MESSRING

What MESSRING does

MESSRING GmbH, founded in 1968 and headquartered in Gilching, Germany, is a privately held engineering company that designs and manufactures crash test systems and active safety testing equipment for the global automotive industry. Its product portfolio spans passive safety hardware (MicroTrack rail-guided crash tracks, crash walls, mobile barriers, M=LIGHT LED high-speed lighting, M=WALL load cells, and M=BUS data acquisition), sled testing platforms (CIS Compact Impact Sled, M=SLED modular and XL variants, HydroBrake programmable decelerator), facility control software (CrashSoft 4), and active safety targets and robots (ASTERO pedestrian robot, EBTa e-bike target, EPTa/EPTc pedestrian targets, UFO carrier platforms, CPD child presence detection surrogates). The technology is engineered to meet UN ECE, FMVSS, Euro NCAP, and IIHS protocols, with TÜV certification covering hydrogen fuel cell testing under UN ECE R134.

The company monetizes primarily through project-based hardware sales of complete crash test facilities and components to automotive OEMs, Tier-1/Tier-2 suppliers, and government testing authorities, supplemented by recurring software licensing (CrashSoft 4), contract testing services using its CIS sled, and lifecycle support contracts covering installation, calibration, maintenance, and training. Go-to-market combines direct enterprise sales from headquarters with three wholly-owned subsidiaries in Germany, China (Chongqing, since 2014), and the USA (Ann Arbor, since 2023), backed by a network of regional channel partners in France, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Thailand, and Latin America. Customers include Stellantis, Mahindra, Mercedes-Benz, Škoda, FAW, CMCI, CATC, Calspan, IAV, and DARHO, with more than 140 systems installed worldwide. MESSRING is owned by the German holding group DMB Dr. Dieter Murmann Beteiligungsgesellschaft and operates with 150-160 employees.

Demand drivers are structural: tightening global vehicle safety standards, NCAP rating evolution (including new child presence detection requirements), EV battery and hydrogen fuel cell test protocols, and the migration of active safety validation from passive hardware to ADAS and autonomous driving test scenarios. The company positions itself as the global market leader in crash test technology, with the automotive crash test dummies market sized at USD 187.98 million in 2025 and a 35.01% European market share driven by stringent regional safety regulation.

Name

MESSRING

Legal name

MESSRING GmbH

Website

https://messring.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1968

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Automotive Crash Test Equipment

NAICS

Instrument Manufacturing for Measuring and Testing Electricity and Electrical Signals (334515), Testing Laboratories and Services (54138), Electronic and Precision Equipment Repair and Maintenance (811210)

SIC

Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, And Control (3823), Services-Testing Laboratories (8734), Miscellaneous Transportation Equipment (3790)

akta.pro primary industry

DOT/Annual Vehicle Safety Inspections & Roadworthiness Certification (TLAKANAJ)

akta.pro secondary industry

Crash Sensing & Event Data Recorder Hardware Manufacturing (Crash Sensors/EDR) (IMACAMAJ)

Keywords

• Crash test equipment
• Sled testing systems
• Automotive safety testing
• Vehicle crash facilities
• Active safety targets

Headquarters

HQ city

Gilching

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Crash Test Equipment Manufacturing: Sale of complete crash test facilities and individual components including sleds, barriers, load cells, lighting systems, camera systems, and rail guidance systems. Equipment ranges from single components to turnkey solutions.
2. Testing Services: Contract testing services using CIS (Compact Impact Sled) system. Provides flexible and rapid testing execution with cycle times under 10 minutes. Supports payloads up to 1.5t or 80G at 200kg payload. Includes full service with cameras, lighting, and data acquisition.
3. Lifecycle Support Services: Comprehensive service including installation, commissioning, maintenance, calibration, upgrades, and technical support throughout the facility lifecycle. Includes customer support, remote maintenance, product training, and ATD (Anthropomorphic Test Device) testing.
4. Software Licensing: CrashSoft 4 software platform for facility control. Web-based architecture provides foundation for preventive maintenance and AI integration.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

MESSRING manufactures and supplies complete crash test facilities, sled testing systems, and active safety validation equipment for the automotive industry. The portfolio includes MicroTrack rail-guided crash tracks, mobile barriers, crash walls, LED high-speed lighting, Flying Floor pole-impact platforms, M=BUS data acquisition, M=WALL load cells, CIS/M=SLED/HydroBrake sled systems, CrashSoft 4 facility control software, and robotic pedestrian/bicycle targets (ASTERO, EBTa, UFO platforms) used for both passive and active vehicle safety testing.

