How Did Tuttnauer Impact the Sterilization Industry?
This is an updated version of our blog on the same subject from February 2025. You can find the original article here.
Tuttnauer is one of the household names that come to mind when you think of sterilization technology. Their name has been around for longer than you’d even think. In fact, in 2025, they celebrated their 100th anniversary, and after being around for a century, you may get to thinking: How did they get here?
In this article, we’d like to look at Tuttnauer for all it’s become. From past to present, we’d like to look at their timeline and see some of their most accomplished offerings from the different parts of the sterilization world. With any history, the best place to start is where it began.
How Did Tuttnauer Come to Be?
Tuttnauer’s earliest instance of anything relating to steam vessels starts all the way back in 1925. Aaron Tuttnauer opened a family-owned workshop in the Netherlands that specialized in steam pressure machines. While it’s a bit harder to find, there are sources that claim that they made autoclaves for the British army. During the early 1940s, as the British military expanded its mobile medical units to treat wounded soldiers on the front lines, they faced a massive shortage of portable, rugged sterilization equipment. The British Ministry of Supply sought out established European craftsmen who could build “field-ready” sterilizers that were durable and simple to use. Supposedly, Tuttnauer may have been one of these manufacturers who could do just that.
But after their various escapades as a family owned business, it was time to evolve. In 1952, Aaron and his son Joshua officially found the company, naming it Tuttnauer . And just 10 years later, the family workshop transitioned to mass production. And they even moved to a larger, dedicated manufacturing facility to meet growing demand.
How Did Tuttnauer Expand Globally?
Their global expansion on their timeline was actually just a few key instances of outreach. Tuttnauer’s expansion into the global market started with a pivotal moment in 1987. This is when Tuttnauer established a permanent presence in the United States. This move marked the beginning of a major push into the American healthcare market, allowing the company to tailor its robust sterilization technology to meet the rigorous demands of U.S. medical and dental professionals.
Building on the momentum of its American success, the company turned its focus toward the East just two years later. In 1989, Tuttnauer officially expanded into the European market, opening strategic offices designed to manage and streamline international distribution across the continent. This infrastructure ensured that their Swiss-influenced precision was accessible to a much broader demographic of healthcare providers.
The new millennium brought even more significant milestones for the brand. In 2005, while celebrating its landmark 80th anniversary, Tuttnauer successfully entered the Indian market. This expansion was not merely a geographic move but a celebration of eight decades of engineering excellence brought to one of the world’s fastest-growing healthcare sectors. The company’s global footprint was further solidified in 2008 when Tuttnauer established a formal presence in China.
By securing a foothold in this massive economic landscape, Tuttnauer effectively removed any doubt regarding its status as a global titan in medical technology. Today, these historical milestones serve as the foundation for a company that remains a household name in sterilization across nearly every continent.
What Happened in Tuttnauer’s Modern Era?
As the 2010s began, Tuttnauer moved from being a successful manufacturer to a global industrial leader. A major turning point came in 2013, when the company opened a massive production facility in China. This wasn’t just about building more machines; it was a strategic move to ensure they could keep up with the incredible demand coming from the Asian healthcare market.
The company’s trajectory shifted again in 2017 when it was acquired by Fortissimo Capital. This private equity partnership acted as a catalyst, sparking a new era of rapid growth and giving Tuttnauer the resources to expand faster than ever before. Almost immediately, the brand began looking to diversify. In 2018, Tuttnauer took a significant stake in AT-OS, an Italian specialist in washer-disinfectors. This move was a game-changer, proving that Tuttnauer was no longer “just the autoclave company,” but a complete provider for medical cleaning and safety.
The expansion continued into the new decade with the 2021 acquisition of Prestige Medical Limited, a beloved and well-known sterilization brand in the UK. But while the company was growing physically, it was also evolving digitally. In 2023, Tuttnauer stepped into the future of “smart” healthcare with the launch of T-Connect. This cloud-based platform finally brought autoclaves into the digital age, allowing clinics to monitor their equipment remotely and ditch the old-fashioned paper logs for digital data.
