Spline Gauges Ltd

What Spline Gauges Ltd does

Spline Gauges Limited is a UK-based precision engineering company, founded in 1962 and headquartered in Tamworth, Staffordshire, that designs, manufactures, and certifies spline gauges, master gears, and related measurement instruments. Its product portfolio spans more than a dozen specialized lines — including spur and helical master gears, spline plug and ring gauges, taper master plugs, variable spline indicators, versa indicating gauges, lead and involute artefacts, and tapered and rotalock mandrels — manufactured to internationally recognized standards (DIN, ANSI/AGMA, ISO, BS, JIS, SAE, NF E, NAS, RVZ). The company complements its hardware offering with two service lines: ISO/IEC 17025 UKAS-accredited spline and gear calibration for new and used gauges, and Isotropic Superfinishing (gear polishing) targeted at aerospace and motorsport applications.

The company operates a single vertically integrated UK facility covering design, manufacture, inspection, calibration, and surface finishing, supported by lean manufacturing techniques and an in-house UKAS-accredited laboratory. It sells exclusively through direct channels (phone, email, website enquiry) with quote-based pricing and 30-day-EOM payment terms, and serves automotive, aerospace, defence, energy, industrial, and marine customers globally — including competitors that use its calibration services. Its principal certifications are UKAS ISO/IEC 17025:2017 (calibration laboratory), ISO 9001:2015 (quality management, FS 503702, valid through 2027), and ISO 14001:2015 (environmental management, EMS 525187, valid through 2027). The company is privately held with no disclosed parent, investors, funding rounds, M&A activity, or public revenue; the management team comprises a Managing Director plus Commercial, Design, Production, Finance, and Inspection Managers.

Name

Spline Gauges Ltd

Legal name

Spline Gauges Limited

Website

https://splinegauges.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1962

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Spline Gauges Limited is a UK precision engineering firm (founded 1962, Tamworth) that designs, manufactures, and certifies spline gauges, master gears, and related measurement instruments, serving automotive, aerospace, defence, energy, industrial, and marine customers globally through direct sales from its single UK facility.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Tamworth

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Precision Instrument Manufacturing: Manufacture and sale of spline gauges, master gears, and precision measurement instruments to industrial customers worldwide. Products include plug gauges, ring gauges, variable spline indicators, tapered spline mandrels, rotalock mandrels, and lead/involute artefacts.
2. Calibration Services: ISO/IEC 17025 UKAS accredited spline and gear calibration services for both new and used gauges, serving clients worldwide including competitors.
3. Isotropic Superfinishing Services: Surface superfinishing and gear polishing services for various applications including aerospace and motorsport, extending part lifespan and improving performance.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Spline Gauges Ltd designs, manufactures, and supplies high-precision spline gauges, master gears (spur, helical, internal), and related measurement instruments for quality control of splined and geared components. The company also provides UKAS ISO/IEC 17025 accredited spline and gear calibration services, and isotropic superfinishing (gear polishing) for applications including aerospace and motorsport. Products are manufactured to internationally recognized standards (DIN, ANSI/AGMA, ISO, BS, JIS, SAE, NF E, NAS, RVZ) from its single Tamworth, UK facility.

