Sedimentation and Centrifugation Market By Equipment Type (Centrifuges, Sedimentation Equipment); By Application (Pharmaceuticals & Biotech, Water & Wastewater, Food & Beverage, Chemicals); By End User (Industrial Plants, Pharma & Biotech Firms, Utilities, Research Institutions); By Geography, Segment Revenue Estimation, Forecast, 2024–2030

1. Introduction and Strategic Context

The Global Sedimentation And Centrifugation Market is expected to expand steadily, reaching an estimated value of USD 10.2 billion in 2024 , and projected to surpass USD 14.9 billion by 2030 , registering a CAGR of 6.5% during the forecast period, according to Strategic Market Research.

 

At its core, this market revolves around a fundamental separation principle — density. But what’s often overlooked is just how widely this principle touches modern industries. From biologics manufacturing and vaccine purification to wastewater management and food processing, sedimentation and centrifugation are indispensable.

 

The renewed strategic relevance of this market lies in how it's evolving from a mechanical utility into a precision-driven, digitally enabled process. In 2024, pharmaceutical and bioprocessing companies are pushing centrifuge performance to the limits — demanding higher yields, continuous flow options, and better scalability. Meanwhile, environmental regulators are cracking down on industrial waste discharge, forcing wastewater plants to invest in next-generation sedimentation tanks and high-speed decanters.

 

Several structural forces are converging: stricter biomanufacturing standards, escalating demand for biologics and cell therapies, and the rise of modular manufacturing systems. At the same time, energy consumption is under the microscope — prompting manufacturers to engineer more power-efficient centrifuges and retrofitted sedimentation basins.

 

Stakeholders are responding fast. OEMs are launching automation-ready centrifuges with remote diagnostics. Pharma giants are adopting continuous centrifugation for protein and viral vector purification. Municipal utilities are upgrading clarifiers with AI-enabled sludge blanket monitors. And private equity firms are acquiring legacy players in a bid to modernize the installed base across industries.

 

What used to be a back-end industrial process is now a precision-critical front-line operation — especially in sectors like biotech and clean tech, where output quality can't be compromised. The shift isn’t just technical — it’s strategic.

 

2. Market Segmentation and Forecast Scope

The sedimentation and centrifugation market cuts across multiple sectors — each with distinct throughput, precision, and compliance needs. While the core physics remains unchanged, how and where these technologies are applied has shifted dramatically. Here’s a breakdown of the key segmentation dimensions:

By Equipment Type

• Centrifuges These dominate the revenue pool in 2024, with centrifuges accounting for over 62% of global market share. From benchtop microcentrifuges to large-scale industrial separators, demand is booming in biotech, pharma, and energy sectors. The push toward high-throughput and single-use centrifugation systems is particularly strong in biologics production.

• Sedimentation Equipment This includes clarifiers, settlers, thickeners, and lamella-based systems. Growth here is solid, especially in municipal and industrial water treatment where compliance and sustainability targets are intensifying.

Use-case highlight: A chemical plant in Germany recently switched from traditional gravity settlers to inclined plate settlers to meet new EU wastewater mandates — reducing both footprint and processing time.

By Application

• Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology Processing This is the fastest-growing segment, driven by biologics, mRNA, and cell therapy production. Continuous centrifugation and closed-loop separation are now becoming standard in GMP-grade facilities.

• Food and Beverage Industry Used for everything from milk skimming and wine clarification to starch and protein separation. This segment is stable but increasingly focused on energy efficiency and product consistency.

• Water and Wastewater Treatment Municipalities and private utilities are investing in advanced sedimentation tanks and sludge dewatering centrifuges to meet stricter discharge norms and cut operating costs.

• Chemical and Petrochemical Centrifugal separation is critical for catalyst recovery, polymer purification, and emulsion breakdown. Automation and safety upgrades are common investment themes here.

By End User

• Industrial Processing Units These range from refineries and food processors to battery plants. They demand rugged, high-volume systems — often with minimal human intervention.

• Pharmaceutical and Biotech Companies Their priority is sterility, compliance (cGMP), and yield optimization. Closed, automated centrifuge systems with data logging are now preferred.

• Water Utilities and Treatment Facilities Public and private operators use sedimentation for primary clarification and sludge reduction. Remote monitoring and smart flow control are gaining traction.

• Academic and Research Labs Mostly a microcentrifuge and benchtop segment — smaller but steady. Growth is seen in genomics, proteomics, and environmental studies.

