Development, production and distribution of precision balances, test weights, measuring instruments and optical instruments as well as DAkkS-accredited calibration services.
KERN & SOHN GmbH
72336 Balingen-Frommern, GermanyNew on Amplifa
About KERN & SOHN
KERN & SOHN GmbH, headquartered in Balingen-Frommern (Baden-Württemberg), is Germany's oldest manufacturer of precision balances and has been in existence since 1844. The family-owned company, now run by the eighth generation, produces and distributes around 2,500 different balances as well as test weights, measuring instruments and optical instruments. The portfolio comprises laboratory, industrial and medical balances, moisture analyzers, microscopes, refractometers, polarimeters and SAUTER testing and measuring devices for force, torque, hardness, coating thickness and material thickness measurement. The offering is complemented by software solutions for measurement data acquisition and weighing process integration, as well as services such as DAkkS-accredited calibrations and conformity assessments (verification) in accordance with EU Directive 2014/31/EU. The company's own DAkkS-accredited calibration laboratory covers a calibration range of up to 50,000 kg. In 2023, the company achieved revenue of 44.4 million euros with around 200 employees and an equity ratio of over 50 percent; sales are conducted primarily via an international dealer network in more than 90 countries.
- Site
- Balingen-Frommern
- Processes
- DAkkS-accredited calibration (laboratory), DAkkS calibration on site, Conformity assessment (verification), Hardness testing of metals, Hardness testing of plastics, Coating thickness measurement, Material thickness measurement, Force measurement
- Materials
- Metals (hardness testing test spectrum), Plastics (hardness testing test spectrum), DAkkS-accredited calibration, Conformity assessment (verification), Hardness testing of metals and plastics, Customized Solution Service
- Certificates
- DIN EN ISO 9001, DIN EN ISO 13485, DIN EN ISO/IEC 17025 (DAkkS accreditation calibration laboratory), MDR certification (EU Regulation 2017/745) for medical balances, ISO 9001, ISO 13485, ISO/IEC 17025 (DAkkS), MDR (EU 2017/745)
- Founded
- 1844
- Employees
- approx. 200 (2023)
- Industries
- Laboratory, Medical, Industry, Veterinary, Quality assurance/Research, Public institutions
- 01
Development and design
- 02
Manufacturing and assembly
- 03
Quality inspection
- 04
DAkkS-accredited calibration and verification
- 05
Distribution via international dealer network
- 06
Technical support and spare parts service
Products & Processes
DAkkS-accredited calibration
Accredited calibration of test weights and measuring instruments in the laboratory and on site, calibration range up to 50,000 kg.
Conformity assessment (verification)
Conformity assessments in accordance with EU Directive 2014/31/EU for non-automatic weighing instruments.
Hardness testing of metals and plastics
SAUTER hardness testing devices for materials testing of metals and plastics.
Customized Solution Service
Customer-specific measurement solutions for individual applications in weighing and metrology.
Locations
Balingen-Frommern
DEHeadquarters with production, development and the company's own DAkkS-accredited calibration laboratory
- DAkkS-accredited calibration laboratory (calibration range up to 50,000 kg)
Industries
Processes & technical limits
| Processes | Tolerance | Max. part | Weight | Lot size | Materials |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DAkkS-accredited calibration (laboratory)Testing | – | – | up to 50000 kg (calibration range) | – | – |
| DAkkS calibration on siteTesting | – | – | – | – | – |
| Conformity assessment (verification)Testing | – | – | – | – | – |
| Hardness testing of metalsTesting | – | – | – | – | Metals |
| Hardness testing of plasticsTesting | – | – | – | – | Plastics |
| Coating thickness measurementTesting | – | – | – | – | – |
| Material thickness measurementTesting | – | – | – | – | – |
| Force measurementTesting | – | – | – | – | – |
| Torque measurementTesting | – | – | – | – | – |
| Customized measurement solutions (CUSOS)Engineering | – | – | – | – | – |
1 Anlagen & Maschinen
| Machine | Manufacturer / model | Quantity | Working area | Year built | Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DAkkS-accredited calibration laboratory (calibration range up to 50000 kg) | KERN & SOHN | – | – | – | Balingen-Frommern |
Additional services
Quality & Accreditation
KERN & SOHN is certified to DIN EN ISO 9001 and, for medical balances, meets the requirements of DIN EN ISO 13485 as well as the MDR (EU Regulation 2017/745). The company's own calibration laboratory is accredited by DAkkS to DIN EN ISO/IEC 17025 and covers a calibration range of up to 50,000 kg.
| Evidence | Balingen-Frommern |
|---|---|
| ISO 9001 | |
| ISO 13485 | |
| ISO/IEC 17025 (DAkkS) | |
| MDR (EU 2017/745) |
History
- 1844
Founded by Gottlieb Kern in Onstmettingen (today Albstadt); emerged from the Sauter balance workshop.
- 1867
Production and sale of around 2,000 balances to scientists, pharmacists, chemists and goldsmiths.
- 1870
Stepson Albert Sauter joins the company.
- 1886
Death of Gottlieb Kern; Albert Sauter takes over management and establishes a manufacturing facility in Ebingen.
- 1903
Gustav Sauter takes over the company.
- Ende 1940er
Resumption of balance production after the factory was destroyed in the Second World War.
- 1970er
Production of the first semi-electronic precision balances in the company's history.
- 2023
Revenue EUR 44.4 million, equity ratio over 50 %, around 200 employees.
- 2024
Germany's oldest precision balance manufacturer, in existence for over 180 years, managed by the eighth family generation.
- 2025
MDR certification for medical balances; complete transition to DAkkS-accredited calibration of test weights.