A conversation with founder and owner Michael Keil. (german)

The roots of MK METALFREE trace back to 1988 in Germany, when Michael Keil founded the company “MK Versuchsanlagen und Laborbedarf.” At that time, he implemented the first concepts for building biotechnological systems for research purposes. Over the years, the company increasingly focused on developing innovative technologies for the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries. One key area of advancement was the creation of metal-free workspaces for specialized applications in ultra-trace analysis. The company also expanded its portfolio to include the development of pharmaceutical testing systems.

As a family-run business, the company steadily evolved. By 2006, the production area had reached approximately 22,000 sq ft. Products and services from MK Versuchsanlagen quickly gained international recognition, leading to the logical step of acquiring ISO certification for its quality management system in 2014. Soon after, the production area doubled to over 44,000 sq ft.

A major milestone was reached in February 2019 with the establishment of MK METALFREE Corp. in the United States. By then, the company had become the global market leader in glove testing systems. MK METALFREE Corp. opened its first U.S. office in Phoenix, Arizona, to distribute glove integrity testers, ports, and gloves.

In the same year, MK Versuchsanlagen acquired the German company Pico Trace GmbH, thereby expanding its portfolio to include service and maintenance of metal-free laminar flow cleanroom solutions in Europe and the United States.

In March 2025, we opened our new location in Dublin with the foundation of MK METALFREE IRELAND Ltd.
This strategic move strengthens our presence in Ireland and the UK – key markets in the pharmaceutical industry – and brings us closer to our customers. Our goal is to foster long-term partnerships and enhance local support.
We look forward to exciting developments and to working with both new and existing customers in the region.

Michael Keil himself describes the company as a mature and growing family business: “We see ourselves as an innovative, modern and committed company. We see shaping our future as our very own challenge, which we’re doing through our innovative and future-orientated products.”

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