What Bertec does

Bertec Corporation is a privately held, family-owned designer and manufacturer of research-grade and clinical biomechanical measurement equipment headquartered in Columbus, Ohio. Founded in 1987 by Necip Berme, Ph.D., the company builds precision force plates, fully instrumented treadmills (FIT5 dual-belt and FIT5 Solo single-belt), instrumented stairs, instrumented handrails, and Computerized Dynamic Posturography systems that combine dual-balance force plates with immersive virtual reality. Its core technology relies on proprietary strain gauge sensors sampling at 1000Hz to capture ground reaction forces, moments, and center of pressure with negligible crosstalk and drift. Supporting software includes Kinamoto for gait research, Balance Advantage for clinical assessment (including age-stratified normative data), and Vision Advantage for vestibular ocular reflex testing. Bertec also offers an OEM platform, a free Device SDK in Python/.NET/Java, and native integrations with major motion capture systems (Qualisys, Vicon, Noraxon, OptiTrack, KinaTrax, Motion Analysis).

The company serves three primary segments: research institutions (Mayo Clinic, Harvard, Johns Hopkins, Temple University, University of Kentucky, University of North Carolina), clinical healthcare providers (rehabilitation hospitals, concussion programs, military treatment facilities such as the National Intrepid Center), and sports performance programs (Jameson Crane Sports Medicine Institute, collegiate athletic departments, and the NBA's emerging league-wide biomechanics initiative). Revenue is generated primarily through quote-based direct sales of high-value hardware systems, complemented by software licenses (Kinamoto is provided free with hardware; Balance Advantage is a clinical subscription), OEM/embedded licensing to software partners, and clinical education services sold alongside products. ISO 13485:2016 and EU MDR 2017/745 certifications enable sales into regulated medical device channels in the US and Europe. Distribution is predominantly direct enterprise sales with global reach established through motion capture integration partners and OEMs.

Name

Bertec

Legal name

Bertec Corporation

Website

https://bertec.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1987

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Bertec Corporation designs and manufactures research-grade and clinical biomechanical measurement systems, including force plates, instrumented treadmills, and VR-based balance assessment platforms. The Columbus, Ohio-based company serves research institutions, clinical healthcare providers, and sports performance programs worldwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Biomechanical Measurement Equipment

NAICS

Electromedical and Electrotherapeutic Apparatus Manufacturing (334510)

SIC

Electromedical & Electrotherapeutic Apparatus (3845), Orthopedic, Prosthetic & Surgical Appliances & Supplies (3842)

akta.pro primary industry

Rehabilitation Therapy Equipment (PT/OT Modalities, Exercise & Balance Devices) (HLAHAMAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Sports & Active Rehabilitation Devices (Adaptive Sports Mobility, Performance Prosthetics) (HLAHAMAJ), Smart Fitness & Training Devices (Connected Fitness Sensors, Smart Jump Ropes, etc.) (CRACAQAH)

Keywords

• Force plate measurement
• Biomechanical instrumentation
• Instrumented treadmills
• Balance assessment systems
• Gait analysis equipment

Headquarters

HQ city

Columbus

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Technology or R&D, Personnel, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Hardware Sales: Bertec generates primary revenue from selling biomechanical measurement hardware including force plates, instrumented treadmills (FIT5 and FIT5 Solo), instrumented stairs, handrails, and portable balance assessment systems. Products range from fixed laboratory-grade force plates to portable clinical solutions.
2. Software Licenses: Software revenue includes Kinamoto for gait research and Balance Advantage for clinical applications. The company also provides SDK for third-party integration. All Bertec force plates, FIT5, FIT5 Solo, and Immersive Labs users receive free access to Kinamoto.
3. OEM/Embedded Platform: Bertec offers OEM platform and services for hardware, with their technology integrated into software companies' solutions. Their biomechanics hardware expertise is leveraged by industry-leading software companies.
4. Clinical Education Services: Bertec provides clinical education packages including Fundamental Clinical Skills Workshop (virtual half-day), In-Person Clinical Team Training (full day on-site), and Monthly Clinical Consultations (12 one-hour sessions). These are sold alongside products with complimentary courses included with purchases.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Bertec designs, manufactures, and markets research-grade and clinical biomechanical measurement hardware and software built around patented strain-gauge force plates and fully instrumented treadmills. Its portfolio covers gait and balance research (force plates, FIT5 treadmills, instrumented stairs/handrails, Immersive Labs VR), clinical assessment and rehabilitation (CDP/IVR, Portable Essential, Vision Advantage, HMD), and sports performance (Jump Analysis, Portable Pitching Mound, Portable Swing Station, Vision Trainer), supported by Kinamoto research software, Balance Advantage clinical software, and an OEM SDK for third-party integration.

