Humboldt

What Humboldt does

Humboldt Mfg. Co. is a US-based, privately held manufacturer of construction materials testing equipment, founded in 1908 and headquartered in Elgin, Illinois. The company designs and builds mechanical, electronic, and software-integrated testing instruments for soil, aggregate, concrete, cement, and asphalt, with products organized across eight categories (Soil-Field, Aggregate, Soil-Lab, Soil Mechanics, Concrete, Cement/Mortar, Asphalt, and Laboratory). Its portfolio spans simple hand tools and sieves priced under $5,000 to integrated load frames, automatic compactors, compression machines, and the HM-7000 Asphalt Mixture Automated Testing System, supported by calibration services and a 400+ page catalog. The proprietary NEXT Software Platform connects Humboldt instruments to digital modules for Direct Shear, CBR/LBR, Consolidation, and Marshall testing, automating data recording, graphing, calculation, and reporting to reduce technician time and improve traceability.

The company serves construction materials testing laboratories, state and federal transportation departments, asphalt and concrete producers, and academic R&D facilities, with customers specifying equipment against ASTM and AASHTO standards. Humboldt holds ISO 9001:2015 certification and A2LA laboratory accreditation, reinforcing its standards-compliance positioning. The business model is predominantly one-time hardware sales supplemented by software module licenses, calibration services, and catalog revenue, with pricing for components listed on the website and integrated systems sold on a quote basis. Distribution runs through direct sales (website and 1.800.544.7220 phone line), a North American dealer network with a dedicated dealer login, exclusive distribution rights for Testing Bluhm and Feuerherdt GmbH mortar mixers, and major trade show presence (CONEXPO-CON/AGG, World of Concrete, World of Asphalt). Humboldt is self-funded and family-operated, with no disclosed external investors, and is currently undergoing a 2026 leadership transition from Dennis Burgess to Richard G. Beinhauer.

Name

Humboldt

Legal name

Humboldt Mfg. Co.

Website

https://humboldtmfg.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1908

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Humboldt Mfg. Co. is a privately held US manufacturer of ASTM and AASHTO-compliant construction materials testing equipment for soil, aggregate, concrete, cement, and asphalt. It sells hardware, proprietary NEXT data acquisition software, and calibration services to testing laboratories, transportation departments, producers, and academic R&D facilities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Elgin

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Testing Equipment and Hardware Sales: Humboldt generates revenue through the sale of physical testing equipment and instruments. Products range from individual components (compaction hammers, sieves, molds) to complete test systems (load frames, automatic compactors, compression machines). Sales are one-time hardware purchases with optional accessories and replacement parts. Equipment supports ASTM and AASHTO compliance testing for construction materials.
2. Software and Digital Modules: NEXT software modules (CBR/LBR, Consolidation, Direct Shear) provide data acquisition, reporting, and test automation for Humboldt equipment. Software licenses are sold as add-on modules for use with the hardware platform.
3. Calibration and Service: Humboldt offers calibration services and product support including A2LA-accredited calibration, service page, support tickets, and software/firmware downloads. Service revenue complements hardware sales.
4. Catalog and Literature Sales: The company publishes and distributes a 400+ page physical catalog and digital catalog. The catalog is available for order (catalog request) and serves as both a product reference and revenue-generating publication.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Humboldt designs, manufactures, and distributes construction materials testing (CMT) equipment for asphalt, concrete, cement/mortar, aggregate, and soil mechanics laboratories. Its portfolio includes standardized test instruments, custom-configured automated systems, the NEXT software platform, and supporting calibration, repair, and preventive maintenance services for materials testing labs and field technicians.

