What Datem does

Datem Ltd is a UK-based, privately held high-technology engineering company founded in 1986 and headquartered in Sleaford, Lincolnshire. The company specializes in the design and manufacture of seabed Cone Penetration Testing (CPT) systems for the offshore geotechnical market, with a deployed base of more than 75 (and reportedly 85) seabed CPT systems worldwide.

The core product portfolio comprises two flagship coiled rod CPT systems — the Neptune 3000 (lightweight, 10kN push, up to 3000m water depth) and the Neptune 5000 (heavy-duty, 35kN push, 20m push distance, up to 3000m depth) — alongside the Box Corer T-Bar CPT System for soil sample testing and the Vibrocore Penetration Sensor for real-time penetration depth measurement. All systems run on a proprietary in-house Neptune Control & Data Acquisition software platform. Supporting consumables, accessories, repairs, calibration, technical support, bespoke engineering, and operator training courses form a comprehensive service ecosystem, with Datem acting as the sole supplier of consumables for its own Neptune product line.

Datem sells exclusively through direct enterprise field sales to geotechnical survey companies, offshore energy operators, and marine research institutions worldwide, with customers across the UK, Norway, Belgium, the UAE, Singapore, Canada, the US, and Estonia. Pricing is quote-based, undisclosed publicly, and tied to system configuration and customization, while revenue mechanics combine one-time hardware sales with recurring services, consumables, and training.

Name

Datem

Legal name

Datem Ltd

Website

https://datem.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1986

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Datem Ltd is a UK-based engineering company that designs and manufactures proprietary seabed Cone Penetration Testing (CPT) systems — Neptune 3000 and Neptune 5000 — for offshore geotechnical survey firms and offshore energy operators worldwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Sleaford

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. CPT Equipment Sales: Direct sales of Neptune CPT systems including Neptune 3000, Neptune 5000, Box Corer T-Bar System, and Vibrocore Penetration Sensor. Hardware includes frames, cones, thrusters, and associated equipment.
2. CPT System Servicing, Calibration, and Repairs: Ongoing maintenance services for existing Neptune CPT systems including routine inspections, calibration, repairs, and replacements using genuine Datem parts. Includes both in-house servicing and on-site customer visits.
3. Training Courses: Neptune CPT operator training courses for Neptune 3000 and Neptune 5000 systems. Covers system operation, maintenance, fault finding, and software use. Certification provided upon completion.
4. CPT Consumables and Accessories: Supply of consumables and accessories exclusively for Neptune 3000 and Neptune 5000 seabed CPT systems. Includes cones, spare parts, and related accessories.
5. Bespoke Engineering Solutions: Customized CPT systems and specialized equipment tailored to specific project requirements. Includes customized data acquisition setups, specialized sensor integration, and custom-built subsea frames.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Datem designs and manufactures seabed Cone Penetration Testing (CPT) systems for the offshore geotechnical market, including the Neptune 3000 and Neptune 5000 coiled rod CPT systems, the Box Corer T-Bar System, and the Vibrocore Penetration Sensor. The company also provides bespoke engineering solutions, CPT consumables and accessories, certified operator training, and system servicing, calibration, repairs, and technical support. All Neptune systems run on Datem's proprietary Neptune Control & Data Acquisition Software for real-time soil data acquisition.

Product overview

Datem is a high technology engineering company that designs and manufactures seabed Cone Penetration Testing (CPT) systems for the offshore geotechnical market. Their core product portfolio consists of two main seabed CPT systems: the Neptune 3000 (lightweight, 10kN push, 10m depth, compatible with 2cm², 5cm², and T-Bar cones) and the Neptune 5000 (heavy-duty, 35kN push, 20m depth, compatible with 5cm², 10cm², and T-Bar cones). Supporting these systems, Datem offers the Box Corer T-Bar System for soil sample testing and the Vibrocore Penetration Sensor for real-time penetration measurement. The company also provides Bespoke Engineering services for custom solutions, along with a comprehensive service ecosystem including CPT Training Courses, Repairs, System Servicing/Maintenance, and Technical Support. All Neptune systems share common software (Neptune Control and Data Acquisition software), enabling consistent operation across the product range.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Neptune: World-renowned seabed Cone Penetration Testing (CPT) systems including Neptune 3000 and Neptune 5000 models - compact coiled rod systems for offshore geotechnical investigations
• Vibrocore
• TBS

Products and services

• Neptune 3000 CPT System Lightweight coiled rod Cone Penetration Testing (CPT) system designed for use in up to 3000 meters of water depth, featuring up to 10kN push capability and 10-meter maximum push distance. Uses digital 2cm², 5cm², and T-Bar cones providing axial load, sleeve friction, pore pressure, dual-axis tilt, and temperature data in real-time at up to 20Hz. Built for offshore geotechnical survey companies and offshore energy operators.
• Neptune 5000 CPT System Heavy-duty coiled rod CPT system for water depths up to 3000 meters with 35kN push capability and 20-meter maximum push distance. Uses digital 5cm², 10cm², and T-Bar cones providing axial load, sleeve friction, pore pressure, dual-axis tilt, and temperature data in real-time at up to 20Hz. Features a single umbilical for lifting/deployment and data transfer with in-built automatic safety cut-outs. Designed for offshore geotechnical site investigations.
• Box Corer T-Bar System Automated deck-mounted system for seabed soil sampling evaluation using T-Bar cones (25cm², 50cm², or 50cm² Ball cone). Pushes T-Bar cones up to 1 meter into extracted samples with real-time speed control at 2cm/sec and cyclical push/retract capability for high-accuracy soil strength testing of samples recovered from box corers.
• Vibrocore Penetration Sensor Sealed electronic unit with spring-loaded retractable stainless steel cord attached to a distance measuring sensor for real-time vibrocorer penetration depth measurement. Measures depth up to 10m and velocity up to 3m/s, with software displaying penetration depth, velocity, and maximum velocity in real-time. Operates on 110-240Vac power for seabed sediment analysis applications.
• Bespoke Engineering / Development Custom engineering service providing tailored CPT systems, advanced data acquisition setups, specialized sensor integration, custom subsea frames, and bespoke software solutions for real-time data processing. Designed for clients with unique project requirements not met by standard Neptune CPT systems.
• CPT Training Courses Comprehensive operator training for Neptune 3000 and Neptune 5000 CPT systems covering system overview, cone maintenance, software operation, fault finding, and rod loading procedures. Delivered at Datem HQ in the UK or on-site at customer locations globally, with certification awarded upon completion.
• Repairs Expert repair services for Neptune 3000 and Neptune 5000 CPT systems using genuine Datem parts, with comprehensive testing to restore full functionality and extend system lifespan. Available in-house and on-site at customer locations.
• System Servicing / Maintenance Regular servicing and maintenance for Neptune CPT systems including routine inspections, calibration, repairs, replacements, and software updates to ensure optimal CPT system performance, including the company's in-house cone calibration lab.
• Technical Support Ongoing technical support offering real-time troubleshooting, expert guidance, software support, and remote diagnostics for Neptune CPT systems, provided free of charge to all customers.

Quantifiable outcome

• 60th Neptune 3000 CPT system milestone achieved, demonstrating sustained demand and customer trust
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature9 records

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/datem-ltd
• Xx.com/DatemLtd
• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php

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 Datem