Kistler acquires Schatz Group

Swiss dynamic pressure, force, torque, and acceleration measurement equipment company Kistler is taking over Schatz in Remscheid (Germany) and its US sales and service company, Schatz USA. Terms were not disclosed.

Kistler says the acquisition gives it new potential applications in quality assurance in industrial manufacturing while Schatz can now market its systems through Kistler's global sales network, giving it access to previously underexploited markets.

Screw driving is still one of the most elementary basic processes in industrial manufacturing. The monitoring and inspection of screw connections is extremely important in quality assurance, especially in the automotive industry. By acquiring the market and technology leader, Kistler says it is strengthening its own position in quality assurance in industrial manufacturing.

The takeover is "a logical step for Kistler in the implementation of its overall growth strategy," says CEO Rolf Sonderegger. "We want to use our measuring technology in even more applications and increase the number of complete systems and targeted services that we offer."

Schatz Group develops, manufactures, and distributes laboratory systems for the analysis of screw connections, calibration equipment and test systems for torque tools, and portable measurement systems for random sample testing. The company also supplies the necessary network software and provides a calibration and repair service.

In 2015 the group generated sales of close to EUR16 million. It employs 75 people at its sites in Remscheid (Germany) and Holly (US).

Kistler was founded in 1959, and in 2015, it posted revenue of CHF329 million, about 10% of which is reinvested in innovation and research.