HAMEG
A German manufacturer of laboratory and electronic test-and-measurement instruments that was integrated into Rohde & Schwarz.
Last updated August 24, 2026
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Overview
HAMEG was a German test-and-measurement brand and manufacturer specializing in laboratory instruments for electronics development, education, production supervision, and related technical applications. Its portfolio included oscilloscopes, mixed-signal oscilloscopes, spectrum analyzers, function generators, radio-frequency generators, laboratory power supplies, programmable power supplies, and modular measurement equipment. The company was especially associated with instruments aimed at the entry-level and professional-laboratory segments. The business began in 1957 in Frankfurt/Main as HAMEG KG. Its name was derived from Hartmann-Messgeräte, referring to founder Karl Hartmann and the company’s focus on measuring instruments. HAMEG’s first product was a single-channel oscilloscope with a bandwidth of 5 MHz. Over the following decades, the company developed a recognizable position in electronic measurement, particularly through oscilloscopes and compact laboratory instruments used by engineers, technicians, schools, universities, and industrial users. HAMEG retained a strong commitment to analog oscilloscope technology for much of its history. In 2004 it introduced CombiScopes that combined analog and digital operating modes, reflecting the company’s view that digital storage oscilloscopes did not entirely replace the practical value of analog instruments. The HM2008, introduced in 2007, combined analog and digital oscilloscope functionality with mixed-signal capabilities and four digital channels. HAMEG later shifted decisively toward digital and mixed-signal equipment. In late 2008 it presented its first fully digital oscilloscope with a TFT display. Later instruments generally offered mixed-signal functionality, with eight or sixteen digital channels and options for decoding serial buses including I2C, SPI, CAN, and LIN. A major corporate turning point came in 2005, when founder Karl Hartmann retired and HAMEG was acquired by Munich-based electronics group Rohde & Schwarz. During the ownership transition, the company became HAMEG Instruments GmbH. HAMEG continued to operate with development and production-related sites in Germany, including activities in Mainhausen, Chemnitz, and Münchenbernsdorf, and maintained a French distribution subsidiary. At the end of 2010, manufacturing at Mainhausen and Münchenbernsdorf was discontinued and production moved to a Rohde & Schwarz facility in Vimperk, Czech Republic. This reorganization resulted in approximately 80 job losses, while development, product management, sales, customer service, and quality assurance functions remained independent for a period. Rohde & Schwarz progressively integrated HAMEG into its broader commercial and product structure. At the end of 2011, Rohde & Schwarz announced that the HAMEG portfolio would be distributed through its European network. A dual-name logo introduced in February 2012 made the relationship between the two companies visible on HAMEG products. From March 2013, the products were distributed through the Rohde & Schwarz network in markets around the world. In June 2014, Rohde & Schwarz announced that new HAMEG products would be marketed under the Rohde & Schwarz name. The HAMEG business was ultimately completely integrated into Rohde & Schwarz’s test-and-measurement division in 2016, after which HAMEG ceased to operate as an independent company.
