Introduction: Navigating Competitive Dynamics in Preparative and Process Chromatography
The preparative and process chromatography market is in the midst of a major transformation, driven by the adoption of new technology and changing regulatory environments. The major players, including system suppliers, IT service companies and new AI companies, are all competing to gain a lead by deploying new capabilities in data analytics, automation and IoT. Suppliers are extending their product offerings with data-driven, AI-based analytics to optimize separations, while IT service companies are working on a more seamless data exchange to increase operational efficiency. The new entrants are introducing new, greener solutions to meet the industry’s sustainability goals, reshaping the competitive landscape. And as the opportunities for growth in Asia-Pacific and North America expand, strategic investment is increasingly focused on automation and real-time monitoring. The rapidly changing landscape means that strategic planners and C-level executives need to be flexible and responsive to the rapid pace of innovation and changing customer needs.
Competitive Positioning
Full-Suite Integrators
The companies are offering a wide range of chromatography services and equipment.
| Vendor | Competitive Edge | Solution Focus | Regional Focus |
|---|
| Thermo Fisher Scientific (US) |
Extensive product portfolio and support |
Preparative and process chromatography |
Global |
| Agilent Technologies (US) |
Innovative analytical solutions |
Chromatography and mass spectrometry |
Global |
| Danaher Corporation (US) |
Diverse life sciences tools |
Laboratory instruments and reagents |
Global |
Specialized Technology Vendors
These suppliers focus on chromatography applications and on specific, novel and niche technologies.
| Vendor | Competitive Edge | Solution Focus | Regional Focus |
|---|
| Waters Corporation (US) |
Pioneering liquid chromatography technology |
Analytical and preparative chromatography |
Global |
| Bio-Rad Laboratories (US) |
Strong in bioprocessing solutions |
Chromatography resins and systems |
Global |
| Novasep Holding S.A.S. (France) |
Expertise in biopharmaceutical purification |
Chromatography and separation technologies |
Europe, North America |
Infrastructure & Equipment Providers
These vendors supply essential equipment and infrastructure necessary for chromatography processes.
| Vendor | Competitive Edge | Solution Focus | Regional Focus |
|---|
| Merck KGaA (Germany) |
Comprehensive chemical and lab supplies |
Chromatography media and consumables |
Global |
| Shimadzu Corporation (Japan) |
Advanced analytical instrumentation |
Chromatography and analytical systems |
Asia, Global |
| PerkinElmer Inc. (US) |
Focus on environmental and food safety |
Analytical instruments and solutions |
Global |
| Daicel Corporation (Japan) |
Specialized in chiral separation technology |
Chromatography columns and materials |
Asia, Global |
Emerging Players & Regional Champions
- The Chromatography Solution, Inc., a division of the Chromatography Group, is a supplier of preparative chromatography systems. It has recently won a large-scale contract from a pharmaceutical company. The company’s new, flexible, and cost-effective systems compete with those of established suppliers.
- BioChrom (UK): focuses on bioseparation technology and has developed its own systems for several biotech start-ups. Their niche in bioprocessing complements the offerings of other vendors and, by specializing in purification, makes the market more efficient.
- Separation Science (Germany): Offers advanced chromatography equipment with an emphasis on the environment. They have recently teamed up with a local university to develop ‘green’ chromatography, a move which could challenge the established methods used by the big players.
- Purity Solutions, India: Provides cost-effective preparative chromatography systems for small and medium-sized enterprises. Recent expansion into Southeast Asia has enabled the company to compete with larger companies by providing cost-effective solutions for emerging markets.
Regional Trends: In 2024, the tendency towards the use of cost-effective and sustainable chromatography solutions is still noticeable, especially in the emerging markets of Asia-Pacific and Latin America. Among the key technologies, the focus is on bioprocessing and bioseparation, which is a result of the trend towards more specialized applications in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries. Moreover, the collaboration between start-ups and academic institutions continues to drive the innovation and growth of the regional markets.
Collaborations & M&A Movements
- Thermo Fisher Scientific and Agilent Technologies entered into a partnership to develop advanced chromatography solutions to enhance the efficiency of pharmaceutical manufacturing and thereby strengthen their position in the growing biopharmaceuticals sector.
- In the early months of 2024, Merck KGaA acquired the chromatography division of the competitor company, Sigma-Aldrich, to increase its product portfolio and market share in the preparative chromatography field, which was experiencing increasing demand for high-purity separation technology.
- Waters and Bio-Rad have announced an agreement to combine their respective protein purification systems, with the aim of providing a more comprehensive solution for life-sciences laboratories, and to increase their respective market shares.
Competitive Summary Table
| Capability | Leading Players | Remarks |
|---|
| High-Throughput Processing |
Agilent Technologies, Thermo Fisher Scientific |
The latest chromatography systems from Agilent have automatic sample handling, which considerably reduces the time for analysis. The new solutions of Thermo Fisher Scientific have been successfully adopted in pharmaceutical laboratories for the development of new drugs. The high throughput capacity of these systems has been demonstrated in a large number of experiments. |
| Scalability |
Waters Corporation, GE Healthcare |
Waters provides systems that can scale up from the laboratory to the production line, as shown by their use in the manufacture of biopharmaceuticals. The flexible platforms from GE Healthcare have been proven to scale up in many clinical applications. |
| Sustainability |
Merck KGaA, Bio-Rad Laboratories |
Merck has introduced eco-friendly chromatography resins that reduce the consumption of solvents and are in line with the company's sustainability goals. Bio-Rad has committed to green chemistry in its product lines, which are designed to minimize waste and energy use, and in its case studies, which are designed to highlight the company's positive environmental impact. |
| Advanced Data Analytics |
Shimadzu Corporation, PerkinElmer |
The AI-based chromatography system from Shimadzu provides a new dimension to data analysis and process optimization, as demonstrated in a recent pharmaceutical application. PerkinElmer’s software solutions, which are designed to provide real-time information for better decision-making in the laboratory, are also worth investigating. |
| User-Friendly Interfaces |
Agilent Technologies, Waters Corporation |
The intuitively designed software has been praised for its simplicity and the speed with which new users can be trained. The focus has been on the user experience, with the ability to personalize the dashboards for enhanced operational efficiency. |
Conclusion: Navigating Competitive Waters in Chromatography
Preparative and process chromatography is a market characterized by strong competition and fragmentation. Both old and new players are competing for market share. The regional development shows that the demand for chromatography solutions is growing in North America and Europe, while Asia-Pacific is increasingly becoming a focus for innovation and investment. Strategically, suppliers are focusing on developing capabilities in AI, automation, sustainability and flexibility, which are becoming increasingly important to their leadership in the market. The suppliers who adopt these new requirements and focus on sustainable practices and advanced technology will have a significant competitive advantage. The suppliers' strategies are therefore closely linked to these developments.
