What MBW Calibration does

MBW Calibration is a Swiss precision instrument manufacturer founded in 1962 in Wettingen, Switzerland, specializing in chilled mirror dew point hygrometers used as the primary measurement reference for humidity and dew point. The company's core technology cools a temperature-controlled mirrored surface until dew or frost forms, with the formation temperature providing a direct rather than inferred dew point reading; high-quality platinum resistance thermometer (PRT) elements embedded in the mirror deliver typical service lives exceeding 15 years. The product portfolio includes the Model 373 reference instrument (up to 125°C), Model 473 general-purpose hygrometer, Model 573 for fixed industrial installations, Model 973 portable instrument, Model 973-SF6 specialized for Gas Insulated Switchgear humidity measurement, the T12 multi-channel PRT, and supporting TempControl and Gecko R2 metrology software. The HDT, LPDT, and XPDM series extend coverage into broader dew point meter and transmitter categories.

MBW operates a DAkkS-accredited calibration laboratory under ISO/IEC 17025, providing traceable calibration services with measurement uncertainties among the lowest worldwide; certificates are internationally recognized through the ILAC Mutual Recognition Arrangement. Revenue is generated through hardware sales of high-precision instruments, calibration and repair services, training/consulting, and software licenses, all sold on a quote-based, multi-year contract basis through regional direct sales offices covering the Americas, EMEAI (including India), APAC, and China. The company became part of Process Insights around 2022, gaining access to a broader analytical instrumentation distribution network while retaining its brand identity. Customers include National Metrology Institutes (government transfer standards), accredited calibration laboratories, and industrial manufacturers across semiconductor, pharmaceutical, energy, petrochemical, and food and beverage verticals.

Name

MBW Calibration

Legal name

MBW Calibration

Website

https://mbw.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

1962

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

MBW Calibration, founded in 1962 in Wettingen, Switzerland, manufactures chilled mirror dew point hygrometers and operates a DAkkS-accredited calibration laboratory, serving National Metrology Institutes, accredited calibration labs, and industrial manufacturers across semiconductor, pharmaceutical, energy, and chemical verticals.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Precision Hygrometry Instruments

NAICS

Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing (334516)

SIC

Laboratory Analytical Instruments (3826)

akta.pro primary industry

Metrology, Calibration & Testing Equipment (Balances, pH/DO, Standards) (HLAGAIAL)

akta.pro secondary industry

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

Keywords

• Dew point measurement
• Chilled mirror hygrometers
• Humidity calibration services
• Trace moisture analysis
• Precision humidity instruments

Headquarters

HQ city

Wettingen

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Chilled Mirror Hygrometer Hardware Sales: Sale of precision dew point chilled mirror hygrometer instruments including models 373, 473, 573, 973, and 973-SF6, as well as T12 thermometer. These are high-precision industrial instruments with typical service life of 15+ years.
2. Calibration Services: DAkkS-accredited calibration laboratory services providing traceable, internationally recognized calibration certificates. Services include calibration of MBW and non-MBW products, with SI traceability from dew point mirror transfer standards, SPRTs, and triple point of water.
3. Service and Repair: On-site service, repair and calibration services for hygrometers. Short lead times offered for all types of hygrometers.
4. Training and Consulting: Training services and consulting for humidity calibration and measurement applications.
5. Software Licenses: TempControl software for mirror temperature control and GECKO R2 metrology software for data acquisition and display.

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

MBW Calibration manufactures and sells precision chilled mirror dew point hygrometers (Models 373, 473, 573, 973, and 973 SF6) used by national metrology institutes, accredited laboratories, and industrial manufacturers for direct measurement of humidity, dew point, and frost point. The company also operates a DAkkS-accredited calibration laboratory providing ISO/IEC 17025 traceable calibration services, software (TempControl, Gecko R2), and on-site service and repair.

Product overview

MBW Calibration is a precision instrument manufacturer specializing in dew point chilled mirror hygrometers, founded in 1962 and now part of Process Insights. The product portfolio centers on chilled mirror measurement technology as the gold standard for humidity and dew point measurement. The core offerings include the Model 373 (high-temperature reference up to 125°C), Model 473 (general-purpose humidity reference), Model 573 (fixed industrial installations), and Model 973 portable instrument (spot and continuous measurement), plus the specialized Model 973 SF6 for sulfur hexafluoride applications. Supporting products include the T12 multi-channel platinum resistance thermometer, TempControl software for mirror temperature control, and Gecko R2 metrology software for data acquisition. The HDT, LPDT, and XPDM Series represent additional dew point meter variants. MBW also operates a DAkkS-accredited calibration laboratory providing ISO/IEC 17025 traceable calibration services for both MBW and non-MBW hygrometers, with typical instrument service life exceeding 15 years due to Swiss precision engineering.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Model 373™: Humidity & Temperature Reference Dew Point Chilled Mirror up to 125°C
• Model 473™
• Model 573™
• Model 973™
• Model 973 SF6™
• T12 Thermometer
• TempControl™ Software
• GECKO R2™ Metrology Software

