Penta Gear Metrology

What Penta Gear Metrology does

Penta Gear Metrology, headquartered in Dayton, Ohio, designs, manufactures, and installs analytical coordinate measuring machines (CMMs) used for high-precision inspection of gears, splines, and rotationally symmetric workpieces. Founded in 2005 by Marvin Nicholson and operating as the North American analytical metrology brand of German parent Kapp Niles, the company sells a five-model KNM machine family (KNM 2X, 4X, 6X, 9X, and X Custom) spanning workpieces from 300mm/80kg benchtop parts to 6,000mm/40,000kg custom systems, unified by granite construction, air-bearing guides, air-spring vibration isolation, and non-ferrous linear and torque motors driven by the proprietary KN inspect operating and evaluation software.

The business operates a hybrid revenue model: capital equipment sales of KNM machines (quote-based, multi-year contracts) complemented by recurring A2LA ISO 17025 certified contract inspection, master gear certification, operator training, and preventative maintenance/calibration (PMC) services, plus a REPOWERED program that rebuilds and re-controls older analytical machines to current performance standards (validated to +/-2 micron repeatability). Customers are US precision gear and spline manufacturers (Motus Labs, Overton Chicago Gear, Schaffer Industries, Gear Master, United Gear & Machine Company, Atlanta Gear Works), with 10-year-plus relationships cited.

The company is sold exclusively through a direct enterprise field-sales motion emphasizing consultative engineering engagement ("Get a Quote" / "Contact an Engineer" CTAs), supported by LinkedIn, YouTube, and email newsletter channels. With 11–50 employees and no disclosed revenue, the firm runs a small, specialized team (software, electrical, controls, and field service engineers) anchored by a regulatory credential (A2LA ISO 17025) and a 20-year operational track record rather than by scale or capital intensity.

Name

Penta Gear Metrology

Legal name

Penta Gear Metrology

Website

https://pentagear.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Penta Gear Metrology designs, manufactures, and installs analytical coordinate measuring machines (KNM 2X–X Custom) and provides A2LA ISO 17025 certified contract inspection, master certification, training, and REPOWERED refurbishment services for US gear and spline manufacturers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Precision Metrology Equipment

NAICS

Instruments and Related Products Manufacturing for Measuring, Displaying, and Controlling Industrial Process Variables (334513), Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing (334516), Other Measuring and Controlling Device Manufacturing (334519), Electronic and Precision Equipment Repair and Maintenance (811210)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Metrology, Inspection & Machine Tool Accessories (CMMs, Probing, Gauging) (IMAHADAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Metrology & Scanning Services (Inspection Labs, On-Site Measurement) (IMAAAHAJ), Metrology, Calibration & Testing Equipment (Balances, pH/DO, Standards) (HLAGAIAL)

Keywords

• Analytical metrology machines
• Gear measurement systems
• Spline inspection equipment
• CMM gear measurement
• Metrology contract inspection

Headquarters

HQ city

Dayton

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Analytical Machine Sales: Sale of KNM series analytical measuring machines (KNM 2X, 4X, 6X, 9X, X Custom) for gear and spline component measurement. Machines are customized for customer production workflow requirements.
2. Contract Inspection Services: A2LA ISO 17025 certified metrology services including systematic part inspection and reporting to user-defined tolerances and industry standards. Covers gears and spline components.
3. Master Certification: Expert certified inspection of master gears and splines including index, lead, profile, actual tooth thickness, and custom requests.
4. Inspection Training: Comprehensive hands-on training for operators to ensure precise and compliant gear measurement and inspection techniques.
5. Preventative Maintenance & Calibration (PMC): Proactive maintenance and calibration services to ensure proper function and accuracy, minimizing downtime and errors.
6. REPOWERED Machine Re-build & Re-control: Re-build and re-control services bringing dated gear inspection machines up to current technology standards with latest gear software and speed. Includes column replacement, riser addition, drives & controls upgrade, computer and software installation, and validation.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Penta Gear Metrology designs, manufactures, and installs analytical metrology machines (KNM 2X, 4X, 6X, 9X, and X Custom) for high-precision measurement of gears, gear tools, and rotationally symmetric workpieces. The company also delivers A2LA ISO 17025 certified contract inspection, master certification, inspection training, preventative maintenance and calibration services, plus a REPOWERED machine rebuild and re-control program that modernizes legacy analytical machines.

Product overview

Penta Gear Metrology is a brand of Kapp Niles that designs, manufactures, and installs analytical metrology machines for high-precision gear and spline inspection. Their product portfolio consists of five analytical measuring machine models (KNM 2X, KNM 4X, KNM 6X, KNM 9X, and KNM X Custom) equipped with the proprietary KN inspect operating and evaluation software, along with complementary service offerings including A2LA ISO 17025 certified inspection services, master certification, inspection training, and a REPOWERED machine re-build and re-control program. The machines range from compact benchtop units for small workpieces (300mm diameter, 80kg) to custom large-scale systems handling workpieces up to 6,000mm diameter and 40,000kg, unified by granite construction, air bearings, and linear motor technology.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• REPOWERED®: Machine re-build and re-control program that brings dated gear inspection machines up to current technology standards with the latest gear software and speed.

