Unholtz-Dickie

What Unholtz-Dickie does

Unholtz-Dickie Corporation is a Connecticut-based, privately held designer and manufacturer of high-performance electrodynamic vibration test systems, founded in 1959 by four former MB Company engineers (Karl Unholtz, John Dickie, Gerry Reen, and Donald McCluskey) and operating continuously from its Wallingford, CT headquarters since 1979. The company's product portfolio spans the full vibration-test stack: electrodynamic shaker systems (S, H, K, and T-Series, rated from 300 lbf up to 55,000 lbf); Class D replacement power amplifiers utilizing proprietary Silicon Carbide (SiC) MOSFET technology (15–720 KVA, >90% efficiency, 100% air-cooled); the APEX SL (4–16 channel) and APEX PRO (20–32 channel) digital vibration controllers built on DSP-based real-time control; ST, HST, and CSTA slip tables; long-stroke thrusters for seismic and airbag-sensor testing; head expanders; the Model 680C transducer calibration system; and complementary instrumentation (signal conditioners, accelerometers, charge preamplifiers, vibration monitors). Its core differentiator is the proprietary Induct-A-Ring (IAR) armature technology, an inductive-coupling solid-aluminum-ring design introduced in the early 1970s that eliminates wound coils, water cooling, and high-current connections, enabling 200g sine and 600g shock performance with over 1,000 units shipped.

The company sells into aerospace, defense/military, aviation (commercial and engine OEMs), automotive (including EV battery testing), government/national laboratories, and computer/electronics test markets, with named enterprise and government customers including NASA, SpaceX, Blue Origin, Lockheed Martin, Boeing, Raytheon, Northrop Grumman, Pratt & Whitney, GE Aviation, Rolls Royce, Ford, GM, BMW, Audi, Bosch, Denso, Continental, Hewlett Packard, Cisco, Oracle, Samsung, Sandia, Los Alamos, and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. Distribution is direct via an enterprise field-sales motion through U.S. headquarters, a West Coast sales office, a European office in Zuzenhausen, Germany, and a China office in Beijing, covering customers in 45 countries. The revenue mix is dominated by capital hardware sales of complete shaker systems, complemented by lower-volume services revenue (factory calibration with NIST traceability and the APEX SL operator training course at $1,500 per seat).

UD operates as a capital-intensive, single-site manufacturer with no disclosed parent company, external investors, M&A activity, or institutional backing, and has remained private for over 65 years. Pricing for capital systems is not publicly disclosed; large shaker platforms (T4000/T5000/T5500) and engineered test solutions imply multi-hundred-thousand to multi-million-dollar order values. The largest single purchase order in company history (25 shaker systems in 2018) and the 2019 record order book signal episodic lumpiness in revenue tied to major aerospace and defense programs.

Name

Unholtz-Dickie

Legal name

Unholtz-Dickie Corporation

Website

https://udco.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1959

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Unholtz-Dickie is a privately held, U.S.-based designer and manufacturer of high-performance electrodynamic vibration test systems (shakers, amplifiers, controllers, slip tables) for aerospace, defense, aviation, automotive, and government test laboratories in 45 countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Vibration Test Equipment

NAICS

Instrument Manufacturing for Measuring and Testing Electricity and Electrical Signals (334515), Other Measuring and Controlling Device Manufacturing (334519), Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing (33451), Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing (3345)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Test & Measurement Equipment (Oscilloscopes, DAQ, signal analyzers, calibration benches) (IMAGAFAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Motor Encoders, Feedback & Condition Monitoring (Encoders, Vibration, Predictive) (IMAGACAJ), Avionics Test, Simulation & Calibration Equipment (IMABAFAN)

Keywords

• Vibration test systems
• Electrodynamic shakers
• Vibration controllers
• Power amplifiers
• Shaker test equipment

Headquarters

HQ city

Wallingford

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Vibration Test Equipment Manufacturing and Sales: Design, manufacture, and sale of complete vibration test systems including electrodynamic shakers, power amplifiers, vibration controllers, slip tables, head expanders, long stroke thrusters, transducer calibration systems, and instrumentation. Systems range from 300 lbf to 55,000 lbf force ratings.
2. Training and Calibration Services: APEX SL Controller operational training courses offered at company headquarters in Wallingford, CT. Training fee of $1,500 per person. Factory calibration services for measurement instruments with NIST traceability.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Unholtz-Dickie designs and manufactures high-performance electrodynamic vibration test systems, including shakers rated 300 to 55,000 lbf, Class D power amplifiers using Silicon Carbide MOSFET technology, digital vibration controllers, slip tables, long stroke thrusters, head expanders, transducer calibration systems, and instrumentation. The company supplies complete integrated test solutions to aerospace, defense, automotive, aviation, and government customers worldwide.