To ensure their products could reach every corner of the globe efficiently, Tuttnauer established another state-of-the-art production facility in Hungary in 2024, further streamlining their massive supply chain. And all of these milestones lead to 2025—the company’s 100th anniversary. What started a century ago as a small family workshop has transformed into a global giant, operating a 325,000-square-foot manufacturing plant. Today, it stands as the largest facility of its kind in the entire world, a testament to a hundred years of dedication to safety and science.
What Does Tuttnauer Offer?
Tuttnauer’s reputation is shown with each and every innovation they bring to the market. Every sterilizer, bio reader, you name it. Tuttnauer has made a name for themselves by creating things that stand the test of time. Which means that their offerings, no matter how old, have relevance even today. There are still people that want refurbished units over new, manual over automatic. Everything has a purpose to someone, and they’re all up to the task. So let’s take a look at some of the things that Tuttnauer has to offer.
What is the Tuttnauer 3870M?
One of Tuttnauer’s older model autoclaves is the Tuttnauer’s 3870M. With a bunch of different benefits, this Class N unit can get the job done. The 3870M is the largest manual table top
autoclave. that we have here at SAS. It’s perfect for multi-doctor practices, clinics or surgery centers. And the 15” x 30” chamber it sports accommodates longer instruments or a large number of small instruments. It also has capacity for 15 full size IMS cassettes. Along with its size, it also comes packed with some other features and benefits like:
- Automatic shut off at the end of both the sterilization and dry cycles.
- A long life electro polished chamber and door.
- Double safety locking device prevents door from opening while chamber is pressurized.
- Drain valve is located on the front, allowing for quick and easy draining of water reservoir.
- Dual safety thermostat to protect against overheating.
- International certifications
- Supplied with a 3 shelf stand that measures 26 inches wide x 33 inches deep x 34 inches high
The Tuttnauer 3870M can be found on our website here.
What is the Tuttnauer T-Top 10?
Tuttnauer’s T-Top 10 is one of Tuttnauer’s most recent and stellar example of what a modern autoclave should be. A 21 liter tabletop autoclave,
specifically developed for dental and medical clinics of small to medium practices. Simplicity and economy, this tabletop autoclave covers the fundamental needs for your general clinic sterilization with the aim of increasing the productivity of your practice. The T-Top 10 offers universal capacity in an affordable and reliable solution you can count on for managing your daily practice sterilization process workload.
The perfect balance between performance, ergonomics, technology & usability. Resulting in a strong and efficient autoclave which perfectly meets the requirements of all standard practices. And it even has some incredible benefits like:
- Programming and customization functions
- Specially designed user interface to speed up and optimize daily workload
- Wi-Fi connection & T-Connect software
- Remotely access cycle history, get notifications and alerts
- Easy to operate, maintain, and use
- Multicolor user-friendly touch screen
- Compact and ergonomic, designed to fit into your space
The Tuttnauer T-Top 10 can be found on our website here.
The Tuttnauer T-Edge 11S TVET Edition
Tuttnauer’s T-Edge 11S TVET Edition autoclave is a cutting-edge sterilization solution designed specifically for veterinary practices. With its advanced technology and user-friendly features, this autoclave offers efficient and reliable sterilization of veterinary instruments and equipment. The T-Edge 11S model itself provides a spacious chamber and a sleek design, maximizing usability and performance in veterinary settings. And with the combined new additions and features of the TVET Edition, veterinary professionals can trust Tuttnauer’s new autoclave to meet their sterilization needs with precision and ease.
Tuttnauer’s T-Edge Vet autoclave gives you high quality Class B performance that meets current international standards and regulatory requirements to protect your furry patients. The T-Edge Vet sterilizer line fits all your sterilization needs from adjusting cycle parameters to accommodating double wrapped pouches. Helping veterinarians meet today’s challenging workloads in modern veterinary practices. The T-Edge 11S TVET Edition also sports many other benefits:
- Fast Cycles – Fast cycles with powerful built-in vacuum pump
- Low operating noise level – <67 dB.
- Optimal chamber capacity – More than 75% chamber capacity with 5 extra-long trays
- Convenient loading – Open the door to 110º ensures it will not block your smooth loading of the chamber.
- Click & go – Automatic operation from start to finish with a user friendly touch screen control
- User-friendly touchpad control panel – Displays programs, cycles times, water levels and more.
