KB Prueftechnik

What KB Prueftechnik does

KB Prüftechnik GmbH is a German manufacturer of industrial hardness testing machines and spring testing machines, headquartered in Hochdorf-Assenheim, Germany. Founded in September 1997 by Claus Keßler and Peter Beisel — both former engineers of the legacy Wolpert testing equipment business — the company designs and produces hardware for material hardness measurement (Vickers, Brinell, Rockwell, Super-Rockwell, and Knoop methods) and for testing compression, tension, and torsion springs. Its core technology is force-regulated closed-loop test force application via load cells, combined with proprietary optical components including a patented ring light (registered 2003) and the KB optical zoom, and supported by in-house software (KB HardWin XL for hardness testing, KB SpringWin for spring testing). Product configurations span standalone manual units through semi-automatic and fully automatic systems, with load ranges from 0.01 kgf up to 3000 kgf, plus special-purpose machines (KB Mammut series) for large and heavy samples.

The company monetises through direct hardware sales, software licensing, and recurring service revenue including DAkkS-accredited calibration (DIN EN ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation since November 2019), maintenance, repair, and modernisation/retrofit services (e.g., the KB UHP panel for digitising third-party machines). Pricing is quote-based with no public list prices. Customer segments are predominantly industrial manufacturing firms, spring manufacturers, heat-treatment operators, and independent testing laboratories across Europe, with international distribution delivered through nine country-specific sales agents covering Italy, Scandinavia, China, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Poland, Turkey, Spain, and Mexico. Marketing relies principally on recurring trade show participation at Control Stuttgart and the Härterei Congress, supplemented by a German/English corporate website. The company is privately held with 11-50 employees, no disclosed external funding, and no public revenue disclosure.

Name

KB Prueftechnik

Legal name

KB Prüftechnik GmbH

Website

https://kbprueftechnik.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1997

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

KB Prüftechnik GmbH is a German manufacturer of industrial hardness testing machines and spring testing machines, serving industrial manufacturers, spring producers, heat-treatment operators, and testing laboratories across Europe and select international markets via direct sales and country-specific agents.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Material Testing Machines

NAICS

Instrument Manufacturing for Measuring and Testing Electricity and Electrical Signals (334515), Testing Laboratories and Services (541380), Electronic and Precision Equipment Repair and Maintenance (811210)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industry

Calibration Services & Standards (Calibration labs, reference standards, traceability services) (IMAGAFAH)

Keywords

• Hardness testing machines
• Spring testing machines
• Material testing equipment
• Vickers hardness testers
• Rockwell hardness testers

Headquarters

HQ city

Hochdorf-assenheim

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 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. Hardness Testing Machines: Sale of universal, Vickers, Rockwell, Brinell, and special purpose hardness testing machines. Equipment variants range from individual testing systems to fully automatic systems. Includes motorized turrets, video systems, and various load ranges (0.01 kg to 3000 kg).
2. Spring Testing Machines: Sale of spring testing systems including compression, tension, and torsion spring testing machines. Models include KB 2000F, FW 43F, FW 33, TG 8, and TG 9 with various force ranges and measurement capabilities.
3. Software Licenses: KB HardWin XL software for hardness testing and KB SpringWin software for spring testing. Available as standalone or integrated solutions.
4. Service and Maintenance: DAkkS accredited calibration services, repairs, maintenance contracts, and technical support for material testing machines of all manufacturers.
5. Modernization/Retrofit: Modernization of existing hardness testers, spring testing machines, and tension/pressure testing machines. Includes universal hardness panel KB UHP for digitization of external systems.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

KB Prüftechnik designs, manufactures, and sells industrial hardness testing machines (Universal, Vickers, Rockwell, Brinell, and special purpose) and spring testing machines (compression, tension, and torsion), supported by proprietary software (KB HardWin XL, KB SpringWin) and a Universal Hardness Panel (KB UHP) for digitization of legacy systems. The company also provides modernization/retrofit services for hardness and spring testing machines and DAkkS-accredited calibration, repair, and maintenance services for material testing equipment.

