Edmund Bühler GmbH

What Edmund Bühler GmbH does

Edmund Bühler GmbH is a privately held, family-owned German manufacturer of laboratory and materials-science equipment, founded in 1880 in Tübingen by Edmund Bühler (who had previously co-developed the Bunsen burner with Professor Robert Bunsen in Heidelberg) and now headquartered and producing in Bodelshausen from a purpose-built ~2,000 m² facility completed in 2018. The company operates two product pillars. The Laboratory Equipment pillar covers orbital and horizontal shakers in capacities up to 15 kg, 30 kg, and 75 kg (e.g., the KM, KS, SM, and VKS series), incubator hoods (TH 15, TH 30), infrared heaters (IRB 1/2/6), microtiter plate and rocking shakers, and customized single-unit builds, with the proprietary Bühler-Control touch-display interface (anti-glare LCD color display, log file, rotation-direction change, incubator-hood detection) and EB Control RS232/USB software as the digital layer. The Materials Science pillar covers arc melters (MAM-1 and MAM-1 Glovebox up to 20 g; AM 200 up to 200 g; AM 500 and AM A500 up to 500 g and 300 g casting), melt spinners (MSP 10, MSP 60, patented horizontal-wheel MSP 60-h, semi-automated PA 500), and induction melting (Copper Boat) for melting, alloying, casting, rapid quenching, annealing, and long-term heat treatment up to 3,500 °C under vacuum or inert atmosphere.

The business model is direct-to-customer hardware sales with quote-based pricing (no public list prices). Three regional sales managers cover Germany/Europe (Olga Stobe), the rest of the world (Stefanie Beiter), and Materials Science globally (Irene Wagner). Customer segments span research institutions and universities, metal/materials R&D labs, medical technology, pharmaceutical and chemical, beverage (beer/champagne bottle testing), and automotive component testing. Distribution combines the company website (German and English), trade fair participation, MailChimp-driven fair invitations, and downloadable PDF catalogs. The company remains under family control: Managing Director Johanna Otto, great-granddaughter of the founder, oversees strategy alongside Managing Director Michael Schlecht, appointed from the Technical Director role in 2015. No external funding, M&A, or public listing is present in the data.

Name

Edmund Bühler GmbH

Legal name

Edmund Bühler GmbH

Website

https://edmund-buehler.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1880

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Edmund Bühler GmbH is a 145-year-old family-owned German manufacturer of laboratory shakers, incubator hoods, infrared heaters, and arc melters/melt spinners for materials-science research, selling direct to universities, pharma, and industrial labs worldwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Laboratory Equipment

NAICS

Other General Purpose Machinery Manufacturing (3339)

SIC

Laboratory Apparatus & Furniture (3821), Industrial Process Furnaces & Ovens (3567)

akta.pro primary industry

General Lab Equipment (Centrifuges, Incubators, Shakers, Ovens) (HLAGAIAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Chemical Processing Equipment (Reactors, Mixers, Agitators) (IMAHAEAA)

Keywords

• Laboratory shakers
• Arc melting systems
• Melt spinning equipment
• Infrared laboratory burners
• Materials science instruments

Headquarters

HQ city

Bodelshausen

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Laboratory Equipment Sales: Sale of laboratory shaking equipment including shakers up to 15kg, 30kg, and 75kg, incubator hoods, infrared heaters, and accessories. Also includes customized solutions for specific laboratory applications.
2. Materials Science Equipment: Sale and production of arc melters, melt spinners, induction melting systems for metal research applications including melting, alloying, casting, and rapid quenching of metals.
3. Customized Systems: Development and production of customer-specific devices and specialized systems for unique laboratory requirements. Single-item production based on customer specifications.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Edmund Bühler GmbH manufactures and sells laboratory shaking equipment (orbital, horizontal, rocker, and roller shakers up to 75 kg), incubator hoods, and infrared heaters, alongside materials science systems including arc melters, melt spinners, and induction melting units (Copper Boat) for melting, alloying, casting, and rapid quenching of metals up to 3500°C. The company also produces customer-specific customized laboratory solutions and ships globally to research institutions, universities, and industrial laboratories.

