TestResources
TestResources is a privately held Shakopee, Minnesota-based manufacturer of universal, fatigue, torsion, and biaxial materials test machines, unified by its proprietary Newton controller and sold direct to engineers across 30+ industries including aerospace, automotive, medical devices, and academia.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1998
- HeadquartersShakopee, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What TestResources does
TestResources is a privately held materials testing equipment manufacturer founded in 1998 by Bob Brosch and headquartered in Shakopee, Minnesota. The company designs and builds universal, dynamic/fatigue, torsion, axial-torsion, biaxial, planar biaxial, micro, and single-purpose test machines spanning force capacities from sub-gram to 2 MN, all unified under its proprietary Newton Universal controller platform — a 32-bit, FPGA-based system with microsecond closed-loop response and pre-configured methods for ASTM, ISO, EN, DIN, JEDEC, and other standards. An extensive accessories ecosystem (15+ grip families, compression fixtures, environmental chambers, extensometers, load cells, torque cells, sample-preparation aids) and custom engineering services extend each installation into a multi-year standards-driven upgrade pipeline.
The company operates a sales-led, direct-to-customer model with no resellers or distributors: application engineers handle quoting, configuration, and custom scoping via phone, email, website forms, and a free online configurator. Its "Smart Design" 95/50 rule — targeting 95% of testing applications at roughly half the price of competitors — combined with modular frame architecture and an engineer-only sales channel produces a deliberate cost-and-service positioning against incumbents such as Instron. Revenue comes from hardware sales (machines and accessories), software/controller sales, and professional services (calibration, upgrades, application support, custom solutions), with quote-based, one-time/perpetual pricing and education-sector discounts.
TestResources serves more than 2,000 customers across 30+ industries, with named reference accounts spanning aerospace (NASA, Boeing, Airbus, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman), automotive (Ford, Tesla), medical devices (Medtronic, Boston Scientific, Zimmer, Stryker, Philips Healthcare, FDA), industrial manufacturing (3M, Honeywell, GE, Intel), national labs (Oak Ridge, Lawrence Livermore), and universities (MIT, Stanford, Carnegie Mellon, Duke). The company remains founder-led with no disclosed external funding, no subsidiaries, and no acquisition history.
TestResources firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- TestResources
- Legal name
- TestResources Inc.
- Website
- https://testresources.net
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1998
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- TestResources is a privately held Shakopee, Minnesota-based manufacturer of universal, fatigue, torsion, and biaxial materials test machines, unified by its proprietary Newton controller and sold direct to engineers across 30+ industries including aerospace, automotive, medical devices, and academia.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
TestResources industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Materials Testing Equipment
- NAICS
- Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing (3345), Other Measuring and Controlling Device Manufacturing (334519)
- SIC
- 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 industry
- Metrology, Calibration & Testing Equipment (Balances, pH/DO, Standards) (HLAGAIAL)
Keywords
Where TestResources is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Shakopee
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
TestResources business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Test Machines and Frames: Sale of universal test machines, dynamic/fatigue test machines, torsion test machines, axial torsion machines, biaxial test machines, micro test machines, and single purpose test machines. Force capacities range from sub-gram to 2 MN (450,000 lbf).
- Accessories and Fixtures: Extensive catalog of grips (tensile, wedge, pneumatic, hydraulic, capstan, scissor), compression fixtures, bend fixtures, shear fixtures, peel fixtures, environmental chambers, sensors (extensometers, load cells, torque cells), and sample preparation aids.
- Newton Controller and Software: Sale of Newton Universal controller systems with various software packages for different test types (tensile, compression, bend, peel, shear), industry standards (ASTM, ISO, EN, DIN, JEDEC), and material-specific applications.
- Services and Support: Application support, calibration services, system upgrading, custom solutions engineering, budgeting assistance, and training services.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Low Force Universal Test Machines - Forces from 0.001 N to 10 kN |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Mid-Range Universal Test Machines - Forces up to 300 kN |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | High Force Universal Test Machines - Forces up to 2 MN (450,000 lbf) |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Dynamic and Fatigue Test Systems - Forces up to 50 kN |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
TestResources product offering
Product offeringCore offering
TestResources designs, manufactures, and sells materials testing machines — including Universal, Dynamic & Fatigue, Torsion, Axial Torsion, Biaxial, Planar Biaxial, Micro, and Single Purpose test systems with force capacities ranging from sub-gram to 2 MN (450,000 lbf) — along with a comprehensive accessories catalog of grips, fixtures, environmental chambers, sensors, and sample preparation aids, all unified by the proprietary Newton Universal controller platform. The company sells directly to engineering and research buyers in aerospace, automotive, biomedical, construction, packaging, and academia, and supplements hardware sales with calibration, application support, custom engineering, and upgrade services.
