What Admiral Instruments does

Admiral Instruments is a privately held Arizona LLC founded in February 2017 that designs, manufactures, and globally distributes research-grade electrochemistry instrumentation, headquartered at 4666 South Ash Avenue, Tempe. The company operates two product lines: the proprietary Squidstat family of potentiostats (Solo, Prime, Plus, Ace, Penta, Decka, Venta) and battery cyclers, and the exclusive USA distribution rights for Zahner Scientific Instruments' premium workstations (IM7, IM7c, IM7x) and CIMPS photo-electrochemistry systems. The technology stack centers on multi-channel 24-bit ADC/DAC hardware, deterministic EIS signal-processing innovations including the Z-HIT (Zahner Hilbert Transformation) drift-correction algorithm, Multi-sine EIS weighted-harmonics autocorrelation, and Accuracy Contour Plots for performance visualization, all controlled through the cross-platform Squidstat User Interface (Windows, macOS, Ubuntu) and analyzed in Zahner Analysis software with a Python automation API.

The business model is hardware-led and asset-light: instrument SKUs at publicly listed perpetual-license prices from $1,900 (Squidstat Solo) to $4,900 (Squidstat Plus), with quote-based enterprise tiers for the Squidstat Cycler and Zahner workstations, plus a high-margin recurring revenue layer from cables, electrodes, glassware, battery test fixtures, temperature chambers, rotating electrode devices, and software license keys. Customer acquisition is sales-led with strong event-driven demand generation at major electrochemistry and materials science conferences (ISE, ECS, MRS, Battery Show), supplemented by digital marketing (YouTube tutorials, newsletter, blog, LinkedIn) and a 30-day free trial program for USA-based organizations. Distribution is hybrid: direct sales for the U.S., Zimmer & Peacock channel coverage for the UK and northern Europe, and a global authorized distributor network.

Admiral Instruments serves a deliberately horizontal research market — batteries and energy storage, fuel cells, corrosion and coatings, solar cells and photo-electrochemistry, sensors, bio-electrochemistry, and academic education — across thousands of organizations in more than 28 countries. Pricing is positioned at a fraction of incumbent research-grade potentiostats, sacrificing nothing on technical rigor and adding modern software ergonomics, with stated goals of making research-grade electrochemistry instrumentation accessible to budget-constrained labs. The company remains small, privately funded, and bootstrapped, with three co-founders (Mark Sholin as President, Matt Dion, and Stephen Hung) and no disclosed external venture investment.

Name

Admiral Instruments

Legal name

Admiral Instruments, LLC

Website

https://admiralinstruments.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Admiral Instruments designs, manufactures, and globally distributes the Squidstat line of research-grade potentiostats and battery cyclers, and is the exclusive USA distributor for Zahner electrochemistry workstations, serving batteries, corrosion, fuel cells, solar, sensor, and academic research labs in 28+ countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Electrochemistry Instrumentation

NAICS

Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing (334516), Instrument Manufacturing for Measuring and Testing Electricity and Electrical Signals (334515)

SIC

Laboratory Analytical Instruments (3826), Instruments For Meas & Testing Of Electricity & Elec Signals (3825)

akta.pro primary industry

Process Analytical Instrumentation (Gas analyzers, spectroscopy, pH/ORP, conductivity) (IMAGAFAE)

Keywords

• Electrochemistry instruments
• Potentiostats and cyclers
• Battery testing equipment
• Electrochemical workstations
• Research-grade measurement

