Sonation

What Sonation does

Sonation GmbH is a German laboratory equipment manufacturer founded in 2002 and headquartered in Biberach (Alte Schulstraße 39), operating as a private GmbH under managing directors Christof Völkle and Wolfgang Schrader. The company designs, builds, and distributes specialty laboratory hardware organized into four product categories: noise protection (soundproof hoods for fore-vacuum pumps, ultrasonic baths, homogenizers, and water coolers under the SSH, USBB, and UCB series), laboratory furniture (heavy-duty LGT-QE and LGT-HPLC tables with up to 500kg load capacity and integrated soundproof cabinets), analytics (the PRSO-V2 column oven for nano-ESI chromatography, originally co-developed with the Max Planck Institute for Biochemistry in Martinsried), and production engineering (the ASF 15 turning station). Adjacent product lines include the APPS Active Pump Protection System for real-time monitoring of vacuum-pump operating data, the FlowControl solvent-waste disposal safety system, and an online product configurator. The company reports 1,850+ satisfied customers worldwide and 612 custom-engineered builds delivered, and claims market leadership in soundproof hoods for fore-vacuum pumps and water coolers used with mass spectrometers and electron microscopes.

Sonation's technology stack rests on proprietary acoustic-insulation materials meeting FMVSS 302 and DIN 75 200 standards, temperature-control engineering for nano-LC separations, EN 61010 laboratory safety compliance, and modular mechanical design enabling customer-specific configurations. There are no software, AI, or API capabilities disclosed; all digital tooling (product configurator, ThermoFisher Product Finder web app) is configuration- and lookup-based rather than model-driven.

The business model is quote-based B2B hardware sales to enterprise and institutional customers, primarily analytical, pharmaceutical, and biotech laboratories running mass spectrometry, HPLC, and electron microscopy workflows. Revenue streams comprise standard catalog products, 612 custom-made configurations, accessories (oil trays, leak sensors, exhaust kits, monitor mounts, APPS external displays), and UPS/power-protection integration services. Pricing is fully quote-based (no public price list) with three-week offer validity and ex-stock Biberach delivery terms; a try-before-buy demonstration program is offered. Distribution combines direct sales from Biberach with certified international partners (non-exclusive: Interscience B.V. in Benelux, Gaz Analytique and Analytics Consulting in France, Leading Edge Technologies in Japan; exclusive: Berner Lab across Denmark, Norway, and Sweden). Marketing channels include a multilingual DE/EN website, an online product configurator, an extensive downloads center, newsletter communications, trade show participation (analytica 2026, LAB-SUPPLY 2025), and direct online inquiry. Sonation is privately held with no external investors, parent company, subsidiaries, funding rounds, or M&A activity disclosed.

Name

Sonation

Legal name

Sonation GmbH

Website

https://sonation.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2002

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Sonation GmbH, a German laboratory equipment manufacturer founded in 2002, designs and sells soundproof hoods, laboratory furniture, and column ovens to analytical and pharmaceutical research laboratories using mass spectrometers and HPLC systems worldwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Biberach An Der Riß

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Hardware product sales: Sale of proprietary soundproof hoods, laboratory furniture, column ovens, and related equipment. Products include standard models and custom-made solutions.
2. Custom solutions and special configurations: 612 custom-made products as part of their product portfolio, providing specialized configurations tailored to customer requirements.
3. Accessories and peripherals: Sale of accessories including oil trays, leak sensors, exhaust kits, flange kits, monitor mounts, and APPS external displays.
4. UPS and power protection services: Dimensioning and integration of uninterruptible power supplies for laboratory equipment protection.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Sonation GmbH designs, manufactures, and sells specialized laboratory equipment with a primary focus on sound insulation hoods (SSH, USBB, UCB30 series) for vacuum pumps, ultrasonic baths, water coolers, and homogenizers used in analytical laboratories. The portfolio is extended by heavy-duty laboratory tables (LGT-QE, LGT-HPLC), the PRSO-V2 column oven for nano-ESI chromatography, the APPS active pump protection monitoring module, the FlowControl solvent-waste safety system, the ASF 15 turning station for production facilities, and related accessories. Products are sold direct from Biberach and through international distribution partners, typically configured to customer specification with quote-based pricing.

