AGROLAB News

From a startup in Oberhummel to a Europe-wide network of laboratories

40 years collage

The pioneering years: Analytics goes digital (1986 – 1994)

It all began in the old school in Oberhummel. While the industry was still bogged down in paper forms, we consistently focused on bits and bytes.

 

  • 1986: Paul Wimmer founds AGROLAB Labor GmbH. The vision: to convert analysis data directly into digital fertiliser recommendations. A real technical advance for agriculture.
  • 1992: We prove that our system is scalable: our first step beyond the Bavarian border takes us to Thuringia (Oberdorla).
  • 1999: Expansion of agricultural analysis across Germany through the acquisition of the Koldingen Institute.

Growth with substance: from field to plate (1995 – 2005)

We realised early on that quality knows no boundaries. That's why we expanded our focus from the soil to the entire value chain.

 

  • 1995: Entry into environmental analysis through the acquisition of Dr. Blasy-Dr. Busse in Eching. Water and soil become new core competencies.
  • 2001: A decisive year. With LUFA-ITL in Kiel, the group gains a wealth of experience in food and feed analysis. At the same time, we expand beyond the German border and take over the Dr. Axel Begert environmental laboratory in Austria.
  • 2002 – 2005: AGROLAB goes international. We begin our European success story with our first activities in the Netherlands and France. We learn and grow with our new tasks.

The European network consolidates (2006 – 2018)

AGROLAB becomes a brand synonymous with efficiency. We export our Bavarian values to new markets, with knowledge exchange between our international teams becoming the most important driving force.

 

  • 2006 – 2008: Consolidation in Western and Southern Europe. Following the takeover of Dr. Verwey in Rotterdam (2006), the Spanish Vidal Group is acquired in its entirety in 2008.
  • 2011: Market entry in Poland. We demonstrate that our system is also valued in Eastern Europe.
  • 2014: Italy becomes part of the AGROLAB family. With the purchase of R&C Lab, we massively strengthen our presence in the south.

Growth with a firm footing: investing in independence (2019 – present)

We invest in our freedom and fill in the last blank spots on the map – with the hunger of a start-up, but the experience of 40 years.

 

  • 2019: Move to the new holding company headquarters in Landshut. A clear commitment to our Lower Bavarian home.
  • 2021 – 2025: We are expanding our areas of expertise through targeted acquisitions such as Belan in Austria and IMU, which specialises in mineral oil.
  • 2026/2027: Building the future. A modern environmental laboratory is currently being built in Heudebouville, France. For our local customers, this means shorter distances and faster response times thanks to a regional team.
  • Today: New horizons. We are consolidating our presence in Switzerland and have now established our own location in Belgium. Most recently, with a new laboratory in Romania, we are taking the first step into another important market in South-Eastern Europe. We are starting small there – just as we did back then in Oberhummel.