Bpes

What Bpes does

BPES (Bioprocess Engineering Services Ltd.) is a privately held UK distributor founded around 1996 by Colin Burdick and headquartered at Kent Science Park in Sittingbourne, United Kingdom. The company specializes in supplying bioprocess equipment, scientific instruments, and consumables to the biotech, biopharma, and cell and gene therapy industries, acting as an authorized UK channel for 12 third-party supplier brands including ABER, Carr Biosystems, Constant Systems, CPC Biotech, High Purity New England, Leadgene Biosolutions, Quattroflow, Seed Biosciences, Solaris Biotech, SY-LAB, SYNENTEC, and Thomson Instruments. Its product portfolio spans the full bioprocess workflow — cell line development (cell dispensers, imaging and analysis, controlled-rate freezers, microbioreactors, shake flasks), upstream processing (bioreactors and fermenters, single-use assemblies, biomass sensors), and downstream processing (biotech pumps, cell disruptors, centrifuges, flow measurement, TFF systems) — together with associated consumables such as the Thomson Optimum Growth Flask and HPNE HPConnexx custom single-use assemblies.

The business is a high-touch, technically supported distribution model rather than a technology or product developer. Revenue is generated primarily through one-time equipment sales supplemented by consumables and ongoing maintenance and application-support services, with quote-based pricing and multi-year service contracts. BPES differentiates via OEM-trained and certified engineers, long-standing supplier and customer relationships spanning decades, and a growing content-and-webinar presence (including a collaboration with NIBRT). The company is bootstrapped, founder-owned, and operates at a micro scale of 1–10 employees, serving customers exclusively in the United Kingdom with no disclosed funding, acquisitions, or geographic expansion.

Name

Bpes

Legal name

Bioprocess Engineering Services Ltd.

Website

https://bpes.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

BPES is a UK-based distributor of bioprocess equipment, scientific instruments, and consumables that supplies biotech, biopharma, and cell and gene therapy R&D teams as an authorized channel for 12 specialist OEM brands. The founder-led firm operates from Kent Science Park with 1–10 employees.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Sittingbourne

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Equipment and Consumables Distribution: BPES generates revenue by distributing scientific instruments, process equipment, and consumables from multiple supplier brands to customers in biotech, biopharma, and cell and gene therapy sectors. Revenue is derived from equipment sales, consumables, and associated support services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

BPES is an authorized UK distributor of specialist scientific instruments, process equipment, and consumables for the biotech, biopharma, and cell and gene therapy industries. The product portfolio covers cell line development, upstream processing, and downstream processing categories, sourced from 12 supplier brands. The company combines equipment distribution with OEM-certified maintenance and application support services delivered by trained engineers.

Product overview

BPES is a UK distributor of scientific instruments, process equipment, and consumables for the biotech, biopharma, and cell and gene therapy industries. The company offers a comprehensive portfolio organized across three main categories: Cell Line Development (Cell Dispensers, Cell Imaging & Analysis, Controlled Rate Freezers, Microbioreactors, Shake Flasks), Upstream Processing (Bioreactors & Fermenters, Single-use Assemblies, Biomass Sensors), and Downstream Processing (Biotech Pumps, Cell Disruptors, Centrifuges, Flow Measurement Systems, TFF Systems). Featured products include the Quattroflow Q-Control Smart Biotech Pump Range, HPNE HPConnexx Custom Single-Use Assemblies, Thomson Optimum Growth Flask (125mL to 7L), and Solaris IO Mini Benchtop Bioreactors. BPES acts as an authorized distributor for multiple supplier brands including ABER, Carr Biosystems, Constant Systems, CPC Biotech, HPNE, Leadgene Biosolutions, Quattroflow, Seed Biosciences, Solaris Biotech, SY-LAB, SYNENTEC, and Thomson Instruments.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Colin the Cell: Mascot character used to represent the company and explain their bioprocess business, named after founder Colin Burdick.

