Endress+Hauser has strengthened its process analysis portfolio with the acquisition of SOPAT, a Germany-based specialist in inline particle measurement technology. The move expands the company’s range of analytical instruments and services, particularly for applications requiring real-time particle characterization.
Following the acquisition, SOPAT and its subsidiary Parsum will become part of Endress+Hauser’s liquid analysis product centre in Gerlingen, Germany. Operations and staff at SOPAT’s Berlin and Chemnitz locations will be retained. According to Dr Thomas Buer, Managing Director of Endress+Hauser Liquid Analysis, SOPAT’s particle characterization technologies add an important dimension to the company’s existing offerings and support key target industries.
Founded in Berlin in 2012 by Jörn Emmerich and Dr Sebastian Maaß, SOPAT develops optical, image-based inline systems that analyse particles, droplets and bubbles directly within running processes. In 2022, the company acquired Parsum, established in 1997 in Chemnitz, which specialises in inline particle size analysis for solids, powders and granulates. Together, SOPAT and Parsum employ around 30 people.
SOPAT’s technology enables real-time measurement of particle size and shape without the need for sampling or dilution, allowing for faster process adjustments and improved product quality. Parsum’s probe-based systems use laser and fibre-optic techniques to determine particle size and velocity distributions, particularly in bulk solids applications.
Industries such as life sciences, food and beverage, and mining and metals rely on particle analysis to maintain quality and process consistency. Dr Buer said the acquisition supports Endress+Hauser’s strategy of offering comprehensive analytical solutions, from laboratory environments through to full-scale production.
Jörn Emmerich said joining Endress+Hauser will help accelerate the transition of SOPAT’s innovations into broader industrial use, contributing to more stable and resource-efficient processes. Co-founder Dr Sebastian Maaß added that reliable, production-level data is essential for customers seeking to optimise processes amid rising energy and raw material costs. The acquisition took effect on 1 January 2026. Financial terms were not disclosed. Both founders will continue in management roles within SOPAT.
Endress+Hauser Liquid Analysis is among the world’s leading suppliers of instruments and systems for liquid analysis, serving environmental and process industries globally. Its solutions are designed to support safe, efficient and sustainable plant operations, backed by advanced manufacturing capabilities and a global workforce of more than 1,300 employees across Europe, the Americas and Asia.
