Optimol Instruments

What Optimol Instruments does

Optimol Instruments Prüftechnik GmbH is a Munich-based, privately held German manufacturer of tribology testing equipment, founded in 1972 as a spin-off from a special-purpose lubricant manufacturer. The company designs, develops, and produces tribometers, test benches, and model test devices used to measure friction, wear, and lubrication properties of materials and lubricants under laboratory conditions. Its core product lines include the SRV®5 oscillating tribometer (the flagship and globally deployed success model invented by the company more than 50 years ago), the ETS (Easy Tribology Screener) for simplified friction/wear testing, the 2disk rolling contact test rig, plus special-application variants such as the Vacuum-SRV® and the hydrogen/fuel tribomeasuring cell. The n-RAI add-on module provides nanoscale wear measurement down to 10 nm depth using radioisotope-based thin-layer activation, and the company offers a software stack (Advanced Tribodata, Triboprofiling, High Resolution Signal Analysis, A-POS automated standard tests, Wear Analyser) alongside test specimens, holders, adapters, and measurement/control options.

The company serves a diversified industrial and research customer base across seven primary verticals: lubricants, mobility/automotive, chemical, drive technology, energy, materials science, and aerospace, with manufacturing as a secondary vertical. Revenue is generated primarily through direct sales of capital equipment, supplemented by consumables, accessories, software, and service contracts (calibration, maintenance, repair, and technical consultation). Pricing is quote-based and configuration-dependent rather than publicly listed.

Optimol commercialises its products through direct sales from its Munich headquarters combined with a global partner network covering the USA, China, Japan, Korea, Singapore, India, Hungary, and France. The US channel was elevated to a Strategic partnership with Compass Instruments Inc. in May 2025, and the company received the Triboneer Award 2025 for Innovation. Operating with 11-50 employees, Optimol positions itself as a vertically integrated system provider of tribological testing solutions, with products designed and manufactured in Germany and a brand reputation built on the original invention of the SRV® platform.

Name

Optimol Instruments

Legal name

Optimol Instruments Prüftechnik GmbH

Website

https://optimol-instruments.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1972

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Optimol Instruments Prüftechnik GmbH is a Munich-based German manufacturer of tribometers and tribology test equipment, founded in 1972. It serves lubricant, automotive, aerospace, energy, chemical, materials, and drive technology customers worldwide with the SRV®5, ETS, 2disk, and n-RAI product lines via direct sales and a global partner network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Tribology Testing Equipment

NAICS

Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing (334516), Other Measuring and Controlling Device Manufacturing (334519)

SIC

Laboratory Analytical Instruments (3826), Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, And Control (3823)

akta.pro primary industry

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

Keywords

• Tribology testing equipment
• Friction wear measurement
• Oscillating tribometers
• Lubricant testing systems
• Rolling contact testing

Headquarters

HQ city

Munich

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Tribometer and Test Equipment Sales: Sale of specialized tribology testing equipment including the SRV series, 2disk, ETS, and specialized testing cells. Products range from standard laboratory tribometers to custom-configured systems for specific industrial applications.
2. Accessories and Consumables: Revenue from test specimens, holders, adapters, spare parts, and accessories required for operating the testing equipment.
3. Software Solutions: Sale of tribology software including Tribodata, Triboprofiling, and High Resolution Signal Analysis packages for data acquisition and analysis.
4. Service and Technical Support: Comprehensive service offerings including calibration, maintenance, repair, and technical consultation for tribological testing applications.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels9 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Optimol Instruments develops and manufactures tribometers, test benches, and model test devices for friction, wear, and lubrication testing of materials and lubricants. The portfolio includes the SRV®5 oscillating tribometer, ETS screener, 2disk rolling contact test rig, Vakuum-SRV® for vacuum/extreme environments, SRV® X-AT, a hydrogen/fuel tribological cell, the n-RAI nanoscale wear measurement system, and supporting software, consumables, and accessories.

