From the Exhibition Floor: Our Highlights from Analytica 2026

29th May 2026

Analytica returned to Munich this spring, bringing together thousands of scientists, engineers, and innovators from across the analytical science, laboratory technology, and life science sectors. As a life science marketing agency, we made the most of our time on the show floor — talking directly with teams, getting hands-on with new instruments, and uncovering some genuinely exciting product launches and developments. Here’s what caught our eye.

Why Analytica Matters

Analytica is one of the most important gatherings in the global laboratory and analytical science calendar. Held biennially in Munich, it attracts exhibitors and visitors from across pharma, biotech, food science, environmental analysis, and beyond. A team from Alto attends each year and always has a great time – both in the beer halls and the show halls!

Product and Technology Highlights

SciSure — Digital lab pioneer, SciSure, highlighted its expanding ecosystem of integrations, with partner DataChaperone joining them on the booth to showcase their latest joint capabilities. DataChaperone is a data analysis and AI platform that brings automated, audit-ready data analysis directly into the digital lab environment, enabling scientists to standardise workflows, eliminate manual data handling, and generate consistent, high-quality insights without leaving the ELN.

This collaboration offered a clear example of how connected platforms are evolving, combining structured data capture with AI-driven analysis to create a more seamless, end-to-end scientific workflow.

Analytichem — AnalytiChem brought two notable highlights to the show. Its new Redipor® Legionella Agar Plate range offering a suite of ready-to-use, selective culture media options to support ISO 11731-compliant Legionella culture workflows. Plus, Spectral Blue, a unique next-generation disinfection product using cutting-edge blue light technology to deliver continuous disinfection of air and surfaces wherever required.

The new Redipor Legionella media range covers the full culture pathway required for ISO-aligned Legionella testing, ensuring reliable recovery, quality control, and compliance with international standards. So, it’s ideal for use in labs and organizations responsible for water safety and regulatory compliance, including environmental, public-health and industrial monitoring laboratories, as well as water utilities.

An interesting development for controlled environments, Spectral Blue technology uses multi-wavelength blue light, rather than UV, to sterilise air and surfaces. Ensuring automated antimicrobial protection, it is designed for safe use around people and materials, unlike other alternatives such as hazardous chemicals and UVC radiation.

AnalytiChem also showcased its capabilities in materials science, highlighting its new quantitative Certified Reference Materials (CRM) products launched to support critical minerals research and analytical method development.

Lauda — Temperature control experts,Lauda, used Analytica to showcase their newly completed Universa range with the addition of a new entry-level offering (Universa ECO) for applications such as media preparation. Unlike their PRO and MAX models — which offer cooling, calibration, and upscaling — the ECO is heated only, making it a focused, accessible option for routine lab work and basic temperature control tasks. Targeting chem, pharma, and biotech applications, it rounds out a tiered portfolio that now covers a wide range of user needs and budgets.

Lauda also won the Alto “Best in show” booth design, with an incredibly eye-catching giant video backdrop displayed on an unusual 3D cinema-style screen. It was visible from across the exhibition hall, drawing visitors to the booth with its bright and striking colour contrasts, 3D visual effect, and cinematic theme that continued with complimentary popcorn too!

[can we add the video of the booth?]

Laboperator – The Laboperator booth drew attention at Analytica 2026 thanks, in part, to the friendly and interactive robot on show! Through speaking with the team, we learnt about the vendor-independent solution for laboratory connectivity and workflow automation.

Designed to bridge the gap between lab instruments and digital ecosystems, Laboperator connects devices from hundreds of manufacturers through a single integration layer, enabling real-time data capture, remote monitoring, and automated alerts. The platform supports scalable instrument connectivity and offers a flexible workflow engine that can automate everything from simple data transfers to complex, multi-step SOPs. For labs seeking to reduce manual documentation, improve data quality, and future-proof their digital infrastructure, Laboperator offers a modular, standards-based approach.

HORIBA — HORIBA had arguably one of the broadest new product stories that we saw on the show floor, from materials and pharma through to skin analysis! The big news though was the official launch of its novel Partica particle characterisation analyser.

Proudly introduced as “the newest breakthrough in particle size technology” HORIBA’s Partica, combines laser diffraction and dynamic imaging to analyse both particle size and shape simultaneously within one minute. This helps not only elevate the level of research and development and quality control, but also increases efficiency – up to 50% reduction in the time for measurements compared to conventional models. Also new is its ability to take wet and dry measurements on the same sample at the same time – something no other instrument currently does!

Also impressive, was HORIBA’s new In Vivo Raman analyser for advanced real-time, non-invasive molecular analysis of skin and biological tissues, perfect for a variety of research and development applications. The compact RZ-660 is easy-to-use and targeted at cosmetic developers, dermatologists, and researchers seeking precise skin characterisation without need for sampling.

