Explore Companies in the Europe Biomedical Refrigerators and Freezers Market
- Kirsch Medical
- Liebherr
- Ethicheck Ltd.
- Kalstein
- Thermo Fisher Scientific
- Eppendorf AG
- Binder GmbH
- Labcold Ltd.
- PHC Holdings Corporation
Market Growth
The Europe biomedical refrigerators and freezers market size is calculated at USD 1.05 billion in 2025, grew to USD 1.11 billion in 2026, and is projected to reach around USD 1.78 billion by 2035. The market is expanding at a CAGR of 5.44% between 2026 and 2035.
Market Outlook
- Industry Growth Overview: Between 2025 and 2030, the Europe biomedical refrigerators and freezers market is experiencing rapid growth, driven by innovations in refrigerators and freezers and the burgeoning biotech sector. Europe is emerging as a favorable location for biologics manufacturing. The increasing trade of biologics and vaccines also contributes to market growth.
- Sustainability Trends: Key players develop sustainable freezers that reduce the environmental impact by consuming less electricity. Sustainable freezers are being developed that operate for a longer time, eliminating the need to replace equipment more frequently.
- Major Investors: Private equity firms and venture capitalists invest heavily in companies and startups that manufacture biomedical refrigerators and freezers. They also provide funding to companies to adopt innovative equipment for the manufacturing and storage of temperature-sensitive biologics.
Company Landscape
Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc.
Company Overview: Thermo Fisher Scientific is the world leader in serving science, with a mission to enable its customers to make the world healthier, cleaner, and safer. It is a global life science and clinical research company.
Corporate Information:
- Headquarters: Waltham, Massachusetts, United States
- Year Founded: 2006 (Formed by the merger of Thermo Electron, founded in 1956, and Fisher Scientific, founded in 1902)
- Ownership Type: Publicly Traded (NYSE: TMO)
History and Background: Formed from the merger of Thermo Electron and Fisher Scientific. It has grown into a multinational leader through sustained R&D, strategic acquisitions, and a vast portfolio of products and services for research, analysis, discovery, and diagnostics.
Key Milestones/Timeline:
- 1956: Thermo Electron co-founded.
- 1902: Fisher Scientific was founded.
- 2006: Thermo Electron and Fisher Scientific merge to form Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc.
- 2024 (April): Launched the TSX Universal Series ULT Freezers.
- 2024 (Q1): Revenue reported as $10.99 billion.
Business Overview: Provides analytical instruments, equipment, reagents and consumables, software, and services for various sectors, including life sciences research, diagnostics, and pharmaceutical manufacturing.
Business Segments/Divisions:
- Life Sciences Solutions: Reagents, instruments, and consumables for biological research.
- Analytical Instruments: Instruments, consumables, software, and services for laboratory and process control.
- Specialty Diagnostics: Diagnostic test kits, reagents, culture media, and instruments.
- Laboratory Products and Biopharma Services: (Includes cold storage equipment like biomedical freezers and refrigerators, lab consumables, and outsourced drug development and manufacturing services).
- Geographic Presence: Operates globally, serving customers in over 50 countries, with a substantial commercial and manufacturing footprint across North America, Europe (a major market), Asia Pacific, and others.
Key Offerings:
- Ultra-Low Temperature (ULT) Freezers (e.g., TSX Series)
- Laboratory Refrigerators and Freezers
- Blood Bank Refrigerators and Plasma Freezers
- Cryogenic Storage Systems
- A broad range of other laboratory equipment, consumables, and services.
End-Use Industries Served:
- Hospitals and Clinical Diagnostic Labs
- Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology Companies
- Academic and Research Institutions
- Blood Banks and Biobanks
- Government Agencies
Key Developments and Strategic Initiatives:
- Mergers & Acquisitions: Continual strategic acquisitions to expand capabilities, such as the 2022 acquisition of PeproTech to bolster the biosciences business.
