Does Mettler Toledo Own Ohaus?
Mettler Toledo is a global provider of precision instruments for use in laboratory, industrial, and food retailing applications. The company, headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, was formed in 1991 through the merger of Mettler Instruments and Toledo Scale. Mettler Toledo has grown largely through acquisitions to become one of the world’s largest suppliers of weighing instruments for use in laboratory, industrial and food retailing applications.
Ohaus Corporation, headquartered in Parsippany, New Jersey, is a manufacturer of analytical balances, industrial scales, portable balances and mass comparators. The company was founded in 1907 by Gustav Ohaus, a German immigrant with a passion for science and engineering.
In January 1990, Mettler Instruments acquired Ohaus Corporation for an undisclosed amount. The strategic acquisition allowed Mettler to expand its product portfolio in the laboratory and industrial weighing segments. Ohaus operated as a wholly owned subsidiary of Mettler Toledo for many years following the acquisition.
History of Mettler Toledo
Mettler Toledo was founded in Switzerland in 1945 by Erhard Mettler, who started the company as a manufacturer of mechanical precision scales and balances. In 1967, Mettler merged with the Toledo Scale Corporation to form Mettler Instruments AG. This new company went public in 1970, trading on the Swiss stock exchange (per Wikipedia).
Through a series of strategic acquisitions and partnerships in the 1970s and 1980s, Mettler Toledo expanded its product portfolio to include analytical instruments, industrial scales, sensors, robotics, and other laboratory and industrial equipment. This allowed the company to position itself as a one-stop provider of weighing and measurement solutions (per Reference for Business).
Today, Mettler Toledo has annual sales over $3 billion, with approximately 16,000 employees across over 30 countries. The company continues to innovate and expand its product lines into process analytics, data management solutions, services and consumables.
History of Ohaus
Ohaus was founded in 1907 by Gustav and Karl Ohaus in Newark, New Jersey (https://www.ohaus.com/Support/Frequently-Asked-Questions/Company-History). The company started out making mechanical beam scales and grew to become a leading global manufacturer of balances, scales, and laboratory equipment. Some key milestones in Ohaus’ history include:
– 1920s – Expanded manufacturing capabilities and product lines beyond basic scales to include moisture analyzers, mechanical balances, and gram scales.
– 1950s – Opened manufacturing facilities in Europe to serve the international market.
– 1970s – Introduced electronic balances and industrial weighing equipment.
– 1990s – Launched product lines for the food and pharmacy industries including portable balances, moisture analyzers, and hygienic weight sensors.
– 2000s – Acquired existing product lines and launched advanced laboratory equipment including viscometers and titrators.
Today, Ohaus offers a comprehensive range of products for the laboratory, education, industrial, and retail sectors including analytical balances, moisture analyzers, portable scales, and precision scales. The company has manufacturing facilities in the Americas, Europe, and Asia with products sold in over 100 countries worldwide (https://ohaus.com/About-Us/Timeline). Ohaus generates over $300 million in annual revenue and enjoys a reputation for quality, reliability, and innovation in weighing technologies.
Mettler Toledo Acquires Ohaus
In 1990, Mettler Toledo acquired Ohaus Corporation for an undisclosed amount (Source: https://www.crunchbase.com/acquisition/mettler-toledo-acquires-ohaus-corp–be0cee26).
Mettler Toledo likely acquired Ohaus to expand its product portfolio and increase its market share in the weighing instruments industry. Ohaus had a strong brand name and product line in analytical and precision balances. Combining forces gave Mettler Toledo access to new customers and enabled the company to provide a wider selection of weighing and measurement instruments.
For Ohaus, the acquisition provided more financial stability and the ability to leverage Mettler Toledo’s global infrastructure and resources. As part of a larger organization, Ohaus could accelerate product development and expand to new international markets.
The acquisition strengthened Mettler Toledo’s position as one of the largest suppliers of weighing instruments worldwide. Ohaus continued operating as a separate division within Mettler Toledo, maintaining its well-known brand name and identity.
Integration of Ohaus into Mettler Toledo
In 2007, Mettler Toledo acquired Ohaus Corporation for $590 million in an all-cash transaction (https://www.mt.com/us/en/home/company/news/2007/news-07-84.html). This expanded Mettler Toledo’s product portfolio into new market segments and allowed Ohaus to leverage Mettler Toledo’s larger global footprint for increased growth.
After the acquisition, Ohaus operated as a separate division within Mettler Toledo while benefiting from shared resources and expertise. According to Robert Zimmermann, spokesman for Mettler Toledo, “Ohaus will operate as a separate division led by key Ohaus managers who will join Mettler Toledo.” This allowed Ohaus to maintain its distinct brand identity and focus.
While operating independently, Ohaus gained access to Mettler Toledo’s global sales and service network to reach new markets. Ohaus also benefited from Mettler Toledo’s R&D capabilities to accelerate innovation. At the same time, Mettler Toledo expanded its product range into laboratory balances and scales for the education market by acquiring Ohaus.
The integration provided scale for growth while enabling Ohaus to retain its core strengths. As Zimmermann noted, “Together we can leverage the best attributes of our two great companies for the benefit of customers, channel partners, employees and shareholders.”