Product overview

Unholtz-Dickie Corporation is a manufacturer of high-performance vibration test systems comprising electrodynamic shakers, vibration controllers, power amplifiers, slip tables, and accessories. The product portfolio includes S-Series (300-6,000 lbf), H-Series (6,000-8,000 lbf), K-Series (18,000 lbf), and T-Series (20,000-55,000 lbf) shaker systems; APEX SL (4-16 channels) and APEX PRO (20-32 channels) digital vibration controllers; SC Series Class D power amplifiers (15-720 KVA); ST, HST, and CSTA slip table assemblies; Long Stroke Thrusters; Head Expanders; Model 680C Transducer Calibration System; and Instrumentation products. These products are designed, built, and supported in the USA at the Wallingford, Connecticut headquarters, serving aerospace, automotive, defense, and space industries worldwide.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• S-Series Electrodynamic Shaker Systems Small to medium force vibration test systems rated 300-6,000 lbf (1.3-26.7 kN) supporting product development, qualification testing, accelerated life testing, and environmental stress screening applications.
• H-Series Electrodynamic Shaker Systems Medium force vibration test systems rated 6,000-8,000 lbf (26.7-35.6 kN) featuring air-cooled operation, 200g shock capability, and 2-3 inch displacement options with three armature sizes.
• K-Series Electrodynamic Shaker Systems Highest force air-cooled vibration test systems rated 18,000 lbf (80.1 kN) featuring 100% air cooling, 3 inch (76 mm) stroke, and dual in-line post bearing suspension design.
• T2000 Series Electrodynamic Shaker Systems Very large force vibration test systems rated 20,000-25,000 lbf (90-111 kN) featuring Induct-A-Ring armature technology, 220g sine/600g shock performance, and 2-3 inch stroke options.
• T4000/T5000/T5500 Series Electrodynamic Shaker Systems Extra large force vibration test systems rated 28,000-55,000 lbf (124-244 kN) for extreme test requirements including satellite, communication, and space launch vibration and PYRO shock applications.
• High Frequency Vibration Test Systems Specialized shakers optimized for high frequency applications up to 5,000-10,000 Hz including H560BAC/2 (up to 6,500 lbf, 5kHz) and T208IAR (up to 6,000 Hz armature resonance) for turbine blade testing.
• APEX SL Vibration Controller Digital vibration control and analysis system available in 4-16 channel configurations featuring 24-bit ADC/DAC, sine/random/shock control, real-time DSP processing, and modular software architecture.
• APEX PRO Vibration Controller High-channel-count digital vibration controller available in 20-32 channel configurations (in 4-channel increments) in a compact 2U chassis with latest DSP hardware technology.
• SC Series Replacement Power Amplifiers High-efficiency Class D switching power amplifiers rated 15-720 KVA using Silicon Carbide (SiC) MOSFET technology, featuring >90% efficiency, 100% air-cooled operation, and direct-coupled output replacing water-cooled amplifiers.
• ST Series Slip Table Assemblies Standard configuration slip table assemblies with rigid steel base, granite bearing support, and Integrated Guidance and Isolation System (IGIS) for sequential 3-axis test capability.
• HST Series Hybrid Slip Table Assemblies Hybrid slip table design featuring concrete-filled reinforced base, permanent mechanical alignment, IGIS system, and air bag vibration isolation with 20-minute vertical-to-horizontal conversion.
• CSTA Series Combined Slip Table Assemblies Permanent alignment slip table assemblies with concrete-filled reaction mass base, linear bearings option, and 3 Hz isolation frequency for maximum stroke at low frequencies.
• Long Stroke Thruster Systems 6X, LS-Series, and Seismic Test Systems for long stroke transient testing with 6-24 inch (152-610 mm) displacement, used for automotive airbag sensor testing, earthquake simulation, and transportation replication.
• Head Expanders Lightweight magnesium head expanders and head plates ranging 24x24 to 60x60 inches with guided and unguided options for mounting multiple test items or heavy payloads on shakers.
• Model 680C Transducer Calibration System Automated calibration system for accelerometers and velocity transducers with 2-10,000 Hz frequency range, 0.1-75 g acceleration range, and 3.25 inch mounting surface, satisfying ISO9000 requirements.
• Instrumentation Products Signal conditioners (CVA, D33, 122P), accelerometers (10B10-X, 8B6), remote charge preamplifiers (RCA-2TR), and vibration monitors (AM-123) for vibration testing measurement and control.
• APEX Controller Operational Training Three-day APEX SL Vibration Control and Analysis System operational training course held at company headquarters in Wallingford, CT. Training fee $1,500 per person.
• Factory Calibration Services Factory calibration services for measurement instruments including accelerometers and velocity transducers with NIST traceability, satisfying ISO9000 requirements.

Quantifiable outcome

• 200 g sine acceleration / 600 g shock performance with IAR armature designs
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers33 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles7 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/unholtz-dickie-corporation

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 Unholtz-Dickie