Product overview

KB Prueftechnik GmbH is a German manufacturer of hardness testing machines and spring testing machines. The product portfolio consists of two main categories: (1) Hardness testing machines including Universal testers (KB 250/750/3000 MHSR Video, KB 250-3000 Video), Vickers testers (KB 30 S/SR Video, KBW series), Rockwell testers (KB 150 R, KBE 150 R), and special purpose machines (KB Mammut series, KB 30 BVZ); and (2) Spring testing machines including compression/tension spring testers (KB 2000 F, KB 5000 F, FW 43 F, FW 33) and torsion spring testers (TG 8, TG 9). These hardware products are supported by proprietary software solutions KB HardWin XL (for hardness testing) and KB SpringWin (for spring testing), along with the KB UHP universal hardness panel as a modernisation component. The company also provides modernisation services for older testing machines from various manufacturers, as well as DAkkS-accredited calibration services. All products are manufactured in Germany.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• KB 250/750/3000 MHSR Video Universal Hardness Testing Machine Universal hardness testing machine controlled via KB HardWin XL software, equipped with a 5 Megapixel USB camera, high load step range, KB 4x digital zoom, LED lighting and network compatibility. Designed for industrial manufacturers performing Vickers, Brinell, Rockwell, Super-Rockwell and Knoop testing.
• KB 30 S Video, SA, FA Vickers Hardness Testing Machine Vickers hardness testing machine for low-load and micro-hardness testing, operated via KB HardWin XL software with 5MP USB camera and optional 7x optical zoom. Suitable for industrial quality assurance laboratories requiring precise Vickers indentation measurement at low loads, available in semi-automatic and fully automatic configurations.
• KB 30 SR Video Vickers Testing Machine Vickers testing machine with motorised 6-fold revolver turret and high load step range from 0.01 kgf to 62.5 kgf, combining multiple applications in one device with 5 megapixel camera for highest measurement precision. Targeted at industrial manufacturers needing flexible Vickers micro-hardness and low-load testing.
• KBW Series (KBW 1-50-V) Digital Vickers Hardness Tester Digital Vickers hardness tester series with LED lighting unit and weight-based test load application. Available in standalone, video, semi-automatic and fully automatic configurations for industrial customers with varying throughput requirements.
• KB 150 R Universal Rockwell Hardness Tester Universal Rockwell hardness tester for standardised and automatic hardness testing across all Rockwell procedures in load range 1 kg to 150 kg. Supports Rockwell, Super-Rockwell and ball indentation measurement according to Vickers and Brinell. Designed for industrial manufacturers and testing laboratories.
• KBE 150 R Digital Rockwell Testing Machine Digital Rockwell testing machine with a moveable test head for all Rockwell and Super-Rockwell procedures, test load range 1 kgf to 150 kgf. Suited to standardized industrial Rockwell measurement with electronic readout.
• KB Mammut Series Special Hardness Testing Machines Special hardness testing machine with modular test heads for Brinell and Vickers procedures, designed to test large and heavy samples at test loads up to 3000 kg in compliance with standards. Targeted at industrial applications with oversized or heavy workpieces.
• KB HardWin XL Hardness Testing Software Proprietary in-house hardness testing software for controlling individual testing machines up to fully automatic systems. Supports Rockwell, Vickers, Brinell and Knoop procedures, USB video camera connection, curved surface correction, conversion tables, series testing, statistics and data export. Sold standalone or bundled with KB hardness testers.
• KB SpringWin Spring Testing Software Proprietary software for spring testing with static and dynamic measurement value compilation, freely definable test sequences, machine deformation compensation, simple report creation with statistics, and data export capabilities. Sold standalone or integrated with KB spring testing machines.
• KB 2000 F / KB 5000 F Motorised Spring Testing Machines Motorised spring testing machines for compression and tension springs and elastic elements. KB 2000 F offers up to 2000 N maximum load; KB 5000 F extends to 5000 N. Both use precision force transducers and include a protective device. Targeted at spring manufacturers and industrial QA testing.
• FW 43 F Spring Testing Machine Spring testing machine with two-pillar guide and four bearing points, path infeed via turnstile and fine tuning via a separate device. Includes two length stops with mechanical slide for compression/tension spring testing.
• FW 33 Spring Testing Machine Spring testing machine with two-pillar guide, lever-based path infeed and optional length stops. Includes data output for PC connection and optional force sensors from 10 N to 500 N for compression and tension spring testing.
• TG 8 Torsion Spring Testing Machine Torsion spring testing machine for right and left-coiled torsion springs with parallel digital 6-digit torque display and 6-digit angular display. Angle measured in 3600 steps per rotation (0.1 degree resolution). For spring manufacturers needing precise torsion measurement.
• TG 9 Torsion Spring Testing Machine Torsion spring testing machine for right and left-coiled torsion springs with parallel digital 3.5-digit torque and 5-digit angular display and 0.1 degree angular resolution. Targeted at manufacturers and QA labs testing torsion springs.
• Modernization Services Modernization/retrofit services for hardness testers, spring testing machines, and tension/pressure testing machines, including expansion of manual machines to increase automation and digitization of legacy equipment from any manufacturer via the KB UHP universal hardness panel.
• DAkkS Calibration Services Calibration laboratory accredited by DAkkS (Deutsche Akkreditierungsstelle) according to DIN EN ISO/IEC 17025, issuing DAkkS calibration certificates for hardness testing machines. Includes repair, maintenance and calibration of material, spring, hardness and special purpose testing machines of all manufacturers.

