FOERSTER INSTRUMENTS INC.

What FOERSTER INSTRUMENTS INC. does

FOERSTER INSTRUMENTS INC. is the United States subsidiary of Institut Dr. Foerster GmbH & Co. KG, a privately held, family-owned German industrial technology company founded in 1948 by Friedrich Förster and currently led in its third generation under CEO Felix Förster. The company designs, manufactures, and services non-destructive testing (NDT) systems built on eight core physical modalities — eddy current, flux leakage, magneto-inductive, ultrasonic, thermography, magnetic field measurement, hardness measurement, and tensile strength testing — supplemented by precision sensors described in source material as setting international standards.

The product portfolio comprises approximately 36 named systems organized into four pillars: semi-finished product testing (e.g., BARPROOF, CIRCOFLUX DA, DEFECTOMAT, ROTOMAT/TRANSOMAT), component testing (e.g., KOERZIMAT, MAGNATEST, STATOGRAPH, i3D, DEFECTOVISION CT), mobile testing instruments (DEFECTOMETER, SONATEST, SIGMATEST, MAGNETOMAT), and detection and security systems (FEREX, MINEX, MULTICAT) for landmine and unexploded ordnance applications. FOERSTER also delivers recurring revenue via on-site inspection services for reformer tubes in petrochemical plants, calibration and maintenance contracts, software lifecycle services, the FOERSTERcademy training program, and financing solutions.

The business operates a pure enterprise B2B go-to-market: direct sales via wholly-owned subsidiaries (Germany, USA, UK, China, Czechia) and a representative network spanning 35+ countries, with quote-based pricing, 24/7 service hotlines, and long-term lifecycle engagement. May 2025's acquisition of Prüftechnik NDT GmbH from Fluke Corporation materially expanded the product portfolio, while June 2026's divestiture of PLATEPROOF to IDS GmbH indicates active portfolio focus. End markets span aerospace, automotive, defense, metals, oil and gas, petrochemicals, energy and electrification, medical technology, fasteners, archeology, and research institutions.

Name

FOERSTER INSTRUMENTS INC.

Legal name

Institut Dr. Foerster GmbH & Co. KG

Website

https://foerstergroup.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1948

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

FOERSTER INSTRUMENTS INC. is the US subsidiary of a family-owned German industrial technology company (Institut Dr. Foerster, founded 1948) that designs and manufactures non-destructive testing systems across eddy current, ultrasonic, magnetic, infrared, and magneto-inductive modalities, serving aerospace, automotive, petrochemical, metals, and defense customers globally via direct subsidiaries in five countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Non-Destructive Testing Equipment

NAICS

Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing (33451), Instrument Manufacturing for Measuring and Testing Electricity and Electrical Signals (334515), Testing Laboratories and Services (541380)

SIC

Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, And Control (3823), Services-Testing Laboratories (8734), Instruments For Meas & Testing Of Electricity & Elec Signals (3825)

akta.pro primary industry

NDT/NDE Inspection Equipment (Ultrasonic, eddy current, radiography, thermography) (IMAGAFAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) & Inspection Services (IMAIACAI), Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) & Advanced Inspection (Phased Array, TOFD, Guided Wave) (EUAEAKAF), NDT/Inspection & Testing Services (Aviation) (IMABALAJ)

Keywords

• Non-destructive testing
• Eddy current testing
• Magnetic field measurement
• Flaw detection systems
• Industrial inspection services

Headquarters

HQ city

Reutlingen

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Testing Equipment and Systems: Sale of non-destructive testing systems, sensors, and instruments ranging from handheld devices to fully integrated inspection lines for serial production
2. Inspection Services: On-site inspection services for reformer tubes and process components in chemical, petrochemical, refining, fertilizer, and steel production environments
3. Service and Maintenance: Installation, commissioning, maintenance, calibration, software updates, user training, and 24/7 technical support throughout the product lifecycle
4. Training (FOERSTERcademy): Training programs for operators on FOERSTER detection and testing systems, including theoretical foundations and practical exercises
5. Software Services: Software lifecycle services including updates and support
6. Financial Services: Flexible financing options for FOERSTER testing systems

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

FOERSTER designs, manufactures, and services non-destructive testing (NDT) equipment, sensors, and fully integrated inspection systems for industrial quality assurance, defect detection, and magnetic field measurement. The portfolio spans handheld portable instruments to automated serial-production inspection lines, supported by on-site inspection services, calibration, maintenance, training (FOERSTERcademy), and software lifecycle services for industries including aerospace, automotive, oil & gas, petrochemicals, metals, defense, medical technology, and energy.

