40 Years of Biometra – A Success Story in Biotechnology
Tue 9 Dec, 2025
40 Years of Biometra – A Success Story in Biotechnology
1. Biometra and Its Significance in Biotechnology
This year we celebrate a remarkable anniversary: 40 years of Biometra. Since its founding, the company—part of the Analytik Jena Group since 2009—has established itself as a pioneer in developing innovative life science technologies.
Biometra products are renowned for their reliability and performance, making them an indispensable part of modern laboratories and clinical facilities worldwide.
Biometra’s 40th anniversary marks not only an important milestone in the company’s history but also a moment to reflect on the impact Biometra has had on the industry.
Join us in this blog article as we look back over the past four decades and learn more about the company that has consistently contributed to advancing knowledge in research and diagnostics around the globe.
The Founding Vision: Precision & Innovation
Biometra was founded in 1985 in Göttingen by Herbert Stadler and Bernd Schmidt with a clear vision: to create biotechnological instruments of the highest precision and reliability. At a time when biotechnology was still in its infancy, Biometra recognized its potential to push the boundaries of knowledge and enable groundbreaking discoveries.
The first Biometra products were advanced electrophoresis systems for efficient separation and analysis of DNA, RNA, and proteins—supported by matching accessories and consumables. By 1989, Biometra introduced PCR devices, revolutionizing DNA amplification. These early thermocyclers impressed with precision and user-friendliness, setting new standards in laboratory practice and establishing Biometra as a trusted partner in science.
The combination of technical excellence and a deep understanding of the needs of the scientific community enabled Biometra to make a name for itself right from the start and lay a solid foundation for future growth and innovation.
40 years of Biometra
“This year we celebrate 40 years of Biometra cyclers. I’ve been part of 30 of those years. I still come across these red cyclers in laboratories today, and it makes me happy when I find a particularly old but still active gem.”
Dorothea Mis-Gunkel
joined Biometra in 1994 as a sales representative for North Rhine-Westphalia. Today, she works as Senior Sales Manager for Life Sciences and Liquid Handling/Automation.
Successfully mastered
"The development and improvement of electrophoretic methods such as temperature gradient gel electrophoresis (TGGE) on Biometra devices from the Eco Line, Compact Line, and Minigel product families give me great satisfaction. The design of test procedures and their application in testing our TProfessional and TAdvanced thermocycler families—both before market launch and in subsequent updates—was and remains an important and very enjoyable task. The development and validation of the Biometra Temperature Measurement System (BTMS) is another challenge that we as a development team have successfully mastered."
Jörg Schauermann
with Biometra GmbH since 1995, currently as a “Specialist Laboratory” in the development laboratory
Milestones
Over the past four decades, Biometra has introduced numerous groundbreaking technologies and established itself as a trusted partner for researchers worldwide.
1990s: Technological Breakthroughs – Advanced thermocyclers improved the efficiency and accuracy of PCR technology, quickly becoming a global standard in research labs.
2000s: Expansion and Diversification – Biometra expanded its portfolio with innovative solutions for DNA/RNA extraction and quantitative PCR (qPCR), opening new markets and strengthening its presence in biotechnology.
2009: Acquisition by Analytik Jena – Previously owned by General Electric, Biometra became part of Analytik Jena on May 11, 2009, significantly expanding the Life Science portfolio and market reach in Europe and Asia.1
2. Analytik Jena and Biometra: Shared Values and Vision
The partnership between Analytik Jena and Biometra is a success story based on shared values, innovative thinking, and a deep understanding of customer needs, especially in the scientific laboratory sector.
Both Analytik Jena and Biometra stand for excellence, sustainability, and innovation. These shared values have created the basis for a successful collaboration based on trust and a common goal: providing high-quality, reliable technologies for biotechnology research and industry.
Expansion of the Product Portfolio and Technical Synergies
By integrating Biometra's advanced PCR and qPCR technologies into Analytik Jena's product portfolio, both companies have been able to strengthen their market position and offer their customers a broader range of solutions.
