Zorn Instruments

What Zorn Instruments does

Zorn Instruments GmbH & Co. KG is a fifth-generation German family-owned manufacturer headquartered in Stendal, Saxony-Anhalt, that designs, produces, and services precision test and measurement instruments for the construction industry. Its core product line is the light falling weight deflectometer (Leichtes Fallgewichtsgerät, ZFG series — ZFG D plus, ZFG 3.1, ZFG 3000, ZORN Mini, ZFG-M), which performs the dynamic plate bearing test under the German TP BF-StB Teil B 8.3 standard to determine the deformation modulus (Evd) of compacted soils, road bases, and asphalt layers. A 10 kg falling weight drives a 300 mm load plate fitted with an acceleration sensor; proprietary measurement electronics calculate settlement, s/v ratio, and Evd values, with Bluetooth/WLAN wireless control, on-site GPS-tagged reporting, and multilingual documentation handled through companion mobile apps and the ZORN FG-WebApp. Adjacent products include the ZORN AT 2.0 Asphalttester, CBR dyn, ZORN LAB LWD, and ZORN DPL probing device.

The company operates a fully in-house CNC manufacturing facility (turning and milling) at its single Stendal site, distinguishing it from competitors that primarily assemble purchased components. Zorn's go-to-market combines direct field sales in Germany (Vertriebsleiter Deutschland) and internationally (Vertriebsleiter International), an online shop, participation in trade fairs including bauma Munich, and an extensive BASt-recognized calibration partner network across six German cities plus the in-house calibration stand in Stendal. Revenue streams include one-time hardware sales of ZFG devices and accessories (quote-based, no published list prices), recurring annual calibration services (€230–€520 per device, mandatory under TP BF-StB Teil B 8.4), short- and long-term equipment rental, and complementary training and on-site demonstration services.

Customers span 10,000+ active accounts across more than 100 countries, including large German and European construction and infrastructure groups (STRABAG, EUROVIA, HERMANNS AG, OST BAU, Glass GmbH Bauunternehmung), mid-market builders, engineering offices and testing institutes, public authorities, and specialized niche users (mining services, broadband trench installers served by the ZORN Mini). More than 70,000 Zorn testing devices are in use globally, with the company holding the original 1993 utility model registration for the light falling weight device and operating under ISO 9001 and ISO 13485 certifications.

Name

Zorn Instruments

Legal name

ZORN Instruments GmbH & Co. KG

Website

https://zorn-instruments.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1870

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Zorn Instruments is a German family-owned manufacturer (est. 1870, fifth generation) that designs and produces light falling weight deflectometers and related precision testing instruments for soil compaction and asphalt quality assurance, serving construction companies, engineering offices, and public authorities in over 100 countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Construction Testing Instruments

NAICS

Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing (3345), Other Measuring and Controlling Device Manufacturing (334519), Testing Laboratories and Services (54138)

SIC

Laboratory Analytical Instruments (3826), Services-Testing Laboratories (8734)

akta.pro primary industry

Geotechnical Instrumentation & Monitoring (Settlement, Inclinometers, Piezometers) (IMAFAOAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Metrology, Calibration & Testing Equipment (Balances, pH/DO, Standards) (HLAGAIAL), Test & Measurement Equipment (Oscilloscopes, DAQ, signal analyzers, calibration benches) (IMAGAFAC), Calibration Services & Standards (Calibration labs, reference standards, traceability services) (IMAGAFAH)

Keywords

• Light falling weight deflectometer
• Compaction testing equipment
• Dynamic plate bearing test
• Soil compaction measurement
• Construction quality assurance

Headquarters

HQ city

Stendal

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Hardware sales — Falling weight deflectometers and accessories: ZORN manufactures and sells light falling weight devices (ZFG D plus, ZFG 3.1, ZFG 3000, ZORN Mini, ZFG-M), asphalt testers, CBR devices, and related accessories. Products are sold as new and used devices through direct sales, an online shop, and calibration service partners. Revenue is primarily one-time hardware with the mechanical components covered by a lifetime warranty.
2. Calibration and maintenance services: Annual calibration of falling weight devices per TP BF-StB Teil B 8.4 is mandatory for regulatory compliance. ZORN operates its own BASt-recognized calibration facility in Stendal and partners with calibrated service partners across Germany. Calibration fees range from €230 for single-weight ZORN devices to €260 for competitor devices. Loaner devices are provided during calibration periods. Service includes a pick-up and delivery option.
3. Equipment rental (ZFG Rental): ZORN offers short-term (daily) and long-term (monthly) rental of ZFG devices, enabling customers to bridge periods when their own device is undergoing calibration or maintenance, or for occasional use.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Zorn Instruments manufactures and sells light and medium-heavy falling weight deflectometers (ZFG series) used to perform dynamic plate bearing tests on construction sites, measuring the deformation modulus (Evd) of compacted soils, road bases, and asphalt layers. The company also offers complementary devices (Asphalt Tester AT 2.0, CBR dyn, ZORN LAB LWD, ZORN DPL, ZPF 2.0), along with calibration, maintenance, rental services, and the free ZORN FG-WebApp for digital documentation of measurement results.