Product overview

Edmund Bühler GmbH is a German laboratory equipment and materials science company with 145 years of history (founded 1880) offering two main product lines. Laboratory Equipment includes laboratory shakers ranging from 15kg to 75kg capacity (Miniature Shaker KM 2, Compact Shakers KS 15 series, Universal Shaker SM 30 series, Multi-Flask Shaker VKS 75 series), incubator hoods (TH 15, TH 30), infrared heaters (IRB 1, IRB 2, IRB 6), and customized solutions. Control versions feature touch display interfaces. Materials Science products encompass arc melters for melting and alloying (Compact Arc Melter MAM-1, MAM-1 Glovebox Version, Arc Melters AM 200/AM 500/AM A500), melt spinners for rapid quenching (Melt Spinner MSP 10, MSP 60, MSP 60-h, PA 500), and induction melting systems (Copper Boat). Supporting software includes EB Control for RS232/USB connectivity. The company operates from Bodelshausen, Germany with products used in medical technology, biotechnology, pharmaceutical, chemical, automotive industries, and research institutions worldwide.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Compact Arc Melter MAM-1 Compact arc melter for materials science laboratories; melts samples up to 20g at temperatures up to 3500°C with integrated arc melting generator, optional built-in vacuum pump, over-temperature protection, and eye protection. For research institutions and materials science labs.
• MAM-1 Glovebox Version Arc Melter Arc melter variant for oxygen-sensitive samples handled in an inert gas atmosphere inside a glovebox, melting 5-20g samples up to 3500°C; melting chamber and electrode sit inside the glovebox while generator and vacuum pump remain outside. For materials science labs processing air-sensitive alloys.
• Arc Melter AM 200 Arc melter for melting samples up to 200g at temperatures up to 3500°C; water-cooled double-walled high-vacuum chamber and motor-driven water-cooled tungsten electrode. For research institutions and advanced materials development labs.
• Arc Melter AM 500 Arc melter for melting samples up to 500g at temperatures up to 3500°C; water-cooled copper crucible plate with multi-purpose moulds for button and rod samples; powerful arc melting generators. For advanced materials science research.
• Arc Melter AM A500 Advanced arc melter combining melting (up to 500g at 3500°C) and casting (up to 300g at 1800°C) functions; PLC control with 10-inch touch display, automated pumping/flushing cycles, and pneumatic casting form lifting. For advanced materials research.
• Melt Spinner MSP 10 Laboratory-scale melt spinner for rapid quenching of metal melts into ribbons; handles 5-10g per run with copper spinning wheel (200 mm diameter) and 5-6 kW RF generator options, producing ribbons 1-10mm wide. For materials science and metallurgy labs.
• Melt Spinner MSP 60 Melt spinner system for runs up to 60g with copper spinning wheel (250 mm), variable angle of inclination, automatic crucible positioning system TPS 6, and adjustable high-vacuum pumping system. For materials research labs producing amorphous metal ribbons.
• Melt Spinner MSP 60-h (Patented) Patented horizontally-mounted melt spinner for production of metal microfibers and spiral ribbons; water-cooled horizontal copper wheel (250 mm), automatic vertical crucible positioning system TPS 5-h, and fiber collection vessel. For materials research laboratories.
• Melt Spinner PA 500 Semi-automated melt spinner for quantities between 100-500g with touch-screen control panel, integrated temperature control, automated evacuation and flushing via software, and movable rack with built-in components. For higher-throughput materials research.
• Copper Boat Induction Melting System Induction melting system for controlled melting and alloying in high vacuum or argon atmosphere; water-cooled copper tube with moulds for up to 20g samples encapsulated in a quartz tube, reaching up to 1800°C with optimized homogenization and fast pump-down times. For materials science labs.
• Infrared Heater IRB 1 Compact laboratory infrared heater with 60x60mm heating area for fast flame-free heating tasks up to 700°C; 250W heating power, support cross included. For general laboratories.
• Infrared Heater IRB 2 Compact laboratory infrared heater with 100x100mm heating area for fast flame-free heating tasks up to 900°C; 800W heating power with integrated power control. For general and analytical laboratories.
• Infrared Heater IRB 6 Series infrared heater with 6 separately controllable 60x60mm heating areas, each up to 700°C, with total heating power of 1200W and individual stepless power controls. For labs running multiple parallel heating tasks.
• Incubator Hood TH 15 Incubator hood that maintains a temperature-controlled environment for Bühler shaker units up to 15kg load capacity. For life science and cell culture laboratories.
• Incubator Hood TH 30 Incubator hood that maintains a temperature-controlled environment for Bühler shaker units up to 30kg load capacity. For life science and cell culture laboratories.
• Miniature Shaker KM 2 Orbital miniature shaker with 200x295mm platform, 2kg max load, 20mm stroke, and 5-220 rpm speed range; suitable for Erlenmeyer flasks up to 500ml. For general life science and analytical laboratories.
• Miniature Shaker KM CO2 Stainless steel shaker designed for CO2 incubators with up to 20% CO2 concentration and 95% humidity; minimal heat emission of only 4 watts and external LED control unit. For cell culture laboratories running CO2 incubators.
• Compact Shaker KS 15 B Control Touchscreen-controlled compact shaker for loads up to 15kg with intuitive LCD color display, date and real-time display, automatic and manual operation modes, pause function, and logfile capability. For life science and analytical laboratories.
• Universal Shaker SM 30 Series Versatile 30kg shaker series available in A, B, and C variants with optional control versions featuring Bühler touch display; includes hot-plate shaker variant (SM 30 AT control) for simultaneous heating and shaking. For industrial and academic laboratories.
• Multi-Flask Shaker VKS 75 B Control Heavy-duty multi-flask shaker for loads up to 75kg with optional emergency stop feature, control version with touch display; also available as barrel shaker variant (VKS 75 F control). For high-capacity industrial and research laboratories.
• EB Control Software Standalone downloadable software providing RS232 and USB interface connectivity between a PC and Bühler shaker devices, enabling computer-controlled operation of laboratory equipment. For laboratory users of Bühler shakers.
• Customized Laboratory Solutions Tailor-made laboratory equipment solutions developed to customer specifications, including special racks, custom holders for separating funnels, centrifuge tube racks, stainless-steel configurations, and emergency-stop modifications, with single-item production capability. For laboratories with unique application requirements.

