What HEKA Elektronik does

HEKA Elektronik designs and manufactures precision scientific instrumentation for electrophysiology and electrochemistry research, operating as a brand under Multi Channel Systems MCS GmbH, a German private limited company (registered at district court Stuttgart, HRB 382616) that is an affiliate of Harvard Bioscience Inc. Founded in 1980 and headquartered in Reutlingen, Germany, the company sells integrated hardware-software systems to academic research institutions, pharmaceutical and biotech companies, and industrial research facilities worldwide. The product portfolio is built on three core technology pillars: patch clamp amplifiers (notably the EPC 10 USB 3.0 with 2MHz sampling rate and built-in anti-aliasing filtering), potentiostat/galvanostat instruments (PG 611 USB, PG 618 USB), and scanning electrochemical microscopes (ElProScan ELP 1, ELP 3), each paired with proprietary data acquisition and analysis software including PATCHMASTER NEXT, FITMASTER NEXT, POTMASTER, and CHARTMASTER.

HEKA generates revenue through a combination of one-time hardware sales, perpetual software licensing, and recurring service contracts, with all pricing handled via direct quote-based transactions rather than public disclosure. The go-to-market motion relies on dedicated enterprise field sales teams covering Europe (from Reutlingen) and North America (from Holliston, MA, operating under the Harvard Apparatus brand), complemented by industry conference presence, digital channels (LinkedIn, YouTube, Twitter), and an online meeting scheduler. The company also distributes complementary third-party products from Sensapex, Sutter Instruments, Warner Instruments, and Technical Manufacturing Corporation through its channels, enabling single-source procurement for complete experimental setups, while a Cytocybernetics partnership introduces plug-and-play Dynamic Clamp functionality through the Cybercyte system.

The value proposition rests on over 45 years of specialized expertise in low-noise cellular electrophysiology measurement, multi-channel simultaneous recording capability, and integrated hardware-software-imaging workflows via the SmartLUX imaging extension and DocuLUX camera. Service revenue is supported by trade-in upgrade programs — 15% off EPC 10 USB 3.0 for EPC 9/10/10 USB trade-ins and up to 25% off PG 618 USB for PG 340 trade-ins, both valid through December 31, 2026 — and recurring Patch Clamp Service Plans delivered via a Zendesk-hosted support portal. Technical support is staffed by electrophysiologists, electrochemists, electrical engineers, and software engineers, with separate contact channels and dedicated sales representation for European and North American customers.

Name

HEKA Elektronik

Legal name

Multi Channel Systems MCS GmbH

Website

https://heka.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1980

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

HEKA Elektronik, a German brand under Multi Channel Systems MCS GmbH and affiliate of Harvard Bioscience Inc., designs patch clamp amplifiers, potentiostats, and scanning electrochemical microscopes with proprietary acquisition and analysis software for academic, pharmaceutical, and industrial electrophysiology research worldwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Scientific Instrumentation - Electrophysiology and Electrochemistry

NAICS

Electromedical and Electrotherapeutic Apparatus Manufacturing (334510), Instrument Manufacturing for Measuring and Testing Electricity and Electrical Signals (334515), Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing (33451)

SIC

Electromedical & Electrotherapeutic Apparatus (3845), Instruments For Meas & Testing Of Electricity & Elec Signals (3825)

akta.pro primary industry

Electrophysiology Mapping & Ablation Systems (HLAHAFAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Mass Spectrometry & Spectroscopy Instruments (HLAGAIAB)

Keywords

• Patch clamp amplifiers
• Electrophysiology instrumentation
• Electrochemistry instruments
• Potentiostat galvanostat systems
• Scanning electrochemical microscopy

Headquarters

HQ city

Lambrecht

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Scientific Instrumentation Sales: HEKA generates revenue through the sale of specialized scientific instruments including patch clamp amplifiers, potentiostats, galvanostats, and scanning electrochemical microscopes. Products are sold as complete systems with accessories and components.
2. Software Licensing: Proprietary acquisition and analysis software including PATCHMASTER NEXT, FITMASTER NEXT, SmartLUX, DocuLUX, POTMASTER, and CHARTMASTER are sold alongside hardware.
3. Service and Support: Service packages for patch clamp systems including installation, technical support, and maintenance. Trade-in programs available for upgrading existing equipment.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

