Endress+Hauser acquires manufacturer of moisture measurement technology
IMKO Micromodultechnik strengthens quality parameter portfolio
The Endress+Hauser Group is further enhancing its quality measurement portfolio through the acquisition of IMKO Micromodultechnik GmbH, a manufacturer of innovative moisture measurement systems. IMKO’s headquarters will remain in Ettlingen, Germany; the company’s 19 employees have been retained.
“The area of moisture measurement developed by IMKO further enhances our existing offering for process instrumentation with an additional key quality parameter,” says Dr Andreas Mayr, Managing Director of Endress+Hauser GmbH+Co KG, whose portfolio will be complemented by the new company. “Additionally, the technology that IMKO employs is very similar to technologies we use for level measurement,” explains Andreas Mayr.
Innovative technology
The IMKO systems measure moisture with time domain reflectrometry (TDR), a technology based on the time of flight of reflected radar waves. This provides information regarding the dielectric constant of a material which in turn relates directly to the material’s moisture. “This innovative technology offers major advantages over other technologies,” emphasizes Andreas Mayr. “The measurement is not influenced by the material’s conductivity. IMKO’s systems are precise, reliable and cost-efficient.”
Today, IMKO’s systems are used to measure moisture in buildings and soil, for environmental monitoring and also in process engineering applications for the food & beverage, chemical and life sciences industries. “With this acquisition, we are pursuing our strategy to support customers in future from the laboratory to the process,” says Andreas Mayr, who is also responsible for Technology and Marketing within the Executive Board of the Endress+Hauser Group.
Long-term perspective
IMKO was founded in 1984 by Kurt Köhler. The 67-year-old innovator was looking to place his company in capable hands to ensure its continued success. “Endress+Hauser is in a position to address new customer segments for our products and open up international markets,” said the company founder. “As a family-owned company, Endress+Hauser furthermore represents the same values that mark the corporate culture at IMKO.”
Endress+Hauser will acquire IMKO effective 1 October 2017. The companies have agreed to keep the details of the transaction confidential. A search for a new managing director at IMKO is currently underway. Kurt Köhler will stay on for one year to help oversee the transition.