Soquelec
Soquelec is a Montreal-based specialty distributor of scientific instrumentation, founded in 1974. It sells electron microscopes, X-ray systems, and consumables from leading global manufacturers to Canadian academic, industrial, and clinical research laboratories.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1974
- HeadquartersMontréal, Canada
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Soquelec does
Soquelec is a Montreal-headquartered specialty distributor and service provider of scientific instrumentation for material and life sciences applications. Founded in 1974 by Jean-Pierre and Yette Slakmon and still family-owned under President Marc Slakmon, the company sells and services electron microscopes, focused ion beam systems, NMR and mass spectrometers, 2D/3D X-ray imaging and irradiation systems, in vivo optical imaging platforms, elemental analysis detectors, specialty lasers, and thin film deposition equipment on behalf of leading global manufacturers including JEOL, Gatan (AMETEK), NanoWorld, Annealsys, Quorum Technologies, RMC Boeckeler, Protochips, NeoScan, and KUBTEC. In parallel, it operates a consumables catalog of more than 1,550 SKUs covering EM sample preparation supplies, AFM/SPM probes, light microscopy accessories, and laboratory consumables.
Soquelec firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Soquelec
- Legal name
- Soquelec LTD.
- Website
- https://soquelec.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1974
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Soquelec is a Montreal-based specialty distributor of scientific instrumentation, founded in 1974. It sells electron microscopes, X-ray systems, and consumables from leading global manufacturers to Canadian academic, industrial, and clinical research laboratories.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Soquelec industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Scientific Instrumentation Distribution
- NAICS
- Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing (334516)
- SIC
- Laboratory Analytical Instruments (3826)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Microscopy, Imaging & Flow Cytometry Instruments (HLAGAIAE)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Analytical Instruments & Chromatography Systems (HLAGAIAA)
Keywords
Where Soquelec is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Montréal
- HQ country
- Canada
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Soquelec business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Scientific Equipment Sales: Revenue generated from the sale of scientific instrumentation including electron microscopes, X-ray imaging systems, elemental analysis equipment, optical imaging systems, specialty lasers, and thin film deposition equipment. The company acts as a Canadian distributor for multiple manufacturers.
- Scientific Consumables: Ongoing sales of consumables including EM sample preparation supplies, laboratory equipment, AFM tips, light microscopy supplies, and optical aids. The company maintains a catalog of over 1550 consumable products.
- Service and Support: Service operations for scientific equipment including installation, maintenance, and technical support. Soquelec provides after-sales service for the equipment they distribute.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Custom quotation-based pricing |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels2 records
Soquelec product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Soquelec is a specialist Canadian distributor and service provider of scientific instrumentation and consumables for material and life sciences applications. The company sells and services electron microscopes, X-ray imaging and irradiation systems, optical imaging platforms, elemental analysis equipment, specialty lasers, and thin film deposition systems, along with a consumables catalog of over 1,550 items for EM sample preparation, AFM tips, and laboratory supplies. Soquelec represents leading global manufacturers such as JEOL, Gatan, NanoWorld, Annealsys, and KUBTEC as an exclusive Canadian channel partner.
Product overview
Soquelec is a specialist distributor of scientific equipment and consumables for material and life sciences, founded in 1974 and headquartered in Montreal, Canada. The company operates as a single unified offering (sales and service of scientific instruments) organized across Equipment and Consumables divisions. Equipment offerings span seven categories: Electron Microscopy & Accessories, X-Ray Imaging, X-Ray Irradiation, Optical Imaging, Elemental Analysis, Specialty Lasers, and Thin Film Deposition. The Consumables division includes EM Sample Preparation, EM Supplies, Laboratory Equipment & Supplies, Atomic Force & Scanning Probe Microscope Tips, Light Microscopy Supplies & Optical Aids, and Beauty Tweezers. Soquelec represents multiple manufacturers including JEOL, Gatan, Quorum Technologies, RMC Boeckeler, Protochips, NanoWorld/NANOSENSORS, KUBTEC, Annealsys, Spectral Instruments Imaging, EXpressLO, Agar Scientific, Haskris, IDES, and NeoScan.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Electron Microscopy & Accessories
- X-Ray Imaging Systems
- X-Ray Irradiation Systems
- Optical Imaging Systems
- Elemental Analysis Equipment
- Specialty Lasers
- Thin Film Deposition Systems
- EM Sample Preparation Consumables
- Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) Probes and Tips
- Laboratory Equipment & Supplies
- Light Microscopy Supplies & Optical Aids
- Equipment Service and Technical Support
Companies that use Soquelec
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Soquelec technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Soquelec partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
15 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.
