Hibar was started in 1974 when German-born Canadian engineer Heinz Barall developed a prototype of a precision metering pump that would dispense a small, precise amount (two microlitres) of electrolytes into button cell batteries.

[1] Building on its success in the battery industry, over the next 40 years, Hibar started building precision liquid dispensing systems for other industries, such as filling printer ink cartridges, putting pharmaceuticals into vials, and packaging cosmetics.

[2] Hibar's technology caught the eye of Tesla, Inc., which builds battery-electric vehicles and battery energy systems.

Tesla quietly acquired Hibar sometime in 2019, which was first revealed in an October 2019 filing with the Canadian government.

[3] The purchase came amid an acquisition spree where Tesla bought six other small companies with expertise in automation or battery technology.