Keithley Instruments
Keithley Instruments, a Tektronix subsidiary owned by Fortive (NYSE: FTV), designs and manufactures precision electrical test instruments — including source measure units, digital multimeters, semiconductor parameter analyzers, and battery test systems — for semiconductor fabs, materials research institutions, electronics manufacturers, and academic laboratories.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1946
- HeadquartersCleveland, United States
- Headcount501–1,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Keithley Instruments does
Keithley Instruments, founded in 1946 and headquartered in Beaverton, Oregon, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Tektronix, which is in turn owned by Fortive Corporation (NYSE: FTV). The company designs, develops, manufactures, and markets precision electrical test instruments and systems used to source, measure, connect, control, or communicate direct current (DC) or pulsed electrical signals. Its approximately 500-product portfolio is anchored by Source Measure Units (SMUs) — integrated instruments that source and measure voltage, current, and resistance in a single unit — and is complemented by benchtop digital multimeters, DC power supplies, low-level sensitive and specialty instruments, switching and data acquisition systems, semiconductor test systems, arbitrary function generators, and battery test and simulation solutions. Flagship offerings include the 4200A-SCS Parameter Analyzer for semiconductor device, material, and process characterization (I-V and C-V measurements), alongside software products such as Keithley Control Software, KickStart Software for battery testing, and I-V Tracer Software.
The company serves a horizontal customer base across electronics manufacturers, semiconductor fabs, materials research institutions, power semiconductor developers (notably SiC and GaN), battery and energy storage developers, and education and teaching laboratories. Use cases span 3D sensing and laser diode testing, advanced materials characterization, wafer-level and parametric testing, power efficiency optimization, and battery cycle testing and simulation for portable and IoT devices. Revenue is generated primarily through capital equipment hardware sales, supplemented by software licenses (perpetual and subscription), factory and multi-brand compliant calibration services, repair, asset management, and accessories. Distribution combines Tektronix's enterprise field sales, a global authorized distributor network accessible through the Tektronix partner locator, inside sales for mid-market and academic customers, and US-only online purchasing through the Tektronix store. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed, reflecting the enterprise-oriented go-to-market.
As a brand within the Tektronix portfolio (which also includes EA Elektro-Automatik bidirectional power products), Keithley operates as the precision-measurement specialist for low-level and parametric test applications, while accessing Tektronix's broader sales, service, calibration, and support infrastructure worldwide. Customer support is delivered through the My.tek.com portal, TekTalk user community, and a global network of calibration and repair service centers.
Keithley Instruments firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Keithley Instruments
- Legal name
- Keithley Instruments
- Website
- https://keithley.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1946
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 501–1,000 employees
- Short description
- Keithley Instruments, a Tektronix subsidiary owned by Fortive (NYSE: FTV), designs and manufactures precision electrical test instruments — including source measure units, digital multimeters, semiconductor parameter analyzers, and battery test systems — for semiconductor fabs, materials research institutions, electronics manufacturers, and academic laboratories.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Keithley Instruments industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Electronic Test and Measurement Instruments
- NAICS
- Instrument Manufacturing for Measuring and Testing Electricity and Electrical Signals (334515), Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing (33451), Instruments and Related Products Manufacturing for Measuring, Displaying, and Controlling Industrial Process Variables (334513)
- SIC
- Instruments For Meas & Testing Of Electricity & Elec Signals (3825), Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, And Control (3823)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Test & Measurement Equipment (Oscilloscopes, DAQ, signal analyzers, calibration benches) (IMAGAFAC)
Keywords
Where Keithley Instruments is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Cleveland
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Keithley Instruments business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Test Instrument Hardware Sales: Sale of precision electrical test instruments including source measure units, digital multimeters, power supplies, and semiconductor test systems. Products are sold as one-time capital equipment purchases to electronics manufacturers, research institutions, and labs.
- Software Licenses and Control Software: Revenue from software products including Keithley Control Software for bench instruments and oscilloscopes, KickStart Software for battery testing, and I-V Tracer Software. Typically sold as perpetual licenses or subscriptions with the hardware.
- Service, Calibration, and Repair: Factory calibration services, repair services, and asset management solutions. Multi-brand calibration services available through Tektronix service organization, including factory verified calibration and multi-brand compliant calibration.
- Components and Accessories: Sale of probes, accessories, and spare parts that complement the core instrument product lines.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Enterprise/Bench Instruments - Quote-based pricing |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels5 records
Keithley Instruments product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Keithley Instruments designs, develops, manufactures, and markets complex electronic test and measurement instruments and systems used to source, measure, connect, control, or communicate direct current (DC) or pulsed electrical signals. The portfolio of approximately 500 products centers on Source Measure Units (SMUs), benchtop digital multimeters, DC power supplies, low-level sensitive instruments, switching and data acquisition systems, semiconductor testing systems, arbitrary function generators, and battery test/simulation equipment, complemented by control and analysis software.
