What ZIROX - sensors and electronics does

ZIROX Sensoren & Elektronik GmbH is a privately held German manufacturer of gas analyzers and oxygen measurement systems founded in 1990 in Greifswald, Germany, and registered in Stralsund as a GmbH (HRB 945). The company is a commercialization vehicle for the Solid Electrolyte Research Group of Ernst-Moritz-Arndt University and operates a worldwide unique catalytically inactive potentiometric oxygen measuring cell based on yttria-stabilized zirconia (ZrO2). Its product portfolio spans O2 probes (flue gas, miniature, high-temperature up to 1,450°C, vacuum-resistant, Q- and QE-probes), probe electronics (E2000, E2010, E713 with 4-20 mA and RS232 interfaces), analyzers (SGM5/SGM7, ZR5 19-inch module, H2-TCS, and Special Measuring Systems), and an electrolysis-based test gas generator (SGM5EL). Approximately 750 device and probe variants serve semiconductor, welding/soldering, heat treatment, ceramics, power/combustion, and vacuum/plasma process industries, with claimed presence in 73 countries and over 2,000 customers including Applied Materials, Air Liquide, BASF, Continental, Carl Zeiss, Linde, Infineon, Euroglas, Höganäs, MIT, Forschungszentrum Jülich, and the US Department of Defense.

ZIROX generates revenue primarily through hardware sales of probes, analyzers, and probe electronics, supplemented by calibration, repair, and recycling services, customer-specific modifications, and training courses. The company sells approximately 3,600 devices and measuring systems per year (2020 reference) and performs approximately 900 calibrations and repairs annually. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed. Distribution is direct from Greifswald headquarters plus eight in-country industrial distributors across China (ZIRON Shanghai), India (Crestsol), Japan (Nippon Thermo), Korea (GEDIS), Malaysia (Anox), Mexico (EDC Control), Taiwan (ETAI Technology), and Thailand (Entech SI). The company holds ISO 9001:2015 certification (TÜV NORD CERT GmbH, valid 2025-2028) and is led by three managing directors: Dr. Uwe Lawrenz (Finance), Dr. Dietrich Westphal (Customer Consulting and Marketing), and Hannes Pratzka (Development and Production).

Name

ZIROX - sensors and electronics

Legal name

ZIROX Sensoren & Elektronik GmbH

Website

https://zirox.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

ZIROX is a German manufacturer of zirconia-based solid electrolyte gas analyzers and oxygen probes serving semiconductor, heat treatment, welding, ceramics, power, and vacuum-process industries worldwide, with an 8-country distributor network and 2,000+ installed customers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Gas Analyzers

NAICS

Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing (3345), Other Measuring and Controlling Device Manufacturing (334519)

SIC

Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, And Control (3823), Laboratory Analytical Instruments (3826)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Environmental Sensors (Temperature/Humidity/Gas/Air Quality) (HDAHALAD), Sensor Fusion, Interface ICs & Modules (AFE/Readout/Packaging/Calibration) (HDAHALAO)

Keywords

• Oxygen gas analyzers
• Solid electrolyte sensors
• Flue gas probes
• Zirconia oxygen sensors
• Industrial gas measurement

Headquarters

HQ city

Greifswald

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Operations

Revenue model

1. Hardware Sales: Sale of gas analyzers, oxygen probes, probe electronics, and electrolysis devices. The company manufactures approximately 750 device and probe variants, selling approximately 3,600 devices and measuring systems annually to customers in 73 countries.
2. Calibration and Repair Services: In 2020, approximately 900 calibrations and repairs were carried out. The company offers recycling services for old equipment.
3. Custom Solutions and Special Applications: Customer-specific modifications including variable housing sizes, probe lengths, vacuum flanges, and custom software development. Special measuring systems tailored to customer requirements.
4. Training and Consulting Services: Training courses for customers who purchase ZIROX gas measuring technology, covering background knowledge, device operation, and sales seminars for distributors.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

ZIROX designs, manufactures, and sells gas analyzers, oxygen probes, probe electronics, and electrolysis devices based on proprietary solid electrolyte (yttria-stabilized zirconia, ZrO2) sensor technology. The company offers approximately 750 device and probe variants for industrial oxygen measurement across a measurement range of 10^-20 Vol.-ppm to 100 Vol.-% O2, with custom solutions including variable housing sizes, probe lengths, vacuum flanges, and custom software.