- Partnerships & Collaborations: Partnership with organizations like the National Cancer Institute on trials such as myeloMATCH to accelerate precision medicine research (e.g., for AML/MDS).
- Product Launches/Innovations: Launched the TSX Universal Series ULT Freezers in April 2024, designed for improved lab efficiency, sustainability, and flexibility by seamlessly adapting to workflows.
- Capacity Expansions/Investments: Announced a $2 billion investment over four years in the U.S. (including $1.5 billion for manufacturing capacity and $500 million for R&D) to strengthen the healthcare supply chain.
- Regulatory Approvals: Products are designed to comply with stringent global regulatory standards (e.g., U.S. EPA SNAP compliance for certain freezer lines).
- Distribution Channel Strategy: Utilizes a direct sales force, catalogs, and e-commerce platforms (Fisher Scientific brand) to provide purchasing convenience and global reach.
Technological Capabilities/R&D Focus:
- Core Technologies/Patents: Focus on advanced temperature control, compressor technology, energy efficiency (e.g., utilizing natural refrigerants), and smart/IoT connectivity for remote monitoring.
- Research & Development Infrastructure: Operates R&D centers globally, with a focus on digital technologies and software engineering.
- Innovation Focus Areas: High-impact innovation in life sciences, drug development acceleration (e.g., Accelerator™ Drug Development solution), diagnostics, and next-generation sequencing.
Competitive Positioning:
- Strengths & Differentiators: Global market leadership, unparalleled product portfolio (Thermo Scientific, Fisher Scientific, etc.), strong brand recognition and trust, vast distribution network, and a focus on sustainability and energy-efficient products (e.g., TSX Series).
- Market presence & ecosystem role: Dominant role as a one-stop-shop provider for lab equipment and services, deeply embedded in the entire life sciences and healthcare ecosystem.
SWOT Analysis:
- Strengths: Market leadership (19% market share in Europe's cold storage), broad product portfolio, global supply chain, and strong financial position.
- Weaknesses: High cost of some advanced equipment, complexity of managing a vast, integrated organization.
- Opportunities: Growing demand for biopharmaceuticals and gene/cell therapies (requires specialized ULT storage), expansion of biobanking.
- Threats: Intense competition, stringent environmental regulations on refrigerants, and global economic volatility.
Recent News and Updates:
- Press Releases: In April 2024, highlighted the launch of the TSX Universal Series ULT Freezers, emphasizing their role in enhancing lab efficiency and sustainability.
- Industry Recognitions/Awards: Consistently recognized as a top supplier in the life sciences sector globally.
PHC Holdings Corporation (PHCbi)
Company Overview: PHC Holdings Corporation is a global company dedicated to improving health through digital and precision technology. The PHCbi brand focuses on developing and manufacturing innovative equipment for life sciences research, including biomedical refrigerators and freezers.
Corporate Information:
- Headquarters: Minato-Ku, Tokyo, Japan
- Year Founded: 1969 (as Matsushita Kotobuki Electronics Industry)
- Ownership Type: Publicly Traded
History and Background: Originated as a subsidiary of Panasonic (formerly Panasonic Healthcare, which became PHC Holdings). The company's products, sold under the PHCbi brand, are known for space-saving, energy-efficient designs and reliability, especially in sample preservation.
Key Milestones/Timeline:
- 1969: Company founded in Japan.
- 2018: PHC Holdings Corporation adopted its current name.
- 2024 (March 31): Reported 9,041 employees globally.
- 2024 (February): Launched a new dual-voltage model in the VIP ECO SMART ultra-low temperature freezer series in North America.
Business Overview: Focuses on healthcare devices and services across Diabetes Management, Healthcare Solutions, Diagnostics, and Life Sciences (where PHCbi cold storage belongs).
Business Segments/Divisions:
- Diabetes Management: Ascensia Diabetes Care.
- Healthcare Solutions: Electronic medical record systems, etc. (mostly Japan).
