Hellma

What Hellma does

Hellma GmbH & Co. KG is a privately held German manufacturer of UV/Vis/NIR spectroscopy solutions, headquartered in Müllheim and operating through eight wholly-owned regional sales subsidiaries across North America, Europe, and Asia. Founded over a century ago, the company supplies spectroscopic cuvettes, microplates, calibration standards, optical immersion probes, flow cells, and Raman process sensors to pharmaceutical, food, chemical, polymer, biotechnology, agricultural, and petrochemical customers worldwide. Its core technology centers on precision optical components (quartz, glass, and specialty materials) coupled with a DAkkS-accredited calibration laboratory producing certified reference materials compliant with European Pharmacopoeia (EP 11) and United States Pharmacopeia (USP<857>) standards.

The product architecture is a layered platform-plus-modules design: catalog laboratory consumables (cuvettes, TrayCell 2.0, Hellmanex cleaning concentrate, quartz microplates) anchor a recurring consumables base, while a process analytics franchise (Excalibur, Falcata, Espada, Katana, Gladius, Tidus probe families plus Multiplexer FMX) addresses industrial PAT deployments. Revenue is generated primarily through hardware sales, one-time sales of certified reference materials, DAkkS-accredited recalibration services, custom-manufactured cuvettes and flow cells (including rapid prototyping under the Quality Custom Concept), and professional services spanning feasibility studies, chemometrics, and integrated PAT solution development. The go-to-market is sales-led via regional sales subsidiaries and direct inquiry, supported by digital tools including an online probe and flow cell configurator, cuvette finder, webinars, and a LinkedIn presence, with no publicly disclosed pricing.

Name

Hellma

Legal name

Hellma GmbH & Co. KG

Website

https://hellma-analytics.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1908

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Hellma GmbH & Co. KG is a German manufacturer of UV/Vis/NIR spectroscopy cuvettes, calibration standards, process probes, and flow cells, serving pharmaceutical, food, chemical, and life-science laboratories and industrial process customers worldwide through eight regional sales subsidiaries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Müllheim

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices9 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Laboratory Supplies and Cuvettes: Sale of spectroscopic cuvettes, laboratory products, accessories, and consumables for UV/Vis/NIR analysis. Products include TrayCell 2.0 micro volume analyzers, Hellmanex cleaning concentrate, and quartz microplates.
2. Process Probes and Flow Cells: Sale of optical immersion probes and measuring cells for laboratory, pilot plant, and industrial process applications. Includes laboratory probes, process probes, and process measurement cells.
3. Calibration Standards and Reference Materials: Sale of certified reference materials including liquid filters, glass filters, filter sets, and reference plates for microplate readers. These products ensure compliance with European Pharmacopoeia (EP 11) and United States Pharmacopeia (USP<857>) regulations.
4. Calibration Services: DAkkS-accredited calibration laboratory services for recalibration of Hellma glass filters, liquid filters, and reference plates.
5. Process Analytical Solutions Services: Professional services including feasibility studies, chemometrics service, spectroscopy service, custom solution development, and integrated solutions for process analytical technology implementation.
6. Custom Made Products: Customized cuvettes, cytometry flow cells, and process probes/flow cells manufactured according to customer specifications, including rapid prototyping capabilities.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Hellma manufactures and sells UV/Vis/NIR spectroscopy cuvettes, optical immersion probes, flow cells, quartz microplates, and certified calibration standards for laboratory analytics and industrial process analytical technology (PAT). It also provides DAkkS-accredited calibration services and custom-engineered optical components for regulated industries.

Product overview

Hellma Analytics is a platform-plus-modules architecture centered on spectroscopy solutions. The core portfolio comprises UV/Vis/NIR spectroscopy cuvettes (including TrayCell 2.0 micro volume analyzers and quartz microplates) for laboratory analytics, paired with a comprehensive Calibration Standards portfolio including liquid filters, glass filters, and reference plates for spectrometer verification compliant with EP 11 and USP<857>. The Process Probes & Flow Cells division offers laboratory probes (Excalibur Lab, Falcata Lab, Espada Lab, Katana XP 6), laboratory measuring cells (Katana Lab TNL, PTFE, Excalibur Lab FFV), process probes (Falcata XP, Excalibur XP/HD, Gladius XP/Beam, Katana XP, Excalibur HY 25 3-A), Raman products (Tidus Lumio, Tidus Flex), and process measurement cells (Excalibur HD FCP/Flange/FET), all supported by the Multiplexer FMX. The Process Analytical Solutions platform provides feasibility studies, chemometrics service, spectroscopy sensors for integrators, integrated solutions, and custom solution development. Custom Made Products enable customer-specific cuvettes, cytometry flow cells, and process probes/flow cells. Hellma also offers online Probe and Flow Cell Configurator tools and DAkkS-accredited recalibration services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• TrayCell 2.0: Micro volume analysis device for DNA, RNA, or protein measurements
• Hellmanex
• Excalibur
• Falcata
• Katana
• Gladius
• Espada
• Tidus
• Lumio