Product overview

ZIROX is a worldwide leading manufacturer of high-quality gas analyzers and measuring systems based on solid electrolytes (zirconia). The product portfolio is organized into three main categories: O2 Probes (including Flue Gas Probes SS31H, Miniature Probes SS27/MS27, High Temperature Probes KS20, Vacuum-Resistant Oxygen Probes XS22, Q-Probe SS20.BQ, and QE-Probe XS11.QE), Probe Electronics (E2000, E2010, E713, and PM.21 pump module), and Analyzers (Oxygen Analyzers SGM5/SGM5T and SGM7, Oxygen Measuring Module ZR5, H2-Measuring Device TCS, and Special Measuring Systems). Additionally, the Electrolysis Device SGM5EL serves as a test gas generator. The core technology uses potentiometric solid electrolyte cells with NERNST equation signal processing to provide calibration-, drift-, and maintenance-free oxygen measurement across applications including combustion optimization, semiconductor manufacturing, heat treatment, and vacuum processes.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Flue Gas Probe SS31H Robust sensor for λ (lambda) determination in large-scale firing plants and measurement of oxygen partial pressure in furnace atmosphere. Calibration-, drift-, and maintenance-free with integrated heater, designed for combustion optimization applications.
• Miniature Probe SS27/MS27 Compact oxygen probes with controlled heater and integrated primary electronics for high accuracy measurements. SS27 is for trace measurements under oxidizing conditions; MS27 for reducing conditions or oxygen concentration above 100 ppm. Offers high accuracy at comparatively lower costs than standard lambda probes.
• High Temperature Probe KS20 Probe designed for extreme temperature conditions up to 1,450 °C, enabling direct measurement of oxygen partial pressure in burning chambers. Calibration-, drift-, and maintenance-free.
• Vacuum-Resistant Oxygen Probe (XS22) Zirconia solid electrolyte cell probe for determining oxygen partial pressures in low pressure equipment, vacuum processes, PVD, magnetron sputtering, and plasma processes.
• Q-Probe SS20.BQ Potentiometric solid electrolyte cell probe for monitoring protective gases and controlling partial oxidation processes in heat treatment applications. Enables calculation of the quotient of partial pressures of reactive furnace gases.
• QE-Probe XS11.QE Probe with heated catalyst (760 °C) for complete gas sample decomposition, used in hardening technology for nitriding and nitrocarburizing processes. Enables calculation of quotient at total equilibrium.
• Probe Electronics E2000 Comfortable electronic unit with reference air supply via internal pump, signal processing, calibration and monitoring function, and programmable limit values for ZIROX oxygen probes.
• Probe Electronics E2010 Basic electronic unit for ZIROX oxygen probes with signal processing, NERNST equation conversion, and standard 4-20 mA interface output.
• Probe Electronics E713 Basic electronic unit for ZIROX probes with signal processing, power supply, and heating control for heated probes.
• PM.21 Pump Module Pump module for ZIROX probe systems, supporting reference air and gas flow in oxygen measurement setups.
• Oxygen Analyzer SGM5 High-precision compact oxygen analyzer with calibration- and drift-free ZIROX zirconia measuring cell, electronic unit for cell heating control, flow monitoring, integrated pump, and signal processing. Also available as SGM5S for brewery CO2 applications.
• Oxygen Analyzer SGM7 Compact oxygen analyzer based on drift-, calibration-, and maintenance-free ZIROX zirconia technique. Contains measuring cell and electronic unit for cell heating control, flow monitoring, integrated pump, and signal processing.
• Oxygen Measuring Module ZR5 Oxygen measuring module based on zirconia technology for continuous measurement of oxygen concentration in industry and laboratory gases. Designed for OEM integration with 19-inch slot housing.
• H2-Measuring Device TCS Compact hydrogen sensor using thermal conductivity sensing for continuous monitoring of hydrogen concentration in industrial processes. Pre-thermostatted for stable sensor signal, originally developed for nitriding equipment.
• Special Measuring Systems Specialized devices including Lambda Measuring System for air factor measurement, SWM2000 for oxygen and hydrogen measurement, SGM5-NGW for Non-Equilibrium-Oxygen detection, and EC-Module for aqueous electrolyte-based oxygen detection.
• Electrolysis Device SGM5EL Test gas generator based on zirconia solid electrolyte technology for dosing or removing oxygen from protective gases (N2, Ar) or reactive gas flows to produce gases with defined oxygen concentration or reduction force.

