Better Basics Laborbedarf GmbH

What Better Basics Laborbedarf GmbH does

Better Basics Laborbedarf GmbH is a privately held German GmbH founded in 2019 and headquartered in Dresden, Saxony, that designs, manufactures, and sells modular laboratory organization systems under the SmartRack® brand. The company originated from the Leibniz-Institut für Polymerforschung Dresden and produces its proprietary patented nut rail (Patentierte Nutschiene) via Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) 3D printing. The product portfolio centers on the SmartRack modular organization system and includes SmartStand, SmartCase, SmartTools, Halterungsmodule, and the SmartEdge system developed with EFRE public funding. Through its SmartIntegrate platform, Better Basics provides compatibility solutions for seven major laboratory furniture and equipment brands — BERNER, KNAUER, Köttermann, MERCI, Momoline, WALDNER, and Wesemann — enabling retrofit installation on existing lab infrastructure. Products are validated against EN 14175 robustness standards and Berner airflow-influence testing for safety-cabinet use.

The company sells exclusively B2B to laboratory end users, managers, and organizational development professionals in pharmaceutical quality control, food chemistry, life sciences, microbiology, analytical chemistry, radiopharma research, and photonics. Customers include Navigo Proteins, Leibniz-IPHT Jena, SGS Institut Fresenius, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, and CellColab. Documented efficiency gains range from 30% to 47% across case studies in chromatography, food chemistry, pharmaceutical QC, and microbiology use cases.

Better Basics generates revenue through one-time hardware sales priced net of VAT on a quote-based model, supported by freemium trial mechanics (free SmartHold sample and free SmartRack mini test installation). Distribution is hybrid: direct e-commerce via a configurator at smartconfig.better-basics-laborbedarf.de, quote-based enterprise sales for larger deployments, and trade-fair presence at events such as LAB-SUPPLY Dresden (September 2024). Marketing spans organic SEO, content/case studies, LinkedIn/Google/Facebook paid acquisition, Amazon Affiliate participation, and active profiles on LinkedIn, Facebook, YouTube, XING, Twitter/X, and Instagram. Customer engagement is supplemented by SmartBot, an AI chatbot layered on third-party LLMs (OpenAI, Anthropic, Google Gemini) via Boei. The company is privately owned and managed by Geschäftsführer Mario Schneider, with public-sector support from EFRE and ESF Saxony funds and no disclosed venture or private-equity investment.

Name

Better Basics Laborbedarf GmbH

Legal name

Better Basics Laborbedarf GmbH

Website

https://better-basics-laborbedarf.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Better Basics Laborbedarf GmbH is a Dresden-based German manufacturer of modular SLS 3D-printed laboratory organization systems under the SmartRack brand, selling B2B to pharmaceutical, life sciences, food chemistry, and research laboratories with documented 30–47% efficiency gains.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Laboratory Equipment and Organization Systems

NAICS

Commercial and Service Industry Machinery Manufacturing (3333)

SIC

Laboratory Apparatus & Furniture (3821)

akta.pro primary industry

Lab Furniture, Facilities & Utilities (Benches, Casework, Gas/Water Systems) (HLAGAIAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

General Lab Equipment (Centrifuges, Incubators, Shakers, Ovens) (HLAGAIAC), Polymer 3D Printing Service Bureaus (FDM/FFF, SLA/DLP, SLS/MJF) (IMAAADAA)

Keywords

• Laboratory organization systems
• Modular lab equipment
• 3D printed lab accessories
• Laboratory workspace optimization
• Lab furniture integration

Headquarters

HQ city

Dresden

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Laboratory Equipment and Organization Product Sales: Better Basics generates revenue primarily through the sale of physical laboratory organization products including SmartRack modular systems, SmartStand, SmartCase, SmartIntegrate solutions, SmartTools, and custom/halterungs modules. The company operates B2B with net prices listed, suggesting enterprise-level transaction values. Revenue is one-time product sales rather than subscription-based.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels14 records

Core offering

Better Basics Laborbedarf GmbH manufactures and sells modular laboratory organization systems based on the SmartRack platform, produced using Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) 3D printing. The core offering includes a patented nut rail system, integration solutions (SmartIntegrate) for major lab equipment brands, and complementary modules (SmartStand, SmartCase, SmartTools, Halterungsmodule). Products are designed for B2B laboratory customers and claim up to 80% space savings and 30% efficiency improvement.

Product overview

Better Basics Laborbedarf GmbH offers a modular laboratory organization system centered on the SmartRack® product, which enables up to 80% space savings and 30% efficiency improvement in laboratory environments. The core portfolio consists of SmartRack® (the main modular organization system), SmartIntegrate (compatibility solutions for major laboratory equipment manufacturers), and associated modules including SmartStand, SmartCase, SmartTools, and Halterungsmodule (mounting modules). The company also provides free product samples (SmartHold) and test installations (SmartRack mini) to allow customers to evaluate the system. The SmartRack system is manufactured using SLS 3D printing technology and features a patented nut rail system. Products are developed in Germany at the Leibniz Institute for Polymerforschung in Dresden and are designed for use in pharmaceutical quality control, food chemistry, life sciences, microbiology, and analytical laboratories.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• SmartRack: Modular laboratory organization system for efficient workspace organization, offering up to 80% space savings and 30% efficiency increase.
• SmartIntegrate
• SmartTools
• SmartStand
• SmartCase
• SmartHold
• SmartBot
• SmartEdge

