What QS Grimm does

QS Grimm GmbH is a privately held, family-owned German industrial metrology and calibration services provider founded in 1985 by Friedrich Grimm and now in its second generation of family management (Friedrich Wilhelm Grimm, Daniel Grimm, and Volker Grimm). The company operates four laboratory sites across southern Germany — Gutach/Schwarzwald (headquarters and primary calibration lab), Offenburg (engineering, R&D, and automated 3D measurement), Neustadt bei Coburg, and Wendlingen am Neckar (acquired from F.E.S. GmbH on 1 July 2023) — and employs 50+ people serving an active customer base of more than 2,500 companies.

Its core offering is DAkkS-accredited calibration of length, torque and pressure measurement quantities (accreditation D-K-15159-01, made indefinite after the 2018 Federal Administrative Court ruling), complemented by factory calibration, 3D contract measurement (Lohnmessung) on coordinate measuring machines up to 5,100 mm, and fully automated robotic 3D measurement at the Offenburg site. A differentiator is the VCMM (Virtual Coordinate Measuring Machine) capability co-developed with PTB, which applies Monte-Carlo simulation to determine measurement uncertainty for complex prismatic workpieces.

QS Grimm earns revenue primarily through professional services — pay-as-you-go DAkkS and factory calibration, contract measurement and first-article inspection, on-site calibration, and quality-management consulting and training (delivered in partnership with Black Forest Quality) — together with lower-volume hardware sales of custom measurement fixtures, automation cells, and third-party measurement equipment (focused on 'Made in Germany' products). Its proprietary software products include the PMÜ (Prüfmittelverwaltung) web-based test-equipment management platform and custom Messautomaten interfaces to SAP, QS-STAT and Steinwald. Customer segments are anchored in automotive (where it supports IATF 16949 / VDA 6 / PPAP / EMPB processes) and extend into aerospace, medical technology and general mechanical engineering; pricing is not publicly disclosed, with standard processing of 8–10 working days and express calibration on request. The company is privately held with no external investors or parent entity.

Name

QS Grimm

Legal name

QS GRIMM GmbH

Website

https://www.qs-grimm.de/qs-grimm/

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

QS Grimm GmbH is a German family-owned metrology and calibration provider operating four laboratories across southern Germany, delivering DAkkS-accredited calibration, 3D contract measurement, and custom measurement automation to manufacturers in automotive, aerospace, and medical technology.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Metrology and Calibration Services

NAICS

Testing Laboratories and Services (54138), Instruments and Related Products Manufacturing for Measuring, Displaying, and Controlling Industrial Process Variables (334513), Other Measuring and Controlling Device Manufacturing (334519)

SIC

Services-Testing Laboratories (8734), Measuring & Controlling Devices, Nec (3829)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Test & Measurement Equipment (Oscilloscopes, DAQ, signal analyzers, calibration benches) (IMAGAFAC), Metrology, Calibration & Testing Equipment (Balances, pH/DO, Standards) (HLAGAIAL)

Keywords

• Industrial calibration services
• 3D coordinate measurement
• Test equipment management
• Quality management consulting
• Metrology laboratory services

Headquarters

HQ city

Gutach

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Calibration Services: DAkkS-accredited and factory calibration services for measurement equipment including length, torque, and pressure. Includes both in-house laboratory calibration and on-site calibration services.
2. 3D Measurement Services (Lohnmessung): Contract measurement and first article inspection services including 3D coordinate measuring, surface analysis, gear measurement, and CAD-based measurements for workpieces up to 5100mm.
3. Test Equipment Trading: Procurement of certified measurement equipment from named manufacturers. All equipment tested and calibrated in-house before delivery. Focus on 'Made in Germany' products.
4. Quality Management Consulting: QM consulting services including system implementation (ISO 9001, IATF 16949), audit support, occupational safety management, environmental management, and integrated management system (UAQ) consulting.
5. Training and Seminars: Training programs in quality management, tolerance specification, process capability, surface measurement, test equipment management, FMEA, SPC, and customer-specific workshops conducted in partnership with Black Forest Quality.
6. Custom Measurement Equipment Development: Design and manufacture of custom measurement fixtures, special gauges, measurement attachments, and turnkey measurement automation systems for specific customer applications.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

QS Grimm provides DAkkS-accredited calibration of measurement equipment (length, torque, pressure), 3D coordinate measurement and first article inspection services, custom design and manufacture of measurement fixtures, gauges and automated measurement cells, plus quality management consulting and training. The company also distributes certified measurement instruments and offers its own web-based test equipment management software (PMü) for monitoring calibration cycles.