Product overview

Bertec offers a comprehensive biomechanics product portfolio organized around three market segments: Research, Clinical, and Performance. The core platform consists of precision force plates (fixed and portable) that serve as the foundation for multiple instrumented systems including fully instrumented treadmills (Dual Belt FIT5 and Single Belt FIT5 Solo), instrumented stairs, and instrumented handrails. For clinical applications, Bertec provides the CDP/IVR system combining immersive VR with dual-balance force plates, the Vision Advantage VOR assessment tool, and portable balance assessment solutions (Portable Essential and Portable Functional). Performance products include Jump Analysis, Portable Pitching Mound, and Portable Swing Station for athletic analysis. All systems are supported by Kinamoto software for research data collection and Balance Advantage software for clinical applications. The Immersive Labs platform extends research capabilities with VR environments (HMD and Dome options). Bertec also offers an OEM platform for third-party developers to integrate force plate technology into custom applications.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• COBALT: Product line mentioned in product listings (COBALT).
• Kinamoto
• Balance Advantage
• Vision Advantage
• Vision Trainer

Products and services

• Force Plates Research-grade force plates using patented strain gauge technology to measure ground reaction forces, moments, and center of pressure in gait, balance, and performance analyses; available in portable and fixed configurations with various sizes and load ranges for research, clinical, and sports applications.
• Dual Belt Fully Instrumented Treadmill (FIT5) Split-belt research-grade treadmill with independent force measurement from each belt, precision velocity and acceleration control, 6-component load measurements at 1000Hz, incline up to 15 degrees, and native integration with major motion-capture systems for continuous gait analysis.
• Single Belt Fully Instrumented Treadmill (FIT5 Solo) Single-belt research-grade treadmill with six-component force data output at 1000Hz, designed for reduced laboratory space requirements while maintaining research-grade measurement accuracy.
• Instrumented Stairs Four-level instrumented stairs with three instrumented steps using patented strain gauge technology to measure ground reaction forces and center of pressure during stair ascent and descent, featuring portable wheels for lab mobility.
• Instrumented Handrails Upper body force measurement handrails with strain gauge sensors for measuring three components of force (Fx, Fy, Fz); usable with instrumented treadmills, stairs, or as stand-alone applications.
• Immersive Labs Advanced VR research platform available in HMD (Head Mounted Display) and Dome configurations for multisensory virtual reality gait studies, integrating instrumented treadmills and motion capture systems and supporting custom Unity scenes.
• CDP/IVR (Computerized Dynamic Posturography with Immersive VR) Clinical balance assessment and rehabilitation system combining immersive virtual reality with dual-balance force plate technology for next-generation dynamic posturography, used in vestibular, concussion, and neurological rehabilitation.
• Vision Advantage (BVA) Wireless clinical assessment system for vestibular ocular reflex (VOR) using a head-worn sensor with Gaze Stabilization Test (GST) and Dynamic Visual Acuity (DVA) protocols.
• Portable Essential Portable balance assessment solution with high-sensitivity dual-balance force plate, touchscreen laptop, and comprehensive assessment protocols for clinical rehabilitation, home health, and community health programs.
• Head Mounted Display (HMD) Wireless clinical VR headset with 98-degree field of view, 4K resolution at 70Hz, and real-time feedback on patient performance, integrated with Balance Advantage software for balance and multisensory training.
• Portable Functional Walkway-style portable dual-balance force plate (20x60 inches) for mobility assessment and training on daily walking, stair-stepping, sit-to-stand, and weight shifting activities.
• Jump Analysis Athletic performance analysis system using research-grade force plates to measure jump forces, take-off technique, and landing impact for performance optimization and injury prevention.
• Portable Pitching Mound Portable baseball pitching training system with force plates measuring foot strike, loading, and landing leg movements for analyzing and improving pitching mechanics.
• Portable Swing Station Portable swing analysis system for baseball, softball, and golf using force plates to capture ground reaction forces and leg performance for optimizing swing mechanics.
• Vision Trainer (BVT) Visual-motor and balance training system with touchscreen interface for reaction time, eye-hand coordination, and visual memory training, integrating a balance plate for combined visual-motor and balance assessment.
• Kinamoto Software Full-featured gait research data collection software with Protocol Builder for user-defined repeatable inputs, VR gait module integration, and seamless synchronization with motion capture systems; included free with Bertec hardware.
• Balance Advantage Software Comprehensive clinical software for balance assessment and patient tracking, supporting CDP/IVR, Vision Advantage, Portable Essential, HMD, and Vision Trainer; includes age-stratified normative data and supports user-defined norms for clinical decision-making.

