What Piezocryst Advanced Sensorics does

Piezocryst Advanced Sensorics GmbH is an Austrian-headquartered manufacturer of high-performance piezoelectric sensors, founded in the 1960s and operating from Graz. The company produces pressure, force, strain, and acceleration sensors engineered for extreme operating envelopes — temperatures up to 700°C, pressures up to 8,000 bar, and pressure rise rates exceeding 1,000 bar/µs — serving R&D departments and industrial manufacturers in engine development, gas turbine combustion monitoring, automotive testing (including airbag development), defense/ballistics, medical lithotripsy, plastics injection molding, and industrial process control. Notable named end-uses include Formula 1 and motorcycle racing engines, large marine engines, snowmobiles, chainsaws, and modern gas turbines.

The company's core technological differentiation is its in-house capability to grow and high-precision-process single crystal gallium phosphate (GaPO4) — a capability the input describes as unique worldwide. GaPO4 delivers absolute linear temperature- and pressure-dependent sensitivity and substantially higher internal resistance than quartz at elevated temperatures, enabling twice the sensitivity of quartz sensors in equivalent form factors. This material base is wrapped in proprietary engineering constructs: Double Shell™ dual-housing mechanical isolation, Crystal Match™ thermal-expansion coefficient matching, active acceleration compensation, Leak Proof™ fail-safe sealing, and high-endurance coatings for thermally anisotropic crystals. The portfolio comprises six product series (CP, CP5x1, P, S, T, H) plus specialized transducers for cylinders, turbines, injection molding, and force measurement. Piezocryst holds more than 126 patents and patent applications across 31 patent families, and maintains ISO 9001:2015, ISO 14001:2015, ATEX, and Marine certifications.

The business operates as a B2B enterprise sensor company with three revenue streams: (1) hardware sales of standard and customized piezoelectric sensors, (2) customized sensor development services delivered under long-term cooperation agreements that co-design sensors for customer-specific applications, and (3) calibration and accelerated life-testing services, including on-site calibration. Go-to-market is direct enterprise sales targeting engineering teams and R&D departments, supported by a technical-content website with downloadable datasheets and catalogs in German, English, and Japanese. Pricing is quote-based with no public list. In December 2024, Spectris plc acquired Piezocryst for €133.5 million, integrating it into the HBK (Hottinger Brüel & Kjær) precision sensor platform. Headcount is 51–100 employees, revenue is undisclosed, and day-to-day management is led by Zoltan Teleki and Thomas Lippok.

Name

Piezocryst Advanced Sensorics

Legal name

Piezocryst Advanced Sensorics GmbH

Website

https://piezocryst.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1960

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Piezocryst Advanced Sensorics GmbH is an Austrian manufacturer of piezoelectric sensors, holding the world's only commercial capability to produce and high-precision-process single crystal GaPO4. It serves engine R&D, gas turbine, automotive, defense, medical, and industrial customers with extreme-condition pressure, force, and acceleration measurement.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Piezoelectric Sensors

NAICS

Other Measuring and Controlling Device Manufacturing (334519)

SIC

Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, And Control (3823), Measuring & Controlling Devices, Nec (3829)

akta.pro primary industry

Industrial Sensors (Pressure, Temperature, Flow, Level, Proximity, Vibration) (IMAGAFAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Industrial-Grade Sensors & Transducer Components (Discrete sensing elements, transducers, MEMS sensors) (IMAGAJAO), Pressure & Force Sensors (Pressure/Strain/Load Cells) (HDAHALAB)

Keywords

• Piezoelectric pressure sensors
• High-temperature pressure sensors
• Force and strain sensors
• Cylinder pressure measurement
• Custom sensor development

Headquarters

HQ city

Graz

HQ country

Austria

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Piezoelectric Sensor Sales: Piezocryst manufactures and sells high-performance piezoelectric sensors including pressure sensors, force sensors, strain sensors, and accelerometers for demanding R&D and industrial applications.
2. Customized Sensor Development: Special sensor concepts developed and tested within longer-term cooperation agreements, then designed for industrial mass production including automotive volumes.
3. Calibration and Testing Services: Calibration services performed before shipment with individual calibration records, including on-site calibration in special cases and accelerated life testing services.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Piezocryst designs, manufactures, and supplies high-precision piezoelectric sensors—including pressure, force, strain, and acceleration sensors—based on proprietary single-crystal gallium phosphate (GaPO4) technology for measuring dynamic and quasi-static processes under extreme temperatures, pressures, and thermal shock. The company sells standardized sensor series (CP, CP5x1, P, S, T, H), application-specific variants (GH15DK, CP505, 6011BC, CLP/26kN), and tailored sensor solutions developed in cooperation with customers for industrial mass production, complemented by development services, calibration, and accelerated life testing.

