Our Milestones
1960/80s
1968
Belimed Enters the Laboratory Industry
The roots of Belimed trace back to 1968, when Netzsch-Newamatic GmbH developed the first automated washing machine for laboratory glassware. This pioneering step marked the company’s entry into laboratory cleaning, laying the foundation for decades of innovation. The company was later acquired by Belimed in 1997, inheriting this legacy.
1977
Belimed Enters the Medical Industry
Sauter Group, later acquired by Belimed in 1999, produced its first steam sterilizer in 1977. With this acquisition, Belimed expanded its portfolio to include medical sterilization solutions, reinforcing its footprint in infection control.
1990
Belimed Foundation
Belimed was officially founded in Switzerland by combining Belinox’s expertise in stainless steel with Gehrig’s laundry technology know-how. This synergy established Belimed’s reputation for precision and quality and gave birth to the first Belimed’s range of cleaning and disinfection machines for flexible endoscopes.
1993
Belimed Enters the Pharma Industry
Belimed began developing specialized cleaning equipment for pharmaceutical applications, marking its first major step into the Life Science sector. This milestone initiated the company’s dual focus on infection control and pharmaceutical-grade solutions.
2001
Steelco Foundation
Steelco was founded by Ottorino Casonato, Fabio Zardini, and Ivone Capovilla, who combined their diverse skills to build a company focused on washer-disinfectors for hospitals and clinics. The first machines marked the beginning of Steelco’s rapid growth and innovation.
2003
Steelco Expands its Portfolio
Steelco broadened its offering with compact tabletop and under-counter washer-disinfectors, as well as large-capacity solutions for hospitals and laboratories. This product diversification strengthened the company’s market presence and global competitiveness.
2006
Automation: the Key to Success
Steelco strengthened its commitment to innovation by introducing its first automated loading systems for CSSDs, revolutionizing workflow efficiency and safety in sterile processing. This milestone marked a strategic shift toward innovation-led design, with automation becoming a defining feature of the company’s approach – combining engineering excellence, customer insight, and cutting-edge technology to deliver smarter, more reliable solutions.
2010
The Pharma Division was Born
Steelco leveraged its growing experience to enter the pharmaceutical and life sciences markets. The launch of its first pharma-grade washers marked the beginning of a dedicated division focused on regulatory compliance and customer-specific solutions.
2012
Endoscope Reprocessing Begins
Steelco entered the field of flexible endoscope reprocessing, taking on industry giants. The company quickly gained a reputation for advanced solutions in a highly specialized and regulated market segment.
2012
Belimed Expands with Slovenia Facility
To support its growing production demands, Belimed opened a new manufacturing facility in Slovenia. This expansion enabled greater flexibility and scalability in serving global markets.
2013
Steelco Acquires ICOS
Steelco acquired ICOS, a key player in autoclave manufacturing for pharma and healthcare. This strategic move integrated sterilization into Steelco’s offering, accelerating its growth and expanding both product range and technical know-how.
2014
Pharma Portfolio Expands
Steelco’s pharma solutions grew to include saturated steam autoclaves, terminal sterilization solutions, ethylene oxide sterilizers, and depyrogenation ovens, addressing broader pharmaceutical processing needs.
2015
Steelco Academy is Founded
Steelco launched its Academy – a venue where to train clients and employees – promoting best practices in decontamination, sterilization, and innovation. The initiative reflects Steelco’s commitment to knowledge sharing and excellence.
2015
Belimed HQ Moves to Zug
Belimed relocated its headquarters to Zug, Switzerland, to better support its expanding global operations. The following year, Belimed Academy was also established in Zug, becoming a central hub for training and collaboration.
2016
Steelco New Solutions
Steelco introduced its first range of low-temperature sterilizers and developed new reprocessing solutions tailored to the Da Vinci robotic surgical instruments. The company also expanded into chemicals and furniture for the medical field.
2017
Steelco Joins the Miele Group
Steelco joined the Miele Group, becoming the group’s agile brand for infection control in hospitals, pharma, and life sciences. The partnership boosted global visibility, R&D synergies, and reinforced Steelco’s position as a trusted solution provider.
At the same time, the foundation of Steelco Service Italy strengthened its after-sales services.
2018
Launch of Belimed Protect™
Belimed introduced Belimed Protect™,
a specialized portfolio of cleaning chemistries for medical device reprocessing. This expansion complemented its equipment offering with complete end-to-end solutions.
2019
4D Sensor and Corporate Growth
In cooperation with the Miele R&D center, Steelco launched the 4D Sensor, revolutionizing steam sterilization control for hollow instruments. The company also invested in employee welfare, academic partnerships, and R&D. A vegetable garden and wellness area were built to promote work-life balance among employees.
2019
Belimed Splits Operations
Belimed AG was divided into two entities: Belimed Infection Control for medical applications and Belimed Life Science AG for pharma, bio-pharma, institutional, nutrition, and cosmetics industries. Since then, the Life Science division was headquartered in Sulgen, Switzerland.
2019
Supporting CSSD Staff
Steelco introduced SUIS, the Surgical Instrument Vision System, enhancing efficiency and traceability in central sterile service departments by supporting CSSD staff with the identification and creation of surgical instruments’ tray sets.
2022
Automation and Traceability Advances
Steelco included the R-APPIT packing robot for CSSDs in its product portfolio and introduced the SteelcoData Suite for medical traceability, reinforcing its leadership in smart automation and digitalization.
2022
New Markets and Service Organization
Belimed Life Science AG opened a new branch in Charleston, SC, USA. A dedicated service organization was also established to support the pharmaceutical and life science markets directly.
2023
Steelco: Fastest-Growing Player
With a CAGR of 13.4% from 2019 to 2023, Steelco became the fastest-growing company in the sector. With 10 production plants, 14 subsidiaries, 175+ patents, and 20,000 installations worldwide, it set a benchmark for innovation and reliability.
2024
Foundation of SteelcoBelimed
SteelcoBelimed was founded from a joint venture between Miele and Metall Zug, parent companies of Steelco and Belimed. This union of three industry leaders created a global powerhouse in cleaning and sterilization for healthcare, pharma, and research labs.
2025
Innovate with confidence
In its first year, SteelcoBelimed launched its Innovation Hub and Academy, proving its commitment to shaping the future. With a shared vision and integrated teams, the company began delivering world-class solutions from day one.
Today
The Journey Continues
SteelcoBelimed journey has only just begun, yet we are confident about the future. We are building a shared culture by aligning processes, sharing expertise, and integrating global teams. United by innovation, the company is already setting new standards in quality, safety, and efficiency across all its industries.
