Freeze-Drying/ Lyophilization Market by Type (Tray, Shell, Manifold), Scale of operation (Industrial, Lab, Pilot), Application (Food, Pharma & Biotech), Accessories (Loading & Unloading, Monitoring, Vacuum Systems, Drying Chambers)- Global Industry Analysis, Share, Growth, Regional Outlook and Forecasts, 2022-2030

According to Nova one advisor, the global Freeze-Drying/ Lyophilization market size is expected to hit around USD 10.3 billion by 2030 from valued at USD 5.9  billion in 2021 and growing at a CAGR of 12.2% from 2022 to 2030.

The increasing demand for food preservation, rapid growth in contract manufacturing and lyophilization services across the world, rising demand for lyophilized products (especially for the manufacturing of new biologic drugs and injectable formulations), and the technological advancements in lyophilization methods are the major factors driving the growth of this market. On the other hand, the increasing utilization of alternative drying techniques in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries and failure to meet the cGMP regulatory guidelines set by regulatory bodies (resulting in recalls of lyophilized products) are expected to restrain the growth of this market during the forecast period.

Report Scope of the Freeze-Drying/ Lyophilization Market

 Freeze-Drying Equipment Market Dynamics

Drivers: Increasing demand for food preservation

Lyophilization equipment is used for the preservation of various food products, such as fruits and vegetables, meat, fish, herbs and food flavorings, ice creams, and coffee. Freeze-dried foods do not need to be refrigerated or preserved with chemicals and can be reconstituted quickly and easily by adding water. Another major advantage of freeze-drying of food is its ability to produce clean, whole, and nutritious food ingredients with a highly prolonged shelf life (making food products versatile and accessible).

The use of freeze-dried foods is increasing for astronauts and military personnel, as conventional drying methods have major disadvantages. For instance, the high temperatures used can cause chemical or physical changes in food products, and their overall quality is not on par with freeze-dried food products. Considering these advantages, the use of freeze-drying as a food preservation technique is increasing across the globe.

Restrains: Increasing utilization of alternative drying techniques in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries

Lyophilization is an expensive process that involves high operational costs, high energy consumption, high capital investment, and lengthy processing time. Owing to the capital-intensive nature of lyophilization systems, food, pharmaceutical, and biotechnology companies are focusing on alternative drying technologies to reduce the overall cost of products, without compromising on their quality.

Spray drying has been identified as the primary alternative to freeze-drying. It is a one-step process to dry substances with better scalability at lower costs with regards to the equipment, facility, and utilities. Moreover, the drying cycle time for spray drying is significantly lower as compared to lyophilization, which reduces the operational costs for manufacturers. Precipitation, vacuum-microwave dehydration, vacuum foam drying, use of glycerol, and atmospheric freeze-drying are some of the other alternatives for lyophilization. The emergence of such low-cost alternative methods is negatively impacting the market growth. However, lyophilization is the only method to deliver stable, biologically active products with a long shelf life.

Opportunities: Loss of patent protection of several biologics

The biologics market is one of the major contributors to the growth of the freeze-drying market in the healthcare industry. Biosimilars are expected to drive the growth of the biotechnology industry in the next decade. This is because several key biologics are expected to lose their patent in the coming years.

An increasing number of biosimilars are being developed in the market as a cost-effective alternative for biopharmaceutical medications for chronic disorders. The growing R&D and emergence of biosimilars will drive the market for the lyophilization of biologics and biopharmaceutical products. In recent years, over 30% of US FDA-approved parenterals were lyophilized drugs. Soon, more than half of all injectable drugs will require lyophilization, which will further create the demand for lyophilization solutions in the pharmaceutical industry.

Challenges: Difficulties in achieving the desired moisture levels and maintaining product quality

In the lyophilization process, often, the desired level of moisture removal is not achieved; products are contaminated due to the presence of excess amounts of moisture and can result in some potential threats to patients who are administered with these products. Also, the removal of excess moisture can result in product instability, causing loss of integral structure and biological activity. Thus, the accuracy in achieving the desired moisture level is very crucial to avoid contamination of food and pharmaceutical products. Difficulties in achieving these desired moisture levels are a significant challenge for manufacturers.

The tray-style freeze dryers segment accounted for the largest market share in 2021.

Based on type, the lyophilization equipment market is classified into tray-style freeze dryers, manifold freeze dryers, and shell (rotary) freeze dryers. In 2019, the tray-style freeze dryers segment accounted for the largest share of 72.1%. This segment is also estimated to grow at the highest CAGR of 8.2% during the forecast period. Growth in this market is largely driven by factors such as the increasing demand for contract manufacturing and contract lyophilization services in the pharmaceutical industry, the growing commercialization of labile drugs, and the rising demand for freeze-dried food products. Tray-style freeze dryers are also larger than manifold and rotary freeze dryers, enabling them to dry products in bulk.

The industrial-scale lyophilization equipment segment accounted for the largest market share in 2019.

