What Mekanic does

Mekanic is a Montréal-based custom engineering firm founded in 2013 that designs and manufactures one-of-a-kind high-performance laboratory equipment for scientific research. Its portfolio spans test benches, instruments, and tools across aerospace (compressor test sections, shot peening cannons, multinozzle 3D printing systems), fluid mechanics (PIV-3D test rigs, electrodiffusion probes with laser Doppler anemometry), nuclear engineering (steam generator vibration test benches, turbine blade clearance probes), medical devices (magnetic drug-delivery prototypes), potable water treatment (nanofiltration rigs), and building science (climatic chambers). Core technology comprises precision mechanics, instrumentation and process control, and experimental data acquisition systems, typically integrated with 6-axis industrial robotics (e.g., Fanuc), high-speed imaging up to 500,000 FPS, CSA-Z434 safety enclosures, and custom DAQ pipelines.

The company operates as a project-based professional services and custom manufacturing business through three service lines: feasibility studies (technical validation, budget estimation, H&S assessment), custom design and manufacturing (3D design, prototyping, fabrication, assembly, commissioning), and engineering support (advisory, stakeholder coordination, supplier selection). It sells directly to research laboratories, universities, and industrial R&D teams — notably McGill University, Polytechnique Montréal, ETS, Université Laval, Concordia University, Pratt & Whitney Canada, VELAN, and NRC-CNRC — through a field sales motion beginning with feasibility engagements. Execution is enabled by a network of 800+ qualified suppliers and machine shops, allowing the small in-house team (four named founders/engineers, 1–10 employees) to mobilize on complex, non-standard projects without carrying full manufacturing overhead. Revenue derives from one-time custom equipment contracts and professional services fees; pricing is project-specific with no publicly disclosed rates or recurring SaaS component.

Name

Mekanic

Legal name

Mekanic

Website

https://mekanic.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Mekanic is a Montréal-based custom engineering firm founded in 2013 that designs and builds one-of-a-kind scientific research equipment — test benches, instruments, and tools — for academic and industrial R&D laboratories across aerospace, nuclear, medical, and environmental fields.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Custom Laboratory & Scientific Test Equipment

NAICS

Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing (334516), Other General Purpose Machinery Manufacturing (3339), Engineering Services (541330)

SIC

Laboratory Apparatus & Furniture (3821), Special Industry Machinery (No Metalworking Machinery) (3550), Laboratory Analytical Instruments (3826)

akta.pro primary industry

General Lab Equipment (Centrifuges, Incubators, Shakers, Ovens) (HLAGAIAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Chemical Processing Equipment (Reactors, Mixers, Agitators) (IMAHAEAA), Additive Manufacturing Research & Innovation Labs (IMAAAJAA)

Keywords

• Custom laboratory equipment
• Scientific test benches
• Precision engineering services
• Research instrument manufacturing
• Engineering feasibility studies

Headquarters

HQ city

Montréal

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

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

Revenue model

1. Custom Equipment Design and Manufacturing: Design and manufacture of custom high-performance laboratory equipment for scientific research. Projects are one-of-a-kind systems tailored to specific research needs.
2. Feasibility Studies: Technical feasibility assessment services including validation of scientific objectives, complexity evaluation, technical choices, health and safety assessment, and budget estimation
3. Engineering Support: Technical support during design, manufacturing and assembly stages including project management, stakeholder coordination, and supplier selection

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Mëkanic designs and manufactures custom high-performance laboratory equipment — including test benches, instruments, and scientific tools — for cutting-edge research experiments in mechanical, materials, aerospace, chemistry, physics, medical, transportation, energy and environmental engineering. Engagements typically begin with feasibility studies (validation of scientific objectives, complexity assessment, budgeting) and proceed through custom design, prototyping, fabrication, assembly, installation, and commissioning via a network of 800+ suppliers, with engineering support available throughout the project lifecycle.

