What WaterSam GmbH does

WaterSam GmbH is a German manufacturer of automated water and wastewater sampling systems and water quality monitoring stations. Founded in 1996 and headquartered in Balingen, Baden-Württemberg, the company designs and builds its equipment exclusively in Germany and serves industrial, municipal, and research customers through a portfolio of portable and stationary product lines. The firm operates with a five-person team and is led by four Managing Directors — Andreas Preg, Reiner Preg, Ulrich Preg, and Hartmut Wehrstein — three of whom share the Preg family name, indicating a family-led ownership and governance structure.

The product portfolio spans portable samplers (WS Porti, WS Compact), stationary samplers (WS 98, WS 312, WS 316), and specialized variants including the WS 316 EX II (ATEX explosion-proof), WS 316 SE (self-emptying), WS 316 SR (self-rinsing), and WS 98 F (freezing sampler for trace-contaminant research). WaterSam offers its MS3 and Standard Controllers and a set of proprietary sampling technologies — VAC, VAR-B/C/E, INLINEcut, VacuPress, Peristalticpumpe, and XY/XYZ sample distributors — alongside measurement sensors for pH, oxygen, turbidity, and conductivity, plus refrigerated and non-refrigerated sample storage cabinets. Custom-engineered systems are produced for specialized applications including petroleum, marine research, and hazardous-area operation.

WaterSam's revenue model combines capital-equipment hardware sales, recurring service revenue from maintenance and repair contracts, equipment rental, and bespoke engineering projects. Its go-to-market is primarily distributor-led, with channel partners in Germany and international distributors in Malaysia (LEADTEC, VODAPRO) and Vietnam (NT-TECH); direct field sales is used for custom-engineering projects, and trade-show presence drives demand generation. The company is a member of German Water Partnership, the federal export-promotion network for the German water sector, signaling participation in coordinated international expansion activity.

Name

WaterSam GmbH

Legal name

WaterSam GmbH

Website

https://watersam.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

WaterSam GmbH, founded in 1996 and based in Balingen, Germany, designs and manufactures automated water and wastewater samplers, monitoring stations, and proprietary controllers for industrial, municipal, and research customers, distributed primarily via channel partners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Water Sampling Equipment

NAICS

Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing (334516), Totalizing Fluid Meter and Counting Device Manufacturing (334514), Water Supply and Irrigation Systems (22131), Measuring, Dispensing, and Other Pumping Equipment Manufacturing (333914)

SIC

Laboratory Analytical Instruments (3826), Totalizing Fluid Meters & Counting Devices (3824)

akta.pro primary industry

Water Quality Monitoring, Compliance & Reporting (Sampling, Lab, Regulatory) (EUANAAAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Water Sampling, Testing & Laboratory Analysis (Legionella/Microbiology) (BPABAJAB), Monitoring & Control (Dosing Systems, Remote Monitoring, Sensors) (BPABAJAK), Water & Wastewater Treatment Plant Equipment (Clarifiers, Aeration, Membrane Systems) (IMAHAEAJ)

Keywords

• Water sampling equipment
• Wastewater monitoring systems
• Industrial water analyzers
• Automated water sampling
• Water quality sensors

Headquarters

HQ city

Balingen

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Water Sampling Equipment Sales: WaterSam manufactures and sells automated water samplers (WS Porti, WS Compact, WS 98, WS 312, WS 316 and variants), monitoring stations, sampling systems, controllers, sensors, and accessories. Products are sold as one-time capital equipment purchases, with pricing provided through quotation. All products are developed and manufactured exclusively in Germany.
2. Technical Services, Maintenance and Repairs: WaterSam offers technical service and repairs performed by their own technicians and partner network, maintenance contracts, spare parts, and repair of Edmund Bühler samplers. Also includes implementation of measuring campaigns including data processing.
3. Equipment Rental: Sampler rental services, including rental in connection with flow measurement. Provides customers with temporary access to equipment without capital purchase.
4. Custom/Specialized Solutions: Customized product design and development for specialized applications, adapting system components and PLC software to client requirements. Includes special samplers for extreme temperatures, corrosive environments, highly volatile substances, petroleum industry, and scientific research vessels.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

WaterSam GmbH manufactures automated water and wastewater samplers, monitoring stations, and supporting components (controllers, sensors, sampling systems, and storage cabinets) exclusively in Germany. The company sells modular hardware products for representative sampling and continuous water quality monitoring in industrial, municipal, and research applications, complemented by custom solutions and technical services (maintenance, repair, rental, and measuring campaigns).

