Eppendorf CEO: China Market Holds Immense Potential, Committed to Localization and Innovation

On July 11, Ms. Eva van Pelt and Dr. Peter Fruhstorfer, Co-CEOs of the Eppendorf Group, visited China. This long-established German life sciences company, founded in 1945, is celebrating its 20th anniversary in the Chinese market this year. The visit aimed to gain a deeper understanding of the Chinese market and define the Group’s future business direction, while also uncovering the more profound needs of local customers to drive innovative development.

In media interviews, the two CEOs reflected on Eppendorf’s development since its inception, outlined future strategic directions, demonstrated their commitment to the Chinese market, and presented corresponding innovation-driven strategies tailored to local needs in China.

Reflecting on Eppendorf’s development philosophy since its founding, Ms. Eva van Pelt stated: “For over 70 years, as one of the world’s leading life sciences companies, Eppendorf has always regarded innovation as the primary internal driver for sustainable long-term growth. We remain committed to leveraging cutting-edge technologies and forward-thinking concepts to provide efficient, professional, and reliable laboratory general-purpose products to research institutions, medical testing facilities, and biopharmaceutical enterprises, thereby driving the continuous advancement of the global life sciences field.”

▲ Ms. Eva van Pelt (Co-CEO & Chief Commercial Officer)

In recent years, accompanied by the wave of innovation and transformation in scientific research driven by informatization, intelligence, and automation, laboratory construction focused on the integration of digital technology and technological innovation has entered a new era. Keeping pace with these times, Eppendorf has consciously embedded the digital concept of the “Future Smart Laboratory” into its product development phase to create high-added-value solutions for users, thereby reducing costs, improving efficiency, and stimulating innovative vitality.

Leveraging its robust R&D innovation capabilities and extensive technological expertise, Eppendorf is not only a key partner for numerous emerging industries—including scientific research, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, and medical diagnostics—but also a renowned service provider in traditional sectors such as food and agriculture. Looking ahead, the Eppendorf Group will further focus on emerging industries that have recently entered a phase of rapid growth, akin to the biopharmaceutical sector, with particular emphasis on increasing investment and attention in the frontier fields of cell and gene therapy, aiming to deliver superior services to customers in these fast-evolving domains.

To maintain Eppendorf’s market leadership and its keen insight into market dynamics, another foundational principle of Eppendorf’s development is to maintain close engagement with users, driving innovation based on customer feedback, thereby better providing high-quality products and services for users’ scientific research. This deep connection with users not only addresses their immediate needs but also facilitates forward-looking design and preparation for future layouts, business development, and other multi-scenario applications, delivering professional and comprehensive solutions.

As China’s life sciences industry has experienced explosive growth, the Chinese government has sent clear signals of strong support for the life sciences and biopharmaceutical sectors by successively issuing relevant policies, guidelines, and national strategies such as the 14th Five-Year Plan. Driven by these favorable factors, the future development of the Chinese market holds immense potential.

In light of this, VCBeat posed targeted questions: In the post-pandemic era and under the influence of policies such as the 14th Five-Year Plan, what changes will Eppendorf undergo?

Ms. Eva van Pelt stated that the Eppendorf Group prioritizes innovation-driven development, is committed to environmental protection through green practices, and actively implements its digitalization strategy. These strategic directions align closely with the priority development goals outlined in China’s 14th Five-Year Plan. The 14th Five-Year Plan also provides clear strategic guidance for Eppendorf’s continued growth and development in China.

“For the Eppendorf Group, the Chinese market is indispensable to achieving future strategic growth and success; its importance speaks for itself,” said Ms. Eva van Pelt. “Eppendorf has also achieved strong, sustainable, and healthy development in China. In 2022, China accounted for approximately 15.9% of the Group’s global sales volume, a proportion that continues to rise. This further validates our steadfast commitment to a ‘customer-centric’ service philosophy and has earned us greater trust from more Chinese customers.”

Since entering the Chinese market, Eppendorf Group has always taken it as its responsibility to gain insights into local customer needs, basing its strategies on these needs and formulating corresponding development plans.