Named customers1 record

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Memmert: German manufacturer of laboratory ovens, incubators, and water baths. Peer to Bühler in temperature-controlled laboratory environments for research and pharma customers, with strong German engineering brand overlap.
• Heidolph Instruments: German-based manufacturer of laboratory shakers, overhead stirrers, rotary evaporators, and peristaltic pumps. Heidolph is a direct competitor to Bühler in the lab shaker category and shares the German Mittelstand engineering heritage.
• BINDER GmbH: German manufacturer of incubators, climatic chambers, and drying ovens. BINDER directly competes with Bühler's TH incubator hoods and complements the Bühler shaker ecosystem for temperature-controlled cell culture applications.
• Benchmark Scientific: US manufacturer of laboratory shakers, mixers, rockers, and incubators targeting research, clinical, and life science customers. Direct peer in the orbital/multi-flask shaker category competing for similar academic and biotech buyers.
• IKA-Werke: German manufacturer of laboratory shakers, stirrers, mixers, and homogenizers with global distribution. IKA is the closest direct peer to Bühler's laboratory shakers and incubator hoods, competing head-to-head in the same R&D, pharma, and academic customer base.
• MTI Corporation: US-based supplier of materials science R&D equipment including arc melters, melt spinners, and crystal growth systems. Direct peer to Bühler's materials science product line targeting university and industrial metallurgical research labs.
• Scientific Industries: US manufacturer of laboratory shakers (Vortex-Genie, Genie), mixers, and bioprocessing equipment. Competes with Bühler in laboratory shaking devices, especially the entry-level/miniature shaker category for life science labs.

Broad incumbents

• Thermo Fisher Scientific: Global life sciences and laboratory equipment incumbent with a broad portfolio including shakers, incubators, and analytical instruments. Competes with Bühler in lab shakers but operates at vastly larger scale across pharma, biotech, and academic customers.
• Eppendorf: Global German life science equipment incumbent offering shakers, incubators, bioreactors, and consumables. Competes with Bühler in lab shakers and CO2-incubator-compatible shakers, but operates at much larger scale across a broader portfolio.

Emerging players

• Centorr Vacuum Industries: Specialized manufacturer of high-temperature vacuum furnaces and arc melting systems for advanced materials research. Comparable to Bühler's arc melting product line but focused more on industrial-scale metallurgical and refractory applications.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 Edmund Bühler GmbH