Martel Instruments

What Martel Instruments does

Martel Instruments Ltd is a UK-based, privately held manufacturer of specialised thermal printers and electronic data transfer solutions, operating from a purpose-built factory in Durham, England since 1982. The company serves OEM equipment manufacturers across medical/dental, automotive, laboratory, weighing, gas detection, and HVAC industries, supplying panel-mount printers (MPP series in 2-, 3-, and 4-inch variants), portable/handheld thermal printers (MCP2800, MCP1800, MCP7800), bespoke custom-built printers, and ISO-approved thermographic consumables.

The company's core technology platform is VIDA — a proprietary, custom-built hardware stack combining circuitry, operating system, memory and configurable connections. VIDA powers two electronic data solutions: LabBox, a LIMS/ELN interface device that links laboratory equipment (balances, pH meters, torque meters) to data systems with 21 CFR Part 11 compliance and storage for 50 million+ sample records, and Connect-It, a USB virtual-printer device that converts instrument outputs to PDF documents and routes them to systems such as OpenLab ECM. The company sells through direct OEM engagement, a global distributor network (AIT in France, Optologic in Switzerland, Current Components and TLC Electronics in the USA), and active participation in industry exhibitions (Medica, London Lab Live, SLAS, Eastern Analytical Symposium).

Revenue mechanics are hardware-led (printers, consumables, electronic data devices) with ancillary custom design and engineering services. Pricing is quote-based with no minimum order quantity and JIT manufacturing. The company is founder/owner-operated with no disclosed external funding or institutional ownership, and management is led by Managing Director Keith Walker alongside a six-person leadership team covering operations, sales, commercial, and quality functions.

Name

Martel Instruments

Legal name

Martel Instruments Ltd

Website

https://martelinstruments.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1982

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Martel Instruments is a UK-based manufacturer, founded in 1982, that designs and produces specialised thermal printers and proprietary VIDA-powered electronic data transfer solutions (LabBox, Connect-It) for OEM customers in medical, laboratory, automotive, and industrial sectors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Edinburgh

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Thermal Printer Sales: Sale of thermal printers including panel printers, portable/handheld printers, and bespoke/customised printers. Available in various sizes (2", 3", 4") and configurations. No minimum order quantity - manufactured on demand.
2. Printer Consumables: ISO-approved thermographic paper rolls and label rolls. Available in 2-, 3-, and 4-inch options. Includes BPA free options, high heat/moisture/light resistance, and various roll lengths and guarantees (10 or 25 year).
3. Electronic Data Solutions: VIDA-based electronic data transfer solutions including LabBox and Connect-It products. Hardware plus configuration/customisation services for connecting laboratory equipment to LIMS/ELN systems.
4. Custom Design Services: Bespoke printer design and engineering services. 7-step process from initial enquiry to delivery including design, prototyping, proof of concept, and support. End-to-end service with lifetime product support guarantee.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Martel Instruments is a UK-based manufacturer that designs, engineers, and produces thermal panel and portable/handheld printers sold to OEM equipment manufacturers, plus electronic data transfer solutions (VIDA LabBox and VIDA Connect-It) that connect laboratory instruments to LIMS/ELN systems. The company also supplies thermographic paper and label consumables and offers bespoke custom printer design services with no minimum order quantities.

Product overview

Martel Instruments is a UK-based manufacturer offering two main product categories: Thermal Printers (printed data solutions) and Electronic Data Solutions (powered by VIDA technology). The printer portfolio includes Panel Printers (MPP2000, MPP3000, MPP4000 series in 2-, 3-, and 4-inch variants), Portable/Handheld Printers (MCP2800, MCP1800, MCP7800), and Bespoke/Custom Printers. The electronic data solutions include VIDA LabBox (LIMS/ELN interface for automated data transfer) and VIDA Connect-It (virtual printer for PDF document creation). All products are manufactured in-house in the UK with no minimum order quantities, and VIDA technology serves as the core platform powering the electronic data transfer products.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• VIDA: Custom-built hardware technology that powers all electronic data solutions, including LabBox and Connect-It products. A combination of circuitry, operating system, memory and connections developed for the modern manufacturer.
• LabBox
• Connect-It