Product overview

MESSRING is the global market leader in crash test technology, offering a comprehensive portfolio of products and services for both passive and active vehicle safety testing. The portfolio comprises: (1) Crash test facilities and components including MicroTrack rail systems, crash walls, mobile barriers, film pits, M=LIGHT LED lighting, and Flying Floor systems; (2) Sled testing equipment including the CIS Compact Impact Sled for acceleration tests, M=SLED/M=SLED Modular/M=SLED XL and HydroBrake for deceleration tests; (3) Active safety testing systems including ASTERO pedestrian robot, EBTa bicycle target, pedestrian targets (EPTa/EPTc), child targets (PCT), UFO target carrier platforms (UFOpro/UFOmicro/UFOnano), and 6D moving platforms; (4) Data acquisition systems including M=BUS PRO and M=WALL load cells; (5) Software including CrashSoft 4 for facility control; (6) CPD (Child Presence Detection) surrogates for newborn, 3-year-old, and 6-year-old children; (7) Battery test equipment for EV testing; (8) Hydrogen fuel cell testing capabilities; (9) Comprehensive services including customer support, calibration, installation, maintenance, and training. The company operates from headquarters in Gilching, Germany, with subsidiaries in China and the USA, and serves customers globally through a network of regional partners.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• CrashSoft 4 (CS4) Web-based crash facility control software for crash and sled testing systems. Manages drives, light barriers, camera systems, and safety features through a single integrated application with automated workflows.
• CIS - Compact Impact Sled Servo-hydraulic accelerator sled system for non-destructive testing of vehicle components including safety belts, seats, child seats, batteries, and airbags, with cycle times under 10 minutes and payload capacity up to 1.5t or 80G at 200kg.
• M=SLED / M=SLED Modular / M=SLED XL Modular test sled family for non-destructive deceleration testing with interchangeable platforms, supporting a standard 2,800mm x 1,800mm mounting grid and an XL 4,000mm x 1,800mm variant for larger vehicles. Includes a container module for battery fire hazard testing with 90-degree platform rotation for X/Y axis testing.
• HydroBrake Programmable servo-hydraulic deceleration sled system for non-destructive reproduction of complex crash pulses in component and vehicle testing.
• M=WALL Strong Load Cell Enhanced load cell measuring forces and moments in five axes up to 550 kN, used to monitor peak loads in pole impact tests and flexibly instrument virtually any barrier for reliable data acquisition.
• MicroTrack Rail System Precision rail-guided track system for guiding passenger cars, trucks, and sleds with only 30mm gap clearance, optimized for installation in camera pits with crossbeam width of 70mm or less while maximizing guidance performance and field of view.
• Electric Drive System Electric drive system for crash test facilities supporting bidirectional operation for vehicle or sled structure testing.
• Crash Wall Highly customizable crash wall system serving as a fixed barrier for crash testing applications.
• M=LIGHT / M=LIGHT EVO LED Lighting LED lighting system with electric drive for optimal high-speed crash test photography, with the EVO generation delivering significantly improved luminous flux and full backward compatibility with existing MESSRING LED fixtures.
• Mobile Barriers Mobile barrier systems for various crash test protocols including FMVSS 208, FMVSS 214, FMVSS 301R, IIHS 2.0, and NHTSA OMDB.
• Flying Floor System Movable platform enabling vehicles to be accelerated into pole impact scenarios, with a transparent window in the sled center ensuring optimal filming conditions for high-speed documentation.
• CPD Child Presence Detection Surrogates (Newborn, 3-Year-Old, 6-Year-Old) Radar-validated metal-free surrogates for child presence detection testing with pneumatic systems simulating realistic age-specific breathing patterns and anthropometric scaling aligned with Euro NCAP CPD requirements.
• ASTERO Pedestrian Robot Autonomous safety testing pedestrian robot designed for sensor and software validation of autonomous vehicles, focused on pedestrian emergency braking systems.
• EBTa Electric Bike Target Active safety testing bicycle robot designed for vehicle sensor testing including cameras, radar, and lidar with natural leg movement and realistic appearance.
• Pedestrian Targets (EPTa Adult, EPTc Child, PCT Pedestrian Child Target) Euro NCAP certified pedestrian targets reproducing pedestrian size, shape, sensing characteristics, and leg movement, with adult (50th percentile male) and 7-year-old child options, plus a 2-year-old child in toy car variant for vulnerable road user (VRU) protection testing.
• UFO Target Carrier Platforms (UFOpro, UFOmicro, UFOnano) Family of target carrier systems designed for Euro NCAP ADAS testing, including UFOpro (standard), UFOmicro (two-wheeled vehicles/VRU), and UFOnano (pedestrian and bicycle with 2+2 wheel agile-movement design), plus a 6D Target Moving Platform for complex multi-dimensional active safety test scenarios.
• Rain/Fog Simulation System Climate simulation system for rain and fog conditions used to test vehicle sensors under various weather conditions during active safety validation.
• Testing Services Contract testing services using the CIS sled system with payloads up to 1.5t or 80G at 200kg, with cycle times under 10 minutes and full-service support including cameras, lighting, and data acquisition.
• Customer Support and Lifecycle Service Complete lifecycle support for crash test facilities including consulting, training, application support, dummy testing, product evaluation, installation, commissioning, maintenance, calibration, upgrades, and remote maintenance.
• Calibration Services DAkkS-calibrated services for data acquisition systems, sensors, and sensor systems including M=BUS data acquisition equipment and TEDS information verification.
• Training Services Customized training and hands-on technical guidance for specific target audiences, covering all MESSRING products with practical application-based professional knowledge transfer.