HEKA Elektronik designs, manufactures, and sells precision scientific instrumentation and proprietary software for electrophysiology and electrochemistry research. Core offerings include patch clamp amplifiers (EPC 10 USB 3.0), potentiostat/galvanostat systems (PG series), scanning electrochemical microscopes (ElProScan ELP series), and dedicated acquisition and analysis software (PATCHMASTER NEXT, FITMASTER NEXT, POTMASTER, CHARTMASTER). The company also distributes complementary third-party instruments (micromanipulators, stages, perfusion systems) and provides installation, technical support, and maintenance service plans.

Product overview

HEKA Elektronik is a German manufacturer of precision scientific instruments for electrophysiology and electrochemistry research, with over 45 years of experience. The company operates as an affiliate of Harvard Bioscience Inc. and is headquartered in Reutlingen, Germany. The product portfolio centers on patch clamp amplifiers (EPC 10 USB 3.0), potentio-/galvanostats (PG series), and scanning electrochemical microscopes (ElProScan ELP series), complemented by proprietary acquisition and analysis software (PATCHMASTER NEXT, FITMASTER NEXT, SmartLUX, DocuLUX, POTMASTER, CHARTMASTER). HEKA also distributes complementary third-party products including micromanipulators, stages, perfusion systems, temperature controllers, micropipette fabrication equipment, and imaging systems from partner brands (Sensapex, Sutter Instruments, Warner Instruments). The company provides comprehensive pre- and post-sales technical support through electrophysiologists, electrochemists, electrical engineers, and software engineers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• EPC 10 USB 3.0 Patch Clamp Amplifier Software-controlled patch clamp amplifier with integrated data acquisition interface for cellular electrophysiology. Features 2MHz sampling rate, fully cophasic sampling, and built-in anti-aliasing filtering in a compact, low-noise design suitable for single-channel to whole-cell recordings. Used by research laboratories conducting neuronal, cardiac, in-situ, and in-vivo recordings.
• Dynamic Clamp Systems (Cybercyte) Dynamic clamp system providing plug-and-play simulation of ion channels, synaptic inputs, and electrical coupling during patch clamp experiments without requiring genetic manipulation or pharmacological intervention. Interfaces directly with HEKA patch clamp setups. For electrophysiology researchers performing ion channel and synaptic studies.
• Patch Clamp Systems (Complete Setups) Complete patch clamp experimental setups integrating amplifiers, acquisition hardware, and software from a single source, for neuronal, cardiac, in-situ, and in-vivo recordings. Used by academic and pharmaceutical research laboratories.
• PG 611 USB Potentiostat/Galvanostat Computer-controlled potentiostat/galvanostat for electrochemical measurements and analysis. Used in research and industrial electrochemistry applications.
• PG 618 USB Ultra-Bipotentiostat Computer-controlled ultra-bipotentiostat for advanced electrochemistry applications, available as a trade-in upgrade from the PG 340. Used in trace metal analysis, surface imaging, and electrochemical research.
• ElProScan ELP 1 Scanning Electrochemical Microscope Scanning electrochemical microscope for high-resolution electrochemical imaging and analysis. Used in surface analysis and SKP (scanning Kelvin probe) imaging applications.
• ElProScan ELP 1-IBIS ElProScan scanning electrochemical microscope in IBIS configuration with fast piezo positioning options (PZ50, PZ100, PXY200Z100) for SKP imaging and high-resolution surface analysis.
• ElProScan ELP 3 Scanning Electrochemical Microscope Advanced scanning electrochemical microscope with SFU 3 Shear Force Unit, surface imaging system add-on, and fluorescence excitation systems (slow and fast). For combined electrochemical, optical, and fluorescence analysis.
• LIH 816 USB 3.0 Acquisition Interface Data acquisition hardware interface with USB 3.0 connectivity for electrophysiology and electrochemistry experimental control. Used as acquisition backbone for HEKA software packages.
• PATCHMASTER NEXT Software Multi-channel stimulation and acquisition software with remote control over the amplifier, data acquisition, and analysis in a single 3-in-1 application. For electrophysiology researchers running patch clamp and related experiments.
• FITMASTER NEXT Software Advanced data processing, analysis, and fitting software for routine and automated analysis of electrophysiological data, with flexibility for exploratory analysis. Used by researchers to analyze patch clamp recordings.
• POTMASTER Software Acquisition and stimulation software for potentiostat measurements and electrochemical experiments, paired with HEKA PG series potentiostats.
• CHARTMASTER Software Chart recording software for real-time data acquisition and display across HEKA electrophysiology and electrochemistry setups.
• Patch Clamp Service Plans Service packages for Patch Clamp setups built around the EPC 10 USB series, providing installation, maintenance, and technical support. Available on an annual subscription basis.

