Johann Adam Heckel and bassoonist Carl Almenräder (1786-1843) founded the "Workshop for the Manufacture of Fine Woodwind Instruments" in Biebrich in 1831.

They achieved commercial success with the "Almenräder-Heckel bassoon", which they developed and which was characterized by its even sound strength. In addition to the bassoon, other woodwind instruments such as oboes, clarinets, English horn and flutes were also produced. From 1850/51, a commercial building in Obere Kasernenstraße (today's Stettiner Straße) became the company's headquarters. After the death of Almenräder, Heckel continued to run the workshop alone. In 1845, he was appointed "Duchy of Nassau Court Instrument Maker".

Important artists such as Richard Wagner visited Heckel's workshop and remained in close contact with it. Wilhelm Heckel (1856-1909), who had been trained as an instrument maker by his father, took over the business under the name "Fabrik feiner Blas-Instrumente von Wilhelm Heckel". In 1879, Wagner was so impressed by the contrabassoon he had developed that he used it in the performance of his "Parsifal" in Bayreuth in 1882.

Wilhelm Heckel regarded the "Heckelphone" of 1904, a metal baritone oboe with a full, mellow tone, as the crowning achievement of his work. Richard Strauss used this instrument as early as 1905 in his opera "Salome". But other composers such as Max von Schillings (1868-1933), Engelbert Humperdinck (1854-1921) and Paul Hindemith (1895-1963) were also inspired by the instruments made by Heckel to create new compositions. Today, the Heckelphone has a permanent place in all major orchestras. Heckel was appointed "Royal Prussian Court Instrument Manufacturer" in 1881.

When Wilhelm Heckel celebrated its 100th anniversary in 1931, the company's products were protected by more than 25 imperial and foreign patents as well as German utility models. Almost all orchestras in the world were and are equipped with woodwind instruments from Wilhelm Heckel GmbH. In 1951, around 70% of all instruments were exported. In order to meet the highest quality standards, only wood that has been stored in-house for many years is used for the instruments, which are still carefully made to order today.

On the occasion of the company's 150th anniversary, "Heckel-Biebrich" was awarded the Golden Plaque of Wiesbaden and the Badge of Honor of the Wiesbaden Chamber of Industry and Commerce. At that time, 12,600 bassoons had been built by the Biebrich company. In spring 2002, Wilhelm Heckel GmbH received the "German Musical Instrument Award" for its bassoons.

Angelika Lucchetta and Ralf Otto Reiter, the sixth generation, took over the management of the company in 1995.