What’s on at the ‘must attend’ event for Africa’s laboratory sector this year

The future of laboratories, and transformative diagnostic technologies will come under the spotlight in July at analytica Lab Africa, South Africa’s only trade fair for laboratory technology, analysis, biotechnology and diagnostics, and a must attend event for everyone working in the sector.

Organised by Messe Muenchen India and Messe München GmbH, analytica Lab Africa will be staged at Gallagher Convention Centre in Johannesburg in July, co-located with IFAT Africa, the leading trade fair for water, sewage, refuse and recycling in Southern Africa.

Featuring thousands of exhibits and demonstrations including the latest innovations by leading suppliers, practical workshops, and a topical three-day Laboratory Forum programme, analytica Lab Africa offers a unique opportunity for stakeholders from across Africa to discuss the latest industry trends and get hands-on access to the latest laboratory equipment and solutions.

The CPD accredited Laboratory Forum will be convened  by the Southern African Laboratory Diagnostics Association (SALDA) - a body representing multinational and local companies who distribute, supply and manufacture In Vitro Diagnostic tests, in collaboration with  the African Society for Laboratory Medicine (ASLM) - a pan-African organisation committed to achieving a healthier Africa by increasing access to quality laboratory services for all, and  the Society of Medical Laboratory Technologists of South Africa (SMLTSA) - the industry body for South African medical laboratory professionals.

Under discussion by laboratory and industry experts participating in the forum will be issues such as trends in laboratories, industry ethics, quality assurance practices, the regulatory environment, and pandemic preparedness. Visitors who attend the Laboratory Forum can also earn clinical and ethics CPD points.

On an extensive exhibition floor, leading brands including Anatech, Lasec, Merck, Metrohm, Microsep and National Separations, Monitoring and Control, Sartorius, Shimadzu, Verder Scientific, and Wirsam, as well as many previous and new exhibitors, will showcase and demonstrate their latest solutions. SALDA will also host an SME pavilion, where visitors will have an opportunity to discover technologies from several innovative smaller and mid-sized enterprises.

SALDA, ASLM and SMLTSA will all be exhibiting at the trade fair, as will the South African Association of the Flavour & Fragrance Industry (SAAFFI), the South African Association for Food Science and Technology (SAAFoST), ChromSA - a division of the South African Chemical Institute, and the National Laboratory Institute of South Africa (NLA), representing a large spectrum of professional industry bodies across industry verticals.  

Avisha Desai, Executive Director at Messe Muenchen India (MMI) says, the co-location of analytica Lab Africa and IFAT Africa brings together the full spectrum of laboratory technology, analysis, biotechnology and diagnostics solutions, and water, sewage, refuse and recycling, water and waste management innovations. “By co-locating these events, we will create a unique ecosystem integrating sectors that overlap in practice, offering visitors access to an extended showcase of solutions.” she says.

analytica Lab Africa and IFAT Africa will be co-located and staged at Gallagher Convention Centre in Midrand from 8 - 10 July 2025, bringing together the full spectrum of laboratory technology, analysis, biotechnology and diagnostics solutions, and water, sewage, refuse and recycling, water and waste management innovations.