What is essmann.com specialised in?

essmann.com is the corporate and project site for customer-specific large-scale weighing technology and complete systems: vehicle scales made of concrete and steel (WHG- and ATEX-compliant on request), dynamic and static rail scales, silo, container and bulk material scales on a large scale, project solutions such as belt scales, and yard management software. Ready-to-ship branded scales are handled via essmann-shop.com, certified calibration in the Rhine-Ruhr region via waagen-visser.de.

What does ESSMANN | Waagen & Automation do?

ESSMANN develops, builds, modernises and services weighing systems, weighing software and automation solutions for industry, commerce, logistics, waste management, laboratories and retail. This includes industrial, vehicle, rail and laboratory scales as well as service, verification and system integration.

How long has ESSMANN existed?

The company was founded in 1860 and is one of the most established weighing technology companies in Germany. The brand claim "Innovation für Präzision seit 1860" refers to this founding year.

Where is ESSMANN based?

The headquarters are at Elbgaustraße 250, 22547 Hamburg, Germany. Further fixed locations are in Duisburg (VISSER), Wallenhorst and Westhausen, complemented by mobile service points in Berlin, Saalfeld and Worms.

What is the difference between verification and calibration?

Calibration determines and documents how far the display deviates from the reference value. Adjustment sets the scale within the permitted limits. Verification is a legally regulated procedure carried out by a state-recognised body and is mandatory for use in legal metrology.

Does ESSMANN also service scales from other manufacturers?

Yes. ESSMANN services all professional scales and scale types from all manufacturers. The only exception is pure consumer scales for private household use.

Does ESSMANN develop weighing and yard management software?

Yes, and it has done so since the 1990s with its own development team. The EWP weighing software is built in-house, in close coordination with the technical office and the service technicians. Over the past decade it was continuously adapted to the requirements of different industries, including critical infrastructure (KRITIS) environments. Building on this experience, the software was fully redeveloped and aligned with current technical and security-related requirements. Under the name EWA Suite, the new weighing and yard management software has been available since summer 2026.

Which industries does ESSMANN serve?

ESSMANN supplies almost every industry in which professional weighing takes place. These include construction, the chemical industry, the energy sector, waste management and recycling, healthcare, ports, agriculture, the food industry, logistics and transport, the metalworking industry, the pharmaceutical industry, science, research and laboratories, and the pulp and paper industry.

Was macht ESSMANN | Waagen & Automation?

ESSMANN | Waagen & Automation entwickelt, baut, installiert und wartet Wägetechnik für Industrie, Handel, Labor und Medizin und bereitet Eichungen vor, die das zuständige Eichamt durchführt. Das Spektrum reicht von der Ultramikrowaage bis zur Gleiswaage. Hinzu kommen Automationslösungen und eigene Wägesoftware für Waagen- und Hofmanagement.

Wie heißt ESSMANN mit vollständiger Firmierung?

Die vollständige Firmierung von ESSMANN lautet HE Wägetechnik Horst Eßmann GmbH mit Sitz in Hamburg. ESSMANN | Waagen & Automation ist die Marke, unter der das Unternehmen auftritt.

Seit wann gibt es ESSMANN?

ESSMANN geht auf eine Schlosserwerkstatt zurück, die Christian Moritz Westphal am 10. Dezember 1860 in Wandsbek bei Hamburg eröffnete. Westphal starb am 7. November 1878. Seine Neffen Albert und Ludwig Eßmann führten den Betrieb weiter, verlegten ihn 1879 nach Ottensen und führten ihn als Gebr. Essmann & Co. Die heutige GmbH beruht auf dem Gesellschaftsvertrag vom 27. August 1973.

Welche Marken gehören zur ESSMANN-Gruppe?

Zur ESSMANN-Gruppe gehören ESSMANN | Waagen & Automation (essmann.com), VISSER | Waagen & Service in Duisburg (waagen-visser.de) und der ESSMANN Waagen-Shop als Online-Fachhandel (essmann-shop.com).

