Bentekk
From prototype to Dräger acquisition: gas detection for industrial environments
How INDEED designed and developed a mobile gas measurement device through two phases of product development, certification and acquisition.
We supported Bentekk, a spinoff from the Technical University of Hamburg, in the development of a mobile gas measurement device for volatile organic compound detection.
The product was intended for industrial environments including chemical plants, refineries and other applications where gas detection takes place in potentially hazardous environments.
The project covered two development phases: an initial prototype for customer validation and a subsequent production design prepared for certification and industrial use.
The Challenge
Bentekk had developed new technology for measuring volatile organic compounds in air and was preparing it for industrial applications. At the same time, the technology and product requirements were still developing. The way air moved through the device, how it would be maintained and how users would interact with it were all still being refined.
The challenge was to create a product that could evolve with the technology and be tested with real customers, while keeping the development approach efficient. Custom tooling and certification also needed to be introduced at the right stage of the project.
The team therefore took a two phase approach. The first phase focused on creating a presentable and usable device for customer testing, using commercially available components wherever possible. The second phase moved to a production design with custom tooling and the certification requirements for use in regulated industrial environments.
Our Approach
01. Rapid prototype design
Created a functional device architecture for the initial prototype, focusing on the essential product requirements and enabling rapid development.
“We designed a single rubber component that combined protection, ergonomics and integration. Vacuum silicone casting was super cost-efficient for the prototype phase, quick to manufacture and easy to refine.”
Florian Witt – Director of Technology at INDEED Innovation
02. One component, multiple functions
Designed a single rubber component that combined protection, ergonomic handling and user interface integration. Vacuum silicone casting was used for the prototype phase, allowing the design to be tested and refined efficiently.
03. Flexible product architecture
Worked closely with the team developing the measurement technology to keep the product adaptable as requirements around air flow, maintenance and user interaction evolved.
04. From validation to production
Prepared the product for customer testing in industrial environments, then moved into a second development phase following customer feedback. The production design introduced a custom injection moulded housing and incorporated the requirements for ATEX certification.
INDEED also supported the certification process and connected Bentekk with a suitable certification partner.
Results & Impact
A functional prototype for customer engagement
The first prototype gave Bentekk a presentable and usable device for customer engagement while the measurement technology was still developing.
“Developing a high-tech hardware product requires expertise across many disciplines. INDEED was an important part of that development, helping us turn the technology into a product that could be tested, developed further and ultimately brought into production.”
Johannes Weber, Co-founder of Bentekk
Customer feedback from real industrial environments
The prototype was used to engage with companies in chemical plants, refineries and other industrial environments, providing direct feedback on the product and its application.
A production design for regulated environments
The second phase resulted in a production design with a custom injection moulded housing and the requirements for use in potentially explosive environments incorporated into the development process.
Acquisition by Dräger
Bentekk subsequently attracted the attention of Dräger, a global medical and safety technology company. Dräger acquired a 51 percent stake in Bentekk, extending its expertise in mobile gas measurement.
The project resulted in a product development path connecting early customer validation with a production design for certified industrial applications.
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