica gel, SiliaBond scavenger resins and supported reagents, and SiliaSep flash cartridges for chromatography. Silicycle is a Canadian company founded in 1995 and a recognized leader in silica-based products for chromatography, synthesis, and purification.
• Regis TechnologiescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorStepbio is the sole Italian distributor of Regis Technologies chiral columns and HPLC chromatography products. Regis is the exclusive manufacturer of Pirkle-type chiral stationary phases for analytical, semi-preparative, and preparative applications. Stepbio also distributes the new RegisCell and RegisPack chiral columns.
• ActivotecminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorActivotec is an English company focused on the production of peptide synthesis instruments and custom synthesis of peptide molecules. Stepbio distributes Activotec products including the P-11 and P-14 peptide synthesizers.
• Parker BalstoncoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorStepbio distributes Parker Balston gas generators including hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and zero-air generators for analytical laboratories, as well as TOC analyzers and FT-IR purge gas generators.
• BioChromatominorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBioChromato is a Japanese company that produces the Smart Evaporator C1, distributed by Stepbio in Italy.
• ECOdystminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorStepbio distributes ECOdyst rotary evaporators from 1 to 200 liters and high-performance cryostats with low environmental impact (50% less electricity and no refrigerant use).
• ECOMminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorECOM produces flash chromatography systems for laboratory and process scale. All components are manufactured in-house, enabling customization of the final solution.
• ILMVACminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorILMVAC specializes in vacuum systems including special customized aspiration systems and a wide range of standard pumps and components, all of high quality and absolutely reliable.
• UniqsisminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUniqsis, founded in 2007, develops and manufactures continuous flow reactors for organic synthesis with particular focus on the chemical-pharmaceutical sector. The FlowSyn system pioneered a series of reaction systems now installed worldwide.
• PSL (Powder Systems Ltd)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPSL produces filtration drying instruments and glove boxes for safe powder handling. Since 2009 they have developed the GFD (Glass Filter Dryer), representing a faithful scale-down of an industrial process, particularly for pharmaceutical, biopharmaceutical, and chemical industry laboratories.
• Porvair SciencesminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPorvair Sciences specializes in microliter plates for Life Science, including Microlute SPE plates, filtration plates, Protein Microlute plates for biological sample preparation, 96-needle nitrogen evaporation stations, and plate sealing equipment.
• Pro ScientificminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPro Scientific is a leader in the production of high-quality homogenizers, single and multiple, manual and automated, for laboratory applications.
• Frozen in TimeminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFrozen in Time produces bench-top, process, and industrial freeze dryers (lyophilizers) distributed by Stepbio in Italy.
• Centurion ScientificminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCenturion Scientific offers a wide range of laboratory centrifuges made in the UK, distributed by Stepbio in Italy.
• SCAT EuropeminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorStepbio is an authorized distributor of SCAT Europe products for safe laboratory waste handling, including safety caps and safety waste caps, enabling direct transfer of the most cost-effective options from factory to customer along with warranty management and technical support.
• J-KEMminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorJ-KEM, founded in 1986, produces high-precision temperature and pressure control instruments for laboratory applications.
• EyelacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEyela is a Japanese company, a leader in the production of instrumentation for research/development/process laboratories, offering a wide range of solutions in organic synthesis, evaporation, and lyophilization. Stepbio has been a distributor for Eyela products for over 20 years and is the Eyela Service Center for Europe.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Agilent Technologies: Major manufacturer and supplier of chromatography (GC, HPLC), mass spectrometry, and spectroscopy instruments for pharmaceutical, food, and environmental analysis. Comparable as a principal whose products Stepbio distributes as well as a competitor for end-customer budget.
• Shimadzu: Japanese manufacturer of analytical instruments (HPLC, GC, MS, spectroscopy) with European distribution. Comparable as a competing principal of chromatography and analytical instruments that Stepbio's customers also purchase.
• Waters Corporation: Specialist in HPLC, LC/MS, and chromatography columns and consumables for pharmaceutical and food analysis laboratories. Comparable in the analytical chromatography segment where Stepbio distributes competing brands such as Regis and Silicycle.
• Anton Paar: Manufacturer of high-precision laboratory instruments including density meters, rheometers, and sample preparation equipment. Comparable as a specialized scientific instrument principal with presence in pharma and food labs Stepbio serves.
• Thermo Fisher Scientific: Global leader in analytical instruments (HPLC, GC, MS), chromatography columns, and laboratory consumables serving pharma, food, and environmental testing. Overlaps broadly with Stepbio's analytical instrument distribution portfolio.
• VWR International (Avantor): Global laboratory supplies and distribution giant serving pharmaceutical, food, and environmental labs. Comparable as a broad-line distributor of scientific instruments and consumables, though Avantor operates at vastly greater scale and breadth than Stepbio.
• Merck Life Science (Sigma-Aldrich): Major supplier of analytical consumables (HPLC/GC columns, reagents, SPE cartridges) used in pharmaceutical, food, and environmental laboratories. Comparable product portfolio overlap with Stepbio's chromatography consumables business.

Regional players

• DKSH: Swiss-headquartered market expansion services company with a scientific instruments distribution business across Asia-Pacific and parts of Europe. Comparable as a regional scientific instrument distributor providing sales and service for international manufacturers.
• Dominique Dutscher: French laboratory supplies distributor serving pharma, food, and environmental labs across Europe. Comparable as a regional European lab supply distributor with overlapping customer segments and product categories.

Direct peers

• LP Italiana: Italian distributor of laboratory chemicals, consumables, and equipment. Comparable as a directly competing domestic distributor serving pharmaceutical, food, and analytical laboratories across Italy.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Compliance1 record

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 STEPBIO