The cryogenic industry encompasses every commercial and scientific activity that involves the production, storage, transport, and application of materials at temperatures below -150°C. It is a broad and economically significant sector spanning energy, healthcare, food processing, aerospace, electronics, and biological research.
The largest segment of the global cryogenic industry by revenue is liquefied natural gas (LNG). Cryogenic technology enables natural gas to be cooled to -162°C, reducing its volume by approximately 600 times and making it viable for long-distance shipping and storage. The expansion of LNG infrastructure globally – driven by energy security priorities and the ongoing transition from coal to gas – has been a major growth driver for cryogenic equipment manufacturers over the past decade.
Industrial gases represent another major segment. Liquid oxygen, liquid nitrogen, liquid argon, and liquid hydrogen are all produced, stored, and distributed using cryogenic equipment. These gases serve industries ranging from metal fabrication and electronics manufacturing through to medical oxygen supply and food freezing.
Healthcare and biological research form a specialist but rapidly growing segment. Liquid nitrogen at -196°C is the standard medium for the cryopreservation of embryos, oocytes, sperm, stem cells, tissue samples, and blood products. The expansion of fertility treatment globally, the growth of biobanking, and the increasing use of cell-based therapies are all driving demand for cryogenic storage equipment in healthcare settings.
The UK cryogenic equipment market generated USD 532.2 million in revenue in 2023 and is expected to reach USD 790.5 million by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 5.8%, accounting for 2.3% of the global cryogenic equipment market.
The UK has a long-standing manufacturing presence in cryogenic equipment, with several significant producers of storage vessels, valves, and associated equipment operating from British facilities. The healthcare cryogenics sector in the UK is supported by a well-developed IVF industry, a network of NHS fertility units, and a research base that includes some of the world’s leading biobanks and stem cell programmes.
Cryolab has been part of the UK cryogenic industry for over 40 years, supplying storage vessels, dry shippers, safety equipment, and laboratory consumables to UK IVF clinics, NHS trusts, and research institutions. ISO 9001:2015 certified. View the Cryolab product range or get in touch with the team.
