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Private company

IMA Life S.r.l

IMA Life (previously known as IMA Edwards, Libra and BOC Edwards Pharmaceutical Systems) is one of the few companies which are prominent in the manufacturing of freeze dryers especially for the pharmaceutical and biotechnological companies, aseptic processing and filling solutions. It was previously owned by the BOC Group and then the Linde Group until recently when it was bought by the IMA Group based in Italy.2 Wikipedia text CC BY-SA 4.0

Last updated Oct 21, 2026.

Overview

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IMA Life (previously known as IMA Edwards, Libra and BOC Edwards Pharmaceutical Systems) is one of the few companies which are prominent in the manufacturing of freeze dryers especially for the pharmaceutical and biotechnological companies, aseptic processing and filling solutions. It was previously owned by the BOC Group and then the Linde Group until recently when it was bought by the IMA Group based in Italy.2

How it started

History

1919 F.D. Edwards establishes Edwards Equipment and Services in London, England.

1939 F.D. Edwards begins manufacturing vacuum equipment.

1955 The company acquires Alto Vuoto SpA, a freeze drying manufacturer in Italy.

1968 The company is acquired by BOC, after staying in private hands through the post-war period and until the 1960s when it went public.

1977 BOC Edwards acquire Kniese Apparatbau GmbH, a freeze drying manufacturer in Germany.

From Wikipedia’s article on IMA Life S.r.l, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.2

Sources

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