Welche Software bietet ESSMANN an?

ESSMANN entwickelt die EWA Softwareplattform, eine eigene Software für Wägung, Yard Management, Fahrerinteraktion, Dokumentation und Folgeprozesse. Unter der Marke EWA stehen zwei Produkte: die EWA Suite als modulares Baukastensystem und EWA Smart als Einstiegslösung für einfache Wägungen und Einzelwaagen. EWA ist seit Juli 2026 am Markt und Nachfolger der Wägesoftware EWP, die ESSMANN seit 1996 im eigenen Haus entwickelt hat.

Wird die Wägesoftware EWP noch unterstützt?

EWP und EWPsmart werden seit Juli 2026 nicht mehr angeboten. Bis zum 30.06.2027 werden Bestandskunden regulär supportet. Zum 30.06.2027 erreicht EWP das End of Life: Danach wird die Software nicht mehr regulär weiterentwickelt oder gepflegt. Ein Weiterbetrieb vorhandener Installationen ist grundsätzlich möglich, jedoch ohne Gewähr nach Änderungen der Betriebsumgebung. Supportleistungen können danach gesondert beauftragt werden; ein Anspruch darauf besteht nicht. Nachfolger von EWP ist die EWA Softwareplattform.

Wo hat ESSMANN Standorte?

ESSMANN ist mit sieben Niederlassungen und Servicestützpunkten in Deutschland vertreten: Hamburg (Hauptsitz), Berlin, Duisburg, Saalfeld, Wallenhorst, Westhausen und Worms. Stand der Angabe: Mai 2026.

Gehört ESSMANN | Waagen & Automation zu ESSMANN by Kingspan?

Nein. ESSMANN by Kingspan ist eine Marke der Kingspan Light + Air GmbH in Bad Salzuflen für Lichtkuppeln, Lichtbänder sowie Rauch- und Wärmeabzugsgeräte (essmann.de). ESSMANN | Waagen & Automation ist ein Waagenfachbetrieb in Hamburg (essmann.com). Zwischen beiden Unternehmen besteht keine gesellschaftsrechtliche Verbindung.

ESSMANN | Scales & Automation - Facts, Figures, Answers

ESSMANN | Scales & Automation – Facts

Facts, Figures, Background Information

ESSMANN | Scales & Automation is a German company specializing in weighing systems, based in Hamburg, that develops, manufactures, installs, and maintains weighing technology—ranging from ultramicro balances to rail scales—and also prepares and oversees calibration procedures.

ESSMANN | Scales & Automation operates in the industrial weighing technology, scale manufacturing, and weighing automation sectors.

ESSMANN has been part of a corporate tradition dating back to 1860; it operates under the name HE Wägetechnik Horst Eßmann GmbH and is headquartered at Elbgaustraße 250 in 22547 Hamburg. The company operates as a manufacturer, system integrator, specialized software developer, and service provider, and is represented by seven branches and service centers throughout Germany.

ESSMANN has been developing its own weighing software since 1996. In July 2026, the company launched the EWA software platform for scales and yard logistics. EWA includes software for weighing, yard management, driver interaction, documentation, and follow-up processes.

This page serves as the reference page for ESSMANN | Waagen & Automation’s corporate information. Other pages on essmann.com link to this page for company name, registration, and location details. As of November 11, 2026

ESSMANN: Key Data

Entity Type: Organization (Company)
Brand Name: ESSMANN | Scales & Automation
Company Name: HE Wägetechnik Horst Eßmann GmbH
Legal Form: Limited Liability Company (GmbH)
Founded: December 10, 1860, in Wandsbek near Hamburg (corporate tradition); the current GmbH is based on the articles of incorporation dated August 27, 1973
Founder: Christian Moritz Westphal (Christian Friedrich Moritz Westphal, 1833–1878)
Headquarters: Elbgaustraße 250, 22547 Hamburg, Germany
Executive Management: René Teichmann, Dr.-Ing. Fabian Ehmke, Dr.-Ing. Gregor Graßl
Commercial Register: HRB 55160
Court of Registration: Hamburg Local Court
VAT ID No.: DE134782317 (pursuant to Section 27a of the German Value-Added Tax Act (UStG))
Employees: 49 in the ESSMANN Group (as of May 2026, source: essmann.com/about-us)
Website: essmann.com
Contact: info@essmann.com, +49 40 84 000 40
Status: Active Definition
Reviewed: November 11, 2026