Product overview

FOERSTER is a global leader in non-destructive testing (NDT) technology, offering a comprehensive portfolio of testing systems, sensors, and inspection services. The product portfolio is organized into four main categories: (1) Semi-finished Product Testing systems including BARPROOF, CIRCOFLUX DA, CIRCOGRAPH, DEFECTOMAT, DEFECTOVIEW HS, DEFECTOVISION IR, EDDYCHEK, ROTOMAT/TRANSOMAT, and Test defect saw for inspecting bars, wires, tubes, and strips during manufacturing; (2) Component Testing solutions such as DEFECTOVISION CT, GRINDOSONIC MK7, i3D, KOERZIMAT, MAGNATEST, ROTO-PUSH, ROTO-SCAN, STATOGRAPH, STATOVISION, TCL, and ZMAG CM for verifying structural integrity, hardness differences, and detecting cracks in finished components; (3) Mobile Testing instruments including DEFECTOMETER, MAGNETOMAT, MAGNETOSCOP, SIGMATEST, SONATEST, SONODUR, TCM, and 3-AXIS MAGNETOMETER for flexible, field-based inspections; and (4) Detection & Security systems comprising DATA2LINE, DATAMONITOR 4, FEREX (fluxgate magnetometers), MINEX, and MULTICAT for landmine detection, archaeology, and ordnance clearance. FOERSTER's portfolio ranges from handheld portable instruments to fully integrated inspection lines for automated serial production, supporting industries including aerospace, automotive, defense, energy, medical technology, metals, oil and gas, petrochemicals, and research. The company also provides inspection services for reformer tubes and process components in chemical and petrochemical plants worldwide.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• FOERSTERcademy: Training academy offering courses on FOERSTER detection systems and non-destructive testing technologies.

Products and services

• BARPROOF Testing system for semi-finished products (bars, wires, tubes, strips) as part of FOERSTER's semi-finished product testing portfolio.
• CIRCOFLUX DA Eddy current testing system for circular product inspection in semi-finished product lines.
• CIRCOGRAPH Product Family Eddy current testing product family for inspection of semi-finished products such as tubes, bars, and wires.
• DEFECTOMAT Product Family Product family for defect detection in semi-finished products using electromagnetic (eddy current and flux leakage) testing methods, including surface and near-surface defect detection.
• DEFECTOVIEW HS High-speed surface defect detection system for semi-finished products.
• DEFECTOVISION IR Infrared (thermography)-based defect vision system for semi-finished product inspection.
• EDDYCHEK Product Family Product family of eddy current testing and inspection instruments for surface defect detection in conductive materials.
• ROTOMAT / TRANSOMAT Product Family Rotating (ROTOMAT) and stationary (TRANSOMAT) testing systems for inspection of semi-finished products.
• Test Defect Saw Testing equipment used to create reference defects in samples for calibrating and validating NDT inspection systems.
• DEFECTOVISION CT Computed tomography (CT)-based defect vision system for non-destructive component inspection.
• GRINDOSONIC MK7 Sonic testing system for component quality verification (e.g., grinding damage, residual stress detection).
• i3D Product Family 3D inspection system for non-destructive component testing.
• KOERZIMAT Product Family Product family for coercivity and other magnetic measurements on components for material characterization.
• MAGNATEST Product Family Product family for magnetic inspection and material testing of components.
• ROTO-PUSH Rotating probe testing system for component inspection.
• ROTO-SCAN Rotating scan system for comprehensive non-destructive component testing.
• Precision Sensors Handcrafted precision sensors enabling sensitivity and repeatability for various non-destructive testing applications, often integrated into FOERSTER inspection systems.
• Special Mechanical Solutions Custom mechanical solutions engineered to meet specific customer testing requirements, integrated with FOERSTER NDT systems.
• STATOGRAPH Product Family Product family of stationary component testing systems for hardness, structure, and defect testing in industrial environments.
• STATOVISION Stationary vision system for non-destructive component inspection.
• TCL Product Family Product family for tube and component testing (e.g., tube end and mandrel breakage detection).
• ZMAG CM Magnetic measurement system for component characterization (e.g., coercivity, magnetic properties).
• DEFECTOMETER Portable hand-held defect detection instrument for field-based eddy current / NDT testing.
• MAGNETOMAT Mobile magnetic field measurement system for field inspections of magnetic properties.
• MAGNETOSCOP Portable magnetic field measuring device for on-site inspections.
• SIGMATEST