By Region

• North America Dominated by pharmaceutical investments and strict water discharge rules. The U.S. leads in biotech centrifuge adoption, while Canada is expanding municipal treatment infrastructure.

• Europe Home to some of the oldest but most efficient wastewater systems. EU Green Deal funding is pushing modernization of sedimentation facilities and sludge handling.

• Asia Pacific This is the fastest-growing region — particularly China and India , where biologics manufacturing, water treatment expansion, and F&B sector upgrades are driving demand.

• Latin America, Middle East & Africa (LAMEA) Growth is more infrastructure-driven. Middle Eastern nations are modernizing desalination and water reuse plants. Latin America is upgrading mining waste separation systems.

Scope Note While traditional industrial buyers still drive volume, pharma and biotech firms are reshaping expectations — demanding cleaner, smarter, and more customizable systems. That shift is slowly influencing even legacy applications in mining, food, and chemicals.

 

3. Market Trends and Innovation Landscape

Innovation in sedimentation and centrifugation used to move at a mechanical pace. Not anymore. Today, this market is shaped by demands for precision, compliance, and digital integration. The shift isn’t just about faster spin cycles — it's about how separation systems are being reengineered to work smarter, cleaner, and closer to the point of need.

Continuous and Single-Use Centrifugation is Reshaping Bioprocessing

The most profound change is happening in biopharma. Traditional batch centrifuges are giving way to continuous-flow systems that enable uninterrupted separation of proteins, cells, and viruses. This is crucial for high-yield biologics, vaccines, and advanced therapies. Some vendors are also introducing single-use centrifuge modules , tailored for small-batch, sterile applications.

One biotech plant in Switzerland recently cut downstream processing time by 28% after switching to a continuous centrifuge with inline monitoring for cell viability.

AI and Sensor Integration Are Driving Smart Separation

Whether in wastewater plants or mRNA production lines, real-time analytics are becoming standard. Sensors embedded in decanter centrifuges or sedimentation tanks now feed data on:

• Vibration and wear

• Flow rate and solids concentration

• Cake dryness and torque trends

This data fuels predictive maintenance, energy optimization, and compliance monitoring. Vendors are building digital twins of separation systems to simulate performance under varying loads — especially valuable in chemical and F&B sectors.

Compact and Modular Systems Are On the Rise

Space constraints and decentralization are pushing demand for compact separation units . From mobile water treatment trailers to modular pharma cleanrooms, customers want systems that are plug-and-play. Modular centrifuges — especially high-speed lab-scale ones — are seeing increased deployment in contract research and vaccine pilot facilities.

Some startups are now offering stackable sedimentation columns for small-scale industrial wastewater trials, particularly in textile and mining industries.

Hybrid and Multi-Stage Designs Gain Popularity

To tackle more complex separation tasks — such as emulsions, slurries, or high-solid biomass — OEMs are rolling out hybrid systems. These combine sedimentation, centrifugal force, and even membrane pre-filtration in a single unit. The aim: maximize efficiency while reducing footprint.

In pulp and paper plants, these systems are helping reduce chemical coagulant use by pre-thickening sludge before final separation.

Sustainability Is Now a Core Design Principle

As separation processes can be energy-intensive, OEMs are reworking designs for lower energy input per cubic meter processed . Some recent models offer up to 30% lower power consumption compared to legacy units. There’s also a push toward:

• Recyclable polymer housings in portable units

• Variable frequency drives for power modulation

• Low-noise decanter systems for urban installations

And with stricter environmental audits, sludge minimization has become a key KPI in both sedimentation and centrifugation workflows.

Strategic Collaborations Are Fueling Specialized R&D

Large players are increasingly partnering with biotech firms, wastewater utilities, and even agricultural processors to co-develop application-specific solutions. These partnerships accelerate field validation and boost adoption.

Just last year, a German OEM collaborated with a global dairy processor to design a new centrifuge that separates plant-based milk at lower shear rates — preserving both texture and nutritional content.

Bottom line: This market isn’t just spinning — it’s transforming. And as use cases expand beyond traditional industrial zones into pharma cleanrooms, biotech labs, and sustainable cities, innovation will keep moving toward intelligence, modularity, and precision.