Based on scale of operation, the freeze-drying market is segmented into industrial-scale lyophilization equipment, pilot-scale lyophilization equipment, and laboratory-scale lyophilization equipment. In 2019, the industrial-scale lyophilization equipment segment accounted for the largest share of 68.2% of the market. The large share of this market segment can be attributed to the high standard of quality provided by industrial-scale lyophilization equipment. Industrial-scale lyophilization equipment can also be customized as per process requirements.

The food processing and packaging segment accounted for the largest market share in 2021.

Based on application, the freeze-drying equipment market is segmented into food processing and packaging, pharmaceutical and biotechnology manufacturing, medical applications, and other applications. The food processing and packaging segment accounted for the largest share of 36.3% in 2019. Lyophilization is widely used as a preservation technique for food products, as it retains the nutritional value and flavor of the food. This is a major factor driving market growth. Food ingredients are also freeze-dried to increase their shelf life, which is further propelling the use of this technology in food processing.

The loading & unloading segment accounted for the largest market share in 2021

Based on accessories, the lyophilization equipment market is segmented into vacuum systems, loading & unloading systems, clean-in-place (CIP) systems, drying chambers, controlling & monitoring systems, freeze-drying trays & shelves, manifolds, and other accessories. In 2019, loading & unloading systems held the largest share of 26.6%; this segment is also expected to grow at the highest CAGR of 10.0% during the forecast period. The high growth of this segment can be attributed to technological advancements in lyophilization equipment, reduced cycle times, and improved productivity and fulfillment of aseptic conditions to meet cGMP regulations.

Asia –Pacific was the largest regional market for freeze drying / lyophilization equipment market in 2021

The lyophilization equipment market is segmented into five major regions, namely, North America, Europe, the Asia Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East & Africa. In 2021, the Asia Pacific accounted for the largest share of 36.6% of the market and is projected to register the highest CAGR of 11.4% during the forecast period. The large share of the Asia Pacific regional segment can be attributed to the rising number of investments in this region, growth in R&D expenditure, and geographic expansion of lyophilization equipment companies in this region. Moreover, the presence of major players in the lyophilization market in the APAC region and the expansion of the manufacturing units of leading pharma companies in this region is expected to boost the market growth in this region in the forecast period.

Some of the prominent players in the Freeze-Drying/ Lyophilization Market include:

GEA Group (Germany), Azbil Corporation (Japan), Shanghai Tofflon Science Technology Co., Ltd. (China), IMA S.p.A. (Italy), SP Industries, Inc. (US), HOF Enterprise Group (Germany), Labconco Corporation (US), Martin Christ Gefriertrocknungsanlagen GmbH (Germany), Millrock Technology, Inc. (US), and OPTIMA Packaging Group GmbH (Germany).

Segments Covered in the Report

This report forecasts revenue growth at global, regional, and country levels and provides an analysis of the latest industry trends in each of the sub-segments from 2017 to 2030. For this study, Nova one advisor, Inc. has segmented the global Freeze-Drying/ Lyophilization market

By Type of Lyophilization Equipment

• Tray-style freeze dryers
• Manifold freeze dryers
• Shell (Rotary) freeze dryers

By Scale of Operation

• Industrial-scale lyophilization equipment
• Pilot-scale lyophilization equipment
• Laboratory-scale lyophilization equipment

By Application

• Food Processing and Packaging
• Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology Manufacturing
• Medical applications
• Others

By Accessories

• Loading & Unloading Systems
• Controlling & Monitoring Systems
• Vacuum Systems
• Clean-In-Place (CIP) Systems
• Drying Chambers
• Freeze Drying Trays & Shelves
• Manifolds
• Other accessories

By Geography

North America

• U.S.
• Canada

Europe

• Germany
• France
• United Kingdom
• Rest of Europe

Asia Pacific

• China
• Japan
• India
• Southeast Asia
• Rest of Asia Pacific

Latin America

• Brazil
• Rest of Latin America

Middle East & Africa (MEA)

• GCC
• North Africa
• South Africa
• Rest of Middle East & Africa

Key Benefits for Stakeholders

• This report provides a quantitative analysis of the market segments, current trends, estimations, and dynamics of the global Freeze-Drying/ Lyophilization industry analysis from 2022 to 2030 to identify the prevailing Freeze-Drying/ Lyophilization industry opportunity.
• The market research is offered along with information related to key drivers, restraints, and opportunities.
• Porter's five forces analysis highlights the potency of buyers and suppliers to enable stakeholders make profit-oriented business decisions and strengthen their supplier-buyer network.
• In-depth analysis of the global Freeze-Drying/ Lyophilization industry segmentation assists to determine the prevailing market opportunities.
• Major countries in each region are mapped according to their revenue contribution to the global market.
• Market player positioning facilitates benchmarking and provides a clear understanding of the present position of the market players.
• The report includes the analysis of the regional as well as global Freeze-Drying/ Lyophilization industry trends, key players, market segments, application areas, and market growth strategies.