Zeiss Acquires GOM

Deal provides new and better solutions for customers

Published: Thursday, May 23, 2019 - 21:22

(Carl Zeiss IMT: Maple Grove, MN) -- ZEISS is expanding the industrial metrology and quality assurance portfolio of its Industrial Quality & Research segment by acquiring GOM, a leading provider of hardware and software for automated 3D coordinate measuring technology. Both ZEISS and GOM have enjoyed strong growth in the past years and proved successful on the market. The aim is to further strengthen this leading technological position together, especially in the area of optical digitization systems. The combination of existing products and solutions as well as joint innovations in the future will lay the foundation for shaping and entering new markets.

“Our growth strategy expressly mentions the targeted acquisition of highly innovative solutions, technologies, and companies, which can reach their full potential as part of the ZEISS Group,” says Dr. Michael Kaschke, president and CEO of ZEISS. “By acquiring GOM and thereby expanding our solutions portfolio, we are bolstering the leading position of our Industrial Quality & Research segment and will be able to offer even better solutions for our customers. This is entirely in keeping with our corporate strategy, which is focused on our customers’ success.”

Combining the ZEISS product portfolio with the optical 3D measuring technology from GOM has the potential to create new opportunities and expand market access for Industrial Quality & Research. GOM offers cutting-edge solutions for surface digitization, which will strengthen ZEISS in this area. Dr. Jochen Peter, member of the ZEISS executive board and head of the Industrial Quality & Research segment, explains, “With this acquisition, we are pursuing our goal of achieving a leading position in the area of surface measurement and digitization. Customers and users in both areas will benefit from the strengths of GOM and ZEISS in the areas of software and hardware.”

“Being part of the ZEISS Group will open up new opportunities for GOM in the future, which will also positively impact the site in Braunschweig and our business partners. By pooling ZEISS and GOM’s process and solutions know-how, we can tap into new customer segments and applications,” says Dr. Detlef Winter, managing director of GOM.

GOM GmbH develops, produces, and distributes software, machines, and systems for industrial and automated 3D coordinate measuring technology and 3D testing. Founded in 1990, the company is headquartered in Braunschweig, Germany, and has a global workforce of about 600 people. Its customers include international companies from the automotive, aerospace, and consumer goods industries as well as research institutions and universities. In fiscal year 2017–18, the company generated approximately €150 M in revenue.

Once the transaction has been completed, GOM will become part of the ZEISS Industrial Quality & Research segment. The legal form of the GOM companies in Germany and abroad will remain unchanged. The successful cooperation with the global sales partners will be continued. Subject to approval by the regulatory authorities, the transaction is due to be finalized in the first half of 2019. Both sides have agreed not to disclose the financial details of this transaction.

About The Author

ZEISS Industrial Quality Solutions

Headquartered in Oberkochen, Germany, ZEISS Industrial Quality Solutions is a member of the Carl Zeiss Group. It is a global leader in CNC coordinate measuring machines and complete, multidimensional metrology solutions for a wide variety of industrial sectors. Approximately 1,800 employees at three manufacturing locations and more than 100 sales and service centers serve customers around the world.