Hohenstein Laboratories
Hohenstein Laboratories is a German TIC organization founded in 1946 that tests, certifies, and consults for textile, apparel, hardlines, and medical device companies across more than 50 countries, anchored by its founding role in the OEKO-TEX certification system.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1946
- HeadquartersBönnigheim, Germany
- Headcount1,001–5,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Hohenstein Laboratories does
Hohenstein Laboratories is a privately held German testing, inspection, and certification (TIC) organization founded in 1946 and headquartered in Bönnigheim, Baden-Württemberg. The company operates a global network of laboratories, branches, and contact offices spanning more than 50 countries, serving three core segments: textile and apparel testing (Softlines), hardlines consumer goods, and medical device testing through its Hohenstein Medical subsidiary. Its portfolio spans physical and chemical testing, sustainability services, OEKO-TEX certification administration (as a founding member of the OEKO-TEX Association), UV STANDARD 801, RAL-certified medical compression textiles, and GLP-certified biocompatibility testing for medical devices.
Hohenstein's technology base includes proprietary testing hardware (notably the MODY device for objective sports bra support measurement), an extensive 3D body scan database derived from more than 70 years of serial body measurements, a 1,400-person fit testing pool, and the Digital Fitting Lab subsidiary (established 2020) which delivers 3D product development, virtual fitting, and digital avatar creation. The company monetizes primarily through fee-for-service professional engagements (testing, certification, consulting), licensing of OEKO-TEX labels, and paid training delivered via the Hohenstein Academy (workshop prices ranging from approximately 260 EUR to 945 EUR).
Its go-to-market is enterprise-led: direct field sales supported by local offices in key sourcing markets (Bangladesh, Vietnam, Indonesia, India, China, Turkey, Latin America, USA) and event-driven demand generation through the OEKO-TEX Summit, 3D-Talks conferences, and academy workshops. Distribution is augmented by a web-based customer portal enabling remote Tele-Fitting sessions, indicating an incremental self-serve/PLG layer for digital fitting services.
Hohenstein Laboratories firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Hohenstein Laboratories
- Legal name
- Hohenstein Laboratories GmbH & Co. KG
- Website
- https://hohenstein.de
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1946
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1,001–5,000 employees
- Short description
- Hohenstein Laboratories is a German TIC organization founded in 1946 that tests, certifies, and consults for textile, apparel, hardlines, and medical device companies across more than 50 countries, anchored by its founding role in the OEKO-TEX certification system.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Hohenstein Laboratories industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Testing, Inspection and Certification Services
- NAICS
- Testing Laboratories and Services (541380), Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services (541690)
- SIC
- Services-Testing Laboratories (8734), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Testing, Inspection, Certification & Commissioning (TICx) Technical Services (BPAHAIAL)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Environmental Monitoring & Cleanroom Testing (GMP) (HLAGADAL)
Keywords
Where Hohenstein Laboratories is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Bönnigheim
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices3 records
Markets served
Hohenstein Laboratories business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Testing Services: Physical and chemical testing of textiles, hardlines, and medical products including RSL testing, MRSL testing, PFAS testing, leather product testing, shoe testing, wastewater analysis, and inspections/audits.
- Certification Services: OEKO-TEX certifications (STANDARD 100, ECO PASSPORT, STeP, MADE IN GREEN, LEATHER STANDARD), Hohenstein quality labels, UV STANDARD 801, RAL system partnership for medical compression textiles, and Amazon Climate Pledge Friendly certification.
- Consulting and Advisory: Technical consulting services for regulatory compliance, sustainability regulations, chemical management, and corporate due diligence along supply chains.
- Training and Education: Hohenstein Academy and professional development courses including pattern workshops, fit testing seminars, 3D product development certification, and online webinars. Courses range from 260 EUR to 945 EUR per workshop.
