Analytik Jena celebrates 40 years of Biometra – a success story in molecular biology

Analytik Jena, together with its subsidiary Biometra, looks back on four decades of technological excellence in molecular biology. Since its founding in 1985, Biometra has significantly influenced laboratory practices – from early electrophoresis systems to pioneering PCR thermocyclers and modern platforms for automated, precise workflows. This success story is closely linked to customer proximity, engineering craftsmanship, and a clear quality standard.

In the early years, Biometra relied on precision and reliability: the first products enabled efficient separation and analysis of DNA, RNA, and proteins. They quickly became standard in many laboratories. The introduction of early PCR thermocyclers in 1989 marked a turning point: DNA amplification became faster, more precise, and user-friendly. In the 1990s, Biometra established its role as a trusted technology partner in research and diagnostics worldwide.

In the 2000s, Biometra strategically expanded its portfolio: solutions for DNA/RNA extraction and quantitative PCR (qPCR) were added to meet the growing demands of modern laboratories. A milestone in the company's history followed on May 11, 2009: Biometra became part of the Analytik Jena Group. This connection strengthened the joint product offering – from thermocyclers to electrophoresis and blotting to imaging and hybridization technologies – and opened new markets as well as synergies in development and service.

The impact on science and society is well documented: with the TGradient thermocycler, Biometra contributed to decoding the human genome, a milestone in modern biology. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the central importance of (q)PCR systems was reaffirmed: Biometra technologies supported molecular diagnostics worldwide at a high level. Strategic collaborations – for example with Max Planck institutions in protein purification – further promoted knowledge exchange and accelerated innovations that resulted in practical solutions.

Since the 2020s, Biometra has increasingly focused on energy efficiency, sustainability, and integration into automated laboratory environments – always with the goal of making precise results available faster and more robustly.

“Our vision is to shape the next 40 years as boldly and consistently as the past ones,” says Eggert Appel, Head of Product Development at Biometra. “Technologically mature products, high user-friendliness, and seamless integration into automated processes remain central guiding principles of our work.”

Oliver Klaeffling, Managing Director of Analytik Jena GmbH + Co. KG, thanks all employees, partners, and customers who have accompanied Biometra over four decades. “Your commitment and trust are the foundation of our success – and an incentive for the future.”