The global sterilization industry is evolving rapidly as healthcare providers, pharmaceutical manufacturers, medical device companies, laboratories, and other regulated industries place greater emphasis on infection prevention, product safety, process validation, and regulatory compliance.

The global market was valued at approximately USD 18.32 billion in 2025 and is estimated at USD 19.39 billion in 2026. The market is projected to reach USD 27.60 billion by 2031, representing a 7.3% CAGR from 2026 to 2031. The report covers sterilization instruments, sterilization services, consumables and accessories, and technologies including heat, low-temperature processes, and radiation. 

The market is being influenced by increasing infection-control requirements, growing surgical activity, expansion of healthcare infrastructure, pharmaceutical and medical-device manufacturing, and regulatory requirements surrounding sterilization validation and process control. MarketsandMarkets also identifies sterilization consumables and accessories as a particularly fast-growing segment, with a projected 10.6% CAGR during 2026–2031. 

However, the sterilization ecosystem extends well beyond manufacturers of conventional autoclaves. It includes low-temperature sterilization companies, sterilization-assurance providers, contract sterilization organizations, radiation-processing specialists, laboratory autoclave manufacturers, sterile-processing suppliers, and companies involved in sterile filtration.

Against this broader industry background, the following 25 companies represent a selected cross-section of organizations active in sterilization equipment, sterilization services, infection prevention, sterilization assurance, sterile processing, and related technologies.

1. STERIS

STERIS is a global healthcare and life-sciences technology company with activities spanning sterilization, decontamination, infection prevention, and contract sterilization.

Its portfolio includes equipment and services for medical-device, pharmaceutical, and biotechnology manufacturers, including washing, sterilization, decontamination, and water-purification equipment. STERIS also provides contract sterilization services, giving the company exposure to both equipment-based and outsourced sterilization models. 

The company’s positioning across healthcare facilities and life-sciences manufacturing allows it to participate in several stages of the sterilization workflow, from equipment and consumables to outsourced processing.

2. Sotera Health

Sotera Health operates through three businesses—Sterigenics, Nordion, and Nelson Labs—and provides sterilization, irradiation, laboratory testing, and advisory services to the healthcare and life-sciences industries. 

Its Sterigenics business focuses on outsourced terminal sterilization and irradiation. Technologies offered include gamma irradiation, ethylene oxide, electron beam, and X-ray sterilization, with the company operating a global network of facilities. 

This makes Sotera Health particularly relevant to medical-device and pharmaceutical manufacturers that outsource terminal sterilization rather than operating dedicated sterilization facilities themselves.

3. Fortive

Fortive participates in sterilization primarily through Advanced Sterilization Products (ASP), one of its operating companies within Advanced Healthcare Solutions. ASP develops infection-prevention technologies for healthcare facilities. 

ASP’s portfolio includes low-temperature sterilization systems and sterilization-assurance technologies. Fortive acquired ASP from Johnson & Johnson in 2019; at the time, ASP’s portfolio included STERRAD low-temperature sterilization systems and technologies for endoscope reprocessing. 

ASP continues to develop sterilization technologies, including hydrogen-peroxide-based systems and sterilization monitoring solutions. 

4. Getinge AB

Sweden-based Getinge provides sterile-processing and sterilization technologies for hospitals, laboratories, pharmaceutical manufacturing, and other life-sciences environments.

Its portfolio includes steam sterilizers, low-temperature sterilizers, sterilizer loading systems, transport and storage solutions, trays, and related sterile-processing equipment. 

Getinge’s Poladus 150 is a low-temperature vaporized-hydrogen-peroxide sterilizer designed for heat-sensitive surgical instruments. The company also supplies larger steam sterilizers for hospital sterile-processing departments.The company’s product range illustrates the industry’s shift toward integrated sterile-processing workflows rather than standalone sterilization machines.

5. Solventum

Solventum has a significant presence in sterilization assurance, particularly through technologies inherited from the former 3M Health Care business.