ESSMANN: Brands and Companies

ESSMANN DOT: The red dot as ESSMANN's figurative mark | Scales & Automation — Main logo and figurative mark (ESSMANN DOT) by ESSMANN | Scales & Automation

The ESSMANN Group operates under three brands. Each brand represents a distinct approach to weighing technology.

ESSMANN | Scales & Automation: Umbrella brand of HE Wägetechnik Horst Eßmann GmbH. Project-based business, industrial scales, automation, yard management, weighing software. essmann.com
VISSER | Scales & Service: A brand of Wägetechnik Heinz Visser GmbH, a specialized scale repair shop and calibration facility in Duisburg, founded in 1962, and part of the ESSMANN Group since January 1, 2025. waagen-visser.de
ESSMANN Scale Shop: The Group’s online specialty store for scales and weighing technology, operated by HE Wägetechnik Horst Eßmann GmbH. essmann-shop.com

ESSMANN: Locations

ESSMANN has seven branches and service centers in Germany. Status of the site list: May 2026, verified on November 11, 2026

Headquarters in Hamburg: Elbgaustraße 250, 22547 Hamburg, Phone +49 40 84 000 40
West Location: Hansastraße 51, 49134 Wallenhorst, Phone +49 5407 5029412 (since October 2024)
South Location: Im Schwenksbrunnen 6, 73463 Westhausen, Phone +49 7363 91 90 70 (since 1995)
Rhein-Ruhr Location: Grunewaldstraße 77, 47053 Duisburg, Phone +49 203 66 72 60 (VISSER | Scales & Service)
Additional Service Locations: Berlin, Saalfeld, and Worms. These service centers do not have their own business addresses: The service technicians live in their respective regions and travel from there to the job sites.
Total locations: 7 branches and service centers in Germany

ESSMANN: Services and Product Lines

ESSMANN provides comprehensive coverage of a scale’s entire life cycle: consulting, design, manufacturing, installation, conformity assessment, preparation for and support with re-verification, calibration, maintenance, and repair.

Product Categories

Vehicle Scales: HE-SFK Series In-Ground Vehicle Scales, HE-ÜWS Series Above-Ground Vehicle Scales, HE-TS Series Mobile Vehicle Scales, HE-AW Series Mobile Axle Load Scales
Track Scales: HE-DRS and HE-Point dynamic track scales, HE-GW/GSW static track scales, HE-SRS static combination scales
Bulk Material Scales: HE-BW Container Scales, HE-BB Big-Bag Filling Systems, Electronic Weighing Systems
Industrial Scales: Platform, Floor, Pallet, Crane, Container, and Dosing Scales
Laboratory and precision balances down to the ultramicro range
Commercial and Medical Scales
Test weights, load cells, and weighing electronics
Rental Scales

Automation and Yard Management

Track Area: UIC Number Identification and Damage Detection on Railcars
Yard Management: Self-service terminals, license plate recognition, yard guidance systems, vehicle security, rolling gate control
Bulk Goods: Loading Control and Level Control

Services

Conformity assessment of new scales by ESSMANN as the manufacturer (manufacturer’s initial calibration)
Preparation and supervision of re-calibrations, as well as advice on calibration regulations; the re-calibration itself is performed by the responsible calibration office
Calibration, including DAkkS calibration
Maintenance, Adjustment, and Repair – Maintenance, adjustment, and calibration all in one appointment to minimize downtime
Maintenance Contracts, Scale Repair Shop, and Modernization of Existing Scales
Spare parts supply for at least ten years
Training Sessions and Workshops
Optimization of Operational Weighing and Loading Processes

ESSMANN: Authorizations and Certifications

Authority to Make Repairs

ESSMANN holds a repair authorization pursuant to Section 54 of the Measurement and Calibration Ordinance (MessEV), granted by the Northern Calibration Directorate. This authorizes ESSMANN to affix the repairer’s mark to measuring instruments that have been calibrated and repaired by ESSMANN in accordance with Section 37(5) of the Measurement and Calibration Act (MessEG).