Quantifiable outcome

• Approximately 3,600 devices sold in 2020 to customers in 73 countries
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles9 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• AMA Fachverband für Sensorik e.V.minorOthersGerman industry association for sensor technology that ZIROX references for terms of sale and delivery standards
• Kurt-Schwabe-Institut MeinsbergminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch institute that is connected to the history and development of solid electrolyte technology in the Greifswald region
• Institut für Niedertemperatur-Plasmaphysik e.V. (INP)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInstitute for Low Temperature Plasma Physics in Greifswald, Germany, working on plasma-related measurement applications
• Fraunhofer-Institut für keramische Technologien und Sinterwerkstoffe (IKTS)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFraunhofer Institute for Ceramic Technologies and Sinter Materials in Dresden, Germany, working on ceramic process applications
• Arbeitsgemeinschaft Wärmebehandlung und Werkstofftechnik (AWT)minorOthersAssociation for Materials and Heat Treatment technology, connected to ZIROX's heat treatment industry applications
• NEOPLASminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCompany in Greifswald, Germany, potentially related to plasma or measurement technology applications
• ZIRON Shanghai Ltd.coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorExclusive or primary distributor for ZIROX products in China. Contact: Xianglong Zhai, Shanghai, China. Phone: +86 2162546905
• Crestsol Instrumentation & Automation Pvt. Ltd.coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDistributor for ZIROX products in India. Located in Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra. Phone: +91 9999196662
• Nippon Thermo Co., Ltd.coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDistributor for ZIROX products in Japan. Contact: Michiko Kawasaki, Kyoto, Japan. Phone: +81 774212111
• GEDIScoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDistributor for ZIROX products in Korea. Contact: Song Chi-Hoon, Daejeon, Republic of Korea. Phone: +82 428626364
• Anox Corporation Sdn BhdcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDistributor for ZIROX products in Malaysia. Contact: JK Chin, Puchong, Selangor. Phone: +60 380603388
• EDC Control S.A. de C.V.coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDistributor for ZIROX products in Mexico. Located in Monterrey, Nuevo León. Phone: +52 (81) 8373-2393
• ETAI Technology Co. Ltd.coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDistributor for ZIROX products in Taiwan. Located in Zhubei City, Hsinchu County. Phone: +886 36583332
• Entech SI Co., Ltd.coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDistributor for ZIROX products in Thailand. Located in Bangkok. Phone: +66 2779 8855

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Honeywell International: Through its Process Solutions business, Honeywell offers industrial gas analyzers, oxygen probes, and combustion controls. Broad incumbent competitor across ZIROX's industrial customer base.
• ABB: Supplies continuous gas analyzers and combustion optimization systems for power, metals, and chemicals. Competes with ZIROX in combustion/flue-gas monitoring applications.
• Emerson (Rosemount): Through its Rosemount Analytical line, Emerson provides oxygen and combustion analyzers for process industries — a broad incumbent overlapping ZIROX in oxygen and flue-gas measurement.
• Yokogawa Electric: Process automation leader with a gas analyzer portfolio serving the same semiconductor, power, and chemical customers that ZIROX addresses.
• AMETEK: Diversified process analytical instrumentation group (including oxygen and combustion analyzers through its Process & Analytical Instruments division). Comparable as a broader industrial gas-measurement incumbent.

Direct peers

• Michell Instruments: Process and laboratory gas measurement specialist (oxygen, hydrogen, hydrocarbons). Direct peer for industrial oxygen and H2 measurement products such as ZIROX's TCS hydrogen device.
• Alpha Omega Instruments: US-based specialty manufacturer of zirconia oxygen analyzers and probes for industrial and laboratory applications. Closely comparable in product type and customer profile to ZIROX.
• Systech Illinois: Specialty manufacturer of oxygen and gas analyzers for industrial process and packaging applications. Direct niche peer with comparable product positioning.
• Servomex: Specialist manufacturer of gas analyzers (oxygen, combustion, process) for industrial and emissions applications. Closest functional peer to ZIROX — both sell zirconia- and paramagnetic-based oxygen analyzers into the same process industries.

Emerging players

• NGK Insulators: Major global manufacturer of zirconia oxygen sensors (lambda probes) and ceramic sensor components. Comparable in underlying ZrO2 solid-electrolyte technology, though focused on automotive and emissions end markets rather than ZIROX's industrial process niches.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 ZIROX - sensors and electronics