Landesbetrieb Mess- und Eichwesen NRW

What Landesbetrieb Mess- und Eichwesen NRW does

Landesbetrieb Mess- und Eichwesen NRW (LBME NRW) is the state-owned calibration and metrology authority for the German federal state of North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW), established in 2001 and operating under the supervision of the NRW Ministry of Economic Affairs, Industry, Climate Protection and Energy (MWIKE NRW). As the sole official calibration authority for the state under the federal Measurement and Calibration Act (MessEG/MessEV), LBME NRW is statutorily responsible for verification and calibration of measuring instruments, conformity assessments, market and usage surveillance, pre-packaged goods control, ballistic testing of firearms, and environmental radioactivity monitoring. The organization serves a regulated customer base spanning taxi and rental car operators (taxameter and distance meter calibration), commercial enterprises using measuring instruments across industries, and the firearms and weapons sector requiring ballistic certification, with public-goods functions extending to the general population of NRW.

LBME NRW operates a statewide service network of nine Eichämter in Aachen, Arnsberg, Bielefeld, Düsseldorf, Duisburg, Hagen, Köln, Münster, and Recklinghausen, plus a dedicated Beschussamt co-located in Köln. Technical infrastructure includes laboratories accredited under DIN EN ISO/IEC 17025:2018-03 (testing and calibration) and DIN EN ISO/IEC 17065:2013-01 (conformity assessment), supplemented by digital service channels: the eTermin LBME NRW online appointment booking platform for taxi and rental car calibration, the Online-Eichantrag digital submission portal, and integration with the Wirtschafts-Service-Portal.NRW for administrative processes including online repair notifications. The Messstelle für Umweltradioaktivität conducts routine environmental sample analysis under the Strahlenschutzgesetz, and field service technicians (Außendienst) perform on-site verification work using E-Lastenrad (electric cargo bikes) deployed as part of internal sustainability measures.

Revenue is generated through regulated transaction fees for calibration, conformity assessment, and ballistic testing, set under the Mess- und Eichgebührenverordnung (MessEGebV) effective January 1, 2026. This is the first fee schedule revision since 2021 and was enacted pursuant to § 59 Abs. 2 MessEG, which requires fees to cover the costs of calibration authorities; adjustments vary by measuring instrument type. As a Landesbetrieb, the organization is funded through a combination of state budget allocations and service fees; financial figures are not publicly disclosed. The Direktion is headquartered in Köln (Hugo-Eckener-Str. 14), with Dr.-Ing. Eberhard Petit serving as Director.

Name

Landesbetrieb Mess- und Eichwesen NRW

Legal name

Landesbetrieb Mess- und Eichwesen Nordrhein-Westfalen

Website

https://lbme.nrw.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Landesbetrieb Mess- und Eichwesen NRW is North Rhine-Westphalia's state calibration and metrology authority. Operating nine Eichämter and a Beschussamt, it provides statutory calibration, conformity assessment, ballistic testing, and market surveillance to commercial enterprises, taxi operators, and the firearms industry.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Legal Metrology and Calibration Services

NAICS

Testing Laboratories and Services (54138), Electronic and Precision Equipment Repair and Maintenance (8112)

SIC

Services-Testing Laboratories (8734), Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, And Control (3823), Measuring & Controlling Devices, Nec (3829)

akta.pro primary industry

Calibration Services & Standards (Calibration labs, reference standards, traceability services) (IMAGAFAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Tachograph, Speed Limiter & Odometer Calibration/Verification (TLAKANAD), Regulatory Compliance Audit Support & Documentation (Emissions/Safety/Environmental) (TLAKANAO), Metering, Calibration & Flow Measurement Verification (EUAEAHAM)

Keywords

• Legal metrology services
• Measuring instrument calibration
• Conformity assessment services
• Market surveillance metrology
• Ballistic testing certification

Headquarters

HQ city

Köln

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices10 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Calibration fees (Eichgebühren): Fees for calibration and verification of measuring instruments pursuant to Mess- und Eichgebührenverordnung (MessEGebV), which came into effect on January 1, 2026. The regulation requires fees to cover the costs of calibration authorities as mandated by § 59 Abs. 2 MessEG. Fees vary by measuring instrument type.
2. Conformity assessment fees (Konformitätsbewertung): Fees for conformity assessment procedures, particularly for taxameters and distance meters, with specialized application processes.
3. Ballistic testing fees (Beschussprüfung): Fees for weapons and artillery testing conducted by the Beschussamt, including applications for weapon testing and Böllerprüfung.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Landesbetrieb Mess- und Eichwesen NRW performs statutory calibration, verification, and conformity assessment of measuring instruments under the German Measurement and Calibration Act (MessEG/MessEV) for the federal state of North Rhine-Westphalia. Its services span taxameter and distance meter calibration for taxis and rental cars, market surveillance, pre-packaged goods control, ballistic and explosives testing at the Beschussamt Köln, and environmental radioactivity monitoring. Digital delivery channels include an online appointment booking system (eTermin LBME NRW) and a digital calibration application portal (Online-Eichantrag).