Quantifiable outcome

• Systems implemented successfully in over 140 crash test facilities worldwide
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability5 records

Feature8 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• VtronicscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 November 2025Official sales partnership in France under leadership of Quentin Vilnet. Vtronics serves as primary contact for customer inquiries and projects, working closely with MESSRING's sales and service departments. Partnership strengthens European presence and ensures local support for French market.
• HumaneticscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partnership for road user safety. Humanetics' Ultra-Flat Overrunables (UFO) platforms and self-driving robots complement MESSRING's advanced targets. Joint offering provides next-generation active safety testing with comprehensive view of real-world traffic scenarios.
• NAC Image TechnologycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDistribution partnership for NAC high-speed cameras. MESSRING supplies systems with unparalleled light sensitivity, precisely engineered for demanding automotive test applications. NAC Image Technology Japan serves as local contact in Japan.
• LMU Munich (Biomechanics and Accident Analysis Institute)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative research partnership for Child Presence Detection validation study. Research conducted under Ethics Committee approval to generate reference data comparing real children with CPD surrogates.
• AUMOVIO SE (Embedded AI)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partner in CPD validation study, providing ultra-wideband radar system expertise and evaluation.
• AZT Automotive GmbH (Allianz Zentrum für Technik)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partner in CPD validation study, providing automotive industry expertise and testing standards knowledge.
• PT ATSS Sales & ServicesminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional partner in Indonesia providing sales and services for crash test equipment.
• ATSS Holdings Sdn BhdminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional partner in Malaysia (HQ) providing sales and services for crash test equipment.
• ISSOFT Co. Ltd.minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional partner in Korea providing sales and services for crash test equipment.
• ATC Consultoria S/C Ltda.minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional partner in Argentina and Brazil providing sales and services for crash test equipment.
• CONCORD INTERNATIONALminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional partner in India providing sales and services for crash test equipment.
• U & U INTERNATIONAL INC.minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional partner in Taiwan providing sales and services for crash test equipment.
• NAC Image Technology Inc. (Japan)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional partner in Japan providing sales and services for crash test equipment.
• Chankasem International Co., LTD.minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional partner in Thailand providing sales and services for crash test equipment.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• dSPACE: dSPACE provides simulation, prototyping, and validation hardware/software for ADAS and autonomous driving. Partial overlap with MESSRING's active safety validation business, especially as the industry shifts from physical to hardware-in-the-loop testing.
• AVL List GmbH: AVL provides powertrain, vehicle development, and test systems to global OEMs. Partial overlap with MESSRING in EV/battery testing capabilities and broader automotive test infrastructure; AVL is increasingly active in crash-relevant EV integration testing.

Broad incumbents

• HORIBA: HORIBA supplies test and measurement instruments (emissions, spectroscopy, automotive test cells) to automotive R&D. Comparable in the broader vehicle-testing instrumentation category, overlapping with MESSRING on data acquisition and emissions/compliance testing capabilities.
• Applus+ IDIADA: Applus+ IDIADA operates large crash and homologation test facilities and offers testing services comparable to MESSRING's CIS contract testing service. As a broader services/engineering incumbent, it competes with MESSRING both as a customer-side testing authority and a full-service competitor.

Regional players

• UTAC CERAM: UTAC operates major European crash and vehicle certification test tracks (e.g., Euro NCAP labs). Comparable to MESSRING on the testing-services side of the value chain and a customer/competitor for crash sled and barrier equipment purchases.

Direct peers

• AB Dynamics: AB Dynamics provides driving robots, ADAS/active safety test platforms, and VRU targets for Euro NCAP and NHTSA testing. Closely comparable to MESSRING's active safety portfolio (ASTERO, EBTa, UFO carrier platforms) targeting the same OEMs and testing authorities.
• Kistler Group: Kistler is a leader in piezoelectric sensors, load cells, and data acquisition systems used in crash testing — directly comparable to MESSRING's M=BUS DAQ and M=WALL Strong load cell product lines. Both companies sell measurement hardware into the same automotive safety labs and crash sled facilities.
• Humanetics: Humanetics is the dominant global supplier of crash test dummies (ATDs) and, via its active safety division, of vulnerable road user targets. MESSRING and Humanetics are explicitly strategic partners and the two most directly comparable pure-play crash test equipment vendors, competing on sleds, barriers, and active-safety targets.

Others

• NAC Image Technology: NAC is MESSRING's exclusive high-speed camera distribution partner in Japan and across many global crash labs. As a complementary technology supplier rather than a head-to-head competitor, NAC provides the imaging stack that integrates with MESSRING sled and lighting systems.
• TÜV SÜD Auto Service: TÜV SÜD is a homologation/certification body and MESSRING's certifying authority (ISO 9001, ECE R134). While not a direct equipment competitor, TÜV SÜD operates crash labs and is a key ecosystem partner that defines demand for MESSRING's systems.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubemessring.de/en
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/messring-gmbh

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries2 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 MESSRING