Environmental Devices Technology

What Environmental Devices Technology does

Umwelt-Geräte-Technik GmbH (UGT), doing business as "Environmental Devices Technology" and "The Solutionists," is a privately held German manufacturer of environmental measurement and diagnostic instrumentation founded in 1992 as a spin-off from the ZALF e.V. Research Centre for Soil Fertility in Müncheberg. The company designs, produces, and distributes specialized scientific equipment for measuring soil water flux, gas emissions, plant water relations, and weather parameters, with lysimeter systems, Ecotron mini-ecosystem chambers, tensiometers, sap flow sensors, dendrometers, gas measuring chambers, and water isotope probes forming the core portfolio. Its proprietary technologies include patented lysimeter sampling methods for organic soils and in-house manufacturing of large-volume PE-HD lysimeter container stations at a 1,800m² production facility, integrated with exclusive partner analyzers from Picarro (CRDS gas and isotope analyzers, since 2013), Teledyne ISCO (autosamplers and flow meters for Germany/Austria, since 2022), Soilmoisture, and Stevens Water, alongside an SVADSS-branded data management platform.

UGT serves a primarily academic and government research customer base, with more than 50 named universities and research institutions worldwide including Berkeley Lab, NPEC Utrecht, iDiv, UFZ Leipzig, Universität Kiel, Uni Basel, and Universität Oulo, supplemented by environmental consulting firms and government environmental agencies. Revenue is generated through hardware sales (instruments, lysimeters, Ecotron systems), professional services (consulting, installation, maintenance), managed data services via SVADSS, and a rental/loan equipment program. Distribution combines direct sales from German offices (Müncheberg headquarters and Hallbergmoos/Munich branch) with a global network of more than 50 regional distributors across Europe, the Americas, Asia, Africa, and Oceania, supported by a wholly-owned French service center in Homécourt. The company employs 38 staff and is 100% owned by Managing Director Dr. Sascha Reth since 2022, with Dr. Marco Reiche as co-managing director.

Name

Environmental Devices Technology

Legal name

Umwelt-Geräte-Technik GmbH

Website

https://ugt-online.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1992

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Environmental Devices Technology (Umwelt-Geräte-Technik GmbH) is a German manufacturer of lysimeters, environmental sensors, and Ecotron ecosystem chambers serving more than 50 universities and research institutions worldwide via direct sales and a global distributor network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental Measurement Instruments

NAICS

Other Measuring and Controlling Device Manufacturing (334519), Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing (334516), Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing (33451)

SIC

Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, And Control (3823), Measuring & Controlling Devices, Nec (3829), Laboratory Analytical Instruments (3826)

akta.pro primary industry

Process Analytical Instrumentation (Gas analyzers, spectroscopy, pH/ORP, conductivity) (IMAGAFAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Test & Measurement Equipment (Oscilloscopes, DAQ, signal analyzers, calibration benches) (IMAGAFAC), Irrigation Monitoring & Sensors (Flow/Pressure Meters, Soil Moisture, Water Quality Sensors) (AFABAHAJ), Stack/Source Emissions Testing & CEMS Support (EUAHACAB)

Keywords

• Environmental measurement instruments
• Lysimeter technology
• Soil moisture sensors
• Gas measuring chambers
• Plant monitoring systems

Headquarters

HQ city

Müncheberg

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Measurement and Diagnostic Devices: Sale of measurement and diagnostic devices including tensiometers, soil moisture probes, sap flow sensors, permeameters, suction probes, and weather stations.
2. Lysimeter Systems: Large-volume lysimeter container stations and lysimeter stations for research applications, manufactured in-house.
3. System Solutions: Customized turnkey system solutions for environmental monitoring projects including EcoTron laboratories, gas monitoring systems, and urban runoff simulators.
4. Data Management Services: SVADSS platform services for data acquisition, sensor management, and visualization for measurement systems.
5. Professional Services: Consulting, project management for national and international projects, installation, and maintenance services including Teledyne ISCO device maintenance.
6. Rental Devices: Loan/rental equipment program for field and laboratory instruments.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Environmental Devices Technology (UGT) manufactures and sells environmental measurement and diagnostic instruments and complete system solutions. Core offerings include lysimeter stations, soil sensors (tensiometers, soil moisture probes, suction probes), gas measuring chambers, ecotron mini-ecosystem laboratories, plant monitoring systems (Talking Tree, sap flow sensors, dendrometers), weather stations, and water sampling/flow equipment. The company also exclusively distributes Picarro CRDS analyzers in Germany and partners with Teledyne ISCO and Soilmoisture.