Leica Microsystems — We spoke to some great application scientists on the Leica stand and had a number of exciting product demos!

This included the latest version of Leica’s UC Enuity ultramicrotome for biological samples, which focuses on automation. The instrument dramatically reduces manual handling with processing time reductions of up to 20x compared to conventional approaches, according to figures shared at the show. Given that minimising sample handling is a consistent priority in biological workflows, the level of automation on offer here represents a meaningful step forward.

Around 18 months old but still generating strong interest, the Mateo FL is Leica’s GMP-enabled cell culture microscope designed for routine analysis. Its inverted configuration means it works directly with flasks and dishes, and the touchscreen interface makes it genuinely simple to use in a busy lab environment. A solid, practical instrument for anyone working in cell culture.

Eppendorf – Eppendorf is always one of the most popular exhibitors at Analytica, and this year was no different, with a steady stream of delegates visiting the booth (and sometimes needing to queue in the walkways for a space on stand!). The new Research 3 Neo pipettes took centre stage, showcasing the recently launched colourful range of manual pipettes and accessories. Alto was closely involved in the product launch messaging for the Research 3 Neo, developing the main tagline “Find your best fit”, which exemplifies adjustability, ergonomic design and precision. Beyond pipettes, Eppendorf showcased its holistic product range for end-to-end lab workflows, including lab consumables, automated liquid handlers, incubators and centrifuges. 

Unchained Labs — Unchained Labs, represented by Marc Richter, introduced us to a new product that brings AI to experimental setup and automation. Historically, programming the hundreds of parameters required for automated workflows was a time-consuming process. The new system allows users to feed a publication directly to the AI, which then configures the experiment automatically. For labs running complex automated workflows, the time savings could be significant. Definitely one to watch as it moves toward wider release.

Shimadzu – Shimadzu used Analytica to mark the 70th anniversary of its gas chromatography product line, with an exciting booth layout and design focused on heritage and momentum. The ‘NEW’ stickers were everywhere! With an abundance of new product and technology launches across the large booth, including the Nexis GC-2060, which is positioned as the new flagship GC instrument.

Alongside this, the Nexera chromatography systems caught our attention after working on some content last year – it was great to see the newest one in person! Rounding out the instrument launches were the PL-40 plate loader for automated sample feeding on LC and LC-MS systems, and the MultiNA II MCE-301 microchip electrophoresis system, which succeeds the original MultiNA from 2007 and automates the full electrophoresis workflow.

Hamilton — Hamilton had a strong presence at Analytica, with the Cell Care FLASK the highlight of our visit. Thanks to some brilliant social media communications from its product manager, we were super keen to check it out! It’s an automated T-flask handling system designed to take routine cell culture maintenance, including feeding, passaging, and harvesting, off the bench! It works in a closed, controlled environment, reducing operator variability while protecting sterility by design. What makes it technically distinctive is MagPearl technology, which enables sterile fluid transfer. Aimed squarely at pharma and biopharma, it’s a well-considered answer to a genuine workflow bottleneck.

Hamilton were also showcasing GlucoSense, their recently launched real-time in-situ glucose sensor for mammalian cell culture bioreactors, and the Fluoreye on-deck fluorescence detection module — rounding out a booth with a clear focus on taking variability out of biological workflows.

Knauer — Knauer presented their Modular Chromatography System, developed in collaboration with a partner company. Positioned against established players in the space, the system was built with user-friendly software (with graphic design clearly a priority!) and a modular architecture that allows users to swap pump heads or remove modules to manage costs. Scalable to larger volumes and designed to flex with the user’s needs, it’s a strong proposition for labs that want flexibility without compromising on capability.

Themes We Noticed Across the Show

A few clear threads ran through many of the conversations we had on the floor:

– AI as an enabler, not a replacement. From SciSure’s DataChaperone to Unchained Labs’ experimental setup tool, the most credible AI applications we saw were focused on removing friction and saving time — not replacing scientific judgement.

–Automation reducing the burden of manual processes. Whether it was cell culture media handling or parameter programming, multiple exhibitors were looking to solve the same problem: reducing the time scientists spend on repetitive handling tasks so they can focus on higher-value work.

–Instrument design catching up with usability. Several products stood out not just for their technical capability but for how accessible they were with touchscreens, modular components, simplified interfaces. There’s a clear trend toward instruments that are powerful and easy to use.

Our Takeaway

Analytica 2026 reinforced that innovation in laboratory technology is increasingly happening at the intersection of hardware, software, and intelligent automation. The companies that impressed most weren’t just launching new instruments — they were rethinking workflows and designing the tools to optimise outcomes. As a life science marketing agency, it’s exactly this kind of development that we help companies communicate clearly and compellingly to the right audiences.

If you’re one of the companies we met on the floor, or if you’d like to talk about how we can help tell your product story — we’d love to hear from you!