IonBench, an international reference in the design and manufacturing of standard and custom-made technical layout solutions dedicated to optimizing the performance and usability of scientific instruments in laboratories, welcomes EMZ Partners as a minority shareholder as part of a primary Buy-Out.
This transaction will accelerate the group’s expansion, strengthen its leadership in a high-value niche market, and structure its organization to seize new growth opportunities. IonBench aspires to double its size in the coming years through international expansion, diversification of its product offering to other categories of scientific equipment, and potential strategic acquisitions in export markets.
A unique expertise serving the world’s leading pharmaceutical, industrial, and academic laboratories
Founded in 2011 by Pieter Dekocker and Christophe Fronteau, IonBench designs and manufactures layout and technical furniture solutions in the fields of pharmacy, chemistry and analytical physics.
IonBench and MS Noise equipment incorporate premium features such as noise reduction, anti-vibration, safety, ergonomics and design, aimed at optimizing the precision of high-end scientific instruments, particularly present in mass spectrometry (MS), Liquid (LC) and Gas (GC) Chromatography, LC-MS coupling, inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES).
The group has now surpassed €10 million in revenue and demonstrates strong profitability, confirming the added value of its offering and its operational excellence. Its technical expertise, deep understanding of scientific requirements and responsiveness make it a clear industry leader.
Headquartered in Sens, France, and with a subsidiary in North Carolina (USA) since 2019, the group generates 90% of its revenue from exports, of which 40% comes from the USA.
A differentiated positioning in a rapidly growing market
The demand for intelligent and high-performance layout solutions is experiencing strong growth, driven by an increasing number of analytical instruments in research labs, the need for precision in scientific analyses, and increasingly strict safety standards. In this environment, IonBench stands out with unparalleled expertise, enabling it to address critical and growing needs of major laboratories and scientific equipment manufacturers.
A strategic partnership with the largest OEMs
IonBench collaborates with the world’s leading scientific instrument manufacturers, including Agilent, Bruker, Sciex, Shimadzu, Thermo Fisher Scientific and Waters. These industry leaders are the primary promoters of IonBench’s solutions, which have become essential references for laboratories worldwide.
The company stands out for its expertise in layout engineering, ensuring optimal installation of scientific instruments, and its highly responsive customer service, providing tailored and near-instant responses to laboratories’ specific challenges and constraints.
A strategic partnership with EMZ Partners
This operation allows Pieter Dekocker and Managing Director Franck Subrenat to reorganize the company’s shareholding structure, while keeping a strong majority and bringing new key employees in the equity capital.
EMZ Partners’ investment aims to support IonBench in its commercial, industrial, technological and digital expansion. The operation is structured around a significant roll-over from Pieter Dekocker, and a substantial financial commitment from Franck Subrenat, who is joining the group’s share capital and will play a key role within the company’s strategic structuring and development alongside the Founder.
Sharing their thoughts
Pieter Dekocker, Founder & CEO of IonBench, states: “We have built a company recognized for its expertise and tailored approach. With the support of EMZ Partners, we will not only consolidate our leadership but also structure the organization to equip ourselves with the necessary means, visibility, and capabilities to explore new growth opportunities and accelerate our expansion into the European, American and Asian markets.”
Alexandre Lefebvre, Partner at EMZ, adds: “The company provides laboratories worldwide with solutions that deliver tangible, measurable and differentiated benefits, now deeply embedded in the IonBench brand. Pieter, Franck and their team rely on cutting-edge technical expertise and a client-centric approach. We are convinced that these fundamentals will remain key pillars of future growth and are excited to be part of this success and to support IonBench in driving its growth strategy going forward.”
