MTS Systems
MTS Systems Corporation supplies servohydraulic test systems, simulation solutions, and industrial position sensors to global aerospace, automotive, defense, biomedical, civil engineering, energy, and rail customers, operating as a division of Illinois Tool Works Inc.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1963
- HeadquartersEden Prairie, United States
- Headcount1,001–5,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What MTS Systems does
MTS Systems Corporation is a global supplier of servohydraulic test systems, simulation solutions, and industrial position sensors, serving customers across nine primary verticals: automotive, materials, aerospace, defense, biomedical, civil engineering, rock geomechanics, energy, and rail. Founded in 1963 and headquartered in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, MTS operates as a wholly owned division of Illinois Tool Works Inc. (ITW), a Fortune 500 diversified industrial manufacturer listed on the NYSE (ticker: ITW). Named enterprise customers include Boeing and Airbus for full-scale aircraft structural testing and Fox Factory for high-performance bike suspension testing. The company was previously publicly listed on NASDAQ (ticker: MTSC) prior to its acquisition by ITW.
The company's core technology is an integrated servohydraulic testing platform comprising fatigue-rated DuraGlide hydraulic actuators (with proprietary SureCoat rod finishing technology providing 10x service life versus hard chrome), FlexTest digital controllers, SilentFlo hydraulic power units featuring Digital Displacement Pump technology licensed from Danfoss (delivering 35%+ energy reduction), precision servovalves (Series 252, 256, 257), Series 295 hydraulic service manifolds, and application-specific software (TestSuite for materials, RPC Connect for durability correlation, AeroPro for aerospace, STEX Pro for civil engineering). Differentiated safety offerings include SafeGuard technology (PLd and PLe compliant per ISO 13849) and Active Control & Abort (AC&A) for multi-channel aerospace structural testing. The platform supports force capacities up to 1.32 million pound-force, temperatures up to 1,500°C, and flat-belt roadway speeds up to 320 kph for motorsports simulation.
MTS operates an enterprise field sales go-to-market with direct sales offices across North America, Europe, and Asia Pacific (USA, Canada, Germany, UK, France, Japan, China, Korea). Revenue is generated through three streams: one-time sales of test systems and equipment (actuators, controllers, HPUs, servovalves), recurring software licenses and subscriptions (TestSuite, RPC Connect, AeroPro, STEX Pro, MultiPurpose TestWare), and ongoing service, maintenance, calibration, training, and Fluid Care contracts. Pricing is quote-based with multi-year enterprise contracts and is not publicly disclosed. MTS has pursued a programmatic M&A strategy under ITW, including SANS Group (2008, ~$49.4M), Roehrig Engineering (2014, ~$15M), Instrument and Calibration Sweden (2015), PCB Group (2016, $580M), and E2M Technologies (2018), broadening the test, measurement, sensor, and simulation portfolio.
MTS Systems firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- MTS Systems
- Legal name
- MTS Systems Corporation
- Website
- https://mts.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1963
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1,001–5,000 employees
- Short description
- MTS Systems Corporation supplies servohydraulic test systems, simulation solutions, and industrial position sensors to global aerospace, automotive, defense, biomedical, civil engineering, energy, and rail customers, operating as a division of Illinois Tool Works Inc.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
MTS Systems industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Test and Measurement Equipment
- NAICS
- Other Measuring and Controlling Device Manufacturing (334519), Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing (3345)
- SIC
- Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, And Control (3823)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Test & Measurement Equipment (Oscilloscopes, DAQ, signal analyzers, calibration benches) (IMAGAFAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Condition Monitoring & Predictive Maintenance Instrumentation (Vibration/ultrasound, oil analysis sensors, IIoT monitoring) (IMAGAFAG), Military Aerospace Ground Support Equipment (GSE) & Test Systems (IMABAMAL)
Keywords
Where MTS Systems is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Eden Prairie
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
MTS Systems business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Test Systems and Equipment Sales: MTS generates revenue through the sale of servohydraulic test systems, materials testing equipment, structural test systems, and components including actuators, servovalves, controllers, and hydraulic power units. Products are sold directly to enterprise customers across automotive, aerospace, defense, biomedical, civil engineering, energy, and rail industries.