Quantifiable outcome

• Higher vertical GRF is related to higher pitch velocity in elite players
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration9 records

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and potential.

• Lewis Nashner, Ph.D.coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2012Dr. Lewis Nashner, founder of Neurocom and pioneer in dynamic posturography, joined with Bertec in 2012 to develop the next generation of CDP assessment and rehabilitation tools combining immersive visual environments with dual-balance force plate technology. This partnership led to the Balance Advantage product line launched in 2013.
• Motion Capture PartnerscoreTechnology or IntegrationBertec Force Plates are digitally integrated with several major motion capture partners including Qualisys, Vicon, Noraxon, OptiTrack, The Motion Monitor, KinaTrax, and Motion Analysis. Many of these partners provide native digital integration within their software. A Vicon Nexus plug-in enables digital integration within Vicon Nexus.
• Dr. Necip Berme, Ph.D.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounder of Bertec and Professor Emeritus of Mechanical Engineering at The Ohio State University. Designed his own force plate in the late 1970s for biomechanics research. His published research raised awareness and led to colleagues worldwide requesting force plates, founding Bertec Corporation in 1987.
• NBA (as potential partner)potentialStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe NBA is launching a league-wide biomechanics program with motion capture labs at training facilities, involving multiple technology vendors. Bertec's force plate technology is well-positioned for such applications. No explicit confirmation of Bertec's involvement was found in the sources.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• AMTI (Advanced Mechanical Technology Inc.): AMTI is the closest direct competitor to Bertec, manufacturing research-grade force plates, instrumented treadmills, and biomechanical testing equipment used in the same gait, balance, and sports biomechanics laboratories. Its products are cited alongside Bertec in peer-reviewed research and target the same Mayo/Harvard/JHU-tier institutional buyers.
• Kistler Group: Kistler produces piezoelectric and strain-gauge force plates and instrumented treadmills widely used in human movement science laboratories. It competes head-to-head with Bertec in research-grade biomechanics and offers a broader industrial portfolio that funds deep R&D in measurement technology.
• Novel GmbH (now part of protoKinetics): Novel (novel.de, merged with protoKinetics) makes pressure distribution platforms and pedobarography systems directly comparable to Bertec's portable and fixed force plates. They serve overlapping clinical, research, and diabetic-foot/orthopedic markets with similar hardware-plus-software business models.
• Zebris Medical GmbH: Zebris manufactures instrumented treadmills (FDM-T) and pressure measurement platforms for gait analysis and rehabilitation, directly competing with Bertec's FIT5 and clinical pressure products in European and U.S. clinical/research accounts.
• Tekscan: Tekscan produces high-resolution pressure measurement systems (MatScan, F-Scan) used in gait, balance, and foot/biomechanics research, overlapping with Bertec's portable and clinical pressure product lines. Both sell research-grade sensors with bundled analytics software.

Broad incumbents

• Natus Medical (Neurocom balance products): Natus acquired Neurocom, the originator of computerized dynamic posturography that Bertec's CDP/IVR was built to succeed. Natus offers balance and vestibular diagnostic systems into the same clinical neurology and ENT channels Bertec targets with Balance Advantage and Vision Advantage, but as part of a much larger neurodiagnostics portfolio.
• Biodex Medical Systems: Biodex makes balance assessment and rehabilitation systems (e.g., BioSway, Balance Trainer) that compete with Bertec's Portable Essential and clinical balance products. As a broader rehabilitation equipment vendor with imaging and nuclear medicine lines, Biodex is a broader incumbent in clinical rehab channels.

Emerging players

• Motek Medical (Motekforce Link): Motek builds instrumented treadmills (M-Gait) and VR-integrated rehabilitation platforms (CAREN, C-Mill) that overlap with Bertec's Immersive Labs and FIT5 clinical/research applications. They are strong in virtual-reality gait and balance rehab, particularly in European academic medical centers.
• Noraxon USA: Noraxon provides EMG, IMU, and motion capture systems with native Bertec force plate integration. As a biomechanics analytics and hardware vendor, it is a partial competitor on the software/analytics side and a channel partner for Bertec's hardware in sports and clinical labs.

Regional players

• H/p/Cosmos (Woodway): h/p/cosmos manufactures high-performance instrumented treadmills (e.g., Saturn, Mercury) used in sports science and clinical gait analysis, overlapping with Bertec's FIT5 Solo and FIT5 in European and sports-performance markets. Their primary geographic strength is Europe, complementary to Bertec's U.S. anchor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCucMW7VUKiUE0g-As58imog
• Xx.com/BertecHQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/bertecHQ

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Bertec