Winterthur, Switzerland — Kistler Group, the maker of measurement systems, has purchased Schatz AG, which manufactures laboratory equipment to analyze the quality of screwed joints for fasteners in areas like clamping force, friction coefficient and torque.
Both companies are based in Europe, but have operations in several countries.
Kistler, based in Winterthur, announced the Schatz acquisition on May 12. Schatz is in Remscheid, Germany. Terms of the deal were not released.
Schatz employs 75 in Remscheid and in Holly, Mich., operating as Schatz USA Inc. The company generated 2015 sales of nearly 16 million euros ($18 million).
The deal includes both Schatz AG and Schatz USA Inc.
Officials of Kistler said screw connections are “still one of the most elementary basic processes in industrial manufacturing.” Monitoring and inspecting the connections is a critical job for quality assurance, especially in the automotive industry, they said.
Kistler is multinational supplier of systems to measure dynamic pressure, force, torque and acceleration.
Kistler CEO Rolf Sonderegger called the acquisition “a logical step for Kistler in the implementation of its overall growth strategy.
“We want to use our measuring technology in even more applications and increase the number of complete systems and targeted services that we offer,” Sonderegger said.”
Kistler, an independent, owner-managed Swiss corporation, employs about 500 people at 56 facilities around the world.
Schatz CEO Volker Schatz said the company will get improved access to international markets, and growth opportunities from an expanded product range.
In addition to the screw-driven connection testing equipment, Schatz manufactures portable inspection systems for torque and angle measurement, and test benches for the calibration of torque wrenches and other tools.