Product overview

WaterSam GmbH offers a modular portfolio of industrial water and wastewater sampling equipment manufactured exclusively in Germany. The product range spans three sampler form factors: portable (WS Porti, WS Compact), wall-mounted (WS 98, WS 98 F), and stationary (WS 312, WS 316, and variants including self-rinsing WS 316 SR, self-emptying WS 316 SE, and explosion-proof WS 316 EX II). Supporting components include the MS3 and Standard controllers, interchangeable sampling systems (VAC, VAR-B, VAR-E, VAR-C, Peristaltikpumpe, FMWW, PRF, INLINEvent, INLINEcut, VacuPress), XY/XYZ distributors, measurement sensors (pH, oxygen, turbidity, conductivity), sample delivery systems (WS 98 Assist), temperature-controlled storage cabinets, and complete monitoring stations. The company also develops custom solutions for extreme, corrosive, and specialized industrial environments.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• WS Porti Handheld/portable water sampler for automated and mobile sampling, available with or without integrated cooling cabinet. Used by field operators for on-the-go water sampling applications.
• WS Compact The newest mobile water sampler from WaterSam, designed for portable sampling applications.
• WS 98 Wall-mounted sampler notable for its flexible design, offering various sampling systems and configurations for industrial and environmental applications.
• WS 312 On-site stationary sampler with integrated cooling cabinet for sample storage, suitable for permanent installation at monitoring sites.
• WS 316 On-site stationary sampler with integrated cooling cabinet offering the largest storage capacity and widest selection options among the WS 316 family.
• WS 316 SE Self-emptying on-site stationary sampler with automatic self-draining and rinsing of sample bottles using clean water for heavily soiled sample media.
• WS 316 SR Self-rinsing on-site stationary sampler featuring automatic rinsing of the complete sampling line (suction hose, metering glass, and distributor hose) using clean water, ideal for heavily soiled sample media. Compliant with ISO 5667 water sampling standards.
• WS 316 EX II Innenraum Stationary sampler with ATEX-certified sample storage chamber classified for Ex Zone II (3G Ex ic IIB T6), designed for environments with flammable substances. Features pneumatically-operated distributor and up to 24 x 1L bottle configurations.
• Messstationen (Monitoring Stations) Any WaterSam sampler upgraded with water quality monitoring instruments (sensors). Available in three tiers: standard samplers with external sensors, WS 316 MS with built-in monitoring glass for one sensor, and WS 316 GMS large monitoring station with built-in vessel for multiple sensors.
• Messsonden (Measurement Sensors) Plug-and-play water quality sensors that connect directly to the MS3 controller without requiring a transmitter. Includes pH/temperature (0-14), dissolved oxygen (optical, 0-20 mg/l), turbidity (optical, 0-4000 NTU), and conductivity (4-electrode, 0-200 mS/cm) sensors.
• WS 98 Assist Intermediary sample delivery system for online analyzers, enabling sample withdrawal from large depths, long distances, or pressurized lines. Features adjustable sampling intervals, rinsing function, and monitoring capabilities. Deployed by large chemical firms for online analyzer support.
• WS 98 F Freezing sampler that preserves samples by immediately freezing them at up to -22°C using active compressor cooling. Features removable cooler box for laboratory transport, maintaining cold chain integrity. CE-marked for indoor stationary applications.
• Probenlagerschrank (Sample Storage Cabinet) Temperature-controlled storage cabinet for extended sample storage, available in two sizes based on WS 312 and WS 316. Features highly accurate temperature regulation from -25°C to +42°C (optionally -40°C to +55°C), alarm functionality, and suitability for indoor and outdoor installation.
• MS3 Controller Advanced controller featuring large backlit graphic display (128x128 pixel), 24-key keypad, 9 configurable programs, 16 digital inputs, 16 digital outputs, 4 analog inputs, 1 analog output, Modbus RTU/ASCII/TCP, optional Profibus, USB, Ethernet TCP/IP, 4GB storage (expandable to 32GB), and webserver for remote access. Supports direct sensor connection without transmitters.
• Standard Controller Entry-level controller with 4-key interface, 4x20 character display, up to 9 simultaneous programs, 10 digital inputs, 4 analog inputs, RS-232 serial port, and optional GSM modem for remote control.
• XY Distributor Discrete bottle filling system using two-axis coordinate positioning for direct sample deposition. Offers flexible bottle combinations, maximizes storage space utilization, and eliminates cross-contamination without distributor plates.
• XYZ Distributor Enhanced distributor with additional vertical movement capability, designed for applications where degassing of the sample medium must be avoided.
• Sonderlösungen (Custom Solutions) Custom-designed sampling solutions developed together with customers for specialized applications. Examples include samplers for extreme temperatures (-40°C to +55°C), abrasive media, marine/research vessels, highly corrosive environments, petroleum industry (with chemical stabilization), and highly volatile substances (organochlorides/chlorinated hydrocarbons).
• Leistungen (Services) Technical services including repairs, maintenance contracts, spare parts, sampler rentals (with optional flow measurement), measuring campaign implementation, expert advice, individualized product design, modular configuration, remote monitoring, training sessions, and seminars.