Products and services

• SmartRack A modular laboratory organization system manufactured using SLS 3D printing with a patented nut rail design, enabling up to 80% space savings and 30% efficiency improvement in laboratory workplaces. Designed for B2B laboratory customers in pharmaceutical QC, food chemistry, life sciences, and analytical chemistry.
• SmartIntegrate
• SmartStand
• SmartCase
• SmartTools
• Halterungsmodule
• SmartEdge

Quantifiable outcome

• Up to 80% space savings in laboratory environments
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration7 records

AI capability2 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• BERNERcoreTechnology or IntegrationSmartIntegrate solutions specifically designed for BERNER safety cabinets (Sicherheitsbänke). The SmartRack system can be integrated with BERNER laboratory safety furniture, enabling BERNER customers to adopt the SmartRack modular organization system.
• KNAUERcoreTechnology or IntegrationSmartIntegrate solutions for KNAUER laboratory equipment. The partnership enables integration of the SmartRack organization system with KNAUER analytical and laboratory instruments.
• KöttermanncoreTechnology or IntegrationSmartIntegrate solutions for Köttermann laboratory furnishings. SmartRack modules can be mounted on or integrated with Köttermann lab furniture and workstations.
• MERCI LaborausstattungencoreTechnology or IntegrationSmartIntegrate solutions for MERCI laboratory equipment and furnishings. Enables MERCI customers to use SmartRack modular organization on their existing lab infrastructure.
• Momoline Lab FurniturecoreTechnology or IntegrationSmartIntegrate solutions for Momoline lab furniture, allowing integration of the SmartRack modular system with Momoline workstation products.
• WALDNER Laboratory EquipmentcoreTechnology or IntegrationSmartIntegrate solutions for WALDNER laboratory furnishings and lab bench systems. Enables SmartRack mounting and organization for WALDNER lab environments.
• WesemanncoreTechnology or IntegrationSmartIntegrate solutions for Wesemann laboratory equipment, including the SmartFrame system for Wesemann fume hoods. SmartRack can be integrated with Wesemann lab furniture and safety enclosures.
• Leibniz Institute for Polymer Research DresdencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBetter Basics originated from the Leibniz Institute for Polymer Research in Dresden. The company maintains its roots in this research institution, representing a foundational strategic relationship for technology development and innovation credibility.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• WALDNER Laboreinrichtungen GmbH & Co. KG: Provider of laboratory furnishings, fume hoods, and lab bench systems. Both a SmartIntegrate partner and a head-to-head competitor serving the same DACH and European lab customers.
• BERNER International GmbH: Manufacturer of laboratory safety cabinets (Sicherheitsbänke). Comparable because it is both a SmartIntegrate partner and a supplier of adjacent lab safety infrastructure that Better Basics products mount onto.
• Wesemann GmbH: Manufacturer of laboratory furniture, fume hoods, and safety workstations. Comparable as both a SmartIntegrate partner and a direct competitor in lab workspace equipment for European laboratories.
• Momoline Lab Furniture: European manufacturer of laboratory workstations and modular lab furniture. Comparable because it is both a SmartIntegrate partner and a competitor offering modular lab organization solutions.
• KNAUER Wissenschaftliche Geräte GmbH: Manufacturer of laboratory and analytical instruments (HPLC, FPLC). Comparable as a SmartIntegrate partner whose installed base of lab equipment creates pull-through demand for SmartRack integrations.
• MERCI Laborausstattungen: Supplier of laboratory furnishings and equipment in German-speaking markets. Comparable as both a SmartIntegrate partner and a competing lab equipment supplier targeting the same customer base.
• Köttermann GmbH & Co. KG: German manufacturer of laboratory furniture, benches, and fume hoods. Directly comparable as both a core SmartIntegrate partner and a lab furniture competitor addressing the same European lab organization market.

Broad incumbents

• Labconco Corporation: US-based broad incumbent manufacturer of laboratory equipment, fume hoods, and workstations. Comparable as a larger, established player in lab furniture/equipment with overlapping capabilities but not specialized in Better Basics' modular organization niche.
• Kewaunee Scientific Corporation: Global manufacturer of laboratory furniture and scientific workstations. Comparable as a broader incumbent addressing the same lab workspace market but with a wider portfolio and larger scale than Better Basics.

Emerging players

• EOS GmbH: European leader in industrial polymer and metal additive manufacturing systems, including SLS. Comparable because Better Basics' core manufacturing process (SLS) is enabled by EOS-class technology, and EOS-adjacent service bureaus overlap with Better Basics' on-demand production model.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/better_basics
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCLT6jXE5Gx9AaZqh3bth6_g
• Facebookfacebook.com/BetterBasicsLaborbedarf
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/better-basics-laborbedarf-gmbh
• Instagraminstagram.com/betterbasicslaborbedarf

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 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 Better Basics Laborbedarf GmbH