 

4. Competitive Intelligence and Benchmarking

The sedimentation and centrifugation space is defined by a handful of legacy giants, a growing field of modular disruptors, and sector-specific specialists. What sets leaders apart now isn’t just mechanical performance — it’s how well they solve for precision, sustainability, and digital integration. Here's how the competitive landscape is stacking up.

GEA Group GEA continues to dominate in both industrial centrifugation and bioprocessing. Their separators and decanters are widely used across dairy, pharma, and wastewater sectors. Recently, they’ve doubled down on smart decanter systems with built-in vibration sensors and AI-based fault prediction. GEA’s ecoforce series is now a go-to option for customers looking to reduce energy use without sacrificing yield.

Their multi-sector strength remains a moat — but they’re now positioning as a digital service provider, not just an equipment vendor.

Alfa Laval Sweden’s Alfa Laval leads the way in disc stack centrifuges and sedimentation systems for both clean-tech and food industries. Their centrifugal separation units are known for durability and are now being equipped with remote diagnostics dashboards. Alfa Laval also has a strong play in municipal and industrial sludge dewatering , offering compact systems that are easy to retrofit into older plants.

What makes them stand out? Their cross-market reach — from shipboard oil separation to biotech clarification.

ANDRITZ This Austrian group is especially strong in wastewater and mining sedimentation systems. Their thickeners and clarifiers are widely used in pulp, metal, and mineral processing. ANDRITZ is pushing forward with autonomous sedimentation monitoring and has developed centrifuge models that recover process heat — a clever sustainability angle that appeals to energy-conscious operators.

They’re not flashy, but in capex-heavy verticals, ANDRITZ often gets the call because of their track record and total cost of ownership advantage.

Sartorius Focused purely on biotech and pharmaceutical centrifugation , Sartorius has become a premium player. Their benchtop and pilot-scale centrifuge units are designed for cleanroom environments and integrate seamlessly into single-use workflows. Sartorius is also investing in continuous bioprocessing systems , where centrifugal clarification is tightly coupled with filtration and chromatography.

They're winning in cell and gene therapy labs — where compliance, sterility, and data traceability are non-negotiable.

Thermo Fisher Scientific Thermo Fisher's strength is on the lab and research side. Their refrigerated microcentrifuges and floor models are common in university labs, CROs, and genomic research centers . While not a heavyweight in industrial separation, they play a vital role in early-stage process development — especially for mRNA and DNA purification.

Their value lies in precision, scalability, and global service coverage — not industrial throughput.

Flottweg SE A midsize player with German roots, Flottweg excels in custom-built centrifuge systems for wastewater, food, and oil recovery sectors. They’re gaining traction in smaller municipalities and mid-size breweries due to their easy-to-maintain modular units . They also provide containerized plug-and-play systems, ideal for remote installations or capacity expansion trials.

 

5. Regional Landscape and Adoption Outlook

Adoption of sedimentation and centrifugation technologies doesn’t just vary by sector — it varies sharply by geography. While some regions are leaning into biotech-grade continuous centrifugation, others are still investing in gravity-based clarifiers to meet basic environmental mandates. Let’s unpack the key regional dynamics.

North America

The U.S. and Canada represent a mature, innovation-driven market — especially in biopharmaceuticals, water management, and food processing . Biologic manufacturers in the U.S. are among the earliest adopters of single-use and continuous centrifuge systems , particularly for viral vector and monoclonal antibody production.

EPA regulations around sludge handling and effluent discharge are also prompting wastewater facilities to retrofit with AI-monitored decanters and automated thickening tanks . In Canada, municipal infrastructure upgrades are boosting adoption of compact clarifiers in mid-sized towns.

There’s a shift toward decentralization here — smaller biotech hubs, rural water districts, and mobile treatment systems are demanding portable, low-footprint separation units .

Europe

Europe leads on sustainability and energy optimization in separation processes. Thanks to initiatives like the EU Green Deal and strict sludge directive targets, both private and public utilities are investing in high-efficiency sedimentation systems . Germany, the Nordics, and the Netherlands are standout adopters of closed-loop centrifuge networks in both wastewater and dairy processing.

In biotech hotspots like Switzerland, Belgium, and the UK , centrifuges are being fully integrated into GMP-compliant continuous manufacturing lines . Several EU-funded programs are also advancing biosolids valorization — transforming separated sludge into energy or fertilizer.

One utility near Lyon upgraded to a hybrid sedimentation-filtration unit and cut energy use by 22% while meeting new phosphorus discharge limits.