Quantifiable outcome

• Difference between ring light and normal light in Brinell testing can be up to 4 HB
• +1 more outcomes

Segments4 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

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• TECMET 2000 SRLcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSales agent for KB Prüftechnik products in Italy. Located at Via Monferrato 5, 20094 Corsico (MI), Italy. Contact: Marinella Muner, intern Sales Manager.
• Carlann ABcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSales and service agent for Scandinavia. Located at Vivelvägen 8, 184 34 Åkersberga, Sweden. Contact: Roger Henriksson, Sales & Service Manager.
• Everone Enterprises LTDcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSales agent for People's Republic of China. Located at Good Harvest Industries Centre, No. 9 Tsun Wen Road, Tuen Mun, Hong Kong. Contact: Margaret Luo, Vice General Manager.
• HARDTEST Industrie Handelsges. mbHcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSales agent for Hungary. Located at H-1214 Budapest, Erdősor u. 167, Hungary.
• Frantisek Prochazka - TemposcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSales agent for Czech Republic. Located at Solna 27, 74601 Opava, Czech Republic. Contact: R. Prochazka, General Manager.
• TestlabcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSales agent for Poland. Located at ul. Lutoslawskiego 8, 01-649 Warszawa, Poland.
• YAMER Endüstriyel Ürünler Ticaret Limited ŞirketicoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSales agent for Turkey. Located at Karacaoglan Mah. 6172 Sk No. 8/B, 35070 Işıkkent/Bornova/İzmir, Türkiye. Contact: Yakup Menteş, Sales Manager.
• KANSERT S.L.coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSales agent for Spain. Located at Pol. Ampliación Comarca I, c/L nº 13, 31160 Orcoyen, Navarra, Spain. Contact: Mr. Daniel Sánchez.
• CONTROL Y MEDICIÓN DEL CENTRO, S. de R.L. de C.V.coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSales agent for Mexico. Located at Business Park Sendero Advance, Prolongación Blvd. Bernardo Quintana No. 2481 nave 27, Col. Felipe Carrillo Puerto, Querétaro, QRO. 76138, Mexico. Contact: Mr. Daniel Fuentes Contreras.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Hegewald & Peschke: German manufacturer of universal testing machines and hardness testing equipment. Comparable mid-sized German Mittelstand peer with overlapping product offerings and customer base.
• ZwickRoell: German-headquartered manufacturer of hardness testing machines and universal materials testing systems with overlapping Vickers/Brinell/Rockwell product lines and direct sales in DACH and globally. Most direct horizontal competitor to KB Prüftechnik in mid-market hardness testing.
• Buehler (ITW): ITW subsidiary providing hardness testing equipment (Wilson/Vickers/Knoop/Rockwell) and metallographic preparation. Directly competes with KB Prüftechnik in industrial hardness instrumentation and is a larger, broad incumbent.
• EMCO-Test: Austrian manufacturer of hardness testing machines (DuraScan, DuraVision series) covering Vickers, Brinell, Rockwell — a comparable-size European specialty competitor focused exclusively on hardness testing.
• Tinius Olsen: Manufacturer of materials testing machines including hardness testers and spring testing systems, with overlapping product categories in force measurement and tension/compression testing.

Broad incumbents

• Instron (ITW): ITW subsidiary focused on mechanical testing systems (tensile, fatigue, impact) with adjacent hardness testing offerings. Larger incumbent in materials testing with cross-sell potential into KB Prüftechnik's territory.
• Shimadzu Scientific Instruments: Japanese manufacturer of hardness testing machines (HMV-G series) as part of a broader analytical and materials testing portfolio. Comparable on the Vickers/micro-hardness product overlap.

Regional players

• Struers (Roper Technologies): Danish-owned materials testing and metallographic equipment provider. Adjacent comparability through industrial materials QA equipment for similar European industrial customers.

Emerging players

• Mitutoyo: Japanese precision measurement equipment maker. Adjacent through industrial measurement/dimensional metrology — a complementary rather than directly competitive peer in industrial QA instruments.

Others

• Wolpert (historical) / Instron Wilson Instruments: Historical predecessor brand whose engineers founded KB Prüftechnik; its current hardness testing line lives on within Instron. Relevant as the legacy reference point for KB Prüftechnik's pedigree and competitive positioning.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/kbpruef

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 KB Prueftechnik