- Advanced documentation – A variety of documentation and traceability options and barcodes.
- Remote Wi-Fi monitoring – Via smartphone or tablet.
- Chamber Capacity – 7 Gal / 27 Liters
The Tuttnauer T-Edge 11S TVET Edition can be found on our website here.
What is the Tuttnauer BioNova Incubator?
This may seem odd to put in a list that looks like it would only show off autoclaves and sterilizers. But one thing we always ensure is known is that every aspect of the sterilization process is vital… And that includes spore testing. Spore testing is the required testing method to ensure your autoclave’s sterility is up to regulation. If the test fails, then that means your autoclave is having some trouble. This method of testing is one of the most important steps to take to keep your autoclave to a working standard. So Tuttnauer devised their own method to bring spore testing under their umbrella, with their BioNova Incubator.
The Tuttnauer BioNova Incubator is a tabletop incubator that has been designed to meet the needs of modern day laboratories. It includes a wide range of features, and can be
used for a variety of applications. It features an electronic temperature control system that allows you to run multiple programs at once. The Tuttnauer BioNova Incubator is designed to give you the power and speed you need with an easily accessible mainframe. With features like:
- Optimization of incubation times
- 2 Simultaneous programs
- 20 Minute & 1 hour process times can be used simultaneously
- 12 Incubation slots
- Ease of use
- Thermal printer
- USB connection with free software download
- One BI and reader can be used in both gravity and pre/post vacuum sterilizers
The Tuttnauer BioNova Incubator can be found on our website here.
What Are Tuttnauer’s Biological Indicators?
When talking about their biological readers, you can’t forget to discuss what it is they’re reading. Enter Tuttnauer’s Rapid Biological Indicators. We’ve written an article about the
importance of spore testing before. For those who aren’t aware however, spore testing is a periodical process that measures the sterilization capability of your autoclave. Biological indicators like Tuttnauer’s are vials containing spores and bacteria that are put through the sterilization process. If the conditions are met to kill everything in the vial, then your sterilizer is perfectly fine. But if the microorganisms in the vial are alive and the test fails, there is something wrong with your sterilizer, and something is preventing it from sterilizing fully.
The biological indicators work in tandem with the biological reader to perform one of the most important tests of your autoclave. A modern way to get the most accurate readout possible that leaves nothing to chance when it comes to your autoclave. Tuttnauer’s Rapid Bio Indicators come in a couple of different forms. Their 1-hour indicators are meant for steam sterilizers, whether its pre-vac or gravity. They test the sterility of the steam sterilization process. But their 4 hour rapid indicators are meant to test the sterility of autoclaves that use the less common ethylene oxide sterilization cycle.
If you’d like to see Tuttnauer’s list of Rapid Test Indicators, you can find them on our site here for more information.
Final Thoughts
A century of innovation is no small feat, believe us. Tuttnauer’s journey from humble beginnings as a family workshop, to an industry titan who’s name is known in practices around the world, is something you can’t help but look at in awe. Their sterilizers and other machines evolved with the times and gave the industry answers to questions it didn’t know it had. And even today, they remain a gold standard in sterilization technology, modernizing the way steam sterilization is looked at and performed. As the sterilization landscape continues to evolve through smart technology and specialized veterinary solutions, Tuttnauer’s 100-year foundation ensures they aren’t just keeping up with the times—they are defining them.
When you invest in a Tuttnauer autoclave, you aren’t just buying another autoclave… You’re inviting the culmination of a century’s worth of legacy and evolution into your practice to bridge the gap between the sterilization cycle and you. If you’d like to check out Tuttnauer’s selection on our site, you can find the link here. If you have ay questions about Tuttnauer’s offerings, or anything else, give us a call at 704-966-1650 and we’ll help you find what you need.
As always if you have any questions about this process or anything else please feel free to contact us and take advantage of our “FREE TECH SUPPORT.”
We also offer FREE VIRTUAL TECH SUPPORT to “See and Talk” with a “Real Time Live Technician” for any problems you may be in need of help with.
You can also use our “FREE MAINTENANCE PROGRAM”. Take the guesswork and worrying about what unit is due for maintenance and which maintenance cycle it is time for. We will keep track of all your autoclaves and let you know when it’s time for anything.