Product overview

Mekanic is a custom engineering and manufacturing firm founded in 2013 that designs and builds one-of-a-kind scientific equipment for research laboratories. The company offers three core service lines: Feasibility Studies (project assessment and validation), Custom Design and Manufacturing (full equipment development lifecycle), and Engineering Support (technical advisory). Their portfolio includes 14 distinct custom-built products spanning aerospace, fluid mechanics, nuclear engineering, potable water treatment, building science, and medical sectors. These include specialized test benches (multinozzle 3D printing, shot peening cannon, compressor test sections, PIV-3D fluid mechanics systems, nanofiltration test rigs, nuclear vibration measurement systems), precision probes (blade clearance measurement, electrodiffusion probes), climate chambers, ceramic composite manufacturing equipment, and medical device prototypes. Mekanic operates through an interdisciplinary team of engineers, technicians, and designers supported by a network of over 800 manufacturing suppliers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Feasibility Studies Initial project assessment service that validates scientific objectives, evaluates concept complexity, determines technical and technological choices, and produces feasibility reports including specifications, health and safety assessments, budget estimates, and project schedules for prospective custom laboratory equipment engagements.
• Custom Design and Manufacturing Full-service custom design and manufacturing of laboratory equipment including project management, 3D design and modeling, prototyping, fabrication through a network of qualified suppliers, assembly, on-site installation, and system certification and commissioning for research laboratories.
• Engineering Support Technical advisory service providing recommendations during the design, manufacturing, and assembly stages of custom equipment projects, including technical guidance, stakeholder coordination, supplier selection, and manufacturing plan preparation.
• Multinozzle Aerospace 3D Printing System High-pressure 3D printing system with 26 independent simultaneous filament extrusion nozzles (maximum 200 μm diameter) for extruding high-viscosity epoxy resins, designed for printing noise-reducing structures in aircraft engines. Features a 6-axis Fanuc robot integration, hydraulic unit, and CSA-Z434 certified safety enclosure.
• Cannon for Aerospace Shot Peening High-velocity particle projection system for studying shot peening effects on metallic aerospace materials. Features adjustable projection angle (90-135°), temperature-controlled targets (20-400°C), and high-speed cameras (up to 500,000 FPS) for analyzing impact craters and microstructural changes.
• Robotic Displacement System with Pitot Probe Precision robotic system for scanning jet engine compressor blade areas during operation. Features bidirectional (circumferential and radial) micrometric displacement, pressure-tight operation up to 60°C, and remote control capability for studying turbine compressor efficiency.
• Aircraft Engine Compressor Test Section Turbine compressor test section for evaluating blade design performance at high rotational speeds (0-22,000 RPM). Features labyrinth seals, adjustable blade tip clearance, 75-channel instrumentation, and supports SA2GE and GARDN research programs.
• Climatic Chamber for Engineered Wood Building Envelope Two-compartment climate chamber system simulating Canadian indoor/outdoor weather conditions for testing engineered wood wall assemblies. Features temperature range from -30°C to +50°C, humidity control (15-90% RH), UV lighting options, and sprinkler systems for rain simulation.
• System for Manufacturing Ceramic Composite Aerospace Materials Ceramic matrix composite press system for fabricating ceramic-fiber composites via pressure application and filtration through porous ceramic membranes. Features robotic controller interface, electric cylinder actuator (500 lbf max), and precise permeability measurement for infiltration process optimization.
• Test Bench for Instationary Detachment with PIV-3D System Fluid mechanics test bench with 3D tomography PIV (Particle Image Velocimetry) system for studying unsteady boundary layer separation. Features optical-quality 16-facet basin (40 USGAL capacity), multi-axis injector positioning, and high-speed flow analysis for aerospace applications.
• Electrodiffusion Probes Test Bench with Laser Doppler Anemometer Fluid mechanics test bench for developing and validating wall friction measurement sensors. Features optical acrylic channel with 4-sided access, triple wall probes for capturing instantaneous friction components, and comparison capability with laser Doppler anemometry.
• Test Bench for Nanofiltration of Drinking Water Automated test system for studying industrial nanofiltration membrane performance at reduced scale. Features variable flow/pressure pumps, chemical washing cycles, industrial computer data acquisition, and dual river water basins with temperature control for developing cost-effective filtration for isolated communities.
• Probe for Measuring Turbine Compressor Blade Clearance Real-time blade tip clearance measurement probe for jet engine turbine compressors. Features in-situ calibration capability, 0-0.8mm measurement range, high-frequency signal conditioning, and compact design for operation at 10-60°C in metallic environments.
• Test Bench for Nuclear Steam Generator Vibrations Hydraulic loop and test section for replicating steam generator tube plate flow conditions in nuclear power plants. Features 1,200L recirculating basin, high-velocity jet capability, immersible strain gauge instrumentation, and four removable test section windows for studying vibration phenomena.
• Medical Device Prototype Remote magnetic guidance device prototype using high-intensity magnetic fields for localized drug deployment. Features air-cooled magnetic system, demountable structure (70" diameter x 77" height), and 1,350 kg mass for laboratory assembly.