Over the years, the collaboration between Analytik Jena and Biometra has driven the development and optimization of numerous products that have provided crucial support for biotechnology research. These include thermocyclers, electrophoresis, blotting, gel imaging, and hybridization technologies—each of these systems has contributed to faster implementation of innovative solutions and increased efficiency in DNA analysis.2 A notable example is the development of the Biometra TOne PCR thermocycler, which impresses with its high performance and user-friendliness. These and other joint developments have enabled our customers worldwide to make their work more efficient and precise.3
Customer-centric approach
The partnership between Analytik Jena and Biometra is based on a deep understanding of customer needs. Through close collaboration with researchers and scientists, both companies have been able to continuously improve their products and adapt them to the specific requirements of laboratories. This customer-centric approach has contributed significantly to the success of the partnership.
From proven technology to new solutions
Eggert Appel, who has been with Biometra since 2002, also recalls “with satisfaction past product developments, such as the development of the technical platform for mechanical, electronic, and software components for thermocyclers, which has been in successful use for around 13 years. This platform allows costs, deadlines, and quality to be kept under effective control. More recent developments such as the Biometra TRobot II with its patented lid and ejection mechanism, as well as the Biometra TMS, which enables highly accurate temperature calibration for all thermocyclers during production and, in the future, in the field at the customer's site”, are also particularly special to him.
Eggert Appel
started in 2002 as a development engineer for hardware and software and is currently Department Manager Product Development and Authorized Signatory at Biometra.
3. Developments for the future
The connection between Analytik Jena and Biometra is more than just a business partnership—it is a shared journey characterized by a common commitment to excellence and innovation in our customer solutions. This synergy will continue to be a driving force in biotechnology in the future.
2010s: Globalization and partnerships – Biometra entered into strategic partnerships with leading companies and research institutions to further improve its technologies and market them globally. These collaborations led to a stronger international presence and an expanded customer base.
2020s: Modernization and sustainability – In recent years, Biometra has increasingly focused on sustainable and environmentally friendly technologies. The introduction of energy-efficient devices and the implementation of environmentally friendly production processes are central components of the company's strategy.
Today, Biometra offers advanced solutions for molecular biology and diagnostics, in particular modern thermocyclers and quantitative PCR (qPCR) systems.
These technologies are characterized by high precision, reliability, and user-friendliness and support researchers worldwide in their scientific advances.
Shaping a bright and successful future
“We are working hard to shape the future in a positive and profitable way with our products. The products are technologically more mature, high user-friendliness is an important criterion in their application, and we are seeing increasing integration of thermocyclers into automated laboratory environments. These are all issues that Biometra has naturally taken into account in its developments.”
Eggert Appel
4. Contribution to science
Over the past 40 years, Biometra has made a significant contribution to the advancement of the biotechnology industry. Through continuous innovation and close collaboration with the scientific community, the company has played a decisive role in making modern molecular biology methods accessible and reliable.
An outstanding example is the development of advanced PCR and qPCR systems, which have had a lasting impact on molecular biology. These technologies enable researchers worldwide to perform precise genetic analyses and support advances in fields such as genetics, oncology, and infectious disease research. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the central importance of this technology was confirmed once again—Biometra's (q)PCR systems contributed to performing molecular diagnostics at the highest level worldwide.4
Contribution to decoding the human genome
“I am particularly proud of the Human Genome Project. With TGradient, we made a contribution to decoding the human genome.”
Heiner Otte
was acquired by Biometra from Biotron in 1999. He has been managing director of Biometra GmbH since 2017.
5. Partnerships and successes
Over the years, Biometra has established numerous strategic partnerships with leading research institutions and companies worldwide. An outstanding example is the cooperation with the Max Planck Institute, which led to the development of new methods for protein purification. This collaboration has not only contributed to the further development of Biometra's own technologies but has also promoted the exchange of knowledge and resources.5
These collaborations have promoted both technological advances and the exchange of knowledge. Through this cooperation, Biometra has been able to continuously improve its products and adapt them to the needs of the scientific community.
