Kistler Group


Kistler Group, with headquarters in Winterthur, is an internationally active Swiss group of companies specializing in the field of measurement technology. With more than 30 Group Companies, the Kistler Group is represented at 61 locations in over 30 countries and, although owner-managed, is organized as a listed company. The Kistler Group employs some 2200 members of staff and generated revenue of 466 million Swiss francs in 2019. Approximately 10% of revenue flows back into research and technology every year.

History

The company was founded by Walter P. Kistler and Hans Conrad Sonderegger in 1959 as the Kistler Instrument Corporation, but the enterprise started in 1950 when Kistler patented a charge amplifier he developed. Hans Conrad Sonderegger is the father of the current CEO. In 1959 the company became active on the stock market. Since 1961 the company started the in-house production of charge amplifiers and the development of other sensors. The company made several major innovations, some of which would be put to use in the Apollo manned spaceflights, and became a world leader in the development of quartz sensors. Kistler left the company in 1970 and moved to Seattle, Washington.

Field of activity

Kistler develops, manufactures and distributes pressure, force, torque and acceleration sensors as well as electronics and software. Kistler specializes in piezoelectric and piezoresistive measurement technology.

Technology

Piezoelectric measurement technology
The piezoelectric effect, discovered in 1880 by brothers Pierre and Jacques Curie, refers to the property of certain crystals to generate an electric charge in response to mechanical stress. The occurrence of the piezoelectric charge during mechanical deformation is used by Kistler force, pressure and acceleration sensors.
Invention of the charge-to-voltage converter
In 1948, Walter P. Kistler made a technical breakthrough with the invention of a special charge amplifier that facilitated the broad industrial use of piezoelectricity and was patented in 1950. It converts the extremely small charge of a piezoelectric sensor to a proportional electrical voltage.
PiezoStar crystals
Since 1998, the Kistler Group has been growing its own crystals for use in piezoelectric sensors. The development of new crystal compounds was necessary due to rising demands on sensitivity, size and higher operating temperatures. PiezoStar crystals are characterized by a high piezoelectric sensitivity, low-temperature dependence, high stability of their properties and operating temperatures in excess of 600 °C. No phase transition occurs up to the melting point and there is no twin formation. Kistler uses the Czochralski process , which has been known since 1916. The process allows large, high-quality crystals to be grown within a relatively short period of time.

High-temperature and ballistic pressure sensors

Kistler measuring systems allow measuring thermoacoustics phenomena in harsh environments with extreme temperatures up to 700 °C. Applications include monitoring of gas turbines and other turbomachinery, R&D of continuous detonation engines, monitoring, and control of pressure oscillations in pipes and acoustic thermometry. Kistler’s durable piezoelectric sensors based on proprietary PiezoStar® KI100 crystal material have been developed specifically for temperatures up to 700 °C. KI100 crystals have no pyroelectric effect.
The piezoelectric sensors from Kistler are also used by the Commission Internationale Permanente pour l'Epreuve des Armes à Feu Portatives for proof testing firearms ammunition. These sensors require drilling of the cartridge case before firing the proofing cartridge in a specially made test barrel.
For NATO EPVAT testing of military firearms ammunition NATO design EPVAT test barrels with Kistler 6215 and HPI GP6 transducers can be used.
For testing shotshell ammunition Kistler produces one type of piezoelectric sensor '

Divisions and business fields

The business activities of the Kistler Group have been divided into three global divisions since 2013. The reorganization followed the strategic decision to develop the company from a component supplier to a solution provider. To accomplish this, an organization that could meet the needs of the individual markets in a targeted manner was necessary. Each of the three divisions comprises specific business units. These focus on different markets with industry- and application-specific measurement technology solutions.
Automotive Research & Test Division
The Automotive Research & Test Division specializes in measurement solutions for engine research and development as well as vehicle dynamics, durability and vehicle safety tests. The focus of the ART Division is on process reliability and efficiency, operational safety and resource optimization.
The ART Division consists of the Strategic Business Fields Vehicle Dynamics & Durability, Vehicle Safety, Engine Marine & Stationary as well as Engine Research & Development.
Industrial Process Control Division
The Industrial Process Control Division specializes in process monitoring solutions for industrial production.
The IPC Division consists of the Strategic Business Fields Process Monitoring Forming, Process Monitoring Joining, Plastic Process Monitoring, NC Joining Systems, Industrial Test Systems, Fastening Technology, Test Automation and Customized Industrial Solutions.
Sensor Technology Division
The Sensor Technology Division encompasses a wide range of measurement applications.
The ST Division consists of the Strategic Business Fields Cutting Force Measurement, Biomechanics and Force Plates, High Speed Dynamics, Thermoacoustics, Weigh-In-Motion, Rail Technology, Speed Enforcement and Test & Measurement.

Acquisitions

In recent years, the Kistler Group posted strong organic and inorganic growth. The following companies are part of the Kistler Group:
Vester Elektronik GmbH
IOS GmbH
eso GmbH
Schatz AG
Baewert Präzisionsmesstechnik
MSC
Corsys Datron
KT Automotive GmbH
Staiger Mohilo
VELOS Messsysteme
IGeL GmbH