ACA Systems Oy

What ACA Systems Oy does

ACA Systems Oy is a Finnish private company founded in 1986 that develops industrial measurement and process analytics instruments for process industries. The company is headquartered in Sotkuma, Finland, and operates with a lean 5-employee organization. Its product portfolio spans three categories: air permeability and porosity analyzers (ACA Permi, ACA Permi Lab, ACA Scan, ACA Permi Online), rheology analyzers (ACA AX-100, ACA Flow WR), and roll hardness analyzers (ACA RoQ Handheld and the newly launched ACA RoQ Inline). The underlying technology relies on proprietary sensor designs for high-shear viscometry, online porosity, and ultrasonic/inductive roll hardness measurement, with the company contributing to industry standards development including TAPPI Standard T582.

The company serves global process manufacturers in the paper, tissue, film, nonwoven, filtration, and packaging industries, with named customers including Metsä, UPM, Sappi, Stora Enso, Ahlstrom, Mondi, Nippon Paper, Avery, 3M, Smurfit, and Delfort. Its revenue model combines hardware sales (e.g., the ACA Permi Online at approximately EUR 60,000 per unit), professional services, and spare parts. Distribution is anchored by a strategic partnership with ABB for online porosity sensors and a channel partnership with Voith/BTG for the Chinese market, with additional channel partners providing reach across 40+ countries. Research collaborations with the University of Oulu (fiber optic sensors for battery manufacturing) and Guangxi University signal measured expansion into adjacent verticals such as energy materials.

Name

ACA Systems Oy

Legal name

ACA Systems Oy

Website

https://aca.fi

Company type

Private

Founded year

1986

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

ACA Systems Oy is a Finnish industrial measurement company founded in 1986 that designs air permeability, rheology, and roll hardness analyzers for global process manufacturers in paper, tissue, packaging, and adjacent industries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Process Quality Measurement Instruments

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)

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)

Keywords

• Industrial process analyzers
• Air permeability measurement
• Roll hardness analyzers
• Ultra-high shear rheology
• Paper quality control

Headquarters

HQ city

Sotkuma

HQ country

Finland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Industrial Analyzer Equipment Sales: Sale of precision measurement instruments including air permeability analyzers, rheology analyzers, roll hardness analyzers, and water retention analyzers. Products are sold directly and through channel partners globally. Equipment includes both inline/online systems and laboratory instruments.
2. Professional Services: Installation services (on-site professional installation with setup and initial calibration), maintenance services (scheduled maintenance and preventive servicing), fast remote support for diagnostics and issue resolution, data services (advanced reporting and tailored analytics), and spare parts supply. Company offers tailored application development for specific customer challenges.
3. Spare Parts: Genuine ACA spare parts delivered quickly to maintain continuous and reliable operation. Company maintains availability of critical components.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

ACA Systems Oy designs, manufactures, and sells precision industrial analyzers for process quality and performance measurement in the paper, board, nonwoven, film, filtration, and battery separator industries. The portfolio includes air permeability, rheology, and roll hardness analyzers delivered as both inline/online production systems and laboratory instruments, complemented by installation, maintenance, spare parts, and tailored application development services.

Product overview

ACA Systems Oy offers a portfolio of precision industrial analyzers for process quality measurement and optimization. The core product line consists of three main analyzer categories: Air Permeability Analyzers (ACA Permi Online, ACA Permi Lab LP 100/LP 300, ACA Scan), Rheology Analyzers (ACA AX-100 ultra-high shear viscometer, ACA Flow WR water retention analyzer), and Roll Hardness Analyzers (ACA RoQ Inline automated inline system, ACA RoQ Handheld portable device). These instruments work together to provide comprehensive quality control across paper, board, nonwoven, film, filtration, and battery separator manufacturing processes—from laboratory testing to continuous inline monitoring. The company serves global markets through a network of sales and channel partners.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ACA Permi: Real-time air permeability and porosity measurement systems for paper, board, nonwoven, and film industries
• ACA RoQ
• ACA AX-100
• ACA Flow WR
• ACA Scan
• ACA Permi Lab