- Software Licenses and Subscriptions: MTS offers software products including TestSuite, RPC Connect, AeroPro, STEX Pro, and MultiPurpose TestWare with associated licensing and support plans
- Service, Maintenance and Support: Comprehensive service offerings including calibrations, consulting, engineering services, routine maintenance, fluid care, repairs, remanufacture, relocation services, training, and parts
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Custom Quote-Based Pricing |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels5 records
MTS Systems product offering
Product offeringCore offering
MTS Systems designs, manufactures, and services servohydraulic test systems and industrial position sensors for materials, components, and structural testing. The portfolio spans fatigue-rated hydraulic actuators (DuraGlide), servovalves, digital test controllers (FlexTest), hydraulic power units (SilentFlo with DDP technology), and dedicated test software (TestSuite, RPC Connect, AeroPro, STEX Pro). Customers use these integrated systems for full-vehicle, aerospace structural, materials, civil engineering, biomedical, rail, and energy testing applications.
Product overview
MTS Systems provides comprehensive testing and simulation solutions across multiple industries including automotive, aerospace, materials, biomedical, civil engineering, energy, and rail. The portfolio includes a platform-plus-modules architecture centered on fatigue-rated DuraGlide hydraulic actuators, FlexTest controllers, and proprietary software (TestSuite, RPC Connect, AeroPro, STEX Pro). Core hardware includes servovalves (Series 252/256/257), SilentFlo hydraulic power units with DDP technology, and Series 295 hydraulic service manifolds with optional SafeGuard safety technology. Safety-focused add-ons include Active Control & Abort (AC&A) for aerospace structural testing. The company also offers services including calibration, consulting, fluid care programs, online training, and the myMTS customer portal.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- DuraGlide: Hydraulic actuators with proprietary SureCoat rod finishing technology for fatigue-rated testing applications
- SureCoat
- SafeGuard
- SilentFlo
- FlexDAC
- FlexTest
- AeroPro
- RPC Connect
- TestSuite
- STEX Pro
- myMTS
Products and services
- DuraGlide Hydraulic Actuators Fatigue-rated hydraulic actuators with SureCoat rod finishing technology, force capacities from 10 kN to 2,595 kN, for dynamic component fatigue testing, structural fatigue testing, and vehicle durability testing.
- Servovalves (Series 252, 256, 257) Precision-engineered servovalves delivering high-flow, quick-response and low-distortion performance for hydraulic actuation control across flow and pressure applications.
- SilentFlo Hydraulic Power Units (HPU) Energy-efficient hydraulic power units (SilentFlo 515 and 525) with Digital Displacement Pump technology providing hydraulic power generation for test systems.
- Series 295 Hydraulic Service Manifold (HSM) Hydraulic service manifold providing hydraulic isolation between the HPU and test system, enabling smooth transitions of hydraulic pressure to enhance safety and predictable control, with optional SafeGuard technology.
- FlexTest Controllers Digital controllers delivering higher speeds and channel densities for test control applications across aerospace, automotive, and materials testing.
- RPC Connect Software Road-to-Proving-Ground-to-Real-World (RPC) software for durability testing correlation and analysis.
- AeroPro Software Productivity-enhancing software with integrated control and data acquisition user interface and control loop optimization tools for aerospace structural tests.
- STEX Pro Software Software for civil engineering test applications including seismic isolation and structural testing.
- TestSuite Software Comprehensive testing software platform for materials testing applications.
- Fluid Care Program Hydraulic fluid assessment service combining precise fluid sampling with analysis parameters designed specifically for servohydraulic test equipment, including ISO cleanliness trends, contaminant measurement, and varnish detection.
- MTS Online Training Instructor-led online training courses including introductory 4-hour courses and in-depth training with hands-on exercises through remote link to MTS computers.
Quantifiable outcome
- SureCoat technology increases rod service life by 10x over hard chrome-plated rods
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use MTS Systems
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments9 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
MTS Systems technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature7 records
MTS Systems partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- ExxonMobil (Mobil Serv)coreMTS partners with ExxonMobil Oil Corporation to customize Mobil Serv oil analysis services to MTS's more stringent requirements for analysis, alert thresholds, information notification and trending. This partnership supports the MTS Fluid Care Program for hydraulic fluid analysis.
