OUR JOURNEY

becoming a global market leader in microbial air sampling


Every global success story begins with a spark of curiosity — and a bold decision to challenge the status quo.

More than 40 years ago—I was barely three years old and my mother had just given birth to my brother Andy—my father Hans made a decision that would change our lives forever.

He started his company MBV in Stäfa in 1985, one day after Andy was born. At that time, the focus was on trading products for laboratory and process engineering.

Today, we are still based in Stäfa. And just like our space, our passion for what we do – microbial air sampling at the highest level – has grown steadily over the years.

Now, however,  I’m in the lead in transforming all of our customers' requirements into real products. Fortunately, I’m not alone in this mission. I’m supported by 70 smart, creative, ambitious, and equally passionate minds who help drive MBV forward—always with our customers’ high standards in mind.

But let me tell you the whole story.



Hans attended the first Swiss exhibitions for laboratory technology with an automatic Petri dish casting machine from an Italian manufacturer. At that time, pharmaceutical production companies in Switzerland were looking for suitable instruments to detect microorganisms in the air. 

However, suggestions for improvement sent to a manufacturer in order to meet the high standards of the pharmaceutical industry went unheeded.

Since the manufacturer showed no interest in adapting its product, Hans' inventive spirit was awakened. He decided to develop a solution himself and took the opportunity to build the first prototypes in his garage.

The first prototype was built using parts from a vacuum cleaner. A bold and somewhat daring start! Another challenge was transforming the company from a trading company into a manufacturing company. 

Driven by his passion for precision and innovation, Hans persevered and developed the very first MAS-100 microbial air sampler—a monitoring instrument tailored precisely to the needs of the Swiss and later also the global pharmaceutical industry.

What started as a response to a customer challenge soon grew into something much bigger: a pioneering instrument that would shape an entire industry.

Over the years, MBV has continuously developed and perfected its microbial air sampling technologies. Today, the MAS-100 series instruments (MAS stands for Microbial Air Sampler and 100 for 100 liters per minute collection speed) are known worldwide and valued by pharmaceutical companies around the globe. With unparalleled quality, Swiss engineering, and high reliability, MBV has become the global market leader in microbial air sampling.

A key factor in our journey has been MBV’s long-standing distribution partnership with MERCK, a major global player in life science and pharma. This powerful alliance ensures that MBV solutions are available wherever excellence in environmental monitoring is required. 

Today, we still collaborate closely with our distribution partner and also work hand in hand on specific product developments.

We’ve also structured our production in a way that ensures we can consistently meet our customers’ high quality standards. We have established a strong partnership with Femron near Schaffhausen, MBV's sister company, which enables us to operate a lean, efficient, and above all high-quality production chain. And all of this in Switzerland.

Side note: Have you ever visited the breathtaking Rhine Falls in northern Switzerland? If so, then you’ve already been close to the birthplace of your MAS-100 microbial air sampler - because that place is exactly where all our instruments come from.

Hans handed over the reins to me in 2016. MBV is in my blood—our spirit of innovation and passion remain deeply ingrained. And for over 20 years, my brother Andy has ensured that we never lose direct contact with our customers—through daily communication, closeness, attentiveness, and always on equal terms.

Today, I’m a father myself to a daughter - and now more than ever, I can truly appreciate how much courage that decision must have taken for my parents back then.

One thing has remained constant over the years: our full dedication to microbial air sampling. We research, develop, and manufacture - every single day.

What sets us apart? Decades of experience, everything from a single source, exceptional flexibility and speed - even when it comes to customized solutions. And because we develop and produce everything right here in Switzerland, we deliver a level of precision, reliability, and instrument durability that’s not so easy to replicate.

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