Products and services

• Model 373 Humidity & Temperature Reference Dew Point Chilled Mirror humidity and temperature reference instrument capable of measuring up to 125°C, used for humidity calibration and measurement applications by laboratories and metrology institutes.
• Model 473 Chilled Mirror Hygrometer Industrial-grade dew point chilled mirror hygrometer for demanding humidity and temperature measurement applications.
• Model 573 Fixed Industrial Installation Chilled Mirror Dew Point Chilled Mirror hygrometer for fixed industrial installations measuring above ambient temperature.
• Model 973 Portable Chilled Mirror Hygrometer Portable instrument with integral measuring head for both spot and continuous measurement of dew/frost point in air and other gases.
• Model 973 SF6 Specialized Hygrometer Dew Point Chilled Mirror for humidity measurement in SF6 and SO2 in Gas Insulated Switchgears (GIS).
• T12 Multi-Channel Platinum Resistance Thermometer Multi-channel stable Platinum Resistance Thermometer (PRT) for precision temperature measurement.
• TempControl Software Mirror temperature control and monitoring software for chilled mirror instruments.
• GECKO R2 Metrology Software Data acquisition and display software for calibration and measurement operations with chilled mirror hygrometers.
• DAkkS-Accredited Calibration Laboratory Services DAkkS-accredited ISO/IEC 17025 calibration laboratory services providing traceable, internationally recognized calibration certificates for humidity, dew point, frost point, and temperature measurements of MBW and non-MBW hygrometers.
• HDT Series Dew Point Meters Dew point meter series for industrial humidity measurement applications.
• LPDT Series Low Pressure Dew Point Transmitters Low pressure dew point transmitter series for specialized humidity measurement.
• XPDM Series Portable Dew Point Meters Portable dew point meter series for field humidity measurement applications.
• On-Site Service, Repair and Calibration On-site service, repair and calibration services for MBW and other hygrometers with short lead times.
• Training and Consulting Training services and consulting for humidity calibration and measurement applications.

Quantifiable outcome

• 15+ years typical service life for chilled mirror analyzers
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature10 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.

• ILAC (International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation)coreOthersMBW Calibration's calibration certificates are internationally recognized through the ILAC Mutual Recognition Arrangement (ILAC MRA), making them suitable evidence of traceability in all ILAC MRA signatory countries. This enables global acceptance of calibration results.
• DAkkS (Deutsche Akkreditierungsstelle)coreOthersDAkkS is the German Accreditation Body that provides MBW's ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation for their calibration laboratory. DAkkS accreditation ensures internationally recognized calibration certificates with lowest measurement uncertainties.
• Process InsightsflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerMBW Calibration is now part of Process Insights, a company bringing together multiple premium analytical instrumentation brands. This parent company relationship provides MBW access to broader product portfolio, global distribution network, and complementary technologies while maintaining MBW's brand identity and 60-year legacy of precision humidity measurement.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Baker Hughes (Panametrics/MG21): Baker Hughes' Panametrics business supplies moisture analyzers (aluminum oxide and tunable diode laser) for natural gas, petrochemical, and industrial gas applications. It is a broad incumbent with overlapping dew point capability, though its core focus is process measurement rather than primary metrology.
• AMETEK: AMETEK is a diversified electronic instruments group whose process and analytical divisions (including former TRACE Analytical) compete with MBW in moisture, oxygen, and trace gas analysis for industrial and laboratory markets. It is a broad incumbent offering overlapping capabilities as part of a much larger portfolio.

Direct peers

• Shaw Moisture Meters: Shaw Moisture Meters produces the SHAW dew point meters (e.g., SDT, SDH) widely used in compressed air, natural gas, and petrochemical dew point measurement. It directly competes with MBW's industrial dew point offerings (Models 473, 573, 973) in similar applications and customer segments.
• Vaisala: Vaisala is the global leader in humidity and dew point measurement, offering the DRYCAP chilled-mirror and capacitive hygrometers plus HMP probes used across metrology, semiconductor, and industrial markets. It is the most direct comparable to MBW in both reference-grade and industrial humidity instrumentation, and overlaps heavily with MBW's customer segments.
• Michell Instruments: Michell Instruments manufactures chilled mirror hygrometers (e.g., Optidew, S8000) and is a historical direct competitor to MBW in precision dew point measurement for metrology, pharmaceutical, and natural gas applications. It now sits within the Process Insights portfolio alongside MBW but historically competed head-to-head for the same national metrology institute and industrial accounts.
• Rotronic (part of Process Insights): Rotronic (now part of Process Insights) makes HygroClip capacitive humidity probes and transmitters used across HVAC, pharma, and industrial process monitoring. It competes with MBW in industrial humidity measurement, particularly where lower-cost, non-primary measurement suffices.
• Thunder Scientific Corporation: Thunder Scientific manufactures humidity calibration generators (e.g., two-pressure humidity generator) and is recognized as an NMI-level humidity standards supplier. It competes with MBW's calibration laboratory services for national metrology institutes and accredited calibration lab customers requiring the highest-accuracy humidity transfer standards.
• EdgeTech Instruments: EdgeTech Instruments supplies dew point hygrometers and moisture analyzers (e.g., DPT, DewMaster) for compressed air, gas processing, and laboratory applications. It competes with MBW's industrial dew point meter family (HDT, LPDT, XPDM series) in similar industrial process and OEM channels.

Emerging players

• BINDER GmbH: BINDER manufactures climate chambers and environmental test equipment used to validate humidity and temperature control. While not a direct dew point instrument competitor, BINDER is a complementary customer of MBW's humidity calibration services for chamber validation in pharma stability testing and laboratory applications.

Others

• Alpha Omega Instruments: Alpha Omega Instruments, also part of Process Insights, provides trace oxygen and humidity analyzers for industrial gas and semiconductor applications. As a portfolio-mate, it shares distribution and customer access rather than competing, and represents an ecosystem peer within the same corporate parent.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

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Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 MBW Calibration