Reports estimate that global lyophilization equipment market size will register substantial gains by 2026, driven by rapid expansion of food processing and pharmaceutical industries and the growing adoption of lyophilized products worldwide. Ongoing technological innovations by manufacturers to help meet the surging demand for high quality products with improved stability and a longer shelf life will certainly bolster the industry outlook.

On the basis of product, global lyophilization equipment industry is classified into tray-style freeze dryers, rotary freeze dryers, and manifold freeze dryers. Tray-style freeze dryers accounted for a revenue share of more than US$3.5 billion in 2019 and will continue to witness a significant adoption by 2026. These are generally preferred in the long-term storage of labile drugs and pharmaceuticals.

Tray-style freeze dryers are highly sophisticated and are used for drying a wide range of materials. They can be used to produce driest form of the product for long-term of storage. These dryers allow the product to be frozen in place and perform both primary and secondary freeze drying, thus enabling manufacturers to produce the driest possible end product.

Depending upon the scale of operation, the market is bifurcated into pilot-scale lyophilization equipment, bench-top lyophilization equipment, and industrial-scale lyophilization equipment. The demand for pilot-scale lyophilization equipment is slated to grow at a CAGR of over 8.6% through 2026, driven by growing adoption of the technology across small-scale research organizations and laboratories. Their widespread adoption can be linked with advantages such as convenient temperature control functionality and a better service life.

In terms of the applications, global lyophilization equipment industry is segmented into food processing, biotechnology, biomedical, pharmaceutical, and others. Food processing application segment accounted for a market share of over US$1.5 billion in 2019 and is expected to record notable growth in the future. These trends are mainly driven by growing demand for lyophilized food products among consumers combined with rapid expansion of the food processing sector worldwide.

Lyophilization or freeze drying is highly effective in increasing the shelf life and storage of food products while retaining their integrity and three-dimensional shape. The technique is commonly used in preservation of a wide range of food products. Freeze dried foods have a much better quality than foods dehydrated through other techniques. Lyophilization preserves flavor, color, and appearance of food products while minimizing thermal damage to heat-sensitive nutrients. Moreover, as the process occurs in solid state, the texture is preserved as well.

Considering the regional landscape, Asia Pacific lyophilization equipment market size is projected to expand at a healthy CAGR of more than 9.7% through 2026. The flourishing biotechnology and biopharmaceutical sectors in APAC countries will capture a fair share of the regional market. In addition, increased awareness regarding the health and nutritional benefits of freeze dried products will bolster the regional outlook significantly.