- Diagnostics & Life Sciences: (Includes PHCbi brand products for Biologic & Cell Preservation, Cancer Pathology, and Diagnostic Testing).
- Geographic Presence: Global presence, with products sold in over 125 countries, and strong brand presence in key markets like Europe, North America, and Asia.
Key Offerings:
- Ultra-Low Temperature (ULT) Freezers (e.g., VIP ECO SMART Series, TwinGuard Series)
- Laboratory Refrigerators and Freezers
- Blood Bank Refrigerators and Plasma Freezers
- CO2 Incubators and other cell culture equipment (under PHCbi brand)
End-Use Industries Served:
- Medical Institutions and Hospitals
- Universities and Academic Research Labs
- Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology Companies
- Biobanks and Gene Banks
Key Developments and Strategic Initiatives:
- Mergers & Acquisitions: Historical corporate restructuring and acquisition activities to build the current four-segment structure (e.g., the formation of Ascensia Diabetes Care and Epredia).
- Partnerships & Collaborations: Engages in collaborations, such as hosting online roundtables on new therapies like CAR-T, showcasing industry thought leadership.
- Product Launches/Innovations: In February 2024, PHC Corporation of North America launched the dual-voltage MDF-DU703VHA-PA model in their VIP ECO SMART ULT freezer series, the first PHCbi ULT freezer with this capability, enhancing versatility for global customers.
- Capacity Expansions/Investments: Continues to invest in R&D to maintain a competitive edge in advanced, energy-efficient refrigeration.
- Regulatory Approvals: Units are designed to be compliant with major standards (e.g., WHO and CDC guidelines for cold chain).
- Distribution Channel Strategy: Utilizes a network of global distributors and regional sales offices, with a strong focus on serving the North American and European markets.
Technological Capabilities/R&D Focus:
- Core Technologies/Patents: Focus on proprietary cooling technologies to ensure optimal temperature uniformity and energy efficiency (e.g., VIP ECO SMART technology). Emphasis on natural refrigerants for sustainability.
- Research & Development Infrastructure: Driven by an integrated digital and precision technology focus, leveraging decades of experience in high-precision Japanese manufacturing.
- Innovation Focus Areas: Sustainability (net-zero commitment), ultra-low temperature precision, dual-voltage capability, and space-saving ergonomic designs for laboratory environments.
Competitive Positioning:
- Strengths & Differentiators: Strong reputation for reliability and longevity, focus on energy-efficient and space-saving designs, and specialization in ULT freezers (PHCbi brand is highly recognized for ULTs).
- Market presence & ecosystem role: A highly specialized key player in the cold storage segment, particularly strong in research and biobanking due to its ULT offerings.
SWOT Analysis:
- Strengths: Strong focus on energy efficiency and green technology, high product reliability, recognized brand (PHCbi) in life sciences.
- Weaknesses: Smaller overall corporate size/portfolio breadth compared to the market leader, may have less name recognition in general laboratory products outside of its niche.
- Opportunities: Increased adoption of sustainable and green refrigerants (where they have a strong focus), growth in cell and gene therapy requiring -80°C and -150°C storage.
- Threats: Aggressive pricing by competitors, complexity of global supply chains.
Recent News and Updates:
- Press Releases: News in October 2025 regarding the PHC Group's commitment to achieving Net Zero Emissions, highlighting their sustainability focus.
- Industry Recognitions/Awards: Recognized for innovation in their ULT freezer lines.
Recent Developments in the Market
- In August 2025, Medguard announced an exclusive partnership with Snaige AB to distribute premium medical refrigerators to the Irish market. The partnership ensures Irish healthcare providers have direct access to world-class cold storage solutions designed specifically for hospitals, laboratories, pharmacies, and research facilities.
- In October 2024, the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) provided funding of £1 million to Oxford Hospitals to fund new research facilities and equipment. The funding will enable hospitals to purchase a two-glove isolator, which is used for preparing individual doses of trial medicines, and dedicated freezers and refrigerators to store the drugs.
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