- Digital Fitting Services: Digital size consultation, virtual fitting, 3D product visualization, and avatar development services through the Digital Fitting Lab subsidiary.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | One-time | Virtual Fitting Workshop (219) |
| Unit Pricing | One-time | Sleeve Pattern Workshop (157) |
| Unit Pricing | One-time | Fit Knitting Workshop - Single Session |
| Unit Pricing | One-time | Fit Knitting Workshop - Complete Series |
| Unit Pricing | One-time | Combination Package - 2 Pattern Workshops |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels8 records
Hohenstein Laboratories product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Hohenstein Laboratories is a global testing, inspection, and certification (TIC) organization specializing in textiles, hardlines, and medical products. The company provides physical and chemical testing services (RSL/MRSL/PFAS testing, leather and shoe testing, wastewater analysis), OEKO-TEX certification programs (STANDARD 100, ECO PASSPORT, STeP, MADE IN GREEN, LEATHER STANDARD), GLP-certified medical device biocompatibility testing, fit testing with proprietary MODY technology, 3D digital product development via its Digital Fitting Lab subsidiary, and professional training through the Hohenstein Academy.
Product overview
Hohenstein Laboratories is a global testing, inspection, and certification (TIC) organization specializing in textiles, hardlines, and medical products. Founded in 1946 and headquartered in Bönnigheim, Germany, the company operates a global network in over 50 countries. The core offering consists of three main divisions: Softlines Testing (textile quality and sustainability), Hardlines Testing, and Hohenstein Medical (medical device testing). The product portfolio is complemented by OEKO-TEX certifications (where Hohenstein is a founding member), the Digital Fitting Lab (3D product development and virtual fitting services), fit testing with proprietary MODY technology, and professional training through the Hohenstein Academy. The company also offers industry-specific solutions including occupational clothing certification, UV protection testing (UV STANDARD 801), and RAL-certified medical compression textiles.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Hohenstein Medical: A dedicated subsidiary focused on the safety and efficacy of medical devices, biocides, and aids, offering GLP-certified testing of medical products.
- Hohenstein Academy
- Digital Fitting Lab
- OEKO-TEX
Products and services
- Softlines Testing & Certification
- Hardlines Testing & Certification
- Hohenstein Medical
- OEKO-TEX Certifications
- Fit Testing (Passform-Prüfung)
- MODY Testing Device
- Garment Sizing (Konfektionsgrößen)
- Pattern Service (Schnitt-Service)
- Digital Fitting Lab
- Digital Size Consultation (Sizekick Partnership)
- Sustainability Services
- Performance Testing
- Occupational Clothing & PPE Testing
- Hohenstein Quality Labels
- Training & Workshops (Hohenstein Academy)
- UV STANDARD 801 Certification
- RAL-Certified Medical Compression Textiles
Quantifiable outcome
- Standardized, objective sports bra support measurement without human influence
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Hohenstein Laboratories
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Hohenstein Laboratories technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration11 records
AI capability6 records
Feature5 records
Hohenstein Laboratories partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- SizekickcorePartnership started in 2022 with Munich-based startup Sizekick, which provides AI-powered sizing recommendations for online fashion retailers. Hohenstein supports Sizekick's market introduction with apparel-specific know-how, Size-&-Fit expertise, and an extensive 3D body scan database. Sizekick uses AI and computer vision technology to enable consumers to find correct clothing sizes via smartphone in seconds, reducing size-related returns and CO2 emissions in e-commerce.
- ElisminorWorkwear provider Elis integrates Sizekick's sizing AI through a partnership, bringing digital fitting technology to the workwear market for the first time. Hohenstein's Sizekick partnership indirectly extends to Elis as a customer of the technology Hohenstein helped develop.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Hohenstein Laboratories competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- TESTEX AG: Swiss textile-focused testing laboratory and OEKO-TEX member that offers functional, chemical, and physical textile testing plus OEKO-TEX certification. Closest direct peer to Hohenstein's textile TIC business with similar product mix and OEKO-TEX administration role.