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• ABERcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorABER is a supplier brand represented by BPES in the UK market. ABER provides bio-capacitance monitoring solutions used as a scalable PAT tool for bioprocess optimization.
• Carr BiosystemscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCarr Biosystems is a supplier brand represented by BPES in the UK market, specializing in centrifugation solutions for bioprocess applications.
• Constant SystemscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorConstant Systems is a supplier brand represented by BPES in the UK market, providing high-pressure cell disruptors for downstream processing.
• CPC BiotechcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCPC Biotech is a supplier brand represented by BPES in the UK market, offering solutions for bioprocess applications.
• High Purity New England (HPNE)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHigh Purity New England (HPNE) is a supplier brand represented by BPES in the UK market, specializing in single-use assemblies including the HPConnexx Custom Single-Use Assemblies.
• Leadgene BiosolutionscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLeadgene Biosolutions is a supplier brand represented by BPES in the UK market, specializing in cell line development solutions. BPES co-hosted a webinar with NIBRT featuring Leadgene Biosolutions.
• QuattroflowcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorQuattroflow is a supplier brand represented by BPES in the UK market, providing the Q-Control Smart Biotech Pump Range for fluid handling in bioprocess applications.
• Seed BiosciencescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSeed Biosciences is a supplier brand represented by BPES in the UK market, offering solutions for cell line development applications.
• Solaris BiotechcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSolaris Biotech is a supplier brand represented by BPES in the UK market, providing mini benchtop bioreactors and fermenters including the IO 200-1000mL range.
• SY-LABcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSY-LAB is a supplier brand represented by BPES in the UK market, offering solutions for bioprocess applications.
• SYNENTECcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSYNENTEC is a supplier brand represented by BPES in the UK market, specializing in cell imaging and analysis with 4K product line technology. BPES published a news article introducing SYNENTEC's 4K product line.
• Thomson InstrumentscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorThomson Instruments is a supplier brand represented by BPES in the UK market, providing shake flasks and consumables including the Optimum Growth Flask (125mL to 7L).
• NIBRT (National Institute for Bioprocessing Research and Training)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNIBRT collaborated with BPES and Leadgene Biosolutions on a webinar about gentle mixing in cell line development, sharing key takeaways with the industry.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• H.E.L Group: H.E.L Group is a UK-based manufacturer of bioprocess and reaction calorimetry equipment for pharma, biotech, and academic labs. It is comparable to BPES as a UK-headquartered specialist bioprocess equipment specialist serving the same R&D customer base with overlapping upstream processing technology.
• Scientific Laboratory Supplies (SLS): SLS is a UK-based distributor of laboratory equipment, consumables, and chemicals serving research, biotech, and pharma customers. It is directly comparable to BPES as a UK multi-brand lab equipment distributor with a similar catalog-and-support GTM, although it operates at broader life science scope.

Broad incumbents

• Sartorius: Sartorius is a global bioprocess equipment and consumables manufacturer covering upstream and downstream processing. It is comparable to BPES because BPES distributes Solaris Biotech bioreactors and Quattroflow pumps (both adjacent to Sartorius' portfolio), serving overlapping bioprocess customers.
• Bio-Techne: Bio-Techne is a global life sciences tools company offering reagents, instruments, and consumables across cell line development and bioprocess workflows. It is comparable to BPES because BPES' cell line development and upstream processing portfolio (Seed Biosciences, Leadgene, SYNENTEC) overlaps Bio-Techne's core life science tooling categories.
• Repligen: Repligen develops and supplies bioprocessing tools including chromatography, TFF systems, and flow measurement sensors used in downstream processing. It is comparable to BPES because BPES distributes overlapping categories (TFF, flow measurement) via Constant Systems and partner lines to the same biopharma R&D customers.
• Eppendorf: Eppendorf is a global manufacturer and supplier of lab instruments, bioreactors, and consumables for biotech and pharma research. It is comparable to BPES as an upstream-processing equipment provider whose bioreactor and shaker categories overlap BPES' portfolio.
• Cole-Parmer: Cole-Parmer is a long-established distributor of scientific equipment, instruments, and consumables for life sciences, biotech, and pharma labs. It is comparable to BPES as a multi-brand life science equipment distributor serving R&D teams, though at far greater scale and global reach.

Regional players

• Starlab Scientific: Starlab is a European manufacturer and distributor of liquid handling and cell culture consumables for life sciences. It is comparable to BPES as a multi-brand lab consumables and small equipment distributor serving biotech and research customers across a regional geography.
• BioNordika: BioNordika is a Nordic life science distributor of reagents, instruments, and consumables to biotech and pharma customers. It is comparable to BPES as a regional multi-brand distributor of specialist scientific equipment to a similar R&D customer base, though focused on the Nordics rather than the UK.
• Anachem (part of Cole-Parmer): Anachem is a UK distributor of laboratory and life science products to the research and biotech market. It is comparable to BPES as a UK-based multi-brand scientific equipment distributor serving similar R&D customer segments.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

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 Bpes