Product overview

ZORN INSTRUMENTS offers a comprehensive portfolio of precision testing and measurement equipment for construction quality assurance. The core product line centers on light and medium-heavy drop weight devices (ZFG series) for dynamic plate pressure testing of soil compaction, including the ZFG D plus, ZFG 3.1, ZFG 3000, ZORN Mini, and ZFG-M models. These devices measure the deformation modulus (Evd) to verify ground bearing capacity in civil engineering, road construction, and infrastructure projects. Supporting products include the CBR dyn for California Bearing Ratio testing, the AT 2.0 asphalt tester for traffic release assessment, and specialized tools like the ZORN LAB LWD and ZORN DPL probing device. The ecosystem is complemented by the ZORN FG-WebApp for digital documentation, rental services, calibration/maintenance programs, and a comprehensive accessory range.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• ZFG D plus Advanced light falling weight deflectometer with Bluetooth-enabled modern measurement electronics, voice output and plausibility control. Measurement is controlled wirelessly via smartphone or tablet (Android and iOS); complete inspection reports with GPS coordinates, air temperature, photos and project details are generated directly on-site. Targets construction companies, engineering offices and testing institutes needing rapid, norm-compliant compaction testing with digital documentation.
• ZFG 3.1 Compact, ergonomic handheld light falling weight deflectometer in a robust plastic housing with backlit graphic display and curve display. Features acoustic feedback during measurement, automatic calculation of settlement(s), s/v value and deformation modulus Evd, WLAN module for wireless data transfer to smartphones and tablets, improved GPS/GNSS receiver for precise measurement point positioning, and SD card data storage. Designed for site personnel needing high mobility and simple measurement value display.
• ZFG 3000 Light falling weight deflectometer with compact measurement electronics housed in a robust case including an integrated printer. Allows operation even with the lid closed and is dust- and water-protected for harsh construction site conditions. Designed for field crews who need a rugged, all-in-one device that prints results on the spot.
• ZORN Mini Specialized light falling weight deflectometer with an oval, reduced-size load plate for testing in narrow trenches starting from 120 mm width. Designed for broadband expansion, fiber optic cable installation trenches and utility trench applications where standard 300 mm load plates cannot fit.
• ZFG-M Medium-heavy falling weight device for dynamic plate pressure testing on heavier load applications. Calibrated according to TP BF-StB Teil B 8.4 standards and intended for construction projects requiring higher measurement loads than the standard ZFG series.
• ZFG Rental Rental service offering short-term (daily) and long-term (monthly) rental of ZFG light falling weight devices. Covers situations where customers' own devices are in calibration or maintenance, or for occasional project-based use.
• ZORN AT 2.0 Asphalttester Asphalt testing device enabling rapid assessment of drivability (traffic clearance) for freshly laid asphalt surfaces. Part of the quality assurance process in road construction and supports early traffic release decisions based on standardized test procedures.
• CBR dyn Dynamic California Bearing Ratio (CBR) device for laboratory and field testing of soil bearing capacity. Modular design allows quick conversion from standard falling weight deflectometers via a load plate adapter pin, enabling flexible reuse of the mechanical base.
• ZORN LAB LWD Light Weight Deflectometer designed for laboratory applications, providing precise soil compaction quality testing in controlled indoor environments for engineering offices and testing institutes.
• ZORN DPL Leichte Rammsonde Light dynamic probing device (Rammsonde) for subsurface investigation and soil characterization in construction applications, used to identify soil layers and consistency in geotechnical site assessments.
• ZPF 2.0 Druckfiltrationsgerät Pressure filtration device for laboratory testing of difficult-to-filter media, suitable for soil analysis and environmental testing applications where conventional filtration methods are insufficient.
• Kalibrierung und Wartung (Calibration and Maintenance) Annual calibration and maintenance services for falling weight devices, mandatory under TP BF-StB Teil B 8.4 for regulatory compliance. Services include on-site calibration at Zorn's BASt-recognized facility in Stendal, loaner devices during calibration periods, pick-up and delivery service, and express calibration (Sofort-Kali) options. Calibration fees are publicly disclosed (€230 for single-weight ZORN devices, €260 for competitor devices; €460/€520 for dual-weight devices; €450 for Austrian RVS calibration). Also includes RVS (Austria), VSS (Switzerland), SB 250 (Belgium), ASTM E2835-11 (USA), UNE 103807-2 (Spain), TB 10001-2016 (China) calibration standards.
• ZORN FG-WebApp Free multilingual web application for secure reporting, report creation and email sending of falling weight measurement data. Measurement data can be imported, edited and exported directly on-site from any device via browser. Supports multilingual use for international applications and complements measurement documentation workflows.