Its Attest portfolio includes biological indicators, chemical indicators, integrators, auto-readers, and other products used to monitor sterilization processes. Solventum states that its sterilization-assurance system is designed to support steam, vaporized hydrogen peroxide, and ethylene oxide sterilization processes. 

The company’s role is therefore different from that of a conventional autoclave manufacturer. Its products focus on helping healthcare and sterile-processing professionals verify and document that sterilization processes have been appropriately monitored.

6. Cardinal Health

Cardinal Health is a diversified healthcare company involved in pharmaceutical distribution, medical products, laboratory products, and healthcare supply-chain services. 

Its relevance to sterilization includes the manufacture of sterile and non-sterile medical devices. Independent certification records from BSI document Cardinal Health facilities involved in the manufacture of medical devices and the sterilization of medical devices made by and for Cardinal Health. 

This positions Cardinal Health more closely to the sterile medical-device manufacturing and supply-chain side of the market than to the standalone sterilizer-equipment segment.

7. Stryker Corporation

Stryker is a major medical-device company whose connection with sterilization is closely associated with medical-device reprocessing and sterile processing.

Its reprocessing program involves collecting devices, cleaning and disassembling them, inspecting and testing them, and sterilizing and repackaging eligible products before returning them to healthcare facilities. 

This makes Stryker relevant to the broader sterilization ecosystem through device reprocessing rather than as a conventional standalone sterilizer manufacturer.

8. Merck KGaA

Merck KGaA participates in sterilization-related applications primarily through its Life Science business, particularly sterile filtration and contamination-control technologies.

Merck’s Millipore portfolio includes sterilizing-grade membrane filters for pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical processing. Its Millipore Express and Durapore products are designed for sterile filtration of liquids, while other filtration products support sterile gas and process applications. 

This is an important distinction: Merck is not primarily an autoclave or sterilization-equipment manufacturer. Its relevance lies in sterile filtration and aseptic processing, particularly within pharmaceutical manufacturing.

9. MMM Group

MMM Group develops equipment and systems for sterile-goods reprocessing.

The company supplies washers, disinfectors, sterilizers, and related equipment for hospitals, laboratories, research organizations, pharmaceutical companies, and other life-sciences environments. 

Its portfolio spans both healthcare and life-sciences applications, allowing it to participate in hospital sterile-processing departments as well as pharmaceutical and laboratory environments.

10. Antonio Matachana S.A.

Matachana Group is a Spanish company focused on sterilization, infection-control, and related healthcare equipment.

Its healthcare portfolio includes steam sterilizers, low-temperature sterilization systems, mini-claves, washer-disinfectors, and equipment for central sterilization departments. 

The company also develops integrated solutions for hospital sterilization centers and special applications such as biocontaminated waste treatment.

11. Miele Group

Miele has expanded its presence in medical technology through its Steelco business and the creation of SteelcoBelimed, a joint venture with Metall Zug.

SteelcoBelimed provides cleaning, disinfection, and sterilization solutions for hospitals, laboratories, research environments, pharmaceutical manufacturing, and life-sciences applications. Miele holds a 67% stake in the joint venture. 

The company’s medical-technology portfolio includes sterile-processing equipment, sterilizers, washer-disinfectors, and integrated workflow solutions. SteelcoBelimed’s Infection Control business specifically focuses on cleaning and sterilization solutions for medical, laboratory, and research applications. 

12. Tuttnauer

Tuttnauer is a specialist sterilization and infection-control equipment manufacturer with more than a century of operating history.

The company’s product portfolio includes autoclaves, washer-disinfectors, hospital sterile-processing equipment, laboratory sterilizers, and dental sterilization systems. Tuttnauer states that its equipment is used in hospitals, research institutes, clinics, laboratories, dental practices, and veterinary facilities across more than 140 countries. 

Its presence across medical, dental, laboratory, and veterinary applications gives Tuttnauer exposure to several major end-user segments.