Asia Pacific

This is by far the fastest-growing region — but also the most heterogeneous. China and India are leading in volume, driven by their booming pharmaceutical, dairy, and wastewater sectors .

• In China, a wave of biologics CDMOs and vaccine manufacturers are demanding scalable, GMP-grade centrifuge platforms.

• India is scaling up industrial effluent compliance — particularly in textiles, tannery, and dye industries — and adopting settlers and decanters as part of ETP/ETP-ZLD systems.

Japan and South Korea remain focused on compact, digitally integrated units — especially in F&B and municipal reuse.

Southeast Asia is another growth pocket. Urban water stress and tourism pressure are driving demand for mobile sedimentation trailers and low-energy centrifuge retrofits in countries like Thailand and Vietnam.

Latin America, Middle East, and Africa (LAMEA)

Adoption here is driven more by infrastructure development and environmental compliance , rather than biotech or high-end manufacturing.

• Brazil is investing in separation systems across pulp, mining, and municipal wastewater sectors.

• Mexico is seeing growing uptake in food-grade centrifuges as exports to the U.S. rise.

• In the Middle East , desalination plants in the UAE and Saudi Arabia are adopting centrifugal pretreatment and sludge reduction units to improve water reuse.

In Africa , sedimentation is more prevalent than centrifugation — largely due to cost and energy constraints. However, several NGOs and public-private initiatives are introducing solar-powered clarifiers and mobile centrifuge kits for emergency and rural deployment.

 

6. End-User Dynamics and Use Case

Across industries, sedimentation and centrifugation systems are no longer just capital equipment — they’re operational linchpins. For many users, a well-tuned separation process means the difference between regulatory approval, batch failure, or profit margin. But expectations vary widely across end-user categories.

Pharmaceutical and Biotech Companies

These are now the most exacting buyers in the market. The rise of biologics, cell therapies, and mRNA-based drugs has transformed how centrifuges are viewed — from utility machines to process-critical equipment.

Users in this segment demand:

• Closed-system centrifugation to avoid contamination

• Automated CIP/SIP features for compliance

• Data-logging and real-time analytics for quality assurance

Centrifuge downtime in a biotech facility could delay a product release or invalidate a batch. That’s why many firms prefer vendors with 24/7 service contracts and digital diagnostics .

One U.S.-based cell therapy company recently integrated a continuous-flow centrifuge into its GMP suite — cutting batch clarification time from 3 hours to under 50 minutes.

Water and Wastewater Treatment Facilities

These users prioritize reliability, low operating costs, and compliance . They often run 24/7 operations under tight municipal oversight, so unscheduled downtime can lead to hefty penalties.

Sedimentation tanks and decanters in this sector are evolving to include:

• Sludge blanket monitors

• Remote turbidity sensors

• Automated polymer dosing integration

That said, most of these facilities operate on fixed public budgets — making energy savings and predictable maintenance schedules more important than cutting-edge features.

Industrial Processing Plants (Chemicals, F&B, Mining)

Here, the story is about throughput, durability, and contamination control . In food plants, centrifuges often run in high-moisture, high-cleanliness environments. In chemical processing, they face corrosive compounds. And in mining, they operate under abrasive loads.

Key features for these users include:

• Wear-resistant materials (e.g., duplex stainless steel)

• Flexible throughput for variable feed

• Inline process integration with other equipment

One chocolate manufacturer in Belgium recently installed a high-g centrifuge to reduce butterfat loss — recapturing 8% more yield without changing the upstream formulation.

Academic and Research Institutions

Though this segment is smaller, it plays a crucial role in early-stage process development. Labs require:

• Benchtop or microcentrifuge systems

• Flexibility for multi-sample runs

• Easy interface for student and technician use

These buyers often value reliability and service support more than automation or scale. Thermo Fisher and Sartorius dominate here.

Use Case: Decentralized Wastewater Treatment in Indonesia

A coastal industrial park in Indonesia was struggling with untreated effluent discharge affecting local fishing waters. Centralized treatment wasn’t feasible due to terrain and funding constraints. The park collaborated with an environmental engineering firm to deploy modular sedimentation and decanter centrifuge units at each plant.

Each module came containerized, with solar-assisted power and sludge volume monitoring. Within four months, BOD and TSS discharge dropped by over 70%, fishery yields improved, and the project became a template for other semi-urban zones.