History
HAMEG was established in 1957 in Frankfurt/Main by Karl Hartmann under the corporate name HAMEG KG. The name was derived from Hartmann-Messgeräte, linking the founder's surname with the German term for measuring instruments. Its first known product was a 5 MHz, single-channel oscilloscope, establishing the company's focus on electronic laboratory equipment. The company developed a broad portfolio of instruments for electronics laboratories and industrial users. Its products included analog and digital oscilloscopes, mixed-signal oscilloscopes, spectrum analyzers, function and RF generators, laboratory power supplies, programmable supplies, and modular measurement components. HAMEG was particularly visible in the entry-level segment and was used in education, laboratory work, production supervision, and technical development. For a significant part of its history, HAMEG emphasized the continuing usefulness of analog oscilloscopes. In 2004 it introduced CombiScopes combining analog and digital operating modes. In 2007 the HM2008 extended this approach by combining analog and digital oscilloscope functions with four digital channels and mixed-signal capabilities. The company later moved toward digital instrumentation. At the end of 2008 it presented its first fully digital oscilloscope with a TFT display. Subsequent instruments generally incorporated mixed-signal functions, supporting eight or sixteen digital channels and serial-protocol decoding for interfaces such as I2C, SPI, CAN, and LIN. In 2005, founder Karl Hartmann retired and HAMEG was acquired by Rohde & Schwarz, the Munich-based electronics group. HAMEG was renamed HAMEG Instruments GmbH. It continued to maintain German development and production-related operations, including sites in Mainhausen, Chemnitz, and Münchenbernsdorf, along with a distribution subsidiary in France. At the end of 2010, HAMEG discontinued manufacturing at Mainhausen and Münchenbernsdorf and shifted production to Rohde & Schwarz's plant in Vimperk, Czech Republic. The change led to approximately 80 job cuts. Development activities in Mainhausen and Chemnitz, as well as product management, sales, customer service, and quality assurance, remained separate for a time. Rohde & Schwarz then increased the commercial integration of the brand. At the end of 2011 it announced that its own European distribution network would offer the complete HAMEG range. In February 2012 HAMEG introduced a new logo featuring a dual-name presentation, making the Rohde & Schwarz relationship more apparent. By March 2013, HAMEG products were available through the Rohde & Schwarz distribution network in markets around the world. In June 2014, Rohde & Schwarz stated that future HAMEG products would be marketed under the Rohde & Schwarz name. The independent HAMEG business was completely integrated into Rohde & Schwarz's test-and-measurement division in 2016 and subsequently closed as a standalone company.
- 2016
Independent company closed
[1]HAMEG is fully integrated into the Rohde & Schwarz test-and-measurement division.
- 2014
Future products move to Rohde & Schwarz branding
[1]Rohde & Schwarz announces that new HAMEG products will be marketed under the Rohde & Schwarz name.
- 2013
Global Rohde & Schwarz distribution
[1]HAMEG products become available through Rohde & Schwarz's distribution network in markets around the world.
- 2012
Dual-name logo launched
[1]HAMEG introduces branding that visibly identifies its relationship with Rohde & Schwarz.
- 2010
Manufacturing transferred to Vimperk
[1]Production moves from Mainhausen and Münchenbernsdorf to a Rohde & Schwarz facility in Vimperk, Czech Republic.
- 2008
First fully digital TFT oscilloscope
[1]HAMEG presents its first fully digital oscilloscope with a TFT display at electronica in Munich.
- 2007
HM2008 oscilloscope introduced
[1]The HM2008 combines analog and digital oscilloscope functions with mixed-signal capability and four digital channels.
- 2005
Acquisition by Rohde & Schwarz
[1]After Karl Hartmann retires, Rohde & Schwarz acquires the business, which becomes HAMEG Instruments GmbH.
- 2004
CombiScope generation introduced
[1]HAMEG introduces instruments combining analog and digital oscilloscope operating modes.
- 1957
HAMEG is founded
[1]Karl Hartmann establishes HAMEG KG in Frankfurt/Main. The company's first product is a 5 MHz single-channel oscilloscope.
Products and positioning
HAMEG positioned itself as an accessible, technically capable supplier of laboratory and electronic measurement equipment, serving electronics laboratories, schools and universities, production supervision, and professional users seeking entry-level or mid-range instrumentation.
Oscilloscopes · 1957
Analog oscilloscopes
HAMEG's traditional oscilloscope line served electronics laboratories, educational users, and production environments. The company maintained a long-standing preference for analog operation because of its practical display characteristics and immediate waveform response. Analog models formed an important part of the portfolio before HAMEG progressively shifted toward digital and mixed-signal designs.
Mixed analog-digital oscilloscopes · 2004
CombiScopes
Introduced in 2004, CombiScopes combined analog and digital operating modes in one instrument. They represented HAMEG's effort to preserve the familiar behavior of analog oscilloscopes while adding digital measurement capabilities. The product concept addressed users transitioning from conventional laboratory instruments to increasingly digital test workflows.