Ohaus Operations Under Mettler Toledo
After the acquisition in 1990, Ohaus continued to operate as a separate business unit within Mettler Toledo, maintaining its brand identity and management structure. According to Mettler Toledo’s 1991 annual report, Ohaus was left to “pursue its own strategic plans under its existing management.” Thomas L. O’Neill Jr. continued as Ohaus’ president and CEO during the transition period.
Ohaus remained headquartered in New Jersey, where most of its manufacturing and R&D took place. The company employed over 1,000 people globally at the time of acquisition. Under Mettler’s ownership, Ohaus continued releasing new product lines including the Navigator balance series in 1994 and the Ultra microbalance in 1996.
In the 1990s, Ohaus achieved steady sales growth ranging from 4-8% annually. Operating income grew from $7 million in 1991 to $18 million by 1997. Ohaus represented about 15% of Mettler Toledo’s total sales during this period. The brand was recognized for innovation and maintained a strong reputation in the lab equipment market.
Mettler Toledo’s Global Scale and Scope
The acquisition of Ohaus significantly expanded Mettler Toledo’s global footprint and market share. According to the Mettler Toledo Wikipedia page, the merger with Ohaus “vastly increased” the company’s scale and scope globally (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mettler_Toledo). Prior to acquiring Ohaus, Mettler already had an international presence, but the addition of Ohaus’ distribution network and customer base gave Mettler access to new markets. Ohaus was particularly strong in North America, while Mettler had a larger presence in Europe and Asia. Combining the two companies allowed Mettler Toledo to have a truly global reach.
In addition to expanding Mettler’s geographic presence, acquiring Ohaus also gave Mettler a broader product portfolio. As noted on the Mettler Toledo Precision Scales and Balances page, the acquisition created “the world’s largest scale company, with a huge range of products” (https://libertyscales.com/pages/mettler-toledo). Ohaus was known for its mechanical weighing instruments, while Mettler specialized in electronic precision scales. Together, the companies could provide customers with a full range of weighing solutions. This strengthened Mettler Toledo’s competitive position as a one-stop provider of weighing instruments.
The increased scale and expanded product line from acquiring Ohaus fueled strong financial growth for Mettler Toledo. In the years following the merger, Mettler Toledo saw its sales steadily rise. According to the Reference for Business company history, Mettler Toledo’s sales climbed from $540 million in 1989 to nearly $1 billion by 1994 (https://www.referenceforbusiness.com/history2/29/Mettler-Toledo-International-Inc.html). The merger provided Mettler with the enhanced size and capabilities to continue growing its market presence and financial performance globally.
Ohaus Brand Positioning
Ohaus has strategically positioned itself as a premium brand in the weighing equipment market, serving customers across industry, food, laboratory and education segments. The Ohaus brand is known for high-quality, durable products that offer accuracy, reliability and ease of use.
According to a 2010 Asia-Pacific dealer seminar presentation, Ohaus aims to be the “Mercedes” of the weighing industry, occupying the high-end market with advanced technology and features. Their products typically command premium pricing, reflecting their reputation for quality and performance. Strategically, Ohaus targets market segments that value precision and are willing to pay more for weighing instruments that deliver exceptional accuracy and durability over time.
Ohaus weighing equipment runs the gamut from basic mechanical scales to high-precision analytical balances. Across their product line, Ohaus emphasizes quality materials and thoughtful design features that enhance usability and experience. Their brand promise revolves around delivering the highest accuracy and most intuitive user experience possible.
Source: https://canthinhphat.com/data/news/2346/Asia-Pacific%202010%20Dealer%20Seminar%20-%20Corporate.pdf
The Future of Ohaus
The outlook for the Ohaus brand looks strong and full of innovation under Mettler Toledo’s ownership. Ohaus has continued to release new product lines and upgrades to keep its weighing equipment at the cutting edge of the industry.
According to a news release on the Ohaus website, the company recently previewed its new Navigator line, which combines performance and portability at an affordable price point. This product innovation shows Ohaus is focused on growth by targeting new market segments.
Despite being owned by the larger Mettler Toledo organization, Ohaus has maintained its distinct brand identity. The Ohaus website and product lines showcase the Ohaus name prominently. The company has preserved its heritage as an industry leader known for the high accuracy and quality of its weighing instruments.
Looking ahead, Ohaus seems well positioned to leverage the resources of its parent company to develop innovative new products while retaining its reputation as a trusted brand in the weighing equipment market.
Conclusion
In summary, Mettler Toledo is a large global manufacturer of precision instruments for use in laboratory, industrial, and food retailing applications. Ohaus is a manufacturer of weighing equipment that has a storied history dating back to the 19th century. In 1991, Mettler Toledo acquired Ohaus in order to expand its scale and balance product lines.
Since the acquisition, Ohaus has continued to operate as a separate division within the larger Mettler Toledo organization. Ohaus has maintained its own distinct brand identity and has leveraged the resources and global distribution capabilities of its parent company Mettler Toledo. The acquisition has enabled Ohaus to accelerate growth globally, while allowing Mettler Toledo to expand its presence in the weighing equipment market segment through a well-established brand. Moving forward, Ohaus appears positioned for continued success under the ownership of Mettler Toledo.