Biometra's products have supported countless researchers and scientists in their groundbreaking work. One example is the successful application of Biometra's electrophoresis equipment in cancer research, which led to the identification of new biomarkers and the development of targeted therapies. These success stories show how Biometra products have helped improve quality and efficiency in laboratories worldwide and gain new scientific insights.6
6. People and corporate culture
Biometra owes its success not only to its innovative products, but also to its dedicated team and the corporate culture that shapes the company.
Biometra's employees are experienced experts in their respective fields and are passionate about promoting innovation and excellence. Their skills and commitment have made Biometra a leading company in the industry.
At Biometra, collaboration is key. The company promotes an open and inclusive culture where ideas and innovation can flourish. The values of the Analytik Jena Group and thus also of its subsidiary Biometra—friendliness, excellence, commitment, sustainability—are reflected in all aspects of the company. This culture creates a working environment in which employees can reach their full potential and offer customers the ideal laboratory equipment and the best possible service.
A complete unity
“I see corporate values as a whole, unified line, because each of these values has its own importance, which, in my opinion, only leads to the best possible success when taken as a complete unit.”
Morena Lebig
has been working at Biometra since 2002, initially as a purchasing clerk; today she is a Specialist Service Support in the Göttingen service department.
Treating each other with respect and kindness
“Integrity (honesty and transparency), teamwork, customer focus, sustainability, innovation, quality, and respectful and friendly interaction with one another. All of these are important for developing, producing, and selling good products in a good working environment today.”
Eggert Appel
Multidisciplinary thinking
“What I find particularly valuable is cross-departmental thinking and working on issues, and the working atmosphere.”
Heiner Otte
Employee experiences
Biometra's long-standing employees are the cornerstone of the company's success story. Many of them started their careers at Biometra and have grown with the company over the years. Their experience and knowledge contribute significantly to continuous development and innovation. Employees report a positive working atmosphere in which they feel valued and supported. These positive experiences are reflected in high employee satisfaction and retention rates.
Balancing family and career
“Biometra enabled me to balance family and career at the time. I was able to reduce my working hours to 20 hours per week for a while and work in a smaller, regional area. At Analytik Jena, I was then able to return to full-time work. Over the years, my role in sales has developed into area management, which requires, for example, building a network of reference customers and specialist dealers and taking strategic action. This also has an impact on personal development, and qualities such as goal orientation, self-motivation, and perseverance are transferred.”
Dorothea Mis-Gunkel
Shaping the future with confidence and determination
Biometra's 40th anniversary is not only an occasion to celebrate the past, but also an opportunity to shape the future with confidence and determination. With a clear commitment to innovation, quality, and partnership, Biometra will continue to be an indispensable partner for our customers in scientific, research, and industrial laboratories around the world. Here's to the next 40 years of excellence and progress!
THANK YOU!
“Analytik Jena would like to thank all employees, partners, and customers who have contributed to the company's success over the past 40 years. Without their support and commitment, the numerous achievements and innovations would not have been possible. Special thanks go to our long-standing employees, whose dedication and expertise form the backbone of the company.”
Oliver Klaeffling
Managing Director of Analytik Jena GmbH+Co. KG
References
1 Analytik Jena übernimmt die Biometra GmbH
2 Biometra TRIO Triple Powered PCR Thermocycler - analytik-jena.com
3 Biometra TOne – PCR Thermocycler - Analytik Jena
4 COVID-19: A PCR-defined pandemic - International Journal of Infectious Diseases
5 Protein Purification: Techniques and Protocols Explained | Technology Networks
6 Protein Expression Purification: Techniques & Insights
What do you associate with Biometra?
What memories do you associate with Biometra? Share your congratulations and stories in the comments. Maybe you still have an “old” thermocycler in your lab? Tell us about it—we’d love to hear!
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