- Nelson Laboratories: Specialist medical-device and biopharmaceutical testing laboratory focused on biocompatibility, microbiology, and sterilization validation. Closest peer to Hohenstein Medical's GLP-certified medical-device testing business.
Broad incumbents
- SGS SA: Global TIC leader with extensive consumer-products textile testing and certification operations. Overlaps directly with Hohenstein's softlines testing but operates at much larger scale across multiple industries.
- Bureau Veritas: Global TIC group with consumer-products testing including textile, leather, and footwear certification. Operates a much broader industry portfolio than Hohenstein but competes on the same consumer-goods testing mandates.
- Intertek Group: Global TIC provider with a sizable consumer-goods textile and apparel testing business. Competes with Hohenstein on lab-based and on-site textile/hardlines testing and certification.
- TÜV Rheinland: German-headquartered TIC powerhouse that tests apparel, footwear, and consumer goods across global labs. A fellow German-headquartered competitor with significantly larger scale and a more diversified TIC portfolio.
- TÜV SÜD: German-headquartered TIC group covering textile/hardlines testing plus medical-device compliance. Comparable to TÜV Rheinland as a broad German incumbent in adjacent TIC verticals.
- Eurofins Scientific: Large European testing laboratory network providing chemical, biological, and physical testing including for textile and consumer-goods materials. Comparable as a TIC platform serving multiple regulated verticals.
Emerging players
- True Fit: US-based AI sizing and fit-recommendation platform for online apparel retailers. Comparable to Hohenstein's Digital Fitting Lab + Sizekick partnership route into fashion e-commerce fit and returns reduction.
- Sizekick: Munich-based AI sizing startup using smartphone computer vision, partnered with Hohenstein since 2022 to leverage its 3D body-scan database. A channel partner and emerging adjacent competitor in the digital-fit space.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Hohenstein Laboratories social profiles
Digital presenceHohenstein Laboratories compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance7 records
Hohenstein Laboratories financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Hohenstein Laboratories leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Hohenstein Laboratories subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries3 records
Hohenstein Laboratories funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Hohenstein Laboratories M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments1 record
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Hohenstein Laboratories
What does Hohenstein Laboratories do?
Hohenstein Laboratories is a global testing, inspection, and certification (TIC) organization specializing in textiles, hardlines, and medical products. The company provides physical and chemical testing services (RSL/MRSL/PFAS testing, leather and shoe testing, wastewater analysis), OEKO-TEX certification programs (STANDARD 100, ECO PASSPORT, STeP, MADE IN GREEN, LEATHER STANDARD), GLP-certified medical device biocompatibility testing, fit testing with proprietary MODY technology, 3D digital product development via its Digital Fitting Lab subsidiary, and professional training through the Hohenstein Academy.
Is Hohenstein Laboratories a public or private company?
Hohenstein Laboratories is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Hohenstein Laboratories founded?
Hohenstein Laboratories was founded in 1946. It employs 1,001 to 5,000 people.
Where is Hohenstein Laboratories based?
Hohenstein Laboratories is headquartered in Bönnigheim, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does Hohenstein Laboratories make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Testing Services are the primary driver. The others are certification Services, consulting and Advisory, training and Education and digital Fitting Services.
Who are Hohenstein Laboratories's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are TESTEX AG and Nelson Laboratories. Broad incumbents are SGS SA, Bureau Veritas, Intertek Group, TÜV Rheinland, TÜV SÜD and Eurofins Scientific. Emerging players are True Fit and Sizekick.
Does Hohenstein Laboratories have an API?
No public API is recorded for Hohenstein Laboratories.
What industry is Hohenstein Laboratories in?
Hohenstein Laboratories's product category is Testing, Inspection and Certification Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAHAIAL, Testing, Inspection, Certification & Commissioning (TICx) Technical Services, with a secondary code of HLAGADAL, Environmental Monitoring & Cleanroom Testing (GMP). Its NAICS code is 541380 and its SIC code is 8734.