Products and services

• ACA Permi Online Real-time online air permeability and porosity measurement sensor for continuous inline monitoring in paper, board, nonwoven, and film production. Measures over 10,000 data points per roll in real time, with high sensitivity and repeatability, easy integration to production lines, and a dust removal ring for robust mill environments.
• ACA RoQ Inline Automated in-line roll hardness analyzer installed directly in production lines. Measures every roll after the winder and before packaging with real-time data, automatic anomaly detection, full roll documentation, and traceability.
• ACA RoQ Handheld Portable handheld roll hardness analyzer for on-the-spot quality control. Detects soft cores, edge softness, and hardness variations on parent reels before winder and on customer rolls after slitting, with integrated touch screen, Wi-Fi connectivity, and barcode reader.
• ACA AX-100 Ultra-High Shear Viscometer Capillary-based ultra-high shear viscometer measuring shear-rate-dependent viscosity up to 1,000,000 1/s for optimizing coater runnability. Supports raw material quality control, coating defect diagnostics, and coating development with sample sizes 100-350 ml and measurement time under one minute.
• ACA Flow WR Water Retention Analyzer Semi-automatic water retention analyzer for coating colors based on TAPPI T-701 method. Combines fast measurements, intuitive touchscreen interface, and excellent repeatability to support coating process optimization and identification of interaction issues between coating and base paper.
• ACA Permi Lab LP 100 / LP 300 Fast and accurate laboratory air permeance analyzer for fiber-based packaging materials. Measures up to 10x lower porosity than standard testers; LP 300 range 100-40,000 pm/(Pa·s) with results in under 10 seconds at ±2% accuracy and a 50 cm² test area to reduce operator variability.
• ACA Scan Compact automated online porosity scanner for roll-to-roll monitoring. Delivers real-time cross-direction and machine-direction profiles with visual color maps, adjustable scanning speed, lightweight design, quick installation, and an automatic cleaning cycle for minimal maintenance.
• Installation, Maintenance and Support Services Professional services including on-site installation and initial calibration, scheduled preventive maintenance, fast remote diagnostics, advanced reporting and tailored analytics, and supply of genuine spare parts, delivered directly and through authorized channel partners globally.

Named customers23 records

Segments10 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core and regional.