Quantifiable outcome

• Pump suction lift up to 8m standard, up to 30m with VacuPress option
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers4 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

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• LEADTEC INSTRUMENTS (ASIA) SDN. BHD.coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLEADTEC is a Malaysian distributor for WaterSam products. Located at B-8-810, Kelana Square Blk B, 17, Jalan SS7/26, Kelana Square, 47301 PJ, Selangor, Malaysia. Contact: +603-7611 0701, www.leadtec-asia.com. Represents WaterSam in the Malaysian market.
• VODAPRO SDN. BHD.coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorVODAPRO is a Malaysian distributor for WaterSam products. Located at 100, Jalan Pusat Perniagaan 1, Pusat Perniagaan Raja Uda, 12300 Butterworth, Penang, Malaysia. Contact: +604-3133 855, www.vodaproasia.com. Represents WaterSam in the Penang region of Malaysia.
• NIEM TIN SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY JSC (NT-TECH)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNT-TECH is the Vietnamese distributor for WaterSam, representing the full product range including WS Porti, WS 98, WS 312, WS 316, WS 316 SR, WS 316 SE, WS 316 MS monitoring stations, 9 different sampling systems, and custom solutions. Located at 1st floor, Packsimex Building, 52 Dong Du, Ben Nghe Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Contact: +84 967 524 640, [email protected].
• German Water Partnership (GWP)minorOthersWaterSam is a member of German Water Partnership (GWP), an association of German water technology companies. The company displays the GWP logo on its website footer. GWP promotes German water technology companies internationally and provides a platform for networking and market access.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Hach (Danaher): Hach, part of Danaher's Water platform, offers a broad portfolio of water quality sensors, samplers, and laboratory instruments globally. It competes with WaterSam in both samplers and integrated monitoring stations for municipal and industrial customers.
• Xylem Analytics (WTW / SI Analytics / YSI): Xylem's analytics brands (WTW, SI Analytics, YSI) cover water quality sensors, portable instruments, and online monitoring across municipal and industrial markets. Its sampling and online monitoring portfolio competes with WaterSam's Messstationen line.
• Endress+Hauser Liquiline / Liquistation: Endress+Hauser's Liquistation samplers and Liquiline multiparameter analyzers are widely deployed across municipal and industrial water/wastewater applications. WaterSam's stationary samplers and MS3-based monitoring stations target the same spec-driven procurement cycles.

Emerging players

• Knick Elektronische Messgeräte: Knick is a German manufacturer of process analytics, pH/conductivity sensors, and laboratory instrumentation. Its industrial sensor and process-analytic portfolio overlaps with WaterSam's intelligent sensor integration for monitoring stations.
• Aqua Master (Eijkelkamp): Royal Eijkelkamp's Aqua Master line offers portable and fixed water quality monitoring equipment for environmental and industrial applications. It is a comparable niche European competitor serving similar environmental and water management use cases.

Direct peers

• Teledyne ISCO: Teledyne ISCO is one of the most established global manufacturers of automated water and wastewater samplers for municipal and industrial compliance. WaterSam competes most directly with ISCO's portable and stationary sampler lines across the same regulated customer base.
• Bürkert Fluid Control Systems: Bürkert is a German manufacturer of fluid handling, dosing, and sampling systems with strong industrial process expertise. Its sampling and process control portfolio directly overlaps with WaterSam's modular sampling systems for industrial customers.
• SWAN Analytical Instruments: SWAN Analytical Instruments is a Swiss-based manufacturer of online water quality monitoring systems and industrial process analyzers. Its continuous monitoring stations compete with WaterSam's Messstationen product tier for industrial and utility customers.
• EnviroTech / Global Water (next-generation sampling brands): Global Water and related EnviroTech brands manufacture portable and fixed water samplers, monitoring instrumentation, and data loggers for environmental compliance. They overlap with WaterSam in portable/stationary sampler form factors and customer use cases.

Regional players

• Tintometer (Lovibond): Lovibond is a UK-based manufacturer of water testing equipment, colorimeters, and laboratory analysis instruments. It is a comparable European specialist in water quality measurement and analysis serving adjacent municipal and industrial customers.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/watersam-gmbh

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 WaterSam GmbH