- JEOLcoreJEOL is a Japanese manufacturer of scientific instruments. Soquelec represents JEOL's North American operations in Canada, distributing electron microscopes, focused ion beam systems, NMR spectrometers, and mass spectrometers. JEOL instruments are used in semiconductors, batteries, life sciences, materials science, forensics, pharmaceuticals and failure analysis.
- Gatan (AMETEK)coreGatan, part of AMETEK, designs instruments and software for electron microscopy including specimen holders, sample preparation equipment, imaging and spectroscopy detectors. Supports EELS, cryo-EM, 4D STEM, EBSD, EDS and cathodoluminescence applications.
- NanoWorldcoreHeadquartered in Switzerland, NanoWorld manufactures probes for atomic force microscopy through silicon microfabrication. Product lines include POINTPROBE® series, ARROW™ cantilevers, ultra-short cantilevers and specialized probes for electrical, magnetic and high-resolution imaging modes.
- NANOSENSORS (NanoWorld Group)coreBased in Neuchâtel, Switzerland, NANOSENSORS manufactures probes and cantilevers for atomic force microscopy. Covers contact, tapping and non-contact tips, tipless cantilevers for functionalisation, vacuum-compatible probes and membrane-type surface-stress sensors.
- AnnealsysmajorFounded in 2004 in Montpellier, France, Annealsys manufactures Rapid Thermal Processing furnaces and Direct Liquid Injection deposition systems (DLI-CVD and DLI-ALD). Part of the ECM Group with over 900 systems installed worldwide. Equipment used for MEMS, sensors, optoelectronics, power devices, photovoltaics and 2D materials research.
- Agar ScientificmajorUnited Kingdom supplier of consumables and accessories for electron microscopy. Catalogue covers TEM and SEM grids, specimen supports, embedding resins, knives, coating targets, calibration standards and general sample preparation tools. Serves academic, industrial and clinical laboratories.
- Quorum TechnologiesmajorBased in Laughton, East Sussex, Quorum specializes in sample preparation instruments for electron microscopy. Portfolio includes cryo preparation systems, sputter and carbon coaters, critical point dryers, glow discharge units, HPT-100 plasma cleaner range. Subsidiary of Judges Scientific plc.
- RMC BoeckelermajorDesigns sample preparation instruments for electron microscopy and histology. Catalogue includes PowerTome ultramicrotome series, ATUMtome for array tomography, ASH2 and LN Ultra cryo systems, MR2, MR3 and MT990 microtomes, EM Pro tissue processor and GKM2 glass knife maker.
- IDESmajorDevelops hardware connecting transmission electron microscopes to advanced detection and stimulation accessories. Products include Relativity™ electrostatic subframing, Luminary™ Micro laser ports, and Synchrony™ modules with 4D STEM and AI-guided acquisition. Acquired by JEOL in 2020.
- EXpressLO LLCmajorDevelops specimen preparation technology for focused ion beam and transmission electron microscopy workflows. Core product is the patented EXpressLO™ grid for ex-situ lift-out of FIB-prepared specimens without cryo manipulation.
- ProtochipsmajorHeadquartered in Morrisville, North Carolina, Protochips develops in-situ TEM solutions including Atmosphere AX gas cell, Poseidon AX liquid cell, Triton AX for heating/cooling/electrochemistry, and Fusion AX for heating and biasing.
- NeoScanmajorBased in Belgium, NeoScan designs micro-CT and nano-CT systems for non-destructive 3D imaging. Range includes N60, N70, N80, N90 benchtop scanners and NeoScan XL, along with in-situ stages and analysis software.
- Spectral Instruments Imaging (Bruker)majorDevelops in vivo optical imaging systems for preclinical research. Products include Lago, Lago X, Ami, Ami HT and Ami HTX platforms combining bioluminescence, fluorescence and X-ray imaging. Part of Bruker preclinical imaging division.
- KUBTEC ScientificmajorBased in Stratford, Connecticut, KUBTEC designs and manufactures cabinet X-ray imaging systems and X-ray irradiators. Range includes XCELL 180 and XCELL 320 irradiators for small-animal preclinical research, cell irradiation, agricultural analysis, forensics and non-destructive testing.