• Voith Paper / BTGcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 10 June 2021Voith/BTG serves as channel partner for ACA Systems in China, delivering ACA RoQ Handheld roll quality analyzers to Chinese customers. The partnership has been instrumental in introducing RoQ technology to customers in China, with Voith/BTG China celebrating delivery of the 200th unit in 2021 and the 600th global milestone unit delivered to Guangxi Xianhe in 2026.
• ABBcoreTechnology or Integration · 19 January 2021ACA Systems partnered with ABB to offer the ACA Permi sensor as part of ABB's portfolio for paper mills. ABB leverages its global distribution network to deliver ACA's online porosity measurement technology to customers in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Sweden, Norway, Finland, and India. The partnership enables ABB to boost its portfolio with proven online air permeability measurement technology that acts as an early warning system for unwanted process changes.
• Fanel Solutions (France)regionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAuthorized channel partner for France, providing regional sales, support, and service expertise. Contact: Christian Wurtz, 3 Impasse des Cerisiers, 67150 Nordhouse, France.
• Itec Ltd. (Israel)regionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAuthorized channel partner for Israel, providing regional sales, support, and service expertise. Located at 38th HaBarzel St., Ramat Hachayal, Tel-Aviv 6971054.
• SATA srl (Italy)regionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAuthorized channel partner for Italy, providing regional sales, support, and service expertise. Contact: Mr. Davide Giudici, Via Comunale della Valle, 22-24, I-20871 Vimercate-MB, Italy.
• IDM Test (Spain, Portugal)regionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAuthorized channel partner for Spain and Portugal, providing regional sales, support, and service expertise. Located at C/Gurutzegi 16 Pol. Belartza, 20018 San Sebastián-Guipuzkoa, Spain.
• Eur Control Ltd (UK, Ireland)regionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAuthorized channel partner for United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland, providing regional sales, support, and service expertise. Contact: Mr. John Munday.
• Industrial Physics (USA, Canada)regionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAuthorized channel partner for United States and Canada, providing regional sales, support, and service expertise. Contact: Rodger Segelstrom.
• EHMS Ltda. (Brazil)regionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAuthorized channel partner for Brazil, providing regional sales, support, and service expertise. Contact: Mr. Edwin Hilst, Rua União Federative, 81, 05175-120, Sao Paulo-SP, Brazil.
• UJL Pty Ltd (Australia)regionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAuthorized channel partner for Australia, providing regional sales, support, and service expertise. Contact: Urpo Launonen, 17 Blackfriars Lane, Doncaster East, Chirnside Park, Victoria 3116, Australia.
• Shin-Nihon Corporation (Japan)regionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAuthorized channel partner for Japan, providing regional sales, support, and service expertise. Located at 2-1-64 Suimeidai Kawanishi C, Hyogo Pref, Japan. Contact: President Tsutae Kumagai.
• Sam Bo Scientific Co., Ltd (Korea)regionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAuthorized channel partner for Korea, providing regional sales, support, and service expertise. Located at B-401&402, 401 Yangcheonro, Gangseo-gu, Seoul 07528, Korea.
• PTA Instruments Sdn Bhd (Malaysia)regionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAuthorized channel partner for Malaysia, providing regional sales, support, and service expertise. Located at D-55-3, Blok D, Jaya One, Jalan Universiti, Sekyen 13, 46200 Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia.
• UJL Pty Ltd (Australia)regionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAuthorized channel partner for Australia, providing regional sales, support, and service expertise.
• University of OuluregionalStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch collaboration with University of Oulu, Faculty of Technology, on quality management in lithium-ion battery manufacturing. Master's thesis by Aleksi Paldanius evaluated four ACA Systems instruments for battery production applications. Study confirmed instruments are well-suited for battery manufacturing quality management.
• Finnish Forest Products Engineers AssociationregionalStrategic or Co-development PartnerACA Systems joined the Finnish Forest Products Engineers Association (PI), a network of around 50 corporate members from the bioforest industry. Association ranges from major corporations to innovative start-ups, all working together to support industry development.
• R.A.M. GmbHregionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner for exhibiting at K 2025 trade fair in Düsseldorf (Hall 11, booth E50). Joint presence at major industry exhibition.
• Guangxi UniversityregionalStrategic or Co-development PartnerOngoing collaboration discussions with Guangxi University in China following Paper Chemicals Innovation & Development Conference. Exploring how university research could be connected more directly with industrial challenges. Agreed to continue developing a collaboration model connecting research with industrial development projects.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Mettler-Toledo: Global manufacturer of precision laboratory and industrial instruments including viscometers, balances, and pH/conductivity meters. Directly competes with ACA's rheology (AX-100) and analytical laboratory instruments (Flow WR, Permi Lab).
• Metrohm: Swiss manufacturer of precision analytical instruments for titration, ion chromatography, voltammetry, and water/coating analysis. Closely comparable to ACA in providing laboratory analytical measurement tools for process and coating quality control.
• Hach (Danaher): Specialist in water and process analytical instrumentation (pH, conductivity, turbidity, etc.), part of Danaher's process instrumentation portfolio. Directly comparable to ACA as a focused process analytical measurement provider for industrial customers.
• Endress+Hauser: Swiss specialist in industrial process measurement instrumentation, including flow, level, pressure, and analytical sensors. Directly comparable to ACA as a focused provider of process analytics for industries like pulp and paper, water, and chemicals.

Broad incumbents

• Agilent Technologies: Global analytical instrument and lab measurement specialist spanning chromatography, spectroscopy, and materials analysis. Overlaps with ACA's lab-based analytical instruments used in paper, polymer, and battery material characterization.
• ABB: Global industrial automation and process instrumentation leader. ABB is both a partner (distributing ACA Permi) and a broad incumbent overlapping with ACA in process measurement and control for paper, water, and energy industries.
• AMETEK: US-based manufacturer of electronic instruments and electromechanical devices, including process and analytical measurement brands (e.g., Brookfield viscometers, Process Instruments). Directly comparable in rheology and process analytical instrumentation.
• Voith: Major supplier of machinery, equipment, and process technology for the paper industry, with measurement and quality control offerings through Voith Paper / BTG. Directly comparable as a broader paper-industry technology incumbent that bundles its own quality analytics with paper machinery.
• Yokogawa Electric: Japanese provider of industrial automation, control, and measurement solutions with strong presence in pulp and paper. Comparable as a broad process instrumentation and analyzer incumbent serving similar plant customers.
• Thermo Fisher Scientific: Diversified analytical instrument leader with laboratory and process measurement products across materials, life sciences, and industrial markets. Overlaps with ACA's laboratory air permeability and analytical offerings at a broader scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/aca-systems-oy

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 ACA Systems Oy