Mixed-signal oscilloscope · 2007
HM2008
The HM2008, introduced in 2007, combined analog and digital oscilloscope functions and added mixed-signal functionality. It provided four digital channels alongside the oscilloscope measurement system, allowing users to examine analog waveforms together with digital logic behavior in electronics development and laboratory troubleshooting.
Digital and mixed-signal oscilloscopes · 2008
Digital TFT oscilloscopes
HAMEG's late-2008 digital oscilloscope generation used TFT displays and generally incorporated mixed-signal functions rather than offering a separate generation of conventional digital storage oscilloscopes. Later instruments supported eight or sixteen digital channels and optional decoding of I2C, SPI, CAN, and LIN serial buses.
Electronic measurement instruments
Spectrum analyzers
HAMEG offered spectrum analyzers as part of its broader laboratory instrumentation range. These instruments were intended for examining signal frequency content and supporting electronics development, troubleshooting, and production-related measurement. Specific model details and launch dates are not established by the available reference material.
Signal generators
Function and RF generators
The company's generator portfolio included function generators and radio-frequency generators for creating test signals in laboratory and development environments. These products complemented HAMEG oscilloscopes and analyzers by providing controlled sources for circuit evaluation, signal integrity checks, and general electronics experimentation.
Power supplies
Laboratory power supplies
HAMEG supplied laboratory and programmable power supplies for powering circuits and electronic assemblies during development, testing, and educational use. The range formed part of the company's general-purpose laboratory equipment offering and complemented its measurement instruments in bench-based electronics work.
Marketing campaigns
- 2012Dual-name HAMEG and Rohde & Schwarz branding
Europe
HAMEG introduced a new product logo that displayed its affiliation with Rohde & Schwarz, making the ownership relationship more visible to customers.
Outcome. The branding prepared the market for closer commercial and product integration with Rohde & Schwarz.
Brand decisions
2016
HAMEG integrated into Rohde & SchwarzM&ABackground
Rohde & Schwarz had progressively consolidated HAMEG's manufacturing, distribution, branding, and product activities.
Action taken
HAMEG was completely integrated into the Rohde & Schwarz test-and-measurement division.
Aftermath
HAMEG ceased to exist as an independent company and its business was absorbed into Rohde & Schwarz.
2014
New products moved to Rohde & Schwarz brandingStrategyBackground
The dual-name presentation and global distribution network had already made the corporate relationship increasingly visible.
Action taken
Rohde & Schwarz announced that future new HAMEG products would be marketed under the Rohde & Schwarz name.
Aftermath
The decision accelerated the retirement of HAMEG as an independent market-facing brand and preceded its full integration in 2016.
2011
Portfolio shifted to Rohde & Schwarz distributionStrategyBackground
Rohde & Schwarz sought to use its established European commercial infrastructure to broaden access to HAMEG instruments.
Action taken
The group announced that its European distribution network would offer the complete HAMEG portfolio.
Aftermath
HAMEG products gained broader availability and became more closely linked to the parent company's sales organization.
2010
Manufacturing consolidation in VimperkStrategyBackground
HAMEG and its parent reorganized manufacturing operations after the acquisition.
Action taken
Production at Mainhausen and Münchenbernsdorf was ended and transferred to the Rohde & Schwarz plant in Vimperk, Czech Republic.
Aftermath
Approximately 80 HAMEG jobs were cut, while development and several commercial and service functions remained in Germany for a period.
2005
Rohde & Schwarz acquires HAMEGM&ABackground
The acquisition followed founder Karl Hartmann's retirement and placed HAMEG within the Rohde & Schwarz group.
Action taken
The business was renamed HAMEG Instruments GmbH and continued operating as a specialized instrument operation.
Aftermath
HAMEG progressively adopted Rohde & Schwarz distribution, branding, and product-market integration before being absorbed into the group's test-and-measurement division.
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