13. Andersen Sterilizers

Andersen Sterilizers specializes in low-temperature ethylene oxide sterilization technologies.

Its product portfolio includes the AN75 series and EOGas systems. These systems are designed for applications involving instruments and medical devices that may not be suitable for conventional high-temperature sterilization. 

Andersen’s technology is particularly relevant to complex and difficult-to-sterilize medical devices, including devices containing long lumens.

14. Noxilizer, Inc.

Noxilizer specializes in nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) sterilization, positioning the technology as an alternative for applications where traditional sterilization approaches can create material-compatibility or product-integrity challenges.

The company describes its NO₂ platform as an ultra-low-temperature, low-pressure process designed for applications including prefilled syringes, biologic drug-device combination products, and medical devices. 

Noxilizer also provides sterilization development and validation support. Its current platform emphasizes short sterilization cycles and the avoidance of conventional ethylene-oxide off-gassing requirements. 

15. De Lama S.p.A.

Italian company De Lama develops sterilization, washing, and decontamination equipment for pharmaceutical and medical-device applications.

Its portfolio includes saturated-steam autoclaves, air-steam sterilizers, superheated-water sterilizers, dry-heat sterilizers, ethylene-oxide systems, and vaporized-hydrogen-peroxide systems. 

The company’s HyPerPure technology uses vaporized hydrogen peroxide under deep vacuum and is designed particularly for heat-sensitive products, including medical devices.

16. C.B.M. S.r.l. Medical Equipment

C.B.M. is an Italian medical-equipment manufacturer with a long history in the development of equipment and accessories for sterile-processing environments.

Its portfolio includes stainless-steel steam sterilizers, hot-air sterilizers, sterilization containers, drums, baskets, and other instrument-handling products. 

C.B.M.’s sterilization containers are designed for transporting and storing instruments during and after sterilization, making the company relevant not only to sterilization itself but also to the sterile-barrier and instrument-management workflow. 

17. E-BEAM Services, Inc.

E-BEAM Services specializes in electron-beam sterilization and irradiation services.

Its technology uses high-energy electrons to inactivate microorganisms and can be applied to medical devices, pharmaceuticals, labware, medical tubing, wound dressings, and other products. 

The company provides contract processing and supports medical-device manufacturers from development through commercial production. It also offers validation and technical support associated with electron-beam sterilization. 

Electron-beam processing can be particularly relevant for products requiring rapid processing or for applications where manufacturers are evaluating alternatives to ethylene oxide or gamma irradiation.

18. Life Science Outsourcing, Inc.

Life Science Outsourcing (LSO) is a medical-device contract manufacturing organization offering assembly, packaging, testing, sterilization, and validation services.

LSO provides EtO, steam, gamma, and electron-beam sterilization capabilities, with sterilization validation performed according to applicable standards including ISO 11135 and ISO 11137. 

Its model integrates sterilization with other medical-device manufacturing activities, including cleanroom assembly, packaging, package testing, and fulfillment. This can be particularly useful for medical-device companies seeking an integrated end-of-line manufacturing and sterilization partner.

19. Systec GmbH & Co. KG

Systec specializes in laboratory and industrial autoclaves and steam sterilizers.

Its portfolio ranges from tabletop laboratory autoclaves to large floor-standing and pass-through systems, with chamber capacities extending to approximately 1,580 liters. 

Systec serves research laboratories, pharmaceutical companies, biotechnology organizations, quality-control facilities, and production environments. Its systems can be used for sterilizing liquids, solids, waste, and biohazardous materials.

The company also provides digital monitoring through Systec Connect, allowing users to monitor equipment status and process information. 

20. Continental Equipment Company

Continental Equipment Company focuses on steam sterilization equipment, including laboratory sterilizers, autoclaves, bulk sterilizers, and related services.

The company supplies equipment to laboratories, universities, pharmaceutical manufacturers, research institutions, veterinary biological manufacturers, and healthcare facilities. 

Its business also includes reconditioned sterilizers, equipment upgrades, preventive maintenance, repair services, and water-conservation technologies.