Product overview

Environmental Devices Technology (Umwelt-Geräte-Technik GmbH, UGT) is a German manufacturer of environmental measurement and diagnostic instruments and complete system solutions. The company was founded in 1992 and operates as a global leader in lysimeter and measurement technology. UGT's portfolio consists of a broad range of specialized scientific instruments organized into several product categories: (1) Soil sensors and laboratory equipment including tensiometers (Tensio series, Full Range Tensiometer FRT), soil moisture probes (SMT-100), suction probes (S11–S35 series), soil coring tools (SoilCore, gouge augers, root augers, soil sample rings), permeameters (Hood-Permeameter by Hartge, Ketelsen, Guelph, Aardvark, PR16), and pF determination apparatus (ku-pF); (2) Lysimeter systems including Ready-To-Go Lysimeter, Easy-To-Go Lysimeter, Easy-To-Go Lite Lysimeter, Lab Lysimeter, Roof/Flat Lysimeter, and Lysimeter Station; (3) Gas monitoring and ecotron systems including Portable Gas Measuring Chambers (opaque, transparent, hemispheric), Automobile Gas Measuring Chamber Systems, Mobile Automatic Double Gas Measuring Chamber, EcoLab flex, EcoClim Growth Chamber, Plant-Pressure-Ecotron PPE, EcoLab Master Control, and WIP-Probe isotope measurement systems; (4) Plant monitoring including Talking Tree (three variants: science, education, public), sap flow sensors (SFM-1, SFM-5, SFM-5 L, Implexx SF-5T), dendrometers (DR26/DRS26/DRL26, DD-S, DD-L, DB20, DR, DF, DV, PDS40 P, Implexx DE-1T), psychrometers (Stem, PSY1), and chlorophyll meters; (5) Weather stations and precipitation sensors including full Weather Station, Compact Weather Station, NB-IoT Plug'n Play Weather Station, tipping counters, precipitation sensors (RG 50, ISCO 674), LWF collector, rain makers, evaporation pans, and wind sensors; (6) Water quality and sampling including Teledyne ISCO autosamplers (6712, 5800, BLZZRD, GLS), flow meters (LaserFlow, Signature, Duratracker, LevelRay, TIENet 350 Ex), and ISCO PFAS Sampling Kits; (7) Data management via the SVADSS platform for data acquisition, analysis, and sensor management; (8) Partner products from Picarro (gas and isotope analyzers), Soilmoisture (soil lab equipment, permeameters, TRASE), and Stevens Water (HydraProbe, HydraGO). UGT integrates partner analyzers (notably Picarro CRDS systems) into its ecotron and gas monitoring solutions, and offers complete system solutions for research institutions worldwide. The company employs 38 people at locations in Müncheberg (headquarters) and Hallbergmoos near Munich.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• UGT Lysimeter Station

Named customers10 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

Integration5 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Teledyne ISCOcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 September 2022Sales partnership since September 2022 for Germany and Austria markets. Teledyne ISCO is a pioneer and market leader in automatic sampling devices. UGT provides competent advice on device selection and maintenance services at customer sites.
• SoilmoisturecoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2017Distribution partnership for more than five years. Soilmoisture provides high-quality laboratory systems including porous ceramics that are important components of many UGT devices. Products include TDR soil moisture meters (TRASE), Guelph Permeameter, pressure plate extractors, and sandbox systems.
• SVADSScoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2015Partnership for nearly ten years. SVADSS (Soil Vegetation Atmosphere Data Sensor Service) is a specialist for data management and energy supply for all measuring systems and loggers. Provides fast analyses, evaluations, and reliable sensor management through a modern online data management platform.
• PicarrocoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2013Exclusive partnership since 2013 for the German market. Picarro specializes in high-precision gas and isotope analyzers using CRDS technology. UGT has developed peripheral equipment including automated hoods, special water isotope probes, and autosamplers for isotope input by precipitation. UGT integrates Picarro analyzers into customized Ecotron solutions.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves15 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• LI-COR Biosciences: Large US-based manufacturer of gas flux, photosynthesis, and trace gas measurement systems (LI-6800, LI-7500). Operates in the same ecosystem research customer base as UGT but with a much broader and higher-priced product portfolio.

Direct peers

• IMKO Micromodultechnik: German manufacturer of TDR-based soil moisture sensors (TRIME). Direct competitor in the European soil moisture sensor market, particularly for agricultural and environmental research.
• Campbell Scientific: Global manufacturer of data loggers, soil and water measurement systems, and customized environmental monitoring solutions. Competes head-on with UGT for university, government, and large-project research station business.
• Dynamax: US-based manufacturer of sap flow sensors (Dynagauge, Flow32), dendrometers, and plant physiology instrumentation. Directly comparable to UGT's SFM-1/SFM-5 sap flow and dendrometer product lines.
• METER Group: US-based manufacturer of soil moisture, temperature, and environmental sensors (formerly Decagon Devices). Directly competes with UGT in soil moisture probes, weather stations, and data loggers sold to research and agricultural customers.
• Sentek Technologies: Australian manufacturer of soil moisture and salinity profiling sensors (Drill & Drop, distributed by UGT). Closely comparable in product category and customer base for soil water monitoring research.

Others

• Picarro: US-based manufacturer of CRDS gas and isotope analyzers — UGT's exclusive German distribution partner since 2013. Strategically aligned (and a revenue source for UGT) but not a direct competitor.
• Stevens Water Monitoring Systems: US manufacturer of HydraProbe soil sensors and water monitoring equipment — distributed by UGT. Partner/supplier rather than direct competitor.
• Soilmoisture Equipment Corp: US manufacturer of soil physics laboratory equipment (TRASE, Guelph Permeameter, pressure plate extractors) — distributed by UGT in Germany. Partner/supplier relationship rather than competitor.

Regional players

• PRONOVA Analysentechnik: German distributor and integrator of water quality and environmental analyzers, including some overlapping product categories. Regional German market overlap with UGT's direct-sales business.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ugt_gmbh

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 Environmental Devices Technology