- DanfosscoreMTS licenses Digital Displacement Pump technology from Danfoss. Digital Displacement is a registered trademark of Danfoss A/S. MTS has engineered a hybrid approach combining Digital Displacement Pump technology with their own innovations to create energy-efficient hydraulic power units.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
MTS Systems competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- ZwickRoell: ZwickRoell is a German manufacturer of materials testing machines and systems, directly comparable to MTS in tensile, fatigue, and component testing for metals, plastics, composites, and biomaterials across the same end-markets.
- Tinius Olsen: Tinius Olsen is a direct peer in materials testing machines (tension, compression, impact), serving metals, plastics, and construction materials testing in similar academic, industrial, and government customer segments as MTS.
- AVL List GmbH: AVL is a direct peer in powertrain and vehicle testing solutions, including testbeds and test automation, competing with MTS in automotive durability, drivetrain, and EV powertrain testing programs.
- Shimadzu: Shimadzu's testing machines division produces materials and structural testing systems that compete head-to-head with MTS in fatigue, high-rate, and high-temperature testing for automotive and aerospace customers.
- HBK (Hottinger Brüel & Kjær): HBK provides data acquisition, sensors, and sound/vibration test solutions that overlap with MTS's structural and component testing instrumentation, particularly in automotive and aerospace durability applications.
- Instron: Instron is a direct competitor in materials and universal testing machines, serving similar materials testing and component testing applications across aerospace, automotive, and academic customers. It is the closest analog to MTS in static and dynamic materials testing systems.
- MTS Sensors (formerly part of MTS Systems): MTS Sensors is the former position-sensor business of MTS Systems, now operating independently. It is directly comparable on the industrial position sensor side referenced in MTS Systems' short_description and serves overlapping OEM customers in hydraulics, automotive, and industrial automation.
- Kistler Group: Kistler is a direct peer in sensors, dynamometers, and measurement systems for engine, powertrain, and structural testing, overlapping with MTS in automotive and aerospace component and durability testing applications.
Emerging players
- ESI Group: ESI Group is an emerging player in virtual testing and simulation software that complements and increasingly competes with physical test workflows. It is comparable to MTS on the simulation side (AeroPro, RPC Connect) of the test-and-simulation workflow.
Broad incumbents
- Honeywell International: Honeywell's aerospace test and sensing businesses, including sensors and condition monitoring, overlap with MTS's aerospace structural testing and industrial sensor product lines as part of a much broader diversified industrial portfolio.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
MTS Systems social profiles
Digital presenceMTS Systems financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
MTS Systems leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
MTS Systems subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries3 records
MTS Systems funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
MTS Systems M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A6 records
Investments1 record
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about MTS Systems
What does MTS Systems do?
MTS Systems designs, manufactures, and services servohydraulic test systems and industrial position sensors for materials, components, and structural testing. The portfolio spans fatigue-rated hydraulic actuators (DuraGlide), servovalves, digital test controllers (FlexTest), hydraulic power units (SilentFlo with DDP technology), and dedicated test software (TestSuite, RPC Connect, AeroPro, STEX Pro). Customers use these integrated systems for full-vehicle, aerospace structural, materials, civil engineering, biomedical, rail, and energy testing applications.
Is MTS Systems a public or private company?
MTS Systems is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was MTS Systems founded?
MTS Systems was founded in 1963. It employs 1,001 to 5,000 people.
Where is MTS Systems based?
MTS Systems is headquartered in Eden Prairie, United States, in the North America region.
How does MTS Systems make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Test Systems and Equipment Sales are the primary driver. The others are software Licenses and Subscriptions and service, Maintenance and Support.
Who are MTS Systems's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are ZwickRoell, Tinius Olsen, AVL List GmbH, Shimadzu, HBK (Hottinger Brüel & Kjær), Instron, MTS Sensors (formerly part of MTS Systems) and Kistler Group. ESI Group is listed as an emerging player. Honeywell International is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does MTS Systems have an API?
No public API is recorded for MTS Systems.
What industry is MTS Systems in?
MTS Systems's product category is Test and Measurement Equipment. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAGAFAC, Test & Measurement Equipment (Oscilloscopes, DAQ, signal analyzers, calibration benches), with a secondary code of IMAGAFAG, Condition Monitoring & Predictive Maintenance Instrumentation (Vibration/ultrasound, oil analysis sensors, IIoT monitoring). Its NAICS code is 334519 and its SIC code is 3823.