Product overview

Sonation is a German laboratory equipment manufacturer founded in 2002, offering a portfolio of specialized hardware products organized into four main categories: noise protection (sound insulation hoods for vacuum pumps, ultrasonic baths, homogenizers, and water coolers under the SSH, USBB, and UCB series), laboratory furniture (QE and HPLC series heavy-duty lab tables with optional integrated soundproof cabinets), analytics (PRSO-V2 column ovens for nano-ESI applications), and production engineering (ASF 15 turning stations). The product range includes modular accessories such as the APPS monitoring system, FlowControl solvent disposal safety systems, and various accessories (oil trays, exhaust kits, monitor holders, canisters). The company also provides UPS services and an online product configurator. Sonation positions itself as a market leader in sound insulation hoods for scroll pumps and water coolers used with mass spectrometers and electron microscopes.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• APPS (Active Pump Protection System): Operating data monitoring module for protecting sensitive laboratory equipment by monitoring temperature, current consumption, and fan function.
• FlowControl

Products and services

• SSH Series Sound Insulation Hoods for Vacuum Pumps Sound insulation hoods for vacuum pumps used in analytical laboratories. Models include SSH07, SSH11, SSH22, SSH35, SSH36, SSH70, SSH-LU, and SSH-ECL, providing noise reduction of up to 16dB(A) (approximately 80% perceived loudness reduction). Designed for research and analytical laboratories using mass spectrometers and electron microscopes.
• USBB Series Sound Insulation Hoods for Ultrasonic Baths Sound insulation hoods specifically designed for ultrasonic baths in laboratories. The series includes four models (USBB-S, USBB-M, USBB-L, USBB-XL) providing noise reduction of up to 30dB(A) (90–95% perceived noise reduction), with integrated ventilation and practical access designs.
• UCB30 Sound Insulation Hood for Homogenizers Sound insulation hood for homogenizers in laboratories, offering approximately 75% noise reduction, with signaling at program end, automated ventilation, and integrated interior lighting.
• APPS (Active Pump Protection System) Standalone monitoring module that continuously tracks exhaust air temperature, fan speed and function, power supply status, and pump current consumption on compatible sound insulation hoods. Provides real-time temperature monitoring with overtemperature alarm and automatic pump shutdown protection, with three user-selectable operating modes and optical/acoustic fault warnings.
• LGT-QE Series Heavy-Duty Laboratory Tables Heavy-duty laboratory equipment tables with 500 kg load capacity, available in versions without sound insulation, with single soundproof cabinet (ESS), with double soundproof cabinet (DSS), and as the Exploris model tailored for ThermoFisher Exploris 480 mass spectrometers. Modular design with cable management and compatibility with major mass spectrometer manufacturers.
• LGT-HPLC Series Laboratory Instrument Tables Laboratory instrument tables designed for HPLC applications, offering flexibility and mobility in the laboratory environment for pharmaceutical and analytical workflows.
• FlowControl Solvent Waste Safety System Standalone safety system enabling secure and controlled disposal of solvent waste in laboratories, preventing harmful vapors from escaping and minimizing health and fire risks associated with laboratory solvent handling.
• PRSO-V2 Column Oven for Nano-ESI Applications Column oven originally developed at the Max Planck Institute for Biochemistry, providing precise temperature control for separation columns in nano-ESI chromatography workflows. The PRSO-V2-PF variant supports Pharmafluidics µPAC nano-LC columns and is used in laboratories worldwide for mass spectrometry-based analytics.
• ASF 15 Turning Station Turning table for easy unpacking of shrink-wrapped bottles in industrial production environments. Made of stainless steel and plastic, handling packages up to 500x150x400 mm, designed for labor-efficient and ergonomic workstations.
• Sound Insulation Accessories Accessories sold alongside sound insulation hoods, including APPS external displays, oil trays on wheels, oil leak sensors, oil change kits, exhaust kits (AOFL series), and flange kits in various sizes for vacuum pump and ultrasonic bath setups.
• Lab Furniture Accessories Accessories for LGT-QE and LGT-HPLC laboratory tables, including exhaust kits (LGTQE), monitor holders with USB ports, waste bottle holders, S55 canisters (5L PE-HD with UN-Y approval), and Bimos Neon 2 lab chairs.
• UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply) Service for Laboratory Equipment Service for dimensioning and integrating uninterruptible power supplies that protect laboratory equipment such as mass spectrometers against power failures and voltage fluctuations.