Product overview

Humboldt Mfg. Co. is a manufacturer of construction materials testing equipment with over 117 years of history. The company offers a comprehensive product portfolio organized into major categories: Soil-Field (penetrometers, compaction equipment, soil sampling), Soil-Lab (compaction testing, Atterberg limits, hydrometer analysis), Soil Mechanics (consolidation, direct shear, triaxial testing), Concrete (compression, air meters, maturity testing), Cement/Mortar (Blaine apparatus, Vicat testers, calorimeters), Asphalt (binder testing, Marshall equipment, road quality), and General Laboratory equipment. The portfolio is anchored by the proprietary NEXT Software platform which provides test-specific modules for data acquisition and reporting. Key products include the HM-7000 Asphalt Mixture Automated Testing System, CBR testing systems, automated mechanical compactors, digital cone penetrometers, and comprehensive load frame systems. Humboldt also provides extensive ASTM-standard testing equipment, calibration services, and technical documentation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• HM-7000 Asphalt Mixture Automated Testing System Automated asphalt mixture testing system for CMT laboratories performing volumetric and performance testing of asphalt specimens.
• NEXT Software Platform Software platform used by CMT labs for test data collection, reporting, and laboratory information management alongside Humboldt instruments.
• CBR Testing Equipment Instruments for California Bearing Ratio testing used to evaluate the load-bearing capacity of subgrade and base-course soils.
• Soil Compaction Testing Equipment Equipment for laboratory determination of soil compaction characteristics and moisture-density relationships.
• Atterberg Limits Testing Equipment Tools for liquid limit, plastic limit, and shrinkage limit tests used to classify fine-grained soils.
• Concrete Testing Equipment Instruments for compression, slump, air content, and unit-weight testing of fresh and hardened concrete.
• Cement/Mortar Testing Equipment Equipment for testing compressive strength, setting time, and other properties of cement and mortar.
• Asphalt Testing Equipment Standardized instruments for binder, mixture, and performance testing of asphalt materials.
• Aggregate Testing Equipment Equipment for sieve analysis, specific gravity, abrasion, and other physical-property tests of aggregates.
• Soil Mechanics Testing Equipment Equipment for triaxial, direct shear, consolidation, permeability, and related geotechnical laboratory tests on soils.
• Laboratory General Equipment General-purpose laboratory items and accessories supporting CMT lab operations.
• Load Frames and Testing Systems Configurable load frames and testing systems used for compression, flexural, and structural material strength testing in CMT labs.
• Hydrometer Analysis Equipment Apparatus used to perform hydrometer analysis for particle-size distribution of fine-grained soils.
• Sand Equivalent Test Equipment Equipment for determining the sand equivalent value of fine aggregate, indicating relative proportions of fines.
• Laboratory Bench Ovens Digital PID-controlled bench ovens used in CMT labs for drying, moisture-content determination, and aggregate heating.
• Humboldt Laboratory Mixer (H-3858.3F) Heavy-duty laboratory mixer used for preparing cement, mortar, and soil specimens in accordance with standard mix procedures.
• Length Comparator Instrument for measuring length change of cement paste, mortar, and concrete specimens used in shrinkage and expansion tests.
• Marshall Testing Equipment Equipment for Marshall stability and flow testing of asphalt mixture specimens.
• Automatic Mechanical Compactor (H-4169) Programmable automatic compactor that delivers repeatable mechanical compaction blows to asphalt and soil specimens.
• Digital Cone Penetrometer (H-5236) Digital cone penetrometer with onboard data acquisition for evaluating soil consistency and strength in the field and lab.
• Direct Shear Testing System Custom-configured direct shear apparatus used to determine shear strength parameters of soils and aggregates for geotechnical analysis.
• Triaxial Testing Equipment Apparatus for triaxial compression tests used to characterize the mechanical response of soil specimens.
• Blaine Air Permeability Apparatus Device for measuring the fineness of cement by the air permeability method (Blaine).
• Calibration, Repair, and Preventive Maintenance Services Factory-direct calibration, repair, and preventive-maintenance services for materials-testing instruments sold to CMT laboratories and field users.