Product overview

QS Grimm operates as a full-service metrology and calibration provider with a portfolio of proprietary software products and service offerings. The core proprietary product is the Prüfmittelverwaltung (PMÜ) software for test equipment management, supplemented by custom Messautomaten (measurement automation systems) with proprietary software interfaces to SAP, QS-STAT, and Steinwald. The service portfolio includes Lohnmessung (contract measurement), 3D Messtechnik (3D metrology), DAkkS Calibration Services, 3D Automation (robotic automated measurement), Konstruktion & Entwicklung (custom fixture and device development including Sondermessgeräte, Sonderlehren, and Messaufnahmen), QM-Beratung (quality management consulting), Schulungsangebote (training programs), and Handel (measurement equipment distribution). The offerings are interconnected: the PMÜ software manages calibration schedules for all measurement equipment; custom measurement devices (Sondermessgeräte, Sonderlehren) are calibrated using the company's DAkkS-accredited lab; 3D Automation combines robotic handling with metrology services; and QM consulting/training supports customers in regulatory compliance.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• DAkkS Calibration Services Accredited calibration services for length, torque and pressure measurements, delivering DAkkS calibration certificates with unique numbers registered in the DAkkS database and full traceability to national standards for manufacturing customers.
• Lohnmessung (Contract Measurement Services) Comprehensive measurement services including first article inspection (EMPB/PPAP), series measurement, surface analysis, gear measurement and CAD-based measurement for manufacturing customers.
• 3D Messtechnik (3D Metrology) 3D coordinate measurement service using tactile, optical and non-contact procedures including point cloud generation, geometric element extraction, CAD comparison and False Color visualization for manufacturing customers.
• 3D Automation (Automated Measurement Center) Fully automated measurement service with integrated 3D coordinate measuring machine and robotic loading at the Offenburg facility, supporting measurement volumes up to 5 meters with automatic DAkkS calibration certificate generation and online certificate availability.
• Konstruktion & Entwicklung (Custom Measurement Equipment Development) Custom design and manufacture of measurement fixtures, special gauges, measurement attachments and sensor integrations for Hexagon 3D measuring machines, enabling measurement of surfaces inaccessible to standard coordinate measuring machines.
• Sondermessgeräte (Special Measurement Devices) Custom-designed measurement devices for series monitoring, including optical measurement automatons, multi-station gauges for flat oval tubes, length gauges for steel tubes and calibrated timers, designed for production-near operation with immediate feedback of measurement results.
• Sonderlehren (Special Gauges) Custom-manufactured gauges including staking gauges, contour gauges, limit gauge pins, test rings, bore pattern gauges and setting masters for attribute testing in quality control, monitored in all functional masses with measurement protocols.
• Messaufnahmen (Measurement Fixtures) Custom modular fixtures for positioning workpieces on coordinate measuring machines, with individually adjustable mounting points and RPS reference point system, delivered with calibration protocols and MSA capability documentation.
• Messautomaten (Measurement Automation Systems) Custom automated turnkey measurement systems for complex measurement tasks with in-house developed software, including interfaces to measurement elements, SAP, QS-STAT and Steinwald, plus automated data storage and statistical analysis.
• Prüfmittelverwaltung Software (PMü) Web-based test equipment management software for monitoring calibration cycles, managing documents, tracking maintenance and generating reminders, with automated monitoring of calibration dates, traffic-light status indicators and enterprise workflow integration.
• QM-Beratung (Quality Management Consulting) Quality management consulting covering QMS implementation (ISO 9001, IATF 16949), internal auditor training, supplier development, environmental management (ISO 14001) and occupational safety management.
• Schulungsangebote (Training Programs) Training programs covering GD&T, process capability (VDA 5, MSA), surface metrology, test equipment management, statistical process control, FMEA and standards including ISO 9001, VDA 6 and IATF 16949, delivered through partner Black Forest Quality.
• Handel (Certified Measurement Equipment Distribution) Supply of certified measurement equipment from named manufacturers, with all replacement and new parts tested and calibrated in-house before delivery, focused on Made in Germany products.