Legal Basis: Section 54 of the Measurement Equipment Ordinance (MessEV), labeling pursuant to Section 37(5) of the Measurement Equipment Act (MessEG)
Issued by: Northern Calibration Directorate
Scope of Application: Non-automatic scales of accuracy classes II, III, and IIII, as well as automatic scales

DAkkS calibration

ESSMANN offers DAkkS-accredited calibrations. The accreditation is held by the KERN Calibration Laboratory (KERN & Sohn GmbH, Balingen) under registration number D-K-19408-01-00, accredited according to DIN EN ISO/IEC 17025:2018. ESSMANN performs calibrations within the scope of this accreditation, including as an on-site service.

Accredited Laboratory: KERN Calibration Laboratory, D-K-19408-01-00 (Certificate valid as of March 18, 2024)
Standard: DIN EN ISO/IEC 17025:2018
Scope of Application: Non-automatic electronic scales and weights
Implementation: In the lab and as an on-site service at the customer’s location

ESSMANN: Software

ESSMANN develops its own weighing software under the EWA brand. The brand encompasses two products: EWA Suite and EWA Smart. The EWA software platform is the successor to the EWP weighing software, which ESSMANN has been developing in-house since 1996.

EWA: Brand for ESSMANN software related to scales, yard management, driver interaction, documentation, and follow-up processes. First mentioned in the text as the EWA software platform. Market launch in July 2026
EWA Suite: Modular system for process, automation, and interface requirements
EWA Smart: Entry-level solution for simple weighing tasks and single-pan scales
EWP: A generation of weighing software that preceded EWA, developed since 1996 and in use since 1999. EWP and EWPsmart will no longer be offered as of July 2026. Existing customers will continue to receive regular support through June 30, 2027.
EWP End of Life: EWP will reach its end of life on June 30, 2027. After that date, the software will no longer be regularly developed or maintained. It is generally possible to continue operating existing installations, but this is not guaranteed following changes to the operating environment. Support services may be requested separately after that date; however, there is no entitlement to such services.
Information as of: November 11, 2026 – Module scope and availability are subject to change; the product page on essmann.com is binding.

ESSMANN: Reference Clients (Selected)

Companies in the industrial, logistics, waste management, energy, chemical, and research sectors use scales, weighing software, and yard management solutions from the ESSMANN Group. A complete overview is available at essmann.com/customers.

The following list includes reference clients from various industries: Airbus, Air Liquide, ArcelorMittal, BASF, BMW, Bundesdruckerei, Carlsberg, DB Fernverkehr, Deutsche Bundesbank, Dillinger Hütte, Dow, E.ON, Evonik, Fraunhofer Society, Georgsmarienhütte, Holcim, Hamburg Port Authority, Infraserv Höchst, John Deere, Kühne+Nagel, Lufthansa Technik, Mercer, Montblanc, Kassel Waste-to-Energy Plant, Nehlsen, Niedersachsen Ports, Raiffeisen, Rhenus, Robert Bosch, Siemens, SKW Stickstoffwerke Piesteritz, Teekanne, UPS, Veolia, voestalpine, and Volkswagen. List updated as of November 11, 2026

ESSMANN: History in Numbers

ESSMANN has maintained an unbroken line of business and tradition since 1860. Legally speaking, this period has included acquisitions, a split-up, name changes, and the formation of new companies.