Headquarters

HQ city

Tempe

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Potentiostat Instruments: Sale of Squidstat potentiostat instruments (Solo, Prime, Plus) - research-grade electrochemistry measurement devices. One-time hardware purchase with software included.
2. Battery Cyclers: Sale of Squidstat Cycler products for battery testing and characterization.
3. Zahner Workstations: Distribution of Zahner electrochemical workstations (IM7, IM7c, IM7x) and accessories - premium high-end instruments.
4. Accessories and Consumables: Cables, electrodes, electrochemical glassware, battery test fixtures, temperature chambers, and rotating electrode devices.
5. Software Licenses: Zahner Analysis software license keys for advanced electrochemical data analysis.
6. Technical Support and Calibration Services: Factory recalibration services and technical support including offset correction using Squidstat Support Utility.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Admiral Instruments designs, manufactures, and sells research-grade electrochemistry measurement instruments under its Squidstat brand, including single-channel and multi-channel potentiostats (Solo, Prime, Plus, Ace, Penta, Decka, Venta) and battery cyclers for DC and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) experiments. The company also serves as the exclusive USA distributor for Zahner Scientific Instruments' premium electrochemical workstations (IM7, IM7c, IM7x) and supporting accessories such as electrodes, cables, electrochemical glassware, rotating electrodes, and temperature chambers. Products are controlled via the cross-platform Squidstat User Interface software and the Python Squidstat API for laboratory research in batteries, fuel cells, corrosion, solar cells, sensors, bio-electrochemistry, and education.

Product overview

Admiral Instruments offers a comprehensive portfolio of electrochemistry instrumentation centered on the Squidstat potentiostat line and Zahner electrochemical workstations. The Squidstat family includes multiple models (Solo, Prime, Plus, Ace, Penta, Decka, Venta) ranging from single-channel entry-level units to multi-channel high-performance systems, all controlled via the Squidstat User Interface software. The company also distributes Zahner workstations (IM7, IM7c, IM7x) as exclusive USA reseller. Accessories include cables, electrodes, electrochemical glassware, rotating electrode equipment, temperature chambers, and the Zahner Analysis software for data evaluation. The Squidstat Cycler provides battery cycling capabilities with EIS, while the PAD42-HC enables parallel stack measurements. All products share a unified software ecosystem with API automation support for advanced research workflows.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Squidstat: Line of potentiostats for electrochemistry research including Squidstat Solo, Squidstat Prime, Squidstat Plus, and Squidstat Cyclers
• Zahner Workstations

Products and services

• Squidstat Potentiostats A line of research-grade potentiostats for electrochemistry featuring intuitive software and compact hardware, including models Solo, Prime, Plus, Ace, Penta, Decka, and Venta with varying channel counts, current ranges, and EIS capabilities up to 1 MHz. Designed for academic, battery, corrosion, sensor, and photo-electrochemistry research labs.
• Squidstat Cycler - Base Model A versatile, multi-channel battery cycler with galvanostatic and potentiostatic modes plus FRA, designed for high-current battery research, development, and education. Supports ±5 A maximum current and 0-5V voltage scan range.
• Zahner IM7 Electrochemistry Workstation A premium modular electrochemistry workstation with expansion slots, high current capability, voltage accuracy, and 40+ years of EIS expertise via the Zahner partnership. Distributed exclusively in the USA by Admiral Instruments for high-end research applications.
• Zahner IM7c Electrochemistry workstation with ±2A max current, ±3 nA best current accuracy, ±14V voltage scan range, and no expansion slots. Distributed in the USA by Admiral Instruments.
• Zahner IM7x Electrochemistry workstation with ±4A max current (without booster), ±0.75 nA best current accuracy, and 10 expansion slots for modular configurations. Distributed exclusively in the USA by Admiral Instruments.
• PAD42-HC Parallel Input Card Parallel input card adding four additional voltage channels for synchronous DC and AC measurements, enabling stack measurements up to ±150V with up to 33 EIS signals across a frequency range of 10 µHz to 1 MHz.
• Zahner Analysis Software Stand-alone electrochemical data evaluation software supporting EIS, cyclic voltammetry, Tafel analysis, equivalent circuit modeling, Kramers-Kronig validation, and Z-HIT transform for data reconstruction. Supports direct import of Squidstat-generated .csv files.
• Electrodes Working electrodes (Glassy Carbon, Gold, Platinum in various sizes), counter electrodes (Platinum Mesh, Platinum Spiral), and reference electrodes (Ag/AgCl) for electrochemical experiments conducted with Squidstat and Zahner instruments.
• Squidstat Cables Collections Range of cell cables including Basic Cell Cable, Advanced Cell Cable Sets (Foundation, Boosted, Sense), and Cycler cables (Low Current, High Current) for connecting Squidstats to electrochemical cells.
• Electrochemical Glassware Cell kits including Standard Analysis Cell, H-type Cell, Corrosion Cell, and Compact Analytical Cell with various capacities and configurations for different electrochemical applications.
• CT1601 Temperature Chamber Temperature chamber by Cyclikal with a 30°C to 70°C heating range, ±0.1°C thermal stability, integrated with 16 battery slots supporting up to 12V/6A per channel, and full Python API/Modbus RTU automation for temperature-controlled experiments.
• RRDE & RDE Equipment Rotating electrode devices (ECR-6100) and rotating disk/ring-disk electrodes for convective electrochemical system studies with rotation rates from 80 to 8000 rpm.

