The Pipersberg company (Hermann Pipersberg jr. GmbH) is one of the oldest continuously operating meter manufacturers in Europe, with roots going back to the early industrial era.

🏭 Origins (1843–1880s): Gas Meter Pioneer.

Founded: 1843 in Remscheid, Germany by Franz Pipersberg.

Pipersberg began as a small workshop producing gas meters, at a time when gas lighting and urban utilities were rapidly expanding in Europe.

They produced wet gas meters in the 1840s, then introduced dry gas meters around 1845 and installed them in cities like Dresden by 1847. Production gradually shifted from manual craftsmanship to mechanised manufacturing.

At this stage, Pipersberg was part of the first generation of industrial metering companies in Germany, similar to Siemens and other 19th‑century pioneers.

💧 Entry into Water Meters (1885).

Water meter production began: 1885. This marked a major transition in the company’s history as municipal water systems expanded.

Early water meter types produced;

- Single-jet water meters

- Multi-jet water meters

- Ring-piston (volumetric) water meters — among the first produced in Germany

This placed Pipersberg among the early adopters of volumetric water metering technology in continental Europe.

🏗️ Growth and Industrial Development (1900–1970s).

During the 20th century, Pipersberg evolved into a fully industrialized manufacturer:

- Expanded product range for utilities and large-scale infrastructure

- Participated in early technical fairs and exhibitions (c.1900 onward)

- Continued innovation across both gas and water metering

1972: Established state-approved testing laboratories for:

- gas meters (GH/50)

- water meters (WH/50) [pipersberg.de]

his meant meters could be certified in-house, strengthening its role as a trusted supplier to utilities.

🔧 Transition to Services & Full Solutions (Late 20th century)

From the late 20th century, Pipersberg began shifting:

- From pure manufacturing → to service-oriented business model

- meter installation and replacement programs

- maintenance and calibration services

- logistics and device management

💻 Modernisation and Smart Metering (2000s–present)

Like most traditional meter makers, Pipersberg modernised rapidly in the 21st century with Introduction of:

- electronic and digital meters

- remote reading (AMR/AMI) systems

- IoT-based platforms for utilities [linkedin.com]

- data communication (LoRaWAN, wireless M-Bus, NB-IoT)

- meter data management systems

📊 Ownership & Recent Developments

Still based in Remscheid, Germany

Around 100–150 employees

2021: Majority stake acquired by EMZ private equity Partners.

🧭 Long-Term Evolution Summary

Development 1843–1880s Founded; early gas meter manufacturing. 1885 Entry into water meter production. 1900–1970s Industrial growth; development of testing and certification. 1972 In-house calibration laboratories established. 1980s–2000s Expansion into full-service and lifecycle solutions. 2000s–today Digital transformation and smart metering. 2021Private equity investment.