Quantifiable outcome

• Noise reduction of up to 16dB(A) for vacuum pump soundproof hoods (~80% perceived loudness reduction)
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.

• Interscience B.V.coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNon-exclusive distribution partner for Benelux countries (Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg). Handles local sales and support for Sonation products in the region.
• Gaz AnalytiquecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDistribution partner for France handling local sales and customer support for Sonation laboratory equipment.
• Analytics ConsultingcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDistribution partner for France providing local sales and technical support services.
• Leading Edge TechnologiescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDistribution partner for Japan, handling local market coverage and customer support.
• Berner Lab DenmarkcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorExclusive distribution partner for Denmark. Located at Tonsbakken 16-18, 2740 Skovlunde. Handles all sales, orders, and customer support for Danish market.
• Berner Lab NorwaycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorExclusive distribution partner for Norway. Located at 144 Røa, NO-0701 Oslo. Manages exclusive distribution for Sonation products in Norway.
• Berner Lab SwedencoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorExclusive distribution partner for Sweden. Located at Edsvallabacken 12, 123 43 Farsta. Handles exclusive distribution in Swedish market.
• Max Planck Institute for Biochemistry, MartinsriedflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerOriginal development partner for nano-ESI column oven technology. The PRSO column oven was originally developed at this research institution and is now successfully used there and in many laboratories worldwide.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Erlab: French manufacturer of laboratory air filtration, ductless fume hoods, and enclosed workstations for sensitive analytical applications. Comparable to Sonation's FlowControl and APPS safety accessories that wrap analytical equipment with environmental control and operator protection.
• Heidolph: German manufacturer of laboratory equipment including homogenizers, rotary evaporators, and overhead stirrers. Comparable to Sonation because both target analytical/prep labs with German-engineered, application-specific equipment, and Heidolph's homogenizers are key candidates for Sonation's sound insulation products.
• Labconco: US-based manufacturer of laboratory enclosures, fume hoods, biosafety cabinets, and lab furniture. Highly comparable to Sonation's combination of lab furniture (QE/HPLC series) and enclosure-style products that protect equipment and operators in analytical labs.
• JULABO: German specialist in precise temperature control equipment for laboratories, including recirculating chillers (water coolers) that are exactly the type of equipment Sonation's sound insulation hoods are designed to enclose. Same DACH-rooted lab-equipment channel and customer base.
• Bandelin Electronic: German manufacturer of ultrasonic baths and ultrasonic laboratory equipment. Sonation's USBB series is purpose-built to enclose Bandelin-style ultrasonic baths in labs, making Bandelin a closely comparable peer in both product category and geography.
• Eppendorf: Global German-headquartered life-science lab equipment supplier offering centrifuges, shakers, and incubators that sit in the same lab equipment category as Sonation's column ovens and lab furniture. Comparable customer base of analytical and pharma labs with premium, configurable German-engineered equipment.
• Miele Professional: German manufacturer of professional lab washers, disinfectors, and lab cleaning equipment serving analytical and pharmaceutical laboratories. Comparable as a DACH-rooted specialty lab equipment manufacturer targeting the same regulated, high-spec analytical customer base.
• IKA Works: German manufacturer of laboratory equipment including homogenizers, stirrers, and ultrasonicators. Sonation's UCB30 sound insulation hood for homogenizers and USBB ultrasonic-bath hoods are explicitly designed to quiet IKA-style instruments, making them a customer-adjacent peer in the same lab workflow.

Broad incumbents

• Analytik Jena: German manufacturer of analytical instruments and lab equipment for spectroscopy, chromatography, and life sciences. Comparable as a DACH-rooted analytical-instrument specialist whose instruments (e.g., mass spectrometers, HPLC) drive demand for Sonation's accessories and lab furniture.
• Thermo Fisher Scientific: Global leader in mass spectrometry and analytical instruments, including the Exploris series that Sonation's LGT-QE Exploris lab table is specifically designed to support. Comparable as the dominant OEM whose installed base anchors much of Sonation's soundproof-hood and lab-furniture demand.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sonation-gmbh

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 Sonation