Products with Purpose
Interview with Thomas Weiland, Managing Director of ratiolab GmbH
Ideally, work should be more than just a means to an end. More and more people are looking for meaningful activities, a job that not only secures a living but also aligns personal values and broader societal goals. This is the case with ratiolab GmbH in Dreieich. The company manufactures consumables for laboratories used in various fields; in cancer research as well as in fighting oil pollution in the seas.
Wirtschaftsforum: Mr. Weiland, you have been with ratiolab since 2013, starting as a sales representative and have been managing director since February 2024. How have you experienced the company during this time? Are there any particular developments or milestones that have favored the constant growth of ratiolab?
Thomas Weiland: The company's slogan is 'We are only satisfied when you are.' This maxim has always been a guiding principle for ratiolab and a key to success. But there have also been various steps that have contributed to growth. When founded in 1975, the company was a trade agency for saline solution, working with universities. Over time, more and more plastic products were added to the offering and manufactured individually. Since 2011, production has been in Hungary using state-of-the-art technologies. Thus, the company has grown step by step, both in terms of the product portfolio and the markets. Today, exports account for 40% of sales.
Wirtschaftsforum: What does your lineup look like today?
Thomas Weiland: We employ 25 staff at the headquarters in Dreieich, and 60 at the production site in Hungary. The revenue is around 10 million EUR, which is the result of consistent growth in the single-digit range.
Wirtschaftsforum: As a managing director, where do you focus your efforts?
Thomas Weiland: In addition to strategic challenges, I deal with a mix of all operational topics. It's important to me to expand the project business. We want to offer individual solutions and consistently work on sustainable concepts; we are active in the plastics industry, where environmental issues play a central role.
Wirtschaftsforum: ratiolab manufactures consumables for laboratories and has made a name for itself among laboratory distributors worldwide. On what pillars does the portfolio rest?
Thomas Weiland: We differentiate between the categories Pipettes & Equipment, med, Liquid-Handling, Lab-Ware, Life-Science, and Cryo. With Slamed, we offer liquid handling equipment and analytical devices. The analytical devices are particularly suitable for small laboratories. Under Lab-Ware, we group diverse products for general laboratory use such as tubes, analytical and reaction vessels, multipurpose cups and bottles together. Products for microbiology and biotechnology can be found in the Life-Science segment. For laboratories working in the cryogenic field, we offer storage boxes made of various materials suitable for storing cryogenic samples up to -196°C, special storage tubes, and racks for cryogenic devices. New to the range are pipette tips in environmentally friendly cardboard racks, which are very popular with customers. It is important that solutions are created together with the customers; we realize their individual wishes and turn ideas into concrete products.
Wirtschaftsforum: ratiolab enjoys an excellent international reputation. What do customers particularly appreciate about working with ratiolab or the products themselves?
Thomas Weiland: ratiolab is known for being exceptionally fast and flexible. When we are called, we are there. This is why we can today rely on long-lasting, stable partnerships with the trade; in some cases, we have been working together for 30, 40 years. Our customers know that we provide them with complete solutions, always aiming for cost-conscious construction and taking into account their specific requirements. We organize workshops, create prototypes, work with 3D-CAD constructions, set high standards for tool and mold making, offer individual configurations for small and large series, and have the corresponding storage capacities to deliver reliably.
Wirtschaftsforum: 2025 marks 50 years of ratiolab. What does the future look like?
Thomas Weiland: On the agenda are expanding project business, further developing niche products where we see great potential, and expanding our catalog. Given the overwhelming bureaucracy in Germany, these are ambitious plans. Less regulation and bureaucracy would be desirable to relieve companies. Wirtschaftsforum: What do you personally appreciate about your work for ratiolab? Thomas Weiland: I've been given the opportunity to develop further and work with people who are not only professionally competent but are passionate about their work, for which I am very grateful. Last but not least, we develop products that make a difference, products with purpose. In today's world, that is an especially important motivation.