97% of last year's sales growth in the UK scientific and laboratory equipment industry went to just 73 firms, according to a new analysis of the market by industry commentator Plimsoll Publishing
The flipside of the coin is that many others are struggling to survive in an atmosphere of declining sales and increasing debt, with at least 116 staring failure in the face.
The assessment confirms that constant rounds of consolidation are creating 'supercompanies' that are exerting an increasing control over the market.
Most of the companies in question are large, with sales over £10m.
But 19 have sales of less than that - an indication that it is not simply a case of smaller firms being squeezed out.
The just published research includes an individual analysis of 719 companies in the scientific and laboratory equipment sector and shows the impact these increasingly powerful companies are exercising in the market.
David Pattison, senior research analyst, commented: "Looked at separately these 73 super companies are great news for the industry.
"Yet the reality is much more disturbing.
"These companies are forcing such intense competition that others are battling for survival.
"Unless some of the worst performing companies start to come to terms with the financial implications of flat or declining sales, they will go bust or be forced to sell up.
"It really is a time of either joy or tears.
"The market hungry will use this analysis to seek out companies to approach and buy.
"For the others, desperate to sell, it's a case of finding a buyer".
Among the 646 other companies covered in the analysis:.
178 firms are caught in the retreat, despite efforts to control their costs, reduce staff numbers or sell off some investment.
So far this has had little impact on their ability to stay in the market.
98 of the worst affected companies saw sales decline by an average of 12% in one year.
As a result, more that half of these lost money because extra costs could not be passed on into sales.
116 of these firms are working under such an escalating debt burden that the likelihood of failure must be considered extremely high.
The full analysis contains an individual profile of each of the UK's top 719 scientific and laboratory equipment companies.
It shows at a glance the impact the changing marketplace is having on each company.
Laboratorytalk readers of can obtain the full report for £300 - a discount of £50 - by quoting the code PR01 when ordering.