Quantifiable outcome

• Measurement uncertainty: UE0 = 0.9 µm + 3.0 × 10⁻⁶ × L for VCMM calibration of prism workpieces
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

AI capability2 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• VUP LaborverbandminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 11 September 2025Organizational partnership for Calibration Excellence Days 2025 event. QS Grimm participated as co-organizer and exhibitor alongside SPEKTRA Schwingungstechnik, Testo SE & Co. KGaA, esz AG calibration & metrology, and Perschmann Calibration.
• F.E.S. GmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2023Long-standing partnership between QS Grimm GmbH and F.E.S. GmbH. QS Grimm acquired the dimensional calibration laboratory operations and Wendlingen location from F.E.S. GmbH on July 1, 2023. All employees at the new location were retained to ensure continuous service for existing customers. F.E.S. GmbH continues as accredited cooperation partner in electrical calibration with locations in Alzenau and Dippoldiswalde.
• Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint development partnership with PTB for VCMM (Virtual Coordinate Measuring Machine) software. QS Grimm participated in development of a normal for improving measurement accuracy of coordinate measuring machines as part of an EU-funded project. Company uses VCMM2 in combination with Quindos software for measurement uncertainty determination.
• Black Forest QualityminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerTraining partnership for conducting QM training seminars and workshops. Black Forest Quality delivers training programs in quality management topics including ISO 9001, VDA standards, and measurement technology.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Trescal: Global calibration services provider operating accredited labs across Europe and worldwide. Directly comparable as a multi-accredited calibration services competitor with broader geographic reach; an active consolidator of regional calibration labs including in Germany.
• Carl Zeiss Industrial Metrology: Global metrology equipment and services group providing coordinate measuring machines, CT scanning, and contract measurement services. Competes with QS Grimm in high-precision 3D metrology while operating at much larger scale and broader portfolio.
• Hexagon Manufacturing Intelligence: Global provider of measurement technologies including coordinate measuring machines and software (PC-DMIS, Quindos) that QS Grimm operates. Overlaps in contract metrology and is both a technology partner and a competitor in industrial measurement services.
• Testo SE & Co. KGaA: German-headquartered manufacturer of measurement technology with calibration services and co-exhibitor at the 2025 Calibration Excellence Days. Comparable in providing accredited calibration and measurement instruments, though Testo operates at a much larger global scale.

Direct peers

• esz AG calibration & metrology: German DAkkS-accredited calibration laboratory with a comparable portfolio across electrical, dimensional, torque, pressure, and other measurement quantities. Co-exhibited with QS Grimm at the 2025 Calibration Excellence Days and offers overlapping accredited services in the same German market.
• Perschmann Calibration: German DAkkS-accredited calibration provider specializing in dimensional and other measurement quantities. Co-exhibited with QS Grimm at the 2025 Calibration Excellence Days and competes for the same regional automotive and manufacturing accounts.
• SPEKTRA Schwingungstechnik und Akustik GmbH: German calibration and vibration/acoustics testing provider co-exhibited with QS Grimm at the 2025 Calibration Excellence Days. Overlaps on accredited calibration and measurement services for industrial customers, particularly in vibration and dynamic measurement.
• Werth Messtechnik GmbH: German manufacturer and service provider of coordinate measuring machines and multisensor metrology. Competes with QS Grimm in advanced 3D coordinate measurement services and offers overlapping metrology software and contract-measurement capabilities in Germany.

Emerging players

• Renishaw plc: UK-based provider of measurement and calibration technologies including probing systems for coordinate measuring machines. Comparable as a technology vendor and service provider in the precision metrology ecosystem QS Grimm serves.
• Polytec GmbH: German manufacturer of optical measurement technology for vibration, surface, and dimensional metrology. Comparable in providing high-precision measurement equipment and calibration-adjacent services to industrial and research customers in Germany.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/qs-grimm-gmbh

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 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 QS Grimm