Quantifiable outcome

• Dynamic plate bearing test completed in under 2 minutes, enabling rapid site quality verification
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers14 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Fraunhofer IFF (Institut für Fabrikbetrieb und -automatisierung)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021ZORN maintains a close collaboration with Fraunhofer IFF (Institute for Factory Operation and Automation) in Magdeburg. The partnership involves joint product development, with Fraunhofer IFF contributing research expertise in mechanical systems. A notable joint innovation is the 'Variable Stiffness Actuator' (Variabler Steifigkeitsaktor) developed with Fraunhofer IFF for the calibration process of falling weight devices, enabling gentle, precise measurement results and reducing physical strain on employees. Bianca Zorn also worked at Fraunhofer IFF as a project controller before joining ZORN.
• Vermessungstechnik Engelmann KG (Dresden)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCertified calibration partner of ZORN INSTRUMENTS in Dresden, Saxony. Provides calibration and maintenance services for ZORN falling weight devices in the Dresden region.
• Bauvermessungstechnik Bunzel (Erfurt)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCertified calibration partner of ZORN INSTRUMENTS in Erfurt (Kühnhausen). Provides calibration and maintenance services for falling weight devices in the Thuringia region.
• Hirotek GmbH (Bad Vilbel, Frankfurt/Main)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCertified calibration partner of ZORN INSTRUMENTS in the Frankfurt/Main metropolitan area. Provides calibration and maintenance services in the Hessen region.
• Carl Hamm GmbH (Essen)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCertified calibration partner operating from the Röhrenwerk Kupferdreh facility in Essen, North Rhine-Westphalia. Provides calibration and maintenance services for ZORN falling weight devices in the Ruhr region.
• Geotechnik Dunkel GmbH (Hergolding, Munich)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCertified calibration partner of ZORN INSTRUMENTS near Munich, Bavaria. Provides calibration and maintenance services for falling weight devices in the Munich/southern Germany region.
• Fraunhofer IFFcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint development of the 'Variable Stiffness Actuator' for automated, ergonomic calibration of falling weight devices, as reported in IFFocus magazine (2021). The innovation follows a human-motion-inspired approach for precise, physically undemanding calibration.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• ELE International: ELE International supplies geotechnical and construction materials testing equipment globally, including soil compaction and bearing capacity testing products that overlap with Zorn's ZFG line within a much broader civil engineering testing portfolio.
• MTS Systems Corporation: MTS is a large global supplier of materials and force-measurement test systems, including dynamic and hydraulic testing platforms used in geotechnical and pavement research that overlap with Zorn's force/measurement application area at a much larger scale.
• Ametek Test & Calibration: Ametek is a global industrial instruments group whose Test & Calibration segment (including Lloyd Instruments, Chatillon) competes in force measurement and materials testing markets that adjacent to Zorn's compaction testing niche.
• Controls Group (CONTROLS S.p.A.): Italian-based Controls Group manufactures a comprehensive range of construction materials testing equipment for soil, asphalt, and concrete, including compaction testing products that compete with Zorn's portfolio as part of a broader, global testing-equipment offering.
• Humboldt Mfg. Co. Humboldt is a long-established U.S. manufacturer of materials testing and geotechnical laboratory equipment, offering compaction testing products (nuclear density gauges, soil testing) that overlap with Zorn's construction QA portfolio as part of a much broader testing-equipment catalog.
• Gilson Company, Inc. Gilson is a major U.S. distributor and manufacturer of materials testing equipment for construction QA/QC, offering compaction, soil, and asphalt testing products that compete with Zorn's portfolio primarily through North American channels.

Direct peers

• Terratest GmbH: Terratest is a German manufacturer of light falling weight deflectometers (LFWD) for soil compaction testing, making it the most direct head-to-head competitor to Zorn in the same product category, serving identical construction and infrastructure customers with comparable dynamic plate bearing test technology.
• infraTest Prüftechnik GmbH: infraTest (formerly including HMP) manufactures geotechnical and construction testing equipment including falling weight deflectometers and calibration systems, positioning it as a direct competitor in Germany with overlapping calibration services and similar public-sector customers.

Regional players

• Carl Hamm GmbH: Carl Hamm is a BASt-certified calibration partner of ZORN operating in Essen, providing calibration and maintenance services for ZORN falling weight devices in the Ruhr region — an adjacent service-provider peer in the same German market rather than a competing device manufacturer.
• Geotechnik Dunkel GmbH: Geotechnik Dunkel is a BASt-certified ZORN calibration partner near Munich providing calibration services for falling weight devices in southern Germany — an adjacent service-provider peer rather than a competing device manufacturer.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCUuVBqzpn2n-LigJhauk_Sw
• Facebookfacebook.com/ZornInstruments
• Instagraminstagram.com/zorn_instruments/?hl=de
• TikToktiktok.com/@zorn_instruments?lang=de-DE

Compliance12 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 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 Zorn Instruments