About Us

About Us

For more than 20 years, Hesse Instruments has been developing, producing and modernising software-based thermal analysis instruments for use in materials testing. We have particular expertise in the area of heating microscopy: our heating microscopes and the accompanying software undergo constant further development and are sold all over the world.

As a medium-sized company based in Germany, Hesse Instruments is synonymous with precise and reliable measuring instruments, as well as personalised, expert advice and customer service.

What we represent

Precision

The measurement result is paramount. Whether in research, process monitoring or quality control, measurement results are used to make fundamental and far-reaching decisions. Our aim is to provide you with an analysis instrument that delivers precise and reliable results.

Reliability

Quality – Made in Germany. Our instruments are intended to provide you with reliable operation. We therefore use high-quality and durable components and test them carefully. In keeping with the motto “quality over quantity”, we only offer solutions that work and that deliver on our promises.

Customer-friendly service

We want to ensure that you can use our products as easily and efficiently as possible. To this end, our team of skilled and experienced technicians and engineers are on hand to advise you. We will support you with acute problems or questions and work with you to develop special solutions for the heating microscope or measurement concepts, tailored to your individual needs.

Hesse Instruments around the world

Our products are manufactured in Germany before being sold across Europe, Asia, and North and South America. These sales are supported by a network of long-standing and reliable distribution partners. To ensure the best possible service for customers in their local area, our partners can provide practical support and advice on our products’ operation thanks to their teams of competent and trained technicians.

Company History

Hesse Instruments was founded by Dr Axel Hesse in Osterode in 1992. Originally operating as a two-person team, the engineering firm aimed to advise customers in various practical areas of materials testing and to develop software with accompanying measuring technology for thermal analysis instruments. Among other things, solutions were created for dilatometers, fire resistance under load apparatus, hot bending apparatus, the evaluation of Weibull statistics, and the Leitz heating microscope.

In 2000, Dr Hesse acquired the heating microscope formerly manufactured by Leitz (or Leica from 1998 onwards) – a world-famous instrument that had proven its worth over many decades. The instrument underwent a thorough technical overhaul and was made available worldwide in an updated form as the EM201 heating microscope from 2001. Development continued steadily over subsequent years.

In 2015, Hesse Instruments launched the new EMI III heating microscope software, which is now installed as standard in new EM301 instruments and sold around the world. Following in the footsteps of the EM201, the EM301 is the only current successor to the renowned Leitz heating microscope.

Today, we are a small, dedicated team with skilled engineers and technicians. We use our knowledge and experience to create high-quality products – for the long-term satisfaction of our customers.

Development at a glance

1992

Hesse Instruments – Dr. Axel Hesse is founded.

From 1998 to 2000

Implementation of materials science projects

Development of software and accompanying measuring technology for:

  • trailing thermocouples
  • hot bending apparatus

Development of software, measuring technology and furnace control units for the automation of:

  • fire resistance under load apparatus
  • dilatometers
  • simultaneous thermal analysis instruments
  • single-granule testing instruments
  • fourfold dilatometers
  • Leitz heating microscopes (image analysis systems)

Development of a tube furnace featuring a molybdenum disilicide heating element with an extra-high heating rate for Leitz heating microscopes

From 1998

Sales of image analysis systems for Leitz heating microscopes

  • Modernisation of existing instruments
  • Fitting out of new instruments in cooperation with Leitz

2000

Acquisition of drawings and rights for the Leitz heating microscope

From 2000

Development of the EM201 successor to the Leitz instrument

2001

The EM201 heating microscope goes on sale worldwide.

From 2001

Continuous further development of the EM201, including:

  • tube furnace with rhodium heating element for temperatures of up to 1750°C
  • tube furnace with molybdenum disilicide heating element for temperatures of up to 1700°C

Modifications of the EM201, including:

  • furnace with increased measuring cell diameter of 30 mm
  • high-temperature apparatus for analysis of electrical conductivity
  • furnace with increased measuring cell diameter of 42 mm and adapted optics

2015

The EM301 heating microscope goes on sale worldwide with the EMI III heating microscope software.

From January 2024

Change of legal form to Hesse Instruments GmbH with Simon and Louis Hesse as managing directors

News

Visit us at ICA 2025

Hesse Instruments GmbH will be exhibiting at Indian Ceramics Asia in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, INDIA from 05. to 07. March 2025 via #GermanPavilion.

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Hesse Instruments is now a GmbH

This is an important step in the development of the company, which marks the handover from Dr Axel Hesse to his sons Louis and Simon after the foundation of the e. K. last year. Both are taking on further responsibility as managing directors and are looking forward to shaping the future of Hesse Instruments GmbH…
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New application reports: example applications for the heating microscope

Heating microscopes can be used for a wide range of tasks. In order to provide our customers with a detailed insight into the capabilities of the EM301 heating microscope, we have created a new series of application reports on the topics of materials characterisation, instrument characteristics, and the investigation of the influence of measuring parameters….
Read more

New application reports: example applications for the heating microscope

Heating microscopes can be used for a wide range of tasks. In order to provide our customers with a detailed insight into the capabilities of the EM301 heating microscope, we have created a new series of application reports on the topics of materials characterisation, instrument characteristics, and the investigation of the influence of measuring parameters….
Read more