What AMEPA does

AMEPA Angewandte Messtechnik und Prozessautomatisierung GmbH is a German industrial measurement technology company headquartered in Würselen, founded in 1984 as a spin-off from RWTH Aachen University. The company designs, manufactures, and services specialized measurement systems for quality assurance in steel, aluminum, and automotive production. Its product portfolio is organized into two functional groups: liquid-steel slag detection systems (ESD electromagnetic slag detection with the industry-unique dual-channel ESD 400; TSD thermographic slag detection via infrared camera; and RSD electromagnetic residual steel detection for tundishes) and surface-quality measurement systems (SRM online roughness, WMS online waviness, OFM online oil film, and OFIS portable oil film measurement). The underlying technology combines electromagnetic eddy-current sensing, infrared thermography, line-projection laser triangulation (under European patent EP2517799 licensed from CRM Group, Liège), and mid-infrared spectroscopy.

AMEPA generates revenue primarily through direct enterprise sales of these systems, project-based customization, installation, commissioning, and ongoing service contracts. The company operates a hybrid go-to-market model: direct sales from its Würselen headquarters supported by wholly-owned subsidiaries AMEPA America Inc. (Solon, OH, est. 1994) and AMEPA Trading (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. (est. 2020), combined with a global network of regional sales and service partners across Europe, Asia, Oceania, and the Americas. Customers include major steel producers, aluminum manufacturers, and automotive OEMs and tier suppliers (notably thyssenkrupp Steel Europe and Porsche's Smart Press Shop via Schuler Pressen). With more than 3,600 ladles equipped and 500+ plant installations across over 50 countries, AMEPA claims world market leadership in electromagnetic slag detection. The company is privately held with no external institutional investors, led since 2019 by two Managing Directors, Martin Fieweger (sales and service) and Armin Kempkes (development and production), and employs 60+ staff.

Name

AMEPA

Legal name

AMEPA Angewandte Messtechnik und Prozessautomatisierung GmbH

Website

https://amepa.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1984

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

AMEPA GmbH, founded 1984 as an RWTH Aachen spin-off, designs and manufactures electromagnetic, thermographic, laser-triangulation, and infrared-spectroscopy measurement systems for slag detection and surface quality control in steel, aluminum, and automotive production, selling globally via direct subsidiaries and partner networks with 3,600+ ladles installed.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Process Measurement Systems

NAICS

Instruments and Related Products Manufacturing for Measuring, Displaying, and Controlling Industrial Process Variables (334513)

SIC

Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, And Control (3823)

akta.pro primary industry

Condition Monitoring & Predictive Maintenance Instrumentation (Vibration/ultrasound, oil analysis sensors, IIoT monitoring) (IMAGAFAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Metrology, Inspection & Machine Tool Accessories (CMMs, Probing, Gauging) (IMAHADAK), Process Analytical Instrumentation (Gas analyzers, spectroscopy, pH/ORP, conductivity) (IMAGAFAE)

Keywords

• Industrial measurement systems
• Electromagnetic slag detection
• Surface roughness measurement
• Metallurgical process automation
• Oil film measurement

Headquarters

HQ city

Würselen

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Industrial Measurement Systems Sales: AMEPA generates revenue through the sale of industrial measurement systems for the steel, aluminium and automotive industries. This includes both hardware (sensors, measuring devices) and associated software, calibration services, and integration into customer production processes. The company also provides installation, commissioning, and ongoing technical support services.
2. Service and Support: AMEPA provides comprehensive service offerings including annual services, inspections, spare parts supply, and remote service capabilities. Service contracts can be customized and integrated into customer agreements to ensure measuring systems are always reliably and precisely measuring product quality.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

AMEPA develops, manufactures, and sells industrial measurement systems for quality assurance in steel, aluminum, and automotive manufacturing. The product portfolio includes electromagnetic and thermographic slag detection systems (ESD, RSD, TSD) for liquid steel processing, online surface measurement systems for roughness, waviness, and oil film (SRM, WMS, OFM), and a portable handheld oil film measurement device (OFIS). Systems are integrated into continuous casting lines, rolling mills, and press shops with installation, commissioning, and ongoing service support.