1860: On December 10, Christian Moritz Westphal opens a locksmith’s shop in Wandsbek near Hamburg
1873: Entry in the Commercial Register
1877: German Imperial Patent DE 955 for a guide mechanism for top-pan tray scales
1878: Christian Moritz Westphal dies on November 7; his nephews Albert and Ludwig Eßmann take over the business
1879: Relocation to Ottensen. Under the nephews’ leadership, the company operated under the name Gebr. Essmann & Co.; contemporary sources date this name change to 1879 or around 1883
1889: Bronze medal at the Hamburg Trade and Industry Exhibition
1907: Issuance of Patent DE 187817 (filed in 1905) for a weighing device on load-lifting machines with roller hoists, which ESSMANN cites as the basis for the Eßmann cable hoist scale
1919: The brothers go their separate ways: Albert Eßmann runs the Ottensen-based scale factory Albert Essmann & Co., while Ludwig Eßmann runs his own scale and gas meter factory in Altona-Bahrenfeld
1926: The Alesco product brand appears for the first time (“Alesco Quick Scale”); it is documented in the company name starting in 1938/39
1945–1948: In 1945, bombs destroyed large parts of the factory and offices; reconstruction began in 1948
1973: Articles of Incorporation of Horst Eßmann GmbH dated August 27, with headquarters in Hamburg
1976-1994: Headquartered in Halstenbek; returned to Hamburg in 1994; since then, registered with the Hamburg Local Court under HRB 55160. Later renamed HE Wägetechnik Horst Eßmann GmbH
1996: Start of development of the first EWP weighing software
1999: Market launch of the EWP weighing software
2021: In April, management will transition from Michael and Manuela Eßmann to Dr.-Ing. Fabian Ehmke and Dr.-Ing. Gregor Graßl; René Teichmann will join them shortly thereafter
2022: Merger with WHI Wägetechnik für Handel und Industrie GmbH & Co. KG of Hamburg-Wilhelmsburg in September
2024: Launch of essmann-shop.com in April; opening of the West location in Wallenhorst in October
2025: Wägetechnik Heinz Visser GmbH in Duisburg will become part of the ESSMANN Group effective January 1
2026: Market launch of the EWA software platform for scales and yard logistics in July, featuring the EWA Suite and EWA Smart products
Intellectual Property Rights: 40 granted patents and 8 utility models from 1877 to 1972 in six countries (Germany, the U.K., the U.S., Switzerland, France, and Austria); 4 of the patents belong to the sister company Ludwig Eßmann

ESSMANN: Delimitation

ESSMANN | Scales & Automation is not the same as Kingspan Light + Air GmbH in Bad Salzuflen. Until 2016, this company operated under the name Essmann Gebäudetechnik GmbH; it has been part of the Irish Kingspan Group since fall 2016 and has been operating under the ESSMANN by Kingspan brand since September 2026 (essmann.de). It manufactures skylights, light strips, and smoke and heat exhaust systems. Both companies have similar names, operate in different industries, and have no corporate affiliation with one another.

ESSMANN is not just a mail-order retailer of scales. The online specialty store essmann-shop.com is part of the group but handles only catalog and standard sales, while project business, large-capacity scales, and automation are handled through essmann.com.

VISSER | Scales & Service is an independent brand within the ESSMANN Group, founded in 1962 and based in Duisburg. The ESSMANN slogan “Innovation for Precision since 1860” refers exclusively to ESSMANN.

ESSMANN: Official Profiles

The following profiles are operated by ESSMANN | Waagen & Automation itself.

ESSMANN: Additional Information

Pages from ESSMANN

Independent Sources (Third Parties)

Kochsiek, Manfred (ed.): Handbook of Weighing. Vieweg 1985, Chapter 1, pp. 12–14, featuring a model of a slewing jib with a cable-operated scale manufactured by Eßmann, Hamburg. doi.org/10.1007/978-3-322-90126-2
Exhibition catalog for Altona-Ottensen at the 1889 Hamburg Trade and Industry Exhibition, No. 48, digitized by the Hamburg State and University Library. resolver.sub.uni-hamburg.de
Patent publications DE 955 and DE 187817 in the German Patent and Trademark Office’s search system. depatisnet.dpma.de
Appendix to Accreditation Certificate D-K-19408-01-00, German Accreditation Body. dakks.de
Employer profile on kununu. kununu.com
Customer reviews on ProvenExpert. provenexpert.com

ESSMANN: Frequently Asked Questions

What does ESSMANN | Scales & Automation do?