Product overview
TestResources is a materials testing equipment manufacturer offering a comprehensive portfolio of testing machines and accessories organized around the Newton Universal controller platform. The core product line includes Universal Test Machines (UTMs) in electromechanical (100-300 series up to 300 kN) and electrohydraulic (600 series up to 2 MN) configurations, Dynamic & Fatigue Test Machines (800 and 840 series), Torsion Test Machines (160 and 560 series), Axial Torsion Test Machines (17 models), Biaxial and Planar Biaxial Test Machines (574 series), Micro Test Machines (specialized for sub-gram forces), and Single Purpose Test Machines. These systems are controlled by the Newton Test Controller software which provides unified control across all machine types. The product ecosystem includes extensive accessories: tensile grips (15+ types), compression fixtures, environmental chambers, sensors (extensometers, load cells, torque cells), sample preparation aids, and bend/peel/shear/puncture fixtures. The company also offers test machine upgrades, custom solutions engineering, calibration, and application support services. Test standards supported include ASTM, ISO, EN, DIN, JEDEC, and others.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Universal Test Machines (UTMs)
Quantifiable outcome
- 94% of customers report no service calls within first 5 years of operation
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use TestResources
Customer profileNamed customers24 records
Segments7 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
TestResources technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
TestResources partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- International Technology PartnersminorTestResources partners with international companies who offer great products and innovative technologies to make their test machines more affordable and reliable. These partnerships enable competitive pricing while maintaining quality.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
TestResources competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Mecmesin: Mecmesin (UK) designs force and torque testing instruments, including motorized test stands and digital force gauges. It overlaps with TestResources in lower-force and torque/torsion testing applications for packaging, medical devices, and QC labs.
- Zwick/Roell: Zwick/Roell is a German manufacturer of materials testing systems for plastics, metals, and composites, including universal, fatigue, and creep testers. It is a comparable privately held specialist serving the same academic, automotive, and medical device customer segments globally.
- Instron: Instron (now part of Illinois Tool Works) is the global leader in mechanical materials testing equipment, offering universal, fatigue, torsion, and impact test systems. TestResources explicitly benchmarks its pricing and feature set against Instron, making it the closest head-to-head competitor in the same product category and customer base.
- Shimadzu: Shimadzu's Testing & Industrial Machinery division produces universal testing machines, fatigue testers, and hardness testers for metals, composites, and electronics. It competes directly with TestResources in mid- and high-force ranges, particularly in Asia-Pacific and globally.
- MTS Systems: MTS Systems (acquired by Ametek) manufactures mechanical testing and simulation systems including servohydraulic and electromechanical test frames. It is a direct competitor in fatigue, dynamic, and high-force testing for aerospace, automotive, and biomedical applications.
- ADMET: ADMET is a smaller US-based manufacturer of materials testing systems, including universal, fatigue, and automated production-line testers. It is closely comparable to TestResources in size, product mix, and target verticals (aerospace, biomedical, academia).
- Hegewald & Peschke: Hegewald & Peschke is a German manufacturer of universal testing machines and components for materials testing. It is a comparable mid-sized European specialist competing in automotive, medical, and academic testing applications.
- Tinius Olsen: Tinius Olsen is a long-standing US-based maker of mechanical testing machines (tensile, compression, impact, melt flow) with similar product breadth to TestResources and a comparable position as a mid-sized specialist serving materials QA labs.
Emerging players
- Mark-10: Mark-10 specializes in force and torque measurement instruments (digital gauges, test stands, grips). It is comparable to TestResources' lower-force and accessory product lines for QA, packaging, and production-floor applications, though it does not offer full universal test machines.
Broad incumbents
- Ametek: Ametek is a diversified industrial instrumentation conglomerate that owns MTS Systems and other test and measurement businesses. It competes with TestResources indirectly as a much larger incumbent offering mechanical test systems alongside broader electronic instruments and process controls.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
TestResources social profiles
Digital presenceTestResources financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
TestResources leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
TestResources funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
TestResources M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about TestResources
What does TestResources do?
TestResources designs, manufactures, and sells materials testing machines — including Universal, Dynamic & Fatigue, Torsion, Axial Torsion, Biaxial, Planar Biaxial, Micro, and Single Purpose test systems with force capacities ranging from sub-gram to 2 MN (450,000 lbf) — along with a comprehensive accessories catalog of grips, fixtures, environmental chambers, sensors, and sample preparation aids, all unified by the proprietary Newton Universal controller platform. The company sells directly to engineering and research buyers in aerospace, automotive, biomedical, construction, packaging, and academia, and supplements hardware sales with calibration, application support, custom engineering, and upgrade services.
Is TestResources a public or private company?
TestResources is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was TestResources founded?
TestResources was founded in 1998. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is TestResources based?
TestResources is headquartered in Shakopee, United States, in the North America region.
How does TestResources make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Test Machines and Frames are the primary driver. The others are accessories and Fixtures, newton Controller and Software and services and Support.
Who are TestResources's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Mecmesin, Zwick/Roell, Instron, Shimadzu, MTS Systems, ADMET, Hegewald & Peschke and Tinius Olsen. Mark-10 is listed as an emerging player. Ametek is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does TestResources have an API?
No public API is recorded for TestResources.
What industry is TestResources in?
TestResources's product category is Materials Testing Equipment. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAGAFAC, Test & Measurement Equipment (Oscilloscopes, DAQ, signal analyzers, calibration benches), with a secondary code of HLAGAIAL, Metrology, Calibration & Testing Equipment (Balances, pH/DO, Standards). Its NAICS code is 3345 and its SIC code is 3823.