Product overview

AMEPA offers a portfolio of seven specialized measurement systems for the steel, aluminum, and automotive industries. The product line includes three slag detection systems (ESD electromagnetic, TSD thermographic, and RSD residual steel detection) that ensure slag-free transfer of molten steel in the liquid stage. Complementing these are four surface measurement systems (SRM roughness, WMS waviness, OFM online oil film, and OFIS portable oil film) that monitor surface quality parameters throughout the production process from rolling mills to press shops. All systems are designed for industrial environments with features like non-contact measurement, validation units, and database storage for quality documentation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• ESD Electromagnetic Slag Detection (ESD 300/400) Electromagnetic slag detection system installed at the ladle bottom that detects slag flow through and automatically closes the slide-gate valve. Reduces slag carryover by up to 90%. ESD 400 features unique dual-channel technology for detecting individual slag particles before continuous slag flow begins. Targets steel producers operating continuous casting lines.
• RSD Residual Steel Detection (RSD 300) Electromagnetic measuring system for tundishes on continuous casting lines that monitors low steel levels by detecting the steel/slag interface using transmitting and receiving coils with eddy current measurement. Enables safe tundish drainage without slag carryover while maximizing yield and minimizing mixing zones during grade changes. Targets steel producers.
• TSD Thermographic Slag Detection (TSD 2.0) Optical slag detection system using infrared camera technology to detect slag flow when transferring molten steel from oxygen steel converter or electric furnace to ladle. Exploits different thermal radiation characteristics of steel and slag in the higher infrared range. No sensors installed in vessel, resulting in low maintenance costs. Targets steel producers.
• SRM Online Roughness Measurement (SRM 100) Non-contact online roughness measurement system using line projection laser triangulation method patented by CRM Liège. Provides Ra measurements from 0.3 to 3 µm with measurement frequency up to 100 Hz. Visualizes and documents roughness over the entire coil length for optimal process control. Targets steel and aluminum rolling mills.
• WMS Online Waviness Measurement (WMS 100) Online waviness measurement system based on line projection laser triangulation using microscopic online triangulation with microlines and image stitching. Provides Wsa measurements from 0.1 to 1 µm at strip speeds up to 180 m/min. Patented by CRM Liège (European patent EP2517799). Targets steel and aluminum surface quality control.
• OFM Online Oil Film Measurement (OFM 300) Non-contact online oil film measurement system using infrared spectroscopy in the mid-infrared range (MIR). Uses spectrally broadband halogen light sources where oil causes specific wavelength absorption dependent on oil layer thickness. Provides immediate online warning of deviations in oiling process. Includes validation unit for regular sensor checking and automatic fault detection. Targets steel, aluminum, and automotive production lines.
• OFIS Portable Oil Film Measurement (OFIS 3.0) Handheld portable oil film measurement device using infrared spectroscopy for mobile measurement of oil films and dry lubes on metallic surfaces up to 5 g/m². Features ±0.05 g/m² accuracy (up to 1 g/m²), wireless data transfer, one-second measurement time, storage for up to 224 measurements, and IP54 industrial rating. Targets steel, aluminum, and automotive quality assurance.

Quantifiable outcome

• Reduction of slag carryover by up to 90%
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• AMAPminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperation partner listed on AMEPA website as part of their partner network
• CRM GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCentre for Research in Metallurgy (CRM) based in Liège, Belgium. CRM developed and licensed to AMEPA the patented line projection laser triangulation technology used in SRM and WMS systems for surface roughness and waviness measurement.
• EWIminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperation partner listed on AMEPA website as part of their partner network
• IBF RWTH Aachen UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInstitut für Bildsame Formgebung (Institute for Metal Forming) at RWTH Aachen University. AMEPA maintains close ties with university institutes and research institutions as a spin-off from RWTH Aachen.
• PIN Partner im NetzwerkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperation partner in the regional network listed on AMEPA website
• digitalHUB AachenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAMEPA became a member of the digitalHUB Aachen association at the beginning of March 2023. The association aims to strengthen digitization in the Aachen area and facilitates networking between startups, IT SMEs, and established companies.
• Schuler Pressen GmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAMEPA cooperated with Schuler Pressen GmbH from Heßdorf to successfully commission a tribological control system (OFM 100 and SRM 100) integrated into the Porsche Smart Press Shop production line.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• ABB Ltd. ABB offers process automation, instrumentation, and metal industry-specific measurement solutions globally. While not a niche specialist like AMEPA, ABB's installed base in steel plants overlaps on process sensors and metallurgical measurement applications.
• Endress+Hauser: Endress+Hauser is a global leader in industrial process instrumentation for level, flow, and analytical measurement, with deep penetration in steel, chemical, and metals plants. It overlaps with AMEPA on process sensors and surface/level measurement in heavy industry.
• KROHNE Group: KROHNE manufactures industrial process instrumentation for flow, level, temperature, and analytical measurement, with strong steel, chemical, and power industry exposure — competing with AMEPA on process measurement in heavy industrial applications.
• AMETEK Inc. (Land Instruments): AMETEK's Land Instruments division supplies process instrumentation and non-contact temperature measurement for metals processing and industrial applications, competing with AMEPA's thermographic and surface measurement products as part of a much broader industrial portfolio.

Emerging players

• SICK AG: SICK AG supplies industrial sensors and laser-based measurement systems for quality control in metal processing and automotive press shops, competing with AMEPA's surface and oil film measurement products, with stronger scale in factory automation more broadly.

Direct peers

• Micro-Epsilon: Micro-Epsilon is a direct competitor in non-contact laser-based surface measurement (roughness, displacement, thickness) for industrial process control, overlapping directly with AMEPA's SRM 100 and WMS 100 line-projection triangulation products.
• Heraeus Electro-Nite: Heraeus Electro-Nite is a long-established direct competitor in metallurgical sensors, including slag detection, temperature measurement, and sampling for liquid steel — overlapping heavily with AMEPA's ESD and TSD product lines.
• Vesuvius plc (Foseco): Vesuvius, through its Foseco steel foundry and metallurgical products division, supplies sensors, feeding systems, and process control solutions to global steelmakers — directly competing with AMEPA in metallurgical process measurement and ladle-level instrumentation.
• Mahr GmbH: Mahr is a specialist in surface metrology and roughness measurement instruments, overlapping with AMEPA's SRM product line in both laboratory and online production environments for automotive and metals customers.

Regional players

• VEGA Grieshaber KG: VEGA is a German-based specialist in level, pressure, and point-level measurement for process industries, with strong presence in steel and metals plants. It competes with AMEPA on certain level and interface measurement applications from a German mid-cap base.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/amepa-gmbh

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries3 records

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 AMEPA