Quantifiable outcome

• Absolute confidence in every material, every process, and every decision
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments10 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature9 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• IDS GmbH (Rosenxt Group)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 June 2026FOERSTER transferred PLATEPROOF product line to IDS GmbH, member of Rosenxt Group, enabling IDS to continue developing and supporting PLATEPROOF technology for plate testing applications
• Prüftechnik NDT GmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 May 2025FOERSTER acquired Prüftechnik NDT GmbH (a former Fluke Corporation company) to expand its product and technology portfolio in non-destructive material testing. The acquisition strengthens FOERSTER's position as an innovation leader and provider of holistic solutions in NDT

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Eddyfi Technologies: Eddyfi Technologies specializes in advanced NDT instruments including eddy current array, ultrasonic, and phased array testing systems for industrial inspection. Its product portfolio and target markets in aerospace, oil & gas, and power generation overlap closely with FOERSTER's NDT offerings.
• Zetec Inc. Zetec is a specialized NDT equipment manufacturer offering eddy current, ultrasonic, and phased array testing solutions primarily for the nuclear, power generation, aerospace, and manufacturing sectors — directly comparable to FOERSTER's component and mobile testing portfolios.
• Rohmann GmbH: Rohmann is a German manufacturer of eddy current testing equipment for industrial quality control, serving automotive, aerospace, and steel industries. As a fellow German mid-sized NDT specialist, Rohmann is a close comparable to FOERSTER in technology, geography, and customer base.
• Magnetic Analysis Corporation (MAC): MAC manufactures eddy current and ultrasonic testing systems for metal bars, tubes, and wire inspection, plus magnetic flux leakage systems. Its semi-finished product testing focus and eddy current technology stack directly mirror FOERSTER's BARPROOF and CIRCOGRAPH product lines.
• Foerster Prüftechnik NDT GmbH (former Fluke subsidiary): Now wholly owned by FOERSTER Group following the May 2025 acquisition, the former Prüftechnik NDT (formerly under Fluke Corporation) provides industrial quality control testing methods and systems. It functions both as a recent acquisition and as a comparable NDT peer in metals and industrial testing markets.
• Olympus Industrial (Evident): Olympus Industrial (now operating as Evident) is one of the largest global manufacturers of non-destructive testing equipment, including ultrasonic flaw detectors, eddy current instruments, and phased array systems serving aerospace, automotive, energy, and metals — directly competing with FOERSTER across multiple NDT verticals.

Broad incumbents

• GE Inspection Technologies (Waygate Technologies, Baker Hughes): Waygate Technologies (formerly GE Inspection Technologies, now part of Baker Hughes) is a broad incumbent offering ultrasonic, eddy current, radiographic, and CT inspection systems. It overlaps heavily with FOERSTER's semi-finished and component testing portfolios, particularly in aerospace, energy, and automotive.
• Hitachi High-Tech Analytical Science: Hitachi High-Tech offers industrial analytical and NDT instrumentation including X-ray fluorescence, eddy current, and handheld analyzers for materials testing. As a broad incumbent serving metals, aerospace, and manufacturing, it overlaps with FOERSTER's measurement-based testing portfolio.
• Thermo Fisher Scientific: Thermo Fisher Scientific is a diversified analytical instruments and laboratory equipment leader serving materials science, electronics, and industrial QA. Through its specialty measurement and NDT-adjacent offerings, it is a broad incumbent benchmark for FOERSTER's scale ambition and portfolio breadth.

Emerging players

• Comet Yxlon: Comet Yxlon (a division of Comet Group) manufactures industrial X-ray and CT inspection systems for NDT in automotive, aerospace, and electronics. While not directly overlapping with FOERSTER's eddy current focus, it competes in the broader NDT equipment market and serves similar verticals.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/foerster-instruments-inc-

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about FOERSTER INSTRUMENTS INC.