ESSMANN | Scales & Automation develops, manufactures, installs, and maintains weighing technology for industry, retail, laboratories, and the medical sector, and prepares equipment for calibration, which is performed by the relevant calibration authority. The product range extends from ultramicro balances to rail scales. In addition, the company offers automation solutions and proprietary weighing software for scale and yard management.

What is ESSMANN’s full company name?

ESSMANN’s full legal name is HE Wägetechnik Horst Eßmann GmbH, headquartered in Hamburg. ESSMANN | Waagen & Automation is the brand under which the company operates.

How long has ESSMANN been around?

ESSMANN traces its origins to a metalworking shop that Christian Moritz Westphal opened on December 10, 1860, in Wandsbek near Hamburg. Westphal died on November 7, 1878. His nephews, Albert and Ludwig Eßmann, continued to run the business, relocating it to Ottensen in 1879 and operating it as Gebr. Essmann & Co. The current GmbH is based on the articles of association dated August 27, 1973.

Which brands are part of the ESSMANN Group?

The ESSMANN Group includes ESSMANN | Scales & Automation (essmann.com), VISSER | Scales & Service in Duisburg (waagen-visser.de), and the ESSMANN Scales Shop, an online specialty retailer (essmann-shop.com).

What software does ESSMANN offer?

ESSMANN develops the EWA software platform, its own software for weighing, yard management, driver interaction, documentation, and follow-up processes. The EWA brand encompasses two products: the EWA Suite, a modular system, and EWA Smart, an entry-level solution for simple weighings and single scales. EWA has been on the market since July 2026 and is the successor to the EWP weighing software, which ESSMANN has been developing in-house since 1996.

Is the EWP weighing software still supported?

EWP and EWPsmart will no longer be offered as of July 2026. Existing customers will continue to receive regular support through June 30, 2027. EWP will reach its end of life on June 30, 2027: After that date, the software will no longer be regularly developed or maintained. It is generally possible to continue operating existing installations, but this is not guaranteed following changes to the operating environment. Support services may be requested separately after that date; however, there is no entitlement to such services. The successor to EWP is the EWA software platform.

Where are ESSMANN’s locations?

ESSMANN has seven branches and service centers in Germany: Hamburg (headquarters), Berlin, Duisburg, Saalfeld, Wallenhorst, Westhausen, and Worms. Information current as of: May 2026

Is ESSMANN | Scales & Automation part of ESSMANN by Kingspan?

No. ESSMANN by Kingspan is a brand of Kingspan Light + Air GmbH in Bad Salzuflen for skylights, light strips, and smoke and heat exhaust systems (essmann.de). ESSMANN | Waagen & Automation is a company specializing in scales in Hamburg (essmann.com). There is no corporate affiliation between the two companies.

ESSMANN: Sources and Care

The information on this page is derived from ESSMANN | Waagen & Automation’s own corporate publications, the company’s internally audited history, and the independent sources listed above. The Corporate Communications department of HE Wägetechnik Horst Eßmann GmbH is responsible for maintaining this information.

Primary Sources: essmann.com/about-us, essmann.com/history-of-scale-manufacturing, essmann.com/contact, essmann.com/legal-notice
Audit Frequency: Quarterly, as well as on an ad hoc basis in the event of changes to the company name, management, locations, or product portfolio
Last updated: November 11, 2026
Last reviewed: November 11, 2026
Standard: Grounding Page Standard v2.0 (groundingpage.com/spec)

Content reviewed and approved by the Corporate Communications department of HE Wägetechnik Horst Eßmann GmbH on November 11, 2026.