IMA Materialforschung und Anwendungstechnik

What IMA Materialforschung und Anwendungstechnik does

IMA Materialforschung und Anwendungstechnik GmbH, operating as Applus+ IMA Dresden, is a full-service accredited testing, inspection, and certification (TIC) center headquartered in Dresden, Germany. Founded in the early 1990s and operating as a subsidiary of the international TIC group Applus+, the company serves manufacturers and Tier-1 suppliers across nine primary verticals: aerospace, automotive, e-mobility, medical devices, construction products, rail vehicles, wind energy, pipes/piping systems, and power generation. The company is recognized by 18 distinct accreditations and certifications, most importantly DAkkS accreditations under DIN EN ISO/IEC 17025, 17020, and 17065, NADCAP for non-metallic materials testing, DIN EN 9100 for aerospace, ISO 14001, DIBt and Eisenbahn-Bundesamt recognition, and PPA-Europe third-party recognition.

The company's core technology stack comprises accredited laboratory testing (static and dynamic mechanical, fatigue, environmental simulation, non-destructive, materialography), finite element-based simulation and strength assessment, electrical testing for e-mobility per LV 124/214/123/148/215 standards, joint implant wear simulation (hip, knee, shoulder, ankle), full-scale aircraft structural fatigue testing, and a proprietary materials database covering 180,000 material modifications and over 4 million entries. Supporting service lines include damage/failure analysis, expert witness work, customized inspection software, standards search, and professional training seminars.

IMA Dresden operates as a private GmbH under the Applus+ umbrella, with revenue generated through quote-based professional services fees tied to scope, complexity, and accreditation requirements. Distribution is direct B2B enterprise sales delivered primarily at the Dresden facility or on-site at client locations, supplemented by inbound leads through the company website, technical brochures, and 16+ industry/technical association memberships spanning aerospace, automotive, composites, tribology, welding, rail, and building technology.

Name

IMA Materialforschung und Anwendungstechnik

Legal name

IMA Materialforschung und Anwendungstechnik GmbH

Website

https://ima-dresden.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Applus+ IMA Dresden is a DAkkS-accredited full-service testing, inspection, and certification center in Dresden, Germany, serving manufacturers and suppliers across aerospace, automotive, e-mobility, medical devices, construction, rail, and wind energy with materials testing, fatigue simulation, and regulatory certification services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Materials Testing, Inspection, and Certification Services

NAICS

Testing Laboratories and Services (54138), Testing Laboratories and Services (541380)

SIC

Services-Testing Laboratories (8734)

akta.pro primary industry

Testing, Inspection, Certification & Commissioning (TICx) Technical Services (BPAHAIAL)

Keywords

• Materials testing services
• Accredited testing laboratory
• Product certification inspection
• Fatigue testing services
• Non-destructive testing

Headquarters

HQ city

Dresden

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Testing and Inspection Services: Fee-for-service testing, inspection, and certification services for manufacturers and suppliers. Services include material testing, component testing, product certification, and conformity assessment.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

IMA Materialforschung und Anwendungstechnik GmbH (Applus+ IMA Dresden) operates as a full-service testing, inspection, and certification (TIC) center for manufacturers and suppliers across multiple industries. Its offerings cover DAkkS-accredited mechanical, physical, and chemical testing of metals, plastics, and composites; static and dynamic mechanical testing; fatigue testing; environmental simulation; non-destructive testing; finite element simulation; damage analysis; product certification; electrical testing for e-mobility; and a proprietary materials database with 180,000 modifications and over 4 million entries. Industry-specific testing services span aerospace, automotive, medical devices, construction products, rail vehicles, wind energy, and pipes/piping systems.

Product overview

IMA Materialforschung und Anwendungstechnik (Applus+ IMA Dresden) operates as a full-service testing center offering comprehensive testing, inspection, and certification services across multiple industries. The portfolio includes simulation and strength assessment, material testing for plastics/composites and metals, materialography, non-destructive testing, environmental simulation, and electrical testing for e-mobility. Specialized industry-focused services cover aerospace, medical devices, automotive, construction products, rail vehicles, and wind energy sectors. The company also provides material databases, damage analysis, expert consulting services, software solutions, and professional training programs. All testing laboratories are DAkkS-accredited according to DIN EN ISO/IEC 17025.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Simulation and Strength Assessment (Simulation und Festigkeitsbewertung) Computational strength evaluation and multi-axis simulation services for structural optimization and product development acceleration for manufacturers across industries.
• Material Testing of Plastics and Composites (Materialprüfung Kunststoffe und Verbundwerkstoffe) Mechanical and physical testing of plastics, composite materials, and fiber-reinforced polymers for manufacturers across industrial applications.
• Material Testing of Metals (Materialprüfung Metalle) Comprehensive testing services for metallic materials including static and dynamic mechanical testing.
• Materialography (Materialographie) Microstructural examination and analysis of materials including microstructure investigation and sample preparation.
• Medical Device Testing (Medizinprodukteprüfung) DAkkS-accredited testing laboratory for medical products including joint implants (hip, knee, shoulder, ankle), spinal implants, osteosynthesis products, surgical instruments, and skin adhesives.
• Aerospace Testing (Luftfahrtprüfung) Structural and material testing services for the aerospace industry including component testing, full-scale fatigue testing, landing gear systems, control surfaces, fuselage, wings, engines, and aircraft interiors.
• Electrical Testing for E-Mobility (Elektrische Prüfung für E-Mobility) Comprehensive electrical testing for electric vehicles including LV 124, LV 214, LV 123, LV 148, LV 215 standards, high-voltage battery testing, and charging infrastructure validation.
• Construction Products Testing (Bauprodukteprüfung) Testing, inspection, and certification services for construction products including sandwich elements, GFRP profiles, metal sheet profiles, and textile concrete.
• Environmental Simulation and Vibration (Umweltsimulation und Schwingung) Climate testing, vibration testing, shock testing, and environmental simulation for product durability validation across industries.
• Non-Destructive Testing (Zerstörungsfreie Prüfung) Non-destructive examination services to detect defects and damage without compromising test specimen integrity.
• Software and Software Solutions (Software und Softwarelösungen) Customized software solutions including damage and inspection database systems for various testing applications.
• Material Databases (Werkstoffdatenbanken) Comprehensive material databases with 180,000 modifications and over 4 million entries for material selection and specification.
• Damage Analysis (Schadensanalysen) Systematic failure analysis using materials engineering techniques to determine damage causes and material fatigue.
• Training and Seminars (Training und Seminare) Professional training programs and seminars for industry professionals on testing methodologies and standards.