Product overview

Piezocryst Advanced Sensorics is a piezoelectric sensor manufacturer offering a comprehensive portfolio of high-performance sensors and development services. The core product lineup includes six sensor series: CP-Series and CP5x1 (high-temperature pressure sensors for gas turbines up to 700°C), P-Series (dynamic pressure sensors for R&D up to 350 bar), S-Series (compact sensors for fast/high-frequency events up to 1000 bar), T-Series (miniature sensors for space-constrained applications up to 500 bar), and H-Series (high-pressure sensors for extreme pressures up to 8000 bar). These are complemented by specialized cylinder pressure sensors (GH15DK), force sensors (CLP/26kN), and application-specific transducers. The company also provides customized sensor development services and development services including material analysis, testing, and mass production preparation. All sensors utilize proprietary GaPO4 crystal technology with patented Double Shell™ construction for superior measurement accuracy.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• CP-Series High Temperature Pressure Sensor High-temperature pressure sensors for gas turbine combustion monitoring, with case insulation and outstanding signal quality during thermal gradients at temperatures up to 700°C.
• CP5x1 Miniature High Temperature Pressure Sensor Miniature high-temperature pressure sensor for R&D in extreme conditions with limited space, supporting up to 560°C continuous and 650°C short term with high signal-to-noise ratio.
• P-Series Dynamic Pressure Sensor Dynamic pressure sensor for R&D applications, monitoring dynamic and quasi-static pressure up to 350 bar with Crystal Match™ sensing element and Double Shell™ mechanical isolation.
• S-Series Dynamic Pressure Sensor (M5) Compact dynamic pressure sensor with M5x0.5 mounting thread for fast or high-frequency events, with pressure ranges up to 1000 bar and thermal stability up to 400°C.
• T-Series Miniature Pressure Sensor (M3.5) Miniature pressure sensor with M3.5x0.35 mounting thread and smallest form factor, for R&D measurements in compact apparatus with up to 500 bar range and 400°C thermal stability.
• H-Series High Pressure Sensor High-pressure sensor for demanding dynamic pressure changes including shock waves up to 8000 bar, featuring front sealing housing with M10x1 mounting thread and Double Shell™ construction.
• GH15DK Cylinder Pressure Sensor Cylinder pressure sensor designed for demanding R&D tasks in limited space, with M5 casing, Double Shell™ technology, and M3 plug connector for combustion analysis.
• CP505 Active Acceleration Compensated Pressure Transducer Active acceleration compensated pressure transducer for continuous monitoring of modern gas turbines, with acceleration sensitivity of only 0.25 mbar/g and operation up to 700°C.
• 6011BC Plastic Injection Molding Pressure Transducer Pressure transducer for reliable cavity pressure measurement in confined plastic injection molding spaces, with total length of 17.2 mm and detachable cable.
• CLP/26kN Force Sensor Compact force sensor for precise measurement of forces up to 26 kN, with 3 mm height, 12 mm diameter, and IP65 protection class for industrial process control.
• Customized Sensor Solutions Tailor-made piezoelectric sensor solutions co-developed with customers, covering sensor design, cabling, charge amplifier tuning, and sensor mounting optimization for industrial applications.
• Piezoelectric Development Services Development services in piezoelectric sensing including material comparison, sensor concept analysis, mass production development, testing, and application support, often delivered under long-term cooperation agreements.

Quantifiable outcome

• GaPO4 sensors provide twice the sensitivity compared to quartz sensors with the same reliable characteristics
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Kistler Group: Swiss-headquartered global leader in piezoelectric pressure, force, and acceleration sensors for engine R&D, automotive, aerospace, and industrial process control. Direct competitor in nearly every application segment Piezocryst serves, with comparable technology depth and overlapping customer base in Formula 1, large engines, and OEMs.
• PCB Piezotronics (MTS Sensors): US-based manufacturer of piezoelectric accelerometers, pressure sensors, and force sensors used in engine testing, aerospace, and industrial monitoring. Directly competes with Piezocryst's accelerometer and pressure sensor lines for test, measurement, and R&D applications.
• Dytran Instruments: US-based specialist in piezoelectric and MEMS accelerometers and dynamic pressure sensors for engine, ballistics, and structural test applications. Comparable niche positioning to Piezocryst with focus on demanding dynamic measurement environments.
• Endevco (Moog): US-based manufacturer of piezoelectric accelerometers and dynamic pressure sensors, now part of Moog Inc. Competitor in aerospace, automotive testing, ballistics, and high-temperature measurement applications similar to Piezocryst's product lines.

Emerging players

• APC International: US-based piezoelectric ceramics and components supplier with growing sensor business. Partial overlap with Piezocryst in custom piezoelectric solutions for industrial and R&D customers.

Broad incumbents

• Meggitt Sensing Systems: UK-based (now Parker Meggitt) supplier of sensors for extreme environments, including high-temperature pressure sensors for aerospace engines and industrial turbines. Directly comparable to Piezocryst's CP-Series turbine offerings.
• TE Connectivity: Global sensor and connector giant with significant presence in automotive, industrial, and aerospace pressure and position sensing. Competes in high-volume applications where Piezocryst's mass-production customized sensors are deployed.
• Brüel & Kjær (HBK): Danish-origin acoustic and vibration measurement specialist, now part of Spectris and parent of Piezocryst post-acquisition. Offers broader measurement portfolio (microphones, sound level meters) while Piezocryst focuses specifically on piezoelectric dynamic pressure/force sensing.
• Honeywell Sensing: Diversified industrial sensor manufacturer offering pressure, force, and accelerometer products. Competes with Piezocryst in industrial process control and aerospace sensing segments with much broader product breadth and global reach.

Regional players

• Kistler Japan / Ono Sokki: Japanese sensor and measurement specialist competing with Piezocryst in Japanese automotive, electronics, and industrial R&D markets with comparable engine testing and force measurement offerings.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 Piezocryst Advanced Sensorics