Qness has become part of the Verder Group (front; Dr Jürgen Pankratz, CEO Verder Scientific (left), Andries Verder, owner of the Verder Group (right). Back from left to right: The shareholders of Qness GmbH, G Felbinger, M Steiner, H Hiegelsberger, R Gruber, R Höll (Courtesy Verder Group)

Dutch technology group Verder Group has acquired the majority of Qness GmbH, Golling, Austria, a manufacturer of hardness testing machines used in both industrial and research applications, as well as a specialist in custom-made test lines. With the acquisition, Verder stated that it extends the portfolio of its Scientific Division, adding a product line for hardness testing.

Qness’s hardness testing machines are said to comply with recognised standards such as Brinell, Vickers, Knoop and Rockwell. The company develops and manufactures all products at its Golling headquarters, where it employs forty staff.

According to Verder Group, the Qness portfolio complements the offering of fellow Verder Scientific company ATM GmbH. In future, ATM’s comprehensive product range for metallographic sample preparation and the hardness testing machines from Qness is expected to form a strong platform to provide complete solutions for materials testing.

Dr Jürgen Pankratz, CEO of Verder Scientific, stated, “With ATM and Qness, the two technological leaders in metallography and hardness testing are united under the roof of Verder Scientific. Qness will have access to additional resources to push international expansion and extend its innovative product range.”

Reinhard Gruber, Managing Director of Qness, commented that “the worldwide synergy effects will contribute to the positive development of our organisation and secure operations in Golling on a long-term basis”.

In a second step, Verder expects to acquire 100% of the organisation. It states that it will maintain the company’s headquarters in Austria and offer support for further expansion. The existing Qness management team will remain in place.

www.verder.com

www.qnest.at