Labover
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Biotechnology, Laboratory construction |
| Founded | 1953 |
| Headquarters | France |
| Products | Mobile BSL-3 laboratory units, autoclaves, furnaces, laboratory furniture, solvents |
Labover is a French biotechnology firm focused on the design and construction of laboratory facilities.
History
Established in 1953, Labover has produced more than 20 mobile BSL-3 laboratory units in truck-trailer configurations since the year 2000, primarily serving French military hospitals and research institutions.
In 1994, Labover formed a collaboration with two companies to provide complete turnkey laboratory solutions within France. By 1997, its ISO9000-certified product range featured autoclaves, furnaces, and laboratory furniture aimed at research organizations, educational institutions, and government bodies.
Prior to October 2003, four BSL-3 mobile laboratories mounted on tractor-trailers were sold to the Palestinian Authority. The following year, a bilateral agreement between France and China led to the donation of four truck-trailer BSL-3 laboratories valued at €3.2 million. These laboratories are installed on Mercedes-Benz truck frames inside 40-foot containers, accompanied by separate 20-foot containers that accommodate power generation and water purification equipment.
In 2014, Labover provided essential solvents such as acetone and ethanol for scientific applications at Montpellier's IBMM research center.
A 2019 analysis by Zhiming Yuan from the Chinese Academy of Sciences detailed how China adapted and improved upon Labover’s mobile BSL-3 laboratory designs over ten years. This adaptation facilitated China’s deployment of indigenous mobile units during Ebola outbreak responses in Sierra Leone. By that time, China had constructed upwards of 100 new BSL-3 labs inspired by Labover’s technology, representing a major achievement in biosafety infrastructure with international reach.