What made it work? The units didn’t just separate solids — they solved a compliance problem, without relying on grid power or central infrastructure.

The key takeaway: Whether the end user is a gene therapy lab, a sugar refinery, or a remote water treatment facility, the winning separation systems are those that align with user-specific pain points, workflow rhythms, and uptime expectations — not just specs on a brochure.

 

7. Recent Developments + Opportunities & Restraints

The sedimentation and centrifugation market has been surprisingly active over the past two years — especially as biotech, clean tech, and environmental sectors accelerate their investment in next-gen separation. Product launches are shifting toward intelligence and compliance, while market forces are opening new opportunity lanes. But constraints around cost and talent still remain.

Recent Developments (Last 2 Years)

• GEA Group launched its ecoForce + series of high-speed decanter centrifuges in 2023, designed with 30% lower energy consumption and predictive diagnostics built-in. Targeted at pharma and food sectors, it’s part of their broader push toward sustainable separation tech.

• Sartorius introduced a continuous centrifugation module for GMP-compliant bioreactors in early 2024, supporting high-density cell harvest for gene therapy workflows. This marked one of the first plug-and-play units tailored for single-use integration.

• In 2023, Alfa Laval rolled out a new series of digital dashboards for remote sedimentation control, used primarily in European municipal wastewater plants. These help operators monitor sludge thickness, clarify flow rates, and auto-tune flocculant dosing.

• ANDRITZ completed a major sludge thickener retrofit project in South Africa in 2024, using sensor-integrated thickeners and cloud-based performance tracking to support drought-resilient municipal water systems.

• A Chinese clean-tech startup , Clarix , gained attention in 2023 for deploying portable sedimentation pods powered by solar panels and designed for flood-response water treatment. The units have since been piloted by two UN-led disaster relief teams.

 

Opportunities

1. Biopharma and Vaccine Scale-Up

With biologics and mRNA vaccines on the rise, continuous centrifugation systems are being adopted across the value chain — from upstream clarification to downstream purification. Emerging markets are also setting up GMP-grade manufacturing zones , driving demand for affordable, modular separation units.

2. Water Scarcity and Urban Infrastructure Investment

As climate stress intensifies, sedimentation and sludge processing are back in focus for municipalities. The need for space-saving, low-energy solutions is growing fast — especially in water-scarce cities across APAC and LAMEA.

Vendors offering AI-monitored, containerized separation systems are likely to capture this market early.

3. Circular Economy Applications

Whether it’s recovering proteins from food waste , separating lithium in battery recycling, or reprocessing industrial sludge into building materials — separation tech is becoming central to the circular economy. Companies that offer multi-stage, adaptable systems can tap into these niche but fast-growing use cases.

 

Restraints

1. High Capital Cost and Lifecycle Management

Large-scale centrifuges and sedimentation tanks still require significant upfront investment, installation planning, and operator training. For SMEs and utilities in emerging markets, this remains a sticking point.

2. Skilled Workforce Shortages

Automation can only go so far. Operating, maintaining, and troubleshooting separation systems — especially advanced decanters or hybrid sedimentation setups — requires trained technicians. Many industries, including municipal water and pharmaceuticals, are already facing talent gaps in this area.

To be honest, this market isn’t lacking in demand — it’s being held back by budget cycles, infrastructure fatigue, and technical complexity. But those who solve for simplicity, sustainability, and serviceability will find themselves in high demand.

 

Report Coverage Table

Report Attribute	Details
Forecast Period	2024 – 2030
Market Size Value in 2024	USD 10.2 Billion
Revenue Forecast in 2030	USD 14.9 Billion
Overall Growth Rate	CAGR of 6.5% (2024 – 2030)
Base Year for Estimation	2024
Historical Data	2019 – 2023
Unit	USD Million, CAGR (2024 – 2030)
Segmentation	By Equipment Type, By Application, By End User, By Region
By Equipment Type	Centrifuges, Sedimentation Equipment
By Application	Pharmaceuticals & Biotech, Water & Wastewater, Food & Beverage, Chemicals
By End User	Industrial Plants, Pharma & Biotech Firms, Utilities, Research Institutions
By Region	North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East & Africa
Country Scope	U.S., Germany, China, India, Brazil, UAE, South Africa, etc.
Market Drivers	- Demand for continuous bioprocessing - Stricter water discharge compliance - Growth in circular economy applications
Customization Option	Available upon request