A conversation with founder and owner Michael Keil. (german)

MK Versuchsanlagen und Laborbedarf was founded in 1988 by Michael Keil in his parents’ garage. As a student of agricultural sciences at the time, he focused on biotechnological plant construction on a pilot plant scale for research purposes in Giessen, which included the regeneration and purification of flowing water (Rhine pollution, environmental pollution, etc.) and the development of new purification methods.

Seven years later, the young company moved into its first workshop in Grünberg in central Hesse and the production area was expanded to 300 m². This was followed by the development of pharmaceutical testing systems and the first standardisation of metal-free work areas. The expansion of innovative technologies for pharmacy and biotechnology became an even greater focus. This led to the further development of metal-free work areas for special applications in ultra-trace analytics.

The family business continued to develop steadily. In 2006, the site was relocated to neighbouring Mücke-Merlau and the company area increased to over 2000 m². MK Versuchsanlagen employed 15 people at that time.

MK Versuchsanlagen has been investing heavily in the development of its own hardware and software products for its own systems and pharmaceutical products since 2007. The technical department for electrical engineering / microelectronics was expanded to 350 m² in 2011, which also led to the service department for electronics and microelectronics being expanded. Finally, SerWarTec GmbH was founded in 2012 as an independent service company.

Another milestone is the initial certification of the quality management system in 2014. The investment in modern work structures and the constant expansion of the company’s competitive advantage are reflected in the hiring of the 100th employee in 2019. Currently, MK Versuchsanlagen operates a production and office area of over 4000m². Production takes place exclusively at the Mücke site. The family-owned company also provides training in eight different professions, thus providing an important pillar for the labour market in the Vogelsberg region of Central Hesse.

A major milestone was reached in February 2019 with the establishment of MK METALFREE CORP. in the United States. By that time, the company had already established itself as the global market leader in Glove Testing Devices.
The first U.S. office was opened in Phoenix, Arizona with the aim of distributing and supporting Glove Integrity Testers, Ports, and gloves in the American market.

In the same year, MK Versuchsanlagen acquired the German company Pico Trace GmbH, thereby expanding its portfolio to include service and maintenance of metal-free laminar flow cleanroom solutions in Europe and the USA.

The company highly values employee loyalty. In addition to outdoor workplaces, the social areas are also being expanded, and an in-house lunch service with its own canteen is being operated. The investment in training workshops and a new in-house training concept increase the attractiveness of training in the company and help to ensure the next generation of skilled workers. At the same time, the company’s outdoor facilities are developing into a leisure area that can be used for breaks, meetings and team events. This focus is paying off and the number of employees will grow to 150 in 2021

Since its founding, MK Versuchsanlagen has focussed on niche markets. Over the past 36 years, the company has succeeded in building and establishing “MK” as a world-renowned brand in these markets. In 2024, over 200 employees are contributing towards this success. In addition to Europe’s best-known universities, MK Versuchsanlagen’s customers also include the world’s leading pharmaceutical companies and industrial enterprises.

A new chapter began for the company on January 1, 2025. As of the start of the year, MK Versuchsanlagen und Laborbedarf e.K. became MK Versuchsanlagen GmbH & Co. KG. This step marks not only an organizational advancement but also reflects the company’s rapid growth and ensures a future-ready business structure.

Michael Keil himself describes the company as a mature and growing family business: “We see ourselves as an innovative, modern and committed company. We see shaping our future as our very own challenge, which we’re doing through our innovative and future-orientated products.”

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