Product overview

Landesbetrieb Mess- und Eichwesen NRW (LBME NRW) is a government calibration authority of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. The organization operates a network of 9 calibration offices (Eichämter) and one ballistic testing office (Beschussamt) across the region. Its portfolio centers on statutory calibration and verification services for measuring instruments under the German Measurement and Calibration Act (MessEG/MessEV), supplemented by conformity assessment procedures, pre-packaged goods control, market surveillance, environmental radioactivity monitoring, and ballistic testing services. Digital service delivery includes an online appointment booking system (eTermin LBME NRW), digital calibration application submission (Online-Eichantrag), and publicly available calibration statistics. The organization does not offer commercial software products but provides government-mandated metrological verification services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Eichung (Calibration Services) Official calibration and verification of measuring instruments as required by German measurement law (MessEG/MessEV), covering instrument types including taxameters, water meters, electricity meters, gas meters, and heat cost allocators for regulated businesses and operators.
• Konformitätsbewertung (Conformity Assessment) Conformity assessment procedures for measuring instruments, including specialized procedures for taxameters and distance meters, with digital application channels for submitters.
• Beschussprüfung (Ballistic Testing) Testing and certification of firearms and explosives (Böller) as required by German weapons law, performed at the Beschussamt co-located with Eichamt Köln.
• Fertigpackungskontrolle (Pre-packaged Goods Control) Monitoring and control of pre-packaged goods to ensure compliance with labeling and quantity requirements for consumer protection and fair trade.
• Markt- und Verwendungsüberwachung (Market and Usage Monitoring) Market surveillance activities ensuring measuring instruments meet legal requirements and monitoring how instruments are used in commerce.
• Messstelle für Umweltradioaktivität (Environmental Radioactivity Measurement Station) Environmental radioactivity monitoring station conducting routine analysis of environmental samples in accordance with the German Radiation Protection Act (Strahlenschutzgesetz).
• eTermin LBME NRW (Online Appointment Booking) Online appointment booking system for the calibration of taxis and rental vehicles, available for all calibration offices (Eichämter) across NRW.
• Online-Eichantrag (Digital Calibration Application) Digital platform for submitting calibration applications, enabling citizens and businesses to file calibration requests electronically.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• IT.NRW (Landesbetrieb Information und Technik Nordrhein-Westfalen)coreTechnology or IntegrationIT.NRW provides technical hosting and infrastructure services for the LBME NRW website. The internet offering is hosted by IT.NRW, which also provides the Matomo web analytics platform. IT.NRW operates as the state's IT service provider.
• pico engineering GmbHminorOthersExternal data protection officer for LBME NRW, located in Isernhagen. Provides data protection advisory services as required under GDPR regulations.
• Wirtschafts-Service-Portal.NRWcoreTechnology or IntegrationLBME NRW utilizes the Wirtschafts-Service-Portal.NRW (Economic Service Portal of NRW) for digital service offerings including online repair notifications (Online-Instandsetzungsbenachrichtigung), enabling streamlined administrative processes for businesses.
• MWIKE NRW (Ministerium für Wirtschaft, Industrie, Klimaschutz und Energie des Landes Nordrhein-Westfalen)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Ministry of Economic Affairs, Industry, Climate Protection and Energy of NRW oversees LBME NRW. Minister Mona Neubaur visited for the 25th anniversary celebration, highlighting the organization's role in the state's industrial and consumer protection framework.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Emerging players

• Beamex: Specialized calibration equipment manufacturer and calibration software provider focused on industrial process calibration - adjacent and enabling to LBME NRW's calibration activities by supplying the instrument ecosystem the agency verifies.

Broad incumbents

• SGS: World's largest TIC company offering inspection, verification, testing, and certification services globally - comparable as a broad incumbent in the testing/certification space where LBME NRW operates its statutory mandate.
• Trescal: Global pure-play calibration services provider offering accredited calibration, measurement, and repair services across multiple industries - a direct commercial analog to LBME NRW's calibration laboratory activity but without the statutory mandate.
• DEKRA: Global TIC company headquartered in Germany with extensive vehicle inspection, product testing, and certification services, overlapping with LBME NRW's market surveillance and certification activities but in the private commercial sphere.
• TÜV Rheinland: Major German private-sector testing, inspection, and certification body offering adjacent TIC services including equipment testing and conformity assessment, though not specializing in the statutory calibration verification that is LBME NRW's exclusive mandate.
• Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB): Germany's federal metrology institute and the national authority on measurement standards. PTB sits at the apex of the German calibration hierarchy, providing reference standards and accreditation oversight to state-level Eichämter including LBME NRW.
• TÜV SÜD: German-based global TIC provider offering testing, inspection, and certification across industrial, mobility, and consumer sectors - comparable in the broader TIC category but operating commercially rather than as a statutory state authority.
• Bureau Veritas: Global TIC company with substantial German operations providing testing, inspection, and certification services across multiple industries - adjacent to LBME NRW's calibration and conformity assessment mandate in the broader TIC landscape.

Direct peers

• Landesamt für Mess- und Eichwesen Bayern: The Bavarian state calibration and metrology authority - the closest direct functional equivalent of LBME NRW in another German federal state, performing the same statutory calibration, conformity assessment, and market surveillance duties under federal MessEG/MessEV legislation.
• Landesbetrieb Mess- und Eichwesen Hessen: The Hessian state calibration authority - directly comparable as another German Landesbetrieb delivering Eichamt services, conformity assessment, and market surveillance under the same federal metrology framework.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/landesbetrieb-mess-und-eichwesen-nrw

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Landesbetrieb Mess- und Eichwesen NRW