Products and services

• Cuvettes UV/Vis absorption and fluorescence measurement cuvettes in quartz, glass, and plastic, Hellma's flagship product line for laboratory spectroscopic analytics.
• TrayCell 2.0 Micro volume analysis device for DNA, RNA, and protein measurements requiring minimal sample volumes, used in biotech and life sciences labs.
• Hellmanex Cleaning Concentrate Specialized cleaning concentrate for maintaining and cleaning laboratory cuvettes and optical components.
• Quartz Microplates High-quality micro plates made of quartz for high-throughput spectroscopic analysis.
• Calibration Standards Certified calibration standards including liquid filters (wavelength, photometric accuracy, stray light), glass filters, and filter sets for spectrometer verification compliant with EP 11 and USP<857>.
• Excalibur (Lab & Process Probe Series) UV/Vis/NIR optical immersion probe family spanning laboratory (Excalibur Lab, Excalibur Lab All-Quartz) and process/industrial variants (Excalibur XP, Excalibur HD FPT, Excalibur HY 25 3-A) plus measurement cells, for spectroscopic analysis from lab to plant.
• Falcata (Lab & XP Probes) UV/Vis/NIR laboratory probe (Falcata Lab) and process probe (Falcata XP) for spectroscopic monitoring across laboratory and industrial settings.
• Espada Lab Laboratory immersion probe for UV/Vis/NIR spectroscopy applications.
• Katana (XP Probes & Measuring Cells) UV/Vis/NIR probe and measuring cell line with XP technology spanning laboratory (Katana XP 6, Katana Lab TNL) and process (Katana XP) use.
• Gladius (XP & Beam Process Probes) Process immersion probes with XP and beam technology for industrial UV/Vis/NIR spectroscopic measurements.
• Tidus Lumio & Tidus Flex Raman spectroscopy probes for process monitoring and material analysis, with a flexible variant for diverse process analytical applications.
• Process Measurement Cells (Excalibur HD FCP/Flange/FET) High-definition flow and flange-mounted process measurement cells for continuous in-line spectroscopic monitoring and pipeline integration.
• Measuring Cells for Laboratory Use (PTFE, Excalibur Lab FFV) Laboratory measuring cells including PTFE-lined cells for chemically aggressive samples and flow-through cells for continuous monitoring.
• Multiplexer FMX Multiplexer system for connecting multiple probes or measuring points to a single spectrometer.
• Process Analytical Solutions Integrated PAT offering comprising feasibility studies, chemometrics service, spectroscopy sensors for integrators, integrated solutions, custom solution development, and spectroscopy service for process analytical technology implementations.
• Custom Made Products (Cuvettes, Cytometry Flow Cells, Process Probes/Flow Cells, QCC) Customer-specification manufacturing of cuvettes, cytometry flow cells (with rapid prototyping), and process probes/flow cells under the Quality Custom Concept (QCC) program.
• DAkkS Calibration Laboratory Services Accredited recalibration services for Hellma glass filters, liquid filters, reference plates, and opacity filters through the DAkkS calibration laboratory.
• Probe and Flow Cell Configurator Online configuration tool for selecting and specifying optical immersion probes and measuring cells.

Quantifiable outcome

• Reliable measurement results through regular verification of spectrometers using certified calibration standards
• +1 more outcomes

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Thermo Fisher Scientific: Diversified life sciences and analytical instruments giant (Evolution UV-Vis, Nicolet FTIR) whose consumables and service offering covers many of the same laboratory and process analytical workflows Hellma addresses.
• Shimadzu Scientific Instruments: Japanese analytical instrument maker (UV-1900, UV-3600 spectrophotometers) serving the same regulated QA/QC and process analytical customers as Hellma, with overlapping cuvette and reference material needs.
• Bruker Corporation: Provider of FTIR, Raman, and UV-Vis spectrometers for pharma, food, and materials analysis. Bruker's process probe portfolio and reference material standards intersect with Hellma's calibration and PAT offerings.
• Agilent Technologies: Major spectrometer OEM (Cary, UV-Vis/NIR) that bundles its own consumables, cells, and calibration services. Agilent competes indirectly with Hellma by offering integrated instruments plus aftermarket consumables that overlap with Hellma's cuvette and standards portfolio.
• HORIBA Scientific: Manufacturer of Raman and fluorescence spectrometers (LabRAM, iHR series) with related process probes. HORIBA overlaps with Hellma's Raman (Tidus) and process probe product lines in PAT and pharmaceutical applications.
• PerkinElmer: Provider of UV/Vis/NIR and FTIR spectrometers (Lambda series) plus a full range of consumables, software, and services serving pharma, food, and environmental labs — directly overlapping with Hellma's lab analytics customer base.
• Mettler Toledo: Provider of precision instruments for laboratory and process analytics, including UV-Vis spectrophotometers and in-line process probes targeting pharma and food. Overlaps with Hellma's process analytical solutions offering.

Direct peers

• Starna Cells: Closest direct peer: a UK-based specialist manufacturer of spectrophotometer cells, reference materials, and certified calibration standards. Starna competes head-to-head with Hellma in quartz/glass cuvettes and pharmacopeia-aligned calibration standards.

Emerging players

• Endress+Hauser: Process instrumentation specialist with UV, NIR, and Raman in-line sensors (e.g., Memosens, Spectra) for pharma, chemical, and food processing — comparable to Hellma's process probes and PAT platform in industrial process analytics.
• Renishaw: Specialist in Raman spectroscopy and process probes (inVia, RA802) with growing presence in pharmaceutical PAT — directly comparable to Hellma's Tidus Lumio and Tidus Flex Raman product lines for process monitoring.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hellma

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries8 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 Hellma