Quantifiable outcome

• Researchers complete PhDs faster with Mëkanic equipment support (e.g., one professor completed PhD in 11 semesters with Mëkanic's help)

Named customers8 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered notable.

• SA2GE (Systèmes aéronautiques d'avant-garde pour l'environnement)notableStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative research program for advanced aviation systems. Mëkanic participated in subsidized project for aircraft engine compressor testing section development.
• GARDN (Green Aviation Research and Development Network)notableStrategic or Co-development PartnerGreen aviation research network. Mëkanic contributed to collaborative aerospace industry/university project for turbine compressor development.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• MTS Systems: MTS Systems provides mechanical test and simulation systems, including servohydraulic and structural test solutions, to aerospace, automotive, and research customers. It is comparable to Mekanic as both serve aerospace and nuclear R&D labs with high-performance testing equipment, though MTS is far larger and productizes standard platforms.
• Brüel & Kjær (HBK): HBK (Hottinger Brüel & Kjær) supplies sound, vibration, and mechanical measurement instrumentation used widely in aerospace and research test benches. It is comparable to Mekanic because Mekanic integrates instrumentation and data acquisition into custom rigs serving overlapping aerospace and academic end customers.
• Instron: Instron (Illinois Tool Works) manufactures standardized materials and mechanical testing systems globally. It is comparable to Mekanic because both deliver test equipment to research labs, but Instron operates at scale with catalog products while Mekanic competes in one-off custom builds for problems catalog solutions cannot solve.
• National Instruments (NI): NI is a leading provider of modular data acquisition and test/measurement platforms used in research laboratories and aerospace test stands. Comparable to Mekanic because Mekanic's experimental data acquisition systems and process control subsystems typically incorporate NI-style instrumentation, and both serve academic and industrial research end markets.
• ZwickRoell: ZwickRoell manufactures materials testing machines and automated test systems for academic, aerospace, and industrial research customers worldwide. Comparable to Mekanic because both serve university and industrial R&D labs requiring custom mechanical test capability, though ZwickRoell is far larger and productized.
• Thermo Fisher Scientific: Thermo Fisher Scientific is a global manufacturer of laboratory instruments, analytical equipment, and research tools across life sciences and applied markets. Comparable to Mekanic as a broad incumbent in the lab-instruments space that Mekanic supplements with bespoke, one-off builds for problems catalog products cannot address.

Direct peers

• Team Corporation: Team Corporation designs and manufactures custom vibration and shock test systems for aerospace, defense, and nuclear applications. Comparable to Mekanic because both build bespoke test rigs for high-end industrial research customers with similar one-off engineering and integration requirements.
• Data Physics (SignalCalc): Data Physics supplies dynamic signal analysis, vibration controllers, and test instrumentation, often integrated into custom shaker and test rigs. Comparable to Mekanic because both deliver integrated data-acquisition and process-control test solutions to research labs in aerospace, mechanical, and civil engineering.
• Aerotech: Aerotech manufactures precision motion control and positioning systems, including custom multi-axis test and scanning stages. Comparable to Mekanic because Mekanic's robotic displacement and probe-positioning systems (e.g., the Pitot probe robotic system) require similar precision mechanics and motion engineering expertise.

Others

• Keysight Technologies: Keysight provides electronic test and measurement instrumentation, including data acquisition and instrumentation modules used in research labs. Comparable to Mekanic as an enabling technology supplier whose measurement components are commonly embedded into custom rigs of the type Mekanic designs.

Market position

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/mekanic.ca
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/mekanic
• Instagraminstagram.com/mekanic_science_factory

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 Mekanic