Products and services

• VIDA LabBox An innovative LIMS/ELN interface device that links laboratory equipment such as analytical balances, torque meters, and pH meters to data systems, automatically converting equipment outputs into meaningful readings and sending data to LIMS/ELN with 100% accuracy, with storage for 50 million+ sample records and 21 CFR Part 11 compliance.
• VIDA Connect-It A small device that emulates a virtual printer, connecting to equipment via USB to create PDF documents of results data and transport them to storage locations or internal databases, eliminating print-scan-upload workflows.
• Panel Printers (MPP Series) Durable thermographic printers manufactured in the UK for integration into industrial and OEM equipment, available in 2-inch, 3-inch, and 4-inch variants with various panel widths, panel depths, and connection options, supporting text, graphics, and barcode printing.
• MCP2800 Portable Thermal Printer Newest portable handheld thermal printer launched in 2023 with USB-C, Bluetooth, BTLE, RS232, and Infrared interfaces, featuring magnet or screw-mounting options for high-resolution printing on thermal paper and labels.
• MCP1800 Portable Thermal Printer Compact portable printer with magnets in base for easy mounting, supporting USB, RS232, Bluetooth, BTLE, and Infrared interfaces, suitable for testing, analysis, weighing, and medical devices.
• MCP7800 Portable Thermal Printer Ultra-compact thermal printer featuring an easy load paper mechanism, the first printer with this feature, with configurable functionality and optional rubber boot accessory for extreme conditions.
• Bespoke/Custom Printers Fully customized thermal printing solutions built to exact technical requirements, from software integration to physical branding, manufactured in-house in the UK with no minimum order quantities.
• Printer Consumables ISO-approved thermographic paper rolls and label rolls in 2-, 3-, and 4-inch options, available with BPA-free composition, high heat/moisture/light resistance, and 10 or 25-year guarantee options.

Quantifiable outcome

• LabBox eliminates manual data entry, saving staff time on printing, signing/dating results data and scanning
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration7 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered standard and notable.

• AITstandardChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFrench distributor based in Noyelles sur Escaut, France. Contact: 09 60 40 17 86, [email protected]. Part of European distributor network.
• OptologicstandardChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSwiss distributor based in Chatel-St-Denis, Switzerland. Contact: (+41) 21 948 20 80. Part of European distributor network.
• Current ComponentsstandardChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNorth American distributor based in Middletown, Maryland, USA. Contact: 800-342-9798. Part of North American distributor network.
• TLC ElectronicsstandardChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNorth American distributor based in St Paul, Minnesota, USA. Contact: 833-247-7951. Part of North American distributor network.
• Siemens HealthineersnotableTechnology or IntegrationProvided printed data output solution for Siemens Healthineers point of care blood test devices, used at Emirates FA Cup Final to aid patient hospital avoidance.
• IntoximetersnotableTechnology or IntegrationCustom parallel printer solution developed for Intoximeters' roadside toxicology testing devices. Printer required individual state-by-state approval in the US.
• BowmonknotableTechnology or IntegrationProvided durable portable printer for Bowmonk's BrakeCheck brake testing kits, an HSE-recognised portable brake testing device.
• Woodley EquipmentnotableTechnology or IntegrationData solutions partnered with Woodley Equipment for epoc Critical Care/Blood Gas Analyser used in veterinary diagnostics, including rhino sedation procedures.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Brother Industries: Major Japanese manufacturer of thermal, label, and mobile printers used in healthcare, retail, and industrial applications. Comparable in thermal and portable printing technology but with a vastly broader product portfolio spanning printers, scanners, and machine tools.
• Zebra Technologies: Global leader in barcode, receipt, and label thermal printers widely used in OEM, retail, healthcare, and logistics applications. Direct category competitor to Martel's panel and portable printer lines, but operates at vastly larger scale with broader software/services portfolio.
• Epson: Global manufacturer of thermal receipt and label printers, including OEM-embedded models widely used in self-service kiosks, ATMs, and industrial equipment. Overlaps with Martel in thermal printer technology but operates as a broad-line electronics and printing incumbent.

Emerging players

• LogTag Recorders: Specialist in temperature and environmental data loggers used in laboratories, cold chain, and healthcare, with associated data transfer/printing workflows. Thematically comparable to Martel's VIDA LabBox in connecting instruments to digital records, though focused on monitoring rather than printing.

Direct peers

• Star Micronics: Established manufacturer of thermal receipt, label, and panel-mount printers, including OEM-embedded models with multiple connectivity options. Closely comparable in product category (thermal printers for OEM integration) though Star has a larger global footprint and broader product lines.
• Citizen Systems: Specialist in thermal and dot matrix printers, including OEM panel-mount and portable printers for medical, laboratory, and industrial customers. Direct product overlap with Martel's panel and portable printer ranges, particularly in regulated and OEM-embedded applications.
• Bixolon: Manufacturer of thermal receipt, label, and mobile printers with strong presence in OEM, retail, healthcare, and logistics markets. Closely comparable product range to Martel's portable and panel printers, though Bixolon operates at larger scale and broader geographic reach.
• Seiko Instruments Thermal Printer Division (SII): Manufacturer of compact thermal panel-mount and mechanism printers for OEM integration in medical, industrial, and instrumentation applications. Closely comparable to Martel's MPP series in form factor, customisation, and OEM-embedded use cases.
• Custom Engineering (Custom Group): Italian manufacturer of thermal receipt, kiosk, and panel printers for OEM, retail, and self-service applications. Comparable in OEM-embedded thermal printing and panel-mount products, with a similar focus on customisation and vertical-specific solutions.
• APS (Apsauto) / APS printer group: Supplier of thermal and impact printer mechanisms and panel printers for OEM integration. Comparable to Martel in targeting equipment manufacturers with embedded thermal printing needs across medical, industrial, and instrumentation markets.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/martel_inst

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 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 Martel Instruments