Products and services

• KNM 2X Compact analytical measuring machine for high-precision measurement of gears, gear tools, and rotationally symmetric workpieces. Supports up to 300mm max workpiece diameter, 450mm max workpiece length, and 80kg max workpiece weight. Targets manufacturers requiring benchtop or small-part inspection.
• KNM 4X Analytical measuring machine for high-precision measurement of gears, gear tools, and rotationally symmetric workpieces. Supports up to 450mm max workpiece diameter, 650mm max workpiece length, and 450kg max workpiece weight. Features quick-change clamping and compact design.
• KNM 6X Analytical measuring machine designed for high-precision measurement of gears, gear tools, and rotationally symmetric workpieces. Supports up to 750mm max workpiece diameter, 850mm max workpiece length, and 500kg max workpiece weight. Uses granite base construction, air bearings, and non-ferrous linear and torque motors.
• KNM 9X Analytical measuring machine for high-precision measurement of gears. Supports up to 1,250mm max workpiece diameter, 1,020mm max workpiece length, and 1,500kg max workpiece weight.
• KNM X Custom Custom large-scale analytical measuring machine for gears up to 6,000mm diameter with linear motors in all linear axes, high-precision rotary tables of 500 to 1,800mm diameter, and max workpiece weight of 1,500 to 40,000kg. Configured to custom production requirements.
• Inspection Services A2LA ISO 17025 certified metrology services including systematic contract part inspection and reporting to user-defined tolerances, master gear and spline certification, comprehensive hands-on inspection training, and preventative maintenance and calibration services for analytical machines.
• REPOWERED Machine re-build and re-control service that brings dated gear inspection machines up to current technology standards with the latest gear software and speed. Includes column replacement, riser addition, drives and controls upgrade, computer and software installation, and validation to +/-2 micron repeatability.
• KN inspect Software High-performance operating and evaluation software that ships with KNM series analytical measuring machines, providing an intuitive user interface that guides users through measurement and evaluation of gears, gear tools, and other rotationally symmetric workpieces.

Quantifiable outcome

• REPOWERED machines validated to +/-2 micron repeatability accuracy

Named customers6 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature8 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Kapp NilescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPenta Gear Metrology operates as a brand of Kapp Niles. Kapp Niles is a global manufacturer of gear grinding machines and related metrology equipment. Penta Gear serves as Kapp Niles' North American presence for analytical metrology machines and contract inspection services.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Klingelnberg: Klingelnberg is a German-based direct peer specializing in gear metrology machines (P-series and G-series) and gear manufacturing equipment. Highly comparable to Penta Gear as a dedicated gear/spline inspection OEM with overlapping product scope and customer base in precision gear manufacturing.
• Kapp Niles: Kapp Niles is the German parent of Penta Gear Metrology and itself manufactures analytical metrology machines (KNM series) globally. As the originator of the KNM platform, it is the most direct peer in gear metrology machinery.
• Mahr Group: Mahr produces precision metrology equipment including gear measurement systems and form/roundness instruments. Comparable to Penta Gear in providing high-precision dimensional and gear measurement solutions to industrial manufacturers, with overlapping technology in air bearings and granite-based platforms.
• Gleason Corporation: Gleason is a global supplier of gear manufacturing and metrology solutions, including analytical gear inspection systems (Gleason 300GMS, 500GMS). Direct peer in analytical gear metrology serving the same automotive, aerospace, and industrial gear customers.

Broad incumbents

• Carl Zeiss Industrial Metrology: Zeiss offers broad-portfolio coordinate measuring machines (PRISMO, ACCURA) and probing systems that can be configured for gear measurement. Incumbent competitor with much larger R&D and global service footprint, often serving as the enterprise default in industrial metrology.
• Wenzel Group: Wenzel manufactures coordinate measuring machines (LH, LH Gantry, SF) used in industrial and large-format metrology. Relevant as a CMM OEM serving similar large-workpiece and precision manufacturing customers, including in heavy industrial and energy applications.
• Renishaw: Renishaw supplies probing systems, REVO 5-axis measurement heads, and CMM retrofit technology used for gear and spline inspection. Established precision measurement incumbent whose probing technology is often integrated into third-party CMMs that compete with Penta Gear's KNM platform.
• Hexagon Manufacturing Intelligence: Hexagon (including its Leitz and DEA brands) provides global CMM platforms, probing, and software (PC-DMIS) with gear measurement capabilities. Large incumbent with broad product portfolio and enterprise metrology software ecosystem that competes for industrial inspection budgets.
• Mitutoyo: Mitutoyo is a large global precision measurement and CMM manufacturer with form-measurement instruments relevant to gear inspection. Broad-portfolio incumbent competing on accuracy, software, and global service reach in industrial metrology.

Emerging players

• Taylor Hobson: Taylor Hobson (Ametek) produces ultra-precision form, roundness, and surface metrology instruments used in precision component inspection. Adjacent peer whose high-precision metrology technology is used in gear quality control workflows, particularly for finishing and surface integrity.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCQwx_ey6ok3-3k1tRq5Aa1A
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/pentagearmetrology

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 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 Penta Gear Metrology