Product overview

Spline Gauges Ltd is a precision manufacturing company offering a comprehensive portfolio of spline gauges, master gears, and related precision measurement instruments, primarily serving the automotive, aerospace, defence, energy, industrial, and marine sectors. The core product line includes Master Gears (Spur, Helical, and Internal/Component Replica), various spline gauges (Plug, Ring, Taper Master, Variable Spline Indicators, Versa Indicating, Lock-Up Concentricity), lead and involute artefacts, and mandrels (Tapered Spline, Rotalock). These products are complemented by two key services: ISO/IEC 17025 UKAS accredited Spline and Gear Calibration Services, and Isotropic Superfinishing for surface treatment and gear polishing. The company manufactures to internationally recognized standards (DIN, ANSI/AGMA, ISO, BS, JIS, SAE, NF E, NAS, RVZ) and serves customers globally including competitors who use their calibration services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Master Gears (Spur, Helical, and Internal / Component Replica) High-precision external and internal master gears including spur master gears, helical master gears, and internal master gear / component replicas. Used for composite checking of components via double flank roll testing on machines that record deviation in centre distance, single flank roll testing for NVH evaluation, setting dimension under balls, and setting up roll-checking equipment. For industrial manufacturers requiring precision gear measurement and quality control.
• Spline Plug Gauges External spline gauges used to check circular space width on internal splined components, available in straight and helical configurations. Manufactured to internationally recognized standards. For industrial manufacturers and quality control inspectors.
• Spline Ring Gauges Internal spline gauges used to check tooth thickness on external spline components, also manufactured to fit new or existing taper master plug gauges. For industrial manufacturers requiring precision measurement of external splined components.
• Taper Master Plug Gauges Taper tooth master plugs with fit and wear lines used to monitor the wear of ring gauges during component manufacture. For quality control engineers monitoring gauge wear in production environments.
• Lock-Up Concentricity Ring Gauges Ring gauges with moving splined teeth that clamp onto components, used for inspecting the concentricity of a spline relative to another feature on a component via dial indicator measurement. For quality control of splined components.
• Variable Spline Indicator (Ring Type and Plug Type) Variable spline indicators in ring and plug type configurations used to check effective and actual tooth thickness on external spline components, and effective and actual circular space width on internal spline components. Typically supplied with digital Mitutoyo indicators displaying tooth thickness readout. For quality control of splined components.
• DUP-DUB Versa Indicating Plug Type Gauges Plug type versa spline gauges used to check dimension under pins on internal spline components, or major/minor diameter, with two spring-loaded balls and digital Mitutoyo indicators. For precision dimensional measurement of internal splined components.
• DOP-DOB Versa Indicating Ring Type Gauges Ring type versa spline gauges used to check dimension over pins on external spline components, or major/minor diameter, supplied with digital Mitutoyo indicators. For precision dimensional measurement of external splined components.
• Lead and Involute Artefacts Highly accurate lead and involute artefacts used for verification of gear testing machines, serving as precision reference standards for calibrating and validating measuring equipment. For metrology labs and gear testing machine operators.
• Tapered Spline Mandrels Precision workholding devices with tapered teeth for inspection of concentricity of internal splines relative to other component features. For quality control and inspection of internal splined components.
• Rotalock Mandrels (Arbors) Mandrels with rotating sections of teeth for clamping on internal spline components, used for machining and inspection purposes, including expanding key type arbors and expanding spline collets. For machining and inspection of internal splined components.
• Spline and Gear Calibration Service ISO/IEC 17025 UKAS accredited laboratory service for spline gauge calibration and gear calibration, issuing certificates for both new and used gauges traceable to international standards. For industrial manufacturers, competitors, and quality assurance departments requiring traceable calibration.
• Isotropic Superfinishing (Gear Polishing) Service Surface superfinishing and gear polishing process that yields smoother gear surfaces, reducing friction, heat generation, and wear, eliminating stress risers at component edges and improving sealing capabilities. For aerospace, motorsport, and other high-performance applications requiring extended part lifespan and improved performance.

Quantifiable outcome

• Reduced friction, lower heat generation, and decreased wear through isotropic superfinishing
• +1 more outcomes

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature3 records

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Renishaw: UK-based global metrology and precision measurement company providing industrial gauging, probing, and calibration systems. Comparable as a precision measurement specialist serving aerospace, automotive, and industrial customers with high-accuracy instruments.
• Mitutoyo: Japanese global leader in precision measurement instruments (micrometers, calipers, indicators, CMMs). Comparable as a precision dimensional measurement specialist whose digital indicators are already integrated into Spline Gauges' products.
• Marposs: Italian-headquartered supplier of precision measurement, gauging, and process control solutions for manufacturing. Comparable as an industrial gauging specialist serving automotive and aerospace OEMs.
• Klingelnberg: German specialist in gear manufacturing and gear inspection technology, including master gears and precision measurement of gear geometry. Closely comparable to Spline Gauges in the gear-measurement sub-niche.
• Mahr Group: German manufacturer of precision dimensional metrology equipment including gauges and calibration systems. Comparable as a precision measurement specialist serving global industrial customers.
• Taylor Hobson (Ametek): UK-based precision metrology company specializing in surface finish, form, and dimensional measurement. Comparable as a high-precision industrial measurement provider with overlapping aerospace and automotive customer base.
• Gleason Corporation: US-based global supplier of gear design, manufacturing, and inspection equipment, including master gears and metrology. Comparable as a gear measurement and master gear specialist serving automotive, aerospace, and industrial OEMs.
• Optical Gaging Products (OGP): US-based manufacturer of optical and video-based precision measurement systems and gauges. Comparable as a niche precision dimensional measurement specialist serving industrial manufacturers.

Broad incumbents

• Hexagon Manufacturing Intelligence: Global metrology and manufacturing intelligence division of Hexagon AB, offering CMMs, portable arms, and broad industrial measurement solutions. Comparable as a larger, broader metrology incumbent that overlaps with Spline Gauges' precision measurement category.
• Zeiss Industrial Metrology: Division of Carl Zeiss providing industrial CMM, optical, and CT-based metrology. Comparable as a global, broad-line precision measurement incumbent overlapping with Spline Gauges' customer verticals.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 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 Spline Gauges Ltd