In 2020, driven by the needs of local customers, the Eppendorf Group launched its new sub-brand, Lavibe, in the Chinese market. Lavibe not only upholds the quality standards of the Eppendorf Group but, more importantly, provides targeted, convenient, practical, and cost-effective products for researchers in China. Moving forward, the brand will continue to explore more flexible and diverse product portfolios to consistently empower its customers.

The Group’s significant investments further demonstrate its commitment to the Chinese market. In recent years, Eppendorf has established a technology center and manufacturing facilities in China. In 2023, Eppendorf announced the construction of a new centrifuge production base in the Pinghu Economic and Technological Development Zone, Zhejiang Province, with commercial production scheduled to commence in the first half of 2024. Dr. Peter Fruhstorfer explained the rationale behind establishing a production base in China: “The establishment of the new Pinghu production base represents an important milestone in Eppendorf’s strategic development in China, enabling us to provide more efficient localized products and services to Chinese customers. We have consistently observed sustained growth in China’s centrifuge market over the years, and localized products are generally more favored by customers.”

▲ Dr. Peter Fruhstorfer (Co-CEO & Chief Business Officer)

Dr. Peter Fruhstorfer stated that the plan to establish a production base was not an impulsive decision: “Eppendorf formulated a series of strategic plans several years ago. The establishment of its China R&D Center and team in Shanghai in 2022, along with upgrades to warehousing and logistics systems, were proactive steps to build the capability for local centrifuge production. From the perspective of the Group’s long-term development, continuous investment and strengthened localization are essential. This approach also effectively reduces carbon emissions and mitigates risks associated with overly extended supply chains. In the future, Eppendorf will introduce more localized products, enhancing its ability to respond rapidly and provide tailored products and solutions, thereby better serving local customers.”

Global warming has made low-carbon, environmentally friendly practices and sustainable development an urgent priority. The Eppendorf Group has consistently adhered to a development philosophy that integrates green environmental protection, carbon emission reduction, and resource conservation into its sustainable development strategy as an indispensable component of corporate growth, regarding it as a key element in strengthening its core competitiveness.

Ms. Eva van Pelt stated, “As part of a global enterprise, we have a responsibility to society and the environment. Sustainability is not only closely linked to our customers but also integral to the development of the Eppendorf Group. The Eppendorf Group has introduced a promising sustainability strategy, which, according to our projections, will reduce the Group’s carbon dioxide emissions to the lowest possible level by 2028, thereby advancing the achievement of its corporate carbon neutrality goals.”

It is worth noting that the Eppendorf Group consistently integrates the concept of sustainability throughout the entire lifecycle of its products, from design and manufacturing to operations. Since 2017, the Eppendorf Group has maintained a close partnership with My Green Lab, becoming one of the first partners to receive ACT labels. This year, the Eppendorf Group launched globally its biobased centrifuge tubes made from bio-based materials and the 5427R Refrigerated Centrifuge, the first model to utilize green refrigerants. Both products have received the ACT label awarded by My Green Lab, an authoritative non-profit organization.

Looking back, two decades have passed since Eppendorf China was officially established in Shanghai in 2003. Today, Eppendorf’s subsidiaries, sales, and service networks cover the entire country. These 20 years have not only marked Eppendorf Group’s own development journey but also coincided with China’s continuous deepening of reform and opening-up as well as its modernization efforts. Throughout this period, Eppendorf has personally witnessed how “China Speed” has driven rapid economic growth and technological innovation.

Looking ahead, Ms. Eva van Pelt stated, “We are immensely proud of our success in China. In the future, Eppendorf Group will continue to drive innovation, consistently empowering local customers and growing together with them. Meanwhile, we will remain deeply committed to the Chinese market, further optimizing our supply chain in China, enhancing our R&D capabilities, and actively collaborating closely with local industry experts to gain insights into customer needs, thereby effectively advancing the development of scientific research and technology in China.”

Eppendorf, founded in 1945 and headquartered in Hamburg, Germany, is a leading life sciences company that develops, manufactures, and distributes laboratory equipment and solutions worldwide. Its business scope covers liquid handling, consumables, separation and instrumentation, and bioprocessing solutions. The product portfolio includes pipettes, tips, centrifuges, mixers, and ultra-low temperature freezers. In addition, Eppendorf offers a wide range of high-quality consumables.