- HaskrisminorFounded in 1944 and based in Elmhurst, Illinois, Haskris manufactures engineered water chillers for OEM and laboratory applications. Units cool analytical X-ray systems, electron optics, lasers, semiconductor tools, medical instruments and materials analysis platforms.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Soquelec competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Bruker: Global analytical instruments manufacturer with EM, X-ray, and preclinical imaging divisions (including Gatan/AMETEK-style products). Competes with Soquelec's represented principals and sells direct to Canadian labs through its own commercial team.
- Hitachi High-Tech: Manufacturer of electron microscopes, X-ray systems, and analytical instruments with direct North American sales. Competes head-to-head with JEOL (Soquelec's anchor principal) and sells direct to Canadian accounts, representing a direct threat to distributor intermediation.
- Carl Zeiss Microscopy: Manufacturer and direct seller of light, electron, and X-ray microscopy systems. Competes with Soquelec's represented principals (e.g., JEOL) and increasingly sells direct to Canadian research accounts, representing principal-channel competition rather than a true peer.
- Thermo Fisher Scientific: Global life sciences and analytical instruments incumbent with its own electron microscopy division (formerly FEI) plus a broad lab consumables catalog. Overlaps with Soquelec across microscopy, elemental analysis, and lab supplies but at vastly greater scale and with proprietary products.
- Oxford Instruments: UK-based manufacturer and direct seller of electron microscopy, nanoanalysis, and X-ray systems. Overlaps with Soquelec's product lines at the OEM level rather than as a distributor peer, but represents the direct-sales channel that threatens Soquelec's distributor model.
Direct peers
- SPI Supplies / Structure Probe: Specialist distributor of microscopy and surface analysis consumables and equipment. Closely comparable to Soquelec as a niche EM/SPM-focused distributor with a broad consumables catalog and equipment representation.
- Electron Microscopy Sciences (EMS): Long-established distributor and manufacturer of EM supplies, consumables, and histology products. Direct competitor in the EM sample preparation and consumables market that Soquelec serves with its Agar Scientific and other lines.
- Ladd Research Industries: Distributor of laboratory supplies and consumables for electron microscopy and histology. Comparable niche distributor serving academic and clinical labs with EM sample preparation products, overlapping with Soquelec's consumables offering.
- Ted Pella, Inc. US-based specialist distributor of electron microscopy supplies, consumables, and accessories. Highly comparable to Soquelec's consumables and equipment distribution business for materials and life science microscopy customers, though operating in the US rather than Canada.
- Nanoscience Instruments: US distributor of atomic force microscopy, electron microscopy, and nanotechnology instruments. Directly comparable to Soquelec as a specialist distributor of SPM/AFM and EM equipment from leading manufacturers.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Soquelec social profiles
Digital presenceSoquelec financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Soquelec leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles8 records
Soquelec funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Soquelec M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Soquelec
What does Soquelec do?
Soquelec is a specialist Canadian distributor and service provider of scientific instrumentation and consumables for material and life sciences applications. The company sells and services electron microscopes, X-ray imaging and irradiation systems, optical imaging platforms, elemental analysis equipment, specialty lasers, and thin film deposition systems, along with a consumables catalog of over 1,550 items for EM sample preparation, AFM tips, and laboratory supplies. Soquelec represents leading global manufacturers such as JEOL, Gatan, NanoWorld, Annealsys, and KUBTEC as an exclusive Canadian channel partner.
Is Soquelec a public or private company?
Soquelec is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Soquelec founded?
Soquelec was founded in 1974. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Soquelec based?
Soquelec is headquartered in Montréal, Canada, in the North America region.
How does Soquelec make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Scientific Equipment Sales are the primary driver. The others are scientific Consumables and service and Support.
Who are Soquelec's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Bruker, Hitachi High-Tech, Carl Zeiss Microscopy, Thermo Fisher Scientific and Oxford Instruments. Direct peers are SPI Supplies / Structure Probe, Electron Microscopy Sciences (EMS), Ladd Research Industries, Ted Pella, Inc. and Nanoscience Instruments.
Does Soquelec have an API?
No public API is recorded for Soquelec.
What industry is Soquelec in?
Soquelec's product category is Scientific Instrumentation Distribution. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAGAIAE, Microscopy, Imaging & Flow Cytometry Instruments, with a secondary code of HLAGAIAA, Analytical Instruments & Chromatography Systems. Its NAICS code is 334516 and its SIC code is 3826.