Quantifiable outcome

• Rapid Soil Processor produces five-point moisture density relationship test results in about 5 hours
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature8 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• ASTM InternationalcoreTechnology or IntegrationASTM is a primary standards development organization in the materials testing industry. Humboldt's equipment catalog is organized around ASTM standards (ASTM D698, D1557, D1883, D4318, etc.), with an ASTM Equipment Finder tool on their website to help customers select products matching specific test methods. This partnership positions Humboldt as a preferred equipment provider aligned with ASTM testing standards.
• AASHTO (American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials)coreTechnology or IntegrationAASHTO develops transportation standards used by state and federal agencies. Humboldt equipment supports AASHTO test methods (T99, T180, T89, T90, T176, T88, T153, T162, etc.) alongside ASTM standards, serving the highway and transportation infrastructure testing market.
• Testing BluhmcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHumboldt is the exclusive dealer for Testing Bluhm and Feuerherdt GmbH mortar and cement testing mixers in the North American market. This arrangement eliminates importing and customs complexities for customers, who deal directly with Humboldt for Testing Bluhm products.
• NCAT (National Center for Asphalt Technology)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNCAT, based at Auburn University, conducts asphalt technology research. Listed on Humboldt's industry links page, suggesting a relationship or alignment with asphalt research initiatives.
• NAPA (National Asphalt Paving Association)minorOthersNAPA represents asphalt pavement producers and contractors. Listed on Humboldt's industry links page as a partner resource.
• U.S. Army Corps of EngineersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed on Humboldt's industry links page. The Corps historically adopted the Marshall test method for WWII airfield construction, linking to Humboldt's asphalt testing equipment heritage.
• GeoengineerminorOthersListed on Humboldt's industry links as a geotechnical engineering educational resource.
• Transportation Research Board (TRB)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTRB provides research and policy advice for transportation infrastructure. Listed as a Humboldt industry link.
• EAPA (European Asphalt Pavement Association)minorOthersEAPA represents European asphalt pavement producers. Listed as a Humboldt industry link, suggesting international market alignment.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Gilson Company: Gilson Company manufactures materials testing equipment for aggregates, soils, concrete, and asphalt — nearly identical product breadth to Humboldt, competing across overlapping ASTM/AASHTO product lines and serving the same testing labs and DOT customer base.
• Controls Group: Controls Group (Italy) designs and manufactures construction materials testing equipment across concrete, cement, aggregate, soil, asphalt, and rock — directly comparable to Humboldt's 8-category catalog with similar standards-based product positioning.
• Matest: Matest (Italy) specializes in construction materials testing equipment for concrete, cement, soils, aggregates, asphalt, and rocks — directly comparable product portfolio to Humboldt across the same test standards and customer types.
• ELE International: ELE International supplies construction materials testing equipment for soil, aggregate, cement, concrete, and asphalt — a direct peer competing on similar product lines, ASTM/EN/BS standards alignment, and lab/field customer segments.
• Tinius Olsen: Tinius Olsen manufactures materials testing machines including load frames, impact, tensile, and compression systems — directly overlapping with Humboldt's load frame and compression testing product lines across construction materials.
• Troxler: Troxler Electronic Laboratories manufactures nuclear gauges and field testing equipment for density and moisture in soil, asphalt, and concrete — directly comparable to Humboldt's field density, compaction, and asphalt testing product lines.
• Forney LP: Forney LP manufactures materials testing equipment for concrete, cement, and aggregates, including compression machines and compression testing — competing with Humboldt on concrete and cement product lines and serving overlapping testing lab customers.

Broad incumbents

• Instron: Instron (Illinois Tool Works) is a much larger manufacturer of materials testing instruments spanning tensile, fatigue, hardness, and impact testing. While its core focus is broader mechanical testing, its products overlap with Humboldt's load frame and compression testing systems.
• MTS Systems: MTS Systems (now part of Amphenol) is a global manufacturer of mechanical testing and simulation systems. While broader than Humboldt, MTS serves overlapping materials testing customers and competes in load frame and dynamic testing systems.
• Shimadzu: Shimadzu is a diversified Japanese manufacturer of analytical and testing instruments. Their materials testing and analytical instruments serve overlapping customer segments with Humboldt in industrial and construction materials QA labs.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCJAZC56wsWGzCHCu7TqfYbg
• Facebookfacebook.com/humboldtmfgcom
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/humboldt-mfg-co
• Instagraminstagram.com/humboldt_mfg.co
• TikToktiktok.com/@humboldt_mfg

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Humboldt