Quantifiable outcome

• 2MHz sampling rate with fully cophasic sampling and built-in anti-aliasing filtering

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration13 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Cytocybernetics (Cybercyte System)coreTechnology or IntegrationCytocybernetics' Cybercyte system provides plug-and-play Dynamic Clamp functionality that interfaces directly with existing HEKA setups. The system allows researchers to simulate ion channels, synaptic inputs, and electrical coupling during patch clamp experiments without requiring genetic manipulation or pharmacological intervention.
• Harvard Bioscience Inc. (Parent Company)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHEKA is an affiliate of Harvard Bioscience Inc., operating as a brand under Multi Channel Systems MCS GmbH. Harvard Bioscience provides global brand infrastructure and resources.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• CH Instruments: CH Instruments manufactures a broad line of potentiostats and electrochemical workstations widely used in research labs, overlapping with HEKA's PG 611/PG 618 line in price-sensitive academic segments.
• Multi Channel Systems (MCS): Multi Channel Systems is HEKA's sister brand under Harvard Bioscience Inc., producing microelectrode array (MEA) systems and multi-channel electrophysiology platforms that share customer base and product philosophy with HEKA's amplifier portfolio.
• Molecular Devices: Molecular Devices (part of Danaher) is the dominant player in patch clamp electrophysiology with its MultiClamp 700B and Axopatch 200B amplifier lines plus pCLAMP software — the closest direct competitor to HEKA's EPC 10 USB 3.0 in research electrophysiology.
• NPI Electronic: NPI Electronic GmbH is a German manufacturer of patch clamp amplifiers, electrometers, and signal conditioning equipment, directly competing with HEKA's electrophysiology portfolio in both academic and industrial research markets.
• ALA Scientific Instruments: ALA Scientific manufactures patch clamp peripherals including micromanipulators, perfusion systems, and specialized holders, partially overlapping with both HEKA's core amplifier business and its distributed third-party accessory ecosystem.
• Gamry Instruments: Gamry Instruments is a US-based manufacturer of potentiostats, galvanostats, and EIS systems (Reference 3000, Interface 1010E) used in academic and industrial electrochemistry research, directly comparable to HEKA's PG-series and ElProScan offerings.
• Warner Instruments: Warner Instruments is another Harvard Bioscience sister brand producing perfusion systems, temperature controllers, holders, and chambers for electrophysiology — products also distributed through HEKA's complementary ecosystem.
• Bio-Logic Science Instruments: Bio-Logic is a French manufacturer of high-end potentiostats/galvanostats (SP-300, VSP-3e) and electrochemical instrumentation, directly competing with HEKA's PG 611/PG 618 USB series in research electrochemistry and battery/materials science.

Broad incumbents

• Metrohm: Metrohm is a broad analytical instruments incumbent whose Autolab potentiostat line competes with HEKA's PG series; Metrohm brings much larger scale, global service infrastructure, and bundling with full electrochemistry workflows.

Emerging players

• Nanion Technologies: Nanion is a German specialist in automated patch clamp platforms (Patchliner, SyncroPatch) addressing higher-throughput ion channel screening — an adjacent technology that competes with HEKA's traditional manual patch clamp value proposition in pharma QA/QC workflows.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/SmartEphys
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCxo1cgPCZwcqeeWG8iAUApg
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/heka-elektronik

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 HEKA Elektronik