Quantifiable outcome

• Squidstat Solo max current quadrupled from ±25mA to ±100mA while maintaining $1,900 price point
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Biosensing InstrumentminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 19 May 2021Partnership for co-presenting webinar on Applications of SPR and SPRm combined with Electrochemistry. Admiral Instruments contributed Introduction to Electrochemistry Methods lecture alongside Dr. Shijie Wu from Biosensing Instrument.
• California State University LAminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 May 2021Professor Yixian Wang presented on SPR-coupled Electrochemical Characterization of Electrodeposited Thin Films at co-presented webinar.
• Zimmer & PeacockcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 31 July 2017UK-based technology company specializing in sensors development and distribution of electrochemistry instrumentation in the UK and northern Europe. Finalized Squidstat distribution agreement with Admiral Instruments. Martin Peacock visited HQ to finalize partnership details.
• Zahner Scientific InstrumentscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 27 June 2017Admiral Instruments is the exclusive USA distributor for the entire Zahner product portfolio including IM7 electrochemical workstations, CIMPS photo-electrochemistry systems, and accessories. Zahner brings over 40 years of EIS expertise to the partnership. Co-exhibited at conferences and collaborated on technical webinars.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Bio-Logic: French manufacturer of high-end electrochemical workstations (SP-300, VMP-3) and battery cyclers widely used in research labs. Competes with Admiral on EIS precision and battery-cycling capabilities across global research accounts.
• Pine Research: US distributor and manufacturer of rotating disk/ring-disk electrodes, electrochemical cells, and WaveDriver potentiostats. Overlaps with Admiral on electrodes, accessories, and entry-level potentiostats in academic and corrosion labs.
• Gamry Instruments: US-based manufacturer of research-grade potentiostats and electrochemical workstations (Reference, Interface, and eQCM lines). Most direct head-to-head competitor to Admiral's Squidstat line in academic and battery-research labs in the Americas.
• CH Instruments: US manufacturer of lower-priced potentiostats (CHI 600E, CHI 760E series). Closely comparable to Admiral's cost-disruptive positioning in the academic research market.
• Ivium Technologies: Dutch manufacturer of compact and modular potentiostats (CompactStat, IviumStat) targeting similar electrochemistry research workflows. Direct competitor with comparable compact hardware and software-driven positioning.
• Arbin Instruments: US manufacturer of battery cyclers (LBT, BT-2000) and electrochemical test systems. Direct competitor to Admiral's Squidstat Cycler line in battery cell and pack research applications.
• Metrohm Autolab: Metrohm-owned potentiostat and electrochemical instrumentation line (PGSTAT series). Direct peer in academic and industrial electrochemistry research markets with overlapping applications in corrosion, sensors, and battery research.

Regional players

• Neware Technology: China-based battery cycler manufacturer with broad presence in Asian battery cell and pack labs and growing presence outside China. Comparable product overlap on battery cycling; competes mostly in different geographies.

Broad incumbents

• Solartron Analytical (AMETEK): AMETEK-owned precision impedance and electrochemical measurement line (ModuLab, SI 1260/1287) selling into large industrial and academic accounts. Broader incumbent with wider portfolio beyond research-only potentiostats.

Others

• Zahner Scientific Instruments: German manufacturer of high-end electrochemical workstations (IM7 series) and Admiral's exclusive US distribution partner. Not a competitor in the US, but a partner whose overlapping product line and engineering base make it adjacent for valuation comparability.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Potentiostats
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCM1YKWxV3-tjwImDPUbpOBA
• Facebookfacebook.com/potentiostats
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/admiral-instruments
• Instagraminstagram.com/potentiostats

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 Admiral Instruments