Named customers3 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Euroheat & PowerminorOthersIndustry association membership for heat and power sector collaboration and knowledge sharing.
• DIN CERTCO Gesellschaft für Konformitätsbewertung mbHminorOthersPartnership for conformity assessment certification services in construction sector.
• European Association for Panels and Profiles (PPA-Europe)minorOthersAssociation membership providing third-party recognition for sandwich elements and metal sheet profiles testing.
• Deutsches Institut für Bautechnik (DIBt)coreOthersOfficial recognition as monitoring and certification body for construction products per German state building regulations (Landesbauordnung).
• DVGW CERT GmbHminorOthersCertification partnership for gas and water sector products.
• Rotorblatt AllianzminorOthersNetwork partnership for wind turbine rotor blade technology and testing.
• LRT Kompetenzzentrum Luft- und Raumfahrttechnik Sachsen e.V.minorOthersCompetence center partnership for aerospace technology in Saxony region.
• GUS Gesellschaft für Umweltsimulation e.V.minorOthersEnvironmental simulation society partnership for testing methodology exchange.
• GfT Gesellschaft für Tribologie e.V.minorOthersTribology society partnership for wear and friction testing expertise.
• DVS Deutscher Verband für Schweißen u. verwandte Verfahren e.V.minorOthersGerman welding association partnership for joining technology expertise.
• DVM Deutscher Verband für Materialforschung und -prüfung e.V.minorOthersGerman materials research and testing association for professional exchange.
• DGZfP Deutsche Gesellschaft für zerstörungsfreie PrüfungminorOthersNon-destructive testing society partnership for testing methodology expertise.
• Composites United e.V. OstminorOthersComposite materials cluster partnership for Eastern Germany region.
• BDLI Bundesverband der Deutschen Luft- und Raumfahrtindustrie e.V.minorOthersGerman aerospace industry association membership.
• AVK – Industrievereinigung Verstärkte Kunststoffe e.V.minorOthersIndustrial association for reinforced plastics sector.
• AMZ Sachsen – Netzwerk der Automobilzulieferer SachsensminorOthersAutomotive supplier network for Saxony region.
• ACOD e.V. Automotive Cluster OstdeutschlandminorOthersAutomotive cluster for Eastern Germany.
• Akademischer Club LeichtbauminorOthersAcademic lightweight construction club for knowledge exchange.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• SGS: Global TIC leader with extensive materials testing, aerospace, automotive, and consumer products divisions; overlaps with IMA in industrial testing but as part of a much broader portfolio across inspection, verification, and certification.
• Intertek: Global TIC group with dedicated transportation, aerospace, and industrial testing services; competes for aerospace and automotive testing programmes at OEMs and tier-1 suppliers.
• Bureau Veritas: Global TIC group operating across marine, oil & gas, construction, and industrial sectors; overlaps with IMA in construction product certification, materials testing, and industrial asset inspection.
• UL LLC (UL Solutions): Global safety science organisation offering testing, inspection, and certification for industrial, aerospace, and consumer products; overlaps in materials and component testing, particularly for regulatory compliance programs.

Direct peers

• TÜV Rheinland: Major German TIC organisation offering accredited testing, inspection, and certification across mobility, industrial, and consumer products; competes with IMA in automotive, e-mobility, and component validation.
• TÜV SÜD: Germany-headquartered TIC group with dedicated materials, component, and product testing services for automotive, aerospace, and medical devices; provides both accredited laboratory testing and certification under the same DAkkS framework as IMA.
• Element Materials Technology: Global materials and product qualification testing laboratory serving aerospace, automotive, and medical device clients; the most direct head-to-head competitor to IMA in mechanical, fatigue, and environmental testing, with similar accreditation-driven business model.
• Applus+ IDIADA: Sister subsidiary within the Applus+ group providing automotive design, engineering, and testing services including e-mobility and vehicle certification; intersects with IMA on electric mobility component testing standards (LV 124 family).
• DEKRA: Germany-based TIC provider with strong automotive and industrial testing operations, including product testing, certification, and homologation services that overlap with IMA's automotive and e-mobility offerings.

Regional players

• Eurofins Scientific: European-headquartered testing services group with strong materials, product, and certification operations; overlaps with IMA in medical device and industrial materials testing across multiple European geographies.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Compliance10 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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 IMA Materialforschung und Anwendungstechnik