Product overview

Optimol Instruments Prüftechnik GmbH offers a portfolio of tribometers and tribological testing systems for application-oriented laboratory-scale testing. The core product line includes the SRV®5 oscillating tribometer (the company's flagship and success model), the ETS (Easy Tribology Screener) for simplified friction and wear measurement, and the 2disk two-disk test rig for rolling contact testing. Special application equipment includes the Vakuum-SRV® for vacuum and extreme environment testing, SRV® X-AT for specialized applications, and a hydrogen/fuel tribology measuring cell. The n-RAI nanoscale wear measurement system complements the tribometers using radionuclide technology. Supporting products include software solutions (High Resolution Signal Analysis, Advanced Tribodata, Triboprofiling), wear analysis software, test specimens, measurement and control options, and various accessories and spare parts. The company positions itself as a system provider offering complete tribological testing solutions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• SRV®5 Tribometer Practice-oriented oscillating tribometer widely used internationally for friction and wear testing of lubricants, materials, and coatings under laboratory-scale conditions. The company's flagship product.
• ETS (Easy Tribology Screener) Simplified friction and wear measurement system for straightforward testing applications, designed for ease of use.
• 2disk Rolling Contact Test Rig Two-disk test rig for tribological testing of highly loaded rolling contacts under lubricated conditions, enabling investigation of slip-rolling resistance and wear under high Hertzian contact pressures.
• Vakuum-SRV® Tribometer Vacuum tribometer for tribological testing under extreme environmental conditions including vacuum, high/low temperatures, corrosive gases, and pressure. Designed for aerospace and space applications.
• SRV® X-AT Tribometer Specialized SRV tribometer configuration for specialized testing applications, including extreme temperature and environmental conditions.
• Hydrogen/Fuel Tribological Measuring Cell Specialized measuring cell for tribological testing of materials and lubricants under hydrogen and fuel exposure conditions.
• n-RAI Nanoscale Wear Measurement System Radioisotope-based wear measurement system for high-precision, efficient nanoscale wear analysis. Uses thin-layer activation to mark specimens and ionizing radiation detection to measure wear depths down to 10nm resolution. Activity concentrations between 5% and 30% of permissible limits.
• Tribology Software Solutions Software solutions including High Resolution Signal Analysis, Advanced Tribodata, Triboprofiling, and A-POS (fully automated standard tests) for data acquisition, test control, and analysis.
• Wear Analyser Software Software for wear analysis of tested specimens.
• Test Specimens and Consumable Materials Test specimens and consumable materials required for tribological testing applications.
• Measurement and Control Options Measurement and control options including oscillation standard appliance, rotation unit, dynamic load unit, tilting mechanism, fluid pump, low temperature units (-45°C and -10°C), high temperature unit, electrical resistance measurement, noise emission measurement, online wear measurement, multi-component block, and varioblock.
• Accessories and Spare Parts Accessories and spare parts for tribometers and test equipment.
• Holders and Adapters Holders and adapters for specimen mounting and test configuration.

Quantifiable outcome

• Reduced development costs through early-stage tribological testing
• +2 more outcomes

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered strategic, core and minor.

• Compass Instruments Inc.strategicChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 23 May 2025Strategic partnership for the US market, with Compass Instruments Inc. representing Optimol products and providing sales, service, and support to customers in North America from their location in Sugar Grove, Illinois.
• GB&C Technologies Inc. (China)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSales and service representation in China through Beijing Representative Office. Provides local sales support, technical consultation, and customer service for Chinese market.
• Parker Netshushori Kogyo Co., Ltd (Japan)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSales representation in Japan through Tokyo Sales Department in Kawasaki. Provides local sales and service support for Japanese customers.
• TriboSolution Corp. (Korea)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSales representation in Korea through Seoul office. Provides tribology products and services to Korean market.
• QUINTECH Scientific Pte Ltd (Singapore)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSales representation in Singapore and Southeast Asia through office in Singapore.
• Avantika Techno Systems (India)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSales representation in India through office in Pune. Provides sales and technical support for Indian market.
• EnviTek Kft. (Hungary)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSales representation in Hungary through Budapest office.
• TMI Tribology & Materials For Industry (France)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSales representation in France through office in Bron, near Lyon. Provides local sales and service support for French customers.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Anton Paar: Austrian precision measurement manufacturer with a dedicated tribology product line (TRB tribometers) targeting lubricant, automotive, and materials R&D customers. Directly competes with Optimol's SRV series in oscillating and rotating tribometry with broader product breadth.
• Rtec Instruments: US-based manufacturer of multi-scale tribometers (MFT series) and 3D profilometers serving lubricants, automotive, and academic tribology labs. Closely overlaps Optimol's SRV and 2disk use cases with comparable oscillating/rotating test rigs.
• Nanovea: US-based maker of tribometers, scratch testers, and mechanical profilometers for surface and coating characterization. Directly comparable to Optimol's tribology and wear-measurement offerings, particularly in academic and coatings R&D segments.
• Bruker UMT (legacy CETR): The CETR tribometer product line, now under Bruker, is a direct competitor in multi-mode tribology testing for hard disks, MEMS, and coatings — overlapping with Optimol's SRV and 2disk product positioning.

Broad incumbents

• Bruker: Major scientific instrument company whose UMT (Universal Mechanical Tester) tribometer line directly competes with Optimol's SRV, while also offering nanoindentation, AFM, and broader materials characterization. Brings significantly larger R&D and global sales scale to overlapping applications.
• AMETEK: Diversified electronic instruments group whose Taylor Hobson and other subsidiaries serve surface metrology and tribology-adjacent markets. Competes indirectly via complementary rather than fully overlapping tribology offerings.
• MTS Systems: Provider of mechanical testing systems (including dynamic and fatigue testing) for materials and components, with overlap in component-level tribology testing for automotive and aerospace OEMs alongside Optimol.
• TA Instruments: Major thermal analysis, rheology, and physical property instrumentation supplier (part of Waters). Adjacent rather than head-to-head competitor, but serves overlapping lubricant and materials R&D customers and could expand tribology capability.
• Shimadzu: Japanese analytical and testing instrument maker with materials testing systems used in automotive, energy, and academic tribology applications. Competes as a broad-portfolio incumbent serving the same customer verticals as Optimol.

Emerging players

• Phystron: China-based tribometer manufacturer offering oscillating and reciprocating friction/wear testers at lower price points. Emerging direct competitor in cost-sensitive Asian markets that could pressure Optimol's regional ASPs over time.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 Optimol Instruments