This gives Continental a distinct position within the equipment lifecycle and aftermarket-services segment.

21. Midwest Sterilization Corporation

Midwest Sterilization Corporation specializes in contract ethylene oxide sterilization for medical-device manufacturers.

The company operates sterilization facilities in the United States and provides customized EO sterilization cycles according to customer product requirements. 

Its positioning illustrates the continuing role of outsourced EO sterilization in medical-device manufacturing, particularly for products requiring low-temperature terminal sterilization.

22. BGS Beta-Gamma-Service GmbH & Co. KG

BGS Beta-Gamma-Service specializes in industrial radiation processing, including electron-beam and gamma sterilization.

The company serves medical technology, pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and other industries in which sterilization is required. Its applications include medical devices, packaging materials, consumables, and implants. 

BGS also provides technical support covering areas such as material selection and packaging configuration for radiation processing.

The company’s capabilities place it within the growing radiation-sterilization and outsourced-processing segment.

23. ACMAS Technologies (P) Ltd.

India-based ACMAS Technologies manufactures sterilization and laboratory equipment, including vertical autoclaves.

Its autoclave systems are designed for applications involving medical clinics, dental offices, veterinary facilities, pharmaceutical laboratories, and research institutions. 

The company’s product range includes solutions for steam, dry-heat, and ethylene-oxide sterilization, giving it exposure to several sterilization modalities.

ACMAS also highlights programmable cycles, temperature and pressure controls, safety interlocks, installation, training, maintenance, and technical support as part of its offering. 

24. Celitron Medical Technologies Kft

Celitron Medical Technologies, based in Hungary, develops steam sterilizers and integrated medical-waste treatment systems.

The company supplies small, medium, and large steam sterilizers for dental offices, clinics, hospitals, and other healthcare facilities. It also develops integrated sterilizer-and-shredder systems for infectious medical waste. 

Celitron states that its equipment is deployed internationally and that its products are manufactured under quality systems including ISO 9001 and ISO 13485.

Its combination of instrument sterilization and medical-waste treatment gives it exposure to both conventional sterile processing and healthcare waste-management applications.

25. Prince Sterilization Services, LLC

Prince Sterilization Services provides contract sterilization and sterile-component solutions to pharmaceutical, medical-device, and life-sciences companies.

Its sterilization capabilities include moist-heat steam, dry heat, vaporized hydrogen peroxide, and depyrogenation. The company also produces ready-to-use sterile components such as vials, seals, and stoppers. 

Prince operates an FDA-registered, cGMP-compliant, ISO 13485-certified facility in New Jersey and combines sterilization services with cleanroom packaging and ready-to-use component manufacturing. 

Conclusion

The sterilization industry is no longer defined solely by conventional steam autoclaves.

The broader market encompasses hospital sterile-processing equipment, low-temperature sterilization, radiation processing, sterilization assurance, laboratory autoclaves, contract sterilization, sterile filtration, medical-device reprocessing, and integrated infection-control systems.

The 25 companies discussed above demonstrate this diversity. STERIS, Getinge, MMM, Matachana, Miele/SteelcoBelimed, Tuttnauer, Systec, C.B.M., ACMAS, and Celitron are associated with equipment and sterile-processing infrastructure. Fortive/ASP, Solventum, and Andersen address specialized sterilization and assurance technologies. Sotera Health, E-BEAM Services, Midwest Sterilization, Life Science Outsourcing, BGS, Noxilizer, and Prince represent different approaches to outsourced and specialized sterilization services.

Meanwhile, companies such as Cardinal Health, Stryker, and Merck KGaA demonstrate how sterilization intersects with sterile medical-device manufacturing, reprocessing, pharmaceutical manufacturing, and sterile filtration.

As healthcare and life-sciences companies continue to prioritize infection prevention, product integrity, regulatory compliance, and manufacturing efficiency, these different segments are likely to remain interconnected components of the global sterilization ecosystem through 2031.