Product overview
Keithley Instruments, a Tektronix company, offers a comprehensive portfolio of approximately 500 precision electrical test instruments and systems. The product lineup centers on Source Measure Units (SMUs) that combine sourcing and measurement capabilities in a single unit, complemented by Benchtop Digital Multimeters, DC Power Supplies, Low-Level Sensitive Instruments, Switching and Data Acquisition Systems, and Semiconductor Testing Systems. Additional offerings include Arbitrary Function Generators for signal generation, Battery Test and Simulation solutions, and software products like Keithley Control Software, KickStart Software, and I-V Tracer Software. The products are used to source, measure, connect, control, or communicate direct current (DC) or pulsed electrical signals for high-performance production testing, process monitoring, product development, and research applications.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- DC Power Supplies
Quantifiable outcome
- Reclaim 75% of workspace and reduce wire clutter by 50% with integrated source-measure units
Companies that use Keithley Instruments
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Keithley Instruments technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Keithley Instruments partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators2 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Keithley Instruments competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Yokogawa Test & Measurement: Yokogawa produces precision DC measurement instruments, source measure units, power meters, and oscilloscopes — directly comparable to Keithley's DMM, SMU, and power supply product lines for industrial and semiconductor customers.
- Hioki E.E. Corporation: Hioki manufactures precision electrical measuring instruments including DMMs, SMUs, power meters, and battery testers, serving similar R&D, production, and semiconductor customers in Asia and globally with comparable product categories.
- National Instruments (NI, now part of Emerson): NI provides modular PXI-based data acquisition and test systems, software-defined instrumentation, and bench instruments — overlapping significantly with Keithley's DAQ/switching systems and SMU categories in semiconductor and electronics test.
- Keysight Technologies: Keysight is the largest pure-play electronic test and measurement company, offering oscilloscopes, SMUs, parametric analyzers, and semiconductor characterization systems that directly compete with Keithley's core portfolio across semiconductor, electronics, and research customers.
- Chroma ATE: Chroma ATE provides precision electronic test and measurement instruments, including SMUs, power supplies, and battery test systems, with strong presence in power semiconductor, EV battery, and electronics manufacturing customers overlapping with Keithley's segments.
- Rohde & Schwarz: Rohde & Schwarz offers precision electrical T&M equipment including power supplies, multimeters, and semiconductor test solutions, serving similar electronics, semiconductor, and research customers with comparable precision measurement instrumentation.
Broad incumbents
- Fluke Corporation: Fluke is a sister Fortive company producing handheld and bench electrical test instruments, multimeters, and calibrators. While broader and more general-purpose than Keithley, it competes in adjacent professional T&M channels and shares the Fortive ownership umbrella.
Emerging players
- B&K Precision: B&K Precision offers bench-top DMMs, power supplies, signal generators, and component testers at competitive price points, overlapping with Keithley's lower-tier bench products for electronics and education customers.
- GW Instek (Good Will Instrument): GW Instek manufactures oscilloscopes, spectrum analyzers, DMMs, and power supplies, providing comparable bench instruments for electronics R&D, education, and production test customers at price points below Keithley.
- Stanford Research Systems: Stanford Research Systems produces high-precision low-level measurement instruments including lock-in amplifiers, DMMs, and optical spectrum analyzers, overlapping with Keithley's low-level sensitive instruments for research customers.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Keithley Instruments social profiles
Digital presenceKeithley Instruments financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Keithley Instruments leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Keithley Instruments funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Keithley Instruments M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Keithley Instruments
What does Keithley Instruments do?
Keithley Instruments designs, develops, manufactures, and markets complex electronic test and measurement instruments and systems used to source, measure, connect, control, or communicate direct current (DC) or pulsed electrical signals. The portfolio of approximately 500 products centers on Source Measure Units (SMUs), benchtop digital multimeters, DC power supplies, low-level sensitive instruments, switching and data acquisition systems, semiconductor testing systems, arbitrary function generators, and battery test/simulation equipment, complemented by control and analysis software.
Is Keithley Instruments a public or private company?
Keithley Instruments is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Keithley Instruments founded?
Keithley Instruments was founded in 1946. It employs 501 to 1,000 people.
Where is Keithley Instruments based?
Keithley Instruments is headquartered in Cleveland, United States, in the North America region.
How does Keithley Instruments make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Test Instrument Hardware Sales are the primary driver. The others are software Licenses and Control Software, service, Calibration, and Repair and components and Accessories.
Who are Keithley Instruments's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Yokogawa Test & Measurement, Hioki E.E. Corporation, National Instruments (NI, now part of Emerson), Keysight Technologies, Chroma ATE and Rohde & Schwarz. Fluke Corporation is listed as a broad incumbent. Emerging players are B&K Precision, GW Instek (Good Will Instrument) and Stanford Research Systems.
Does Keithley Instruments have an API?
No public API is recorded for Keithley Instruments.
What industry is Keithley Instruments in?
Keithley Instruments's product category is Electronic Test and Measurement Instruments. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAGAFAC, Test & Measurement Equipment (Oscilloscopes, DAQ, signal analyzers, calibration benches). Its NAICS code is 334515 and its SIC code is 3825.