On July 17, 2006, Hommelwerke GmbH, a Jenoptik subsidiary, signed an agreement to acquire Etamic S.A., a French industrial-measurement company based in Bayonne. The proposed deal would combine complementary measurement technologies used in automotive manufacturing; its price was not disclosed, and the agreement was subject to antitrust approval.
What the 2006 agreement covered
The transaction was reported on July 18, 2006. The legal buyer identified in the contemporary report was Hommelwerke, not Jenoptik’s parent company directly. Etamic developed and sold three-dimensional measurement technology and served major French automakers. The report said its 2005 sales were about €30 million.
The purchase price was not announced. The agreement required antitrust approval, so the July 17 signing date should not be mistaken for a confirmed closing date. Jenoptik’s later accounts record the acquisition in 2006, while a separate Jenoptik page says Etamic had belonged to the group since 2007. Those records establish the acquisition’s later completion and ownership, but do not provide a precise closing date.
At the time of the announcement, Etamic had branches in Germany, the United Kingdom and the United States. Its group also included Swiss affiliate Movomatic. The contemporary account is the source for the agreement terms, company details and transaction-era figures: EE Times’ July 18, 2006 report. Jenoptik’s corporate history records the acquisition in 2006.
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Why the businesses fit together
Industrial metrology is the measurement and inspection of manufactured parts and production processes. In automotive plants, it can help verify dimensions, forms and surfaces on components such as engine and gearbox parts, either during production or at a later inspection stage.
Jenoptik’s rationale was to bring together methods that serve different measurement needs and points in manufacturing—not simply to add another company to its portfolio.
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| Business | Capability described at the time | Role in the combined offering |
|---|---|---|
| Hommelwerke | Tactile and optical dimensional measurement | Measurement of part dimensions, including in automotive engine and gearbox manufacturing |
| Etamic | Pneumatic post-process measurement; the contemporary report also described it as a developer and seller of 3D measurement technology | Measurement after a production operation |
| Movomatic | Process-measurement technology | Measurement within the production process |
Jenoptik had acquired all of Hommelwerke in an earlier transaction. Its history of 1998–2005 describes Hommelwerke as a supplier of tactile metrology and measuring systems. The technology distinctions in the table come from the contemporary acquisition report.
The automotive market and the deal’s projected scale
Automotive manufacturing was a central target market because production of engines, gearboxes and other components requires repeatable dimensional checks and quality control. Combining tactile, optical, pneumatic and process-measurement capabilities was intended to give customers a broader set of ways to inspect parts and production.
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- Premium stainless steel body makes the KW1 gauge ruler robust, anti-abrasion and suitable for frequent workshop measurement tasks.
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- Please Note: This gauge only works for matching specific hole specifications. Please confirm the required model before purchase to avoid unnecessary returns.
A Jenoptik spokesperson told EE Times that the combined company, expected to be called Hommel-Etamic, would account for slightly more than 20% of the dimensional-measurement market. The same report put that market at roughly €200 million to €250 million. These were estimates stated in the context of the 2006 deal, not independently verified current market-share or market-size figures.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What happened to Etamic
Etamic did not remain a separate acquisition target in Jenoptik’s later corporate story. Jenoptik’s 2012 sustainability report describes Hommelwerke and Etamic as combined in Hommel-Etamic GmbH, a global supplier of industrial measurement technology: Jenoptik Corporate Sustainability Report 2012.
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- Material: Metal; Overall Size: 11 x 1.7 x 0.8cm/ 4.33" x 0.7" x 0.3"(L*W*H)
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- Max Open: 50mm/2". The tail of the caliper is rather sharp, please be careful when using it.
In May 2022, Jenoptik presented HOMMEL ETAMIC as the brand for its industrial-metrology portfolio. The company’s account says Etamic was founded in 1947 and describes products and services spanning surface-roughness, contour, form and dimensional measurement, using tactile, optical and pneumatic approaches. It also lists production-process services, training, maintenance and calibration. See Jenoptik’s May 2022 brand announcement and its current overview of non-photonic portfolio companies.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Adopted high-grade stainless steel material, the SS001 gauge ruler is sturdy, rust-proof and long service life for workshop use.
- Deeply engraved clear scale ensures high-precision and stable readings during component size measurement.
- Flexible adjustable locking structure supports fast positioning and fixed marking to boost measuring efficiency.
- Universal multi-purpose gauge designed for SS001 standard component calibration, hardware inspection and mold processing.
- Please Note: This gauge only works for matching specific hole specifications. Please confirm the required model before purchase to avoid unnecessary returns.
Key dates
- July 17, 2006: Hommelwerke signs an agreement to acquire Etamic, subject to antitrust approval.
- July 18, 2006: The agreement is publicly reported; the purchase price is not disclosed.
- 2006 and 2007: Jenoptik’s later accounts place the acquisition in 2006 and say Etamic belonged to the group since 2007; they do not specify an exact closing date.
- By 2012: Jenoptik describes Hommelwerke and Etamic as combined in Hommel-Etamic GmbH.
- May 2022: Jenoptik presents HOMMEL ETAMIC as its industrial-metrology brand.
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