Precision measurement technology with a human touch – From Chemnitz across the world
Precise measurement, smart connectivity – This is how we shape the future together.
GEMAC Chemnitz GmbH:
Precision in measurement technology for over 30 years
Company Profile of GEMAC Chemnitz GmbH
With a commitment to redefining precision, GEMAC Chemnitz GmbH has been developing and manufacturing high-quality measurement technology with the “Made in Saxony” quality seal for over 30 years. In the fields of inclination sensors, inertial measurement technology, and advanced fieldbus diagnostics for CAN-based systems, we create solutions that are systematically tailored to customer-specific requirements and used worldwide in mobile machinery, automation, and medical technology. Through the close cooperation between our development and production, we ensure a high level of technological expertise and consistently high quality. The GEMAC portfolio is complemented by high-performance EMS services – ranging from prototype development to series production. Our team of around 70 experts delivers innovative, durable, and reliable system solutions. As an ISO 9001- and ISO 13485-certified company, GEMAC supports its customers as a crucial partner, working with them from the initial idea through implementation to stable system integration.
Looking ahead, GEMAC is a company where cutting-edge technology, creative freedom, and purpose converge: Intelligent inclination and inertial sensors make mobile machines safer, automate processes, and open up new applications – and our employees guide customers on this journey from the initial idea to deployment in the field. For customers, this means direct access to development teams that listen, think creatively, and develop customized sensor systems and diagnostic devices. Modern technologies, agile development, and our combination of electronics manufacturing, software expertise, and application experience ensure that innovation at GEMAC is quickly put into practice and doesn’t just exist on paper.
Our sales activities are focused on expanding our core business areas. Close collaboration with machine manufacturers, system integrators, and service organizations ensures comprehensive knowledge of the applications and a corresponding level of support. Local contacts, application engineers with hands-on experience, customized solutions, and active vertical market management make GEMAC your partner of choice for developing new markets.
Today, GEMAC Chemnitz is represented in numerous European countries and across several continents with its sensor and diagnostic systems.
Our local distribution partners have in-depth knowledge of local markets and applications. Together with them, we are building a network that takes GEMAC technology wherever robust and precise measurement technology is needed.
Milestones
1992 – GEMAC is founded
On May 19, 1992, GEMAC – Gesellschaft für Mikroelektronikanwendungen Chemnitz – is founded by a team of specialists: 18 experts from the GERFEMA circuit design center and 12 colleagues from the TEXTIMAELEKTRONIK circuit design center pool their expertise to form a new company. Managing directors Dr. Claus Dittrich (GERFEMA) and Sigurd Wätzold (TEXTIMA) launch operations at a single location consisting of TEXTIMA’s production hall, an office, and a small workshop on Matthesstraße in Chemnitz. The new company’s portfolio ranges from commissioned research and ASIC design to PCB design, as well as including the development and manufacturing of assemblies and devices – including for medical technology. Even at this early stage, inclination sensors – whose development had previously begun at GERFEMA – are crucial to the company.
1995
In September 1995, the Technical University of Munich launches the development of bus testers: the goal is to create a tool that could identify weaknesses in bus architecture.
In 1997, production of the first professional bus tester (PBT) begins, shortly followed by the development of the CAN bus tester.
1999
GEMAC moves into a renovated historic building that was formerly part of the Wanderer-Werke complex at 227 Zwickauer Straße – with room for growth and a fully equipped EMS production facility on the ground floor.
2001
In collaboration with the Center for Micro Technologies at Chemnitz University of Technology (ZfM) and Fraunhofer IZM, GEMAC develops a 2D inclination sensor for harsh environmental conditions
2002
The CBT CAN bus tester is launched on the market in 2002.
2004
In 2004, rugged, EMC-compliant, and automotive-grade shock-resistant inclination sensors with industry-standard interfaces enter production. Programmable current and voltage outputs and a CAN interface are available to customers. The ISPA1 Starter Kit, which connects to a PC via USB, is developed for configuring the outputs.
2007
The CAN bus tester 2 (CBT2) is launched – a powerful diagnostic tool for the development, commissioning, monitoring, and maintenance of CAN bus systems. In addition to physical measurements, the CBT2 provides a comprehensive protocol monitor that includes CANopen, DeviceNet, SAE J1939, and symbolic decoding.
2008
The CANobserver® is launched to enable remote diagnostics of CAN systems via the Internet; the trademark is registered on December 5, 2008. In 2007/2008, the PBT3 Profibus tester is sold to Softing Industrial Automation GmbH. In the same year, the Hamburg-based Elbe Partners GmbH acquires GEMAC.
2010
GEMAC presents a new generation of digital inclination sensors featuring CAN, CANopen, and current and voltage interfaces. The first prototype is unveiled at the Intersolar trade show in June 2010.
2011
Our sensor capabilities are expanded: Sensors with an adjustable measurement range (for example, ±90° for 2D and up to 360° for 1D), a fine resolution of 0.01°, and a typical accuracy of 0.05° are available to customers and showcased at Intersolar 2011.
2014
With the CANtouch®, GEMAC launches a battery-powered handheld diagnostic device with integrated symbolic decoding for the physical and logical analysis of CAN bus systems. The CANalarm® follows as a diagnostic connector for quick testing: Measuring just 7 cm, the CANalarm® is designed for the logical signal monitoring of CAN systems using adjustable trigger criteria.
2015
CANvision® is launched as a network-compatible variant of the CBT2 protocol monitor, featuring comprehensive transmission, decoding, and recording functions; the trademark is registered on January 8, 2016. Also in 2015, a temperature-compensated inclination sensor goes into production as a new flagship product: The sensor element is maintained at a constant 85°C and mounted with minimal thermal expansion, thereby reducing temperature drift by a factor of 10.
2015–2016
Working closely with partners in the infrastructure and rail sectors, GEMAC develops precision sensors for structural health monitoring, designed for applications such as monitoring buildings and bridges. Sensors with extremely high measurement accuracy – up to ±0.001° of inclination at very high resolution – prove their worth in initial field tests in 2015 and subsequently go into series production. The devices make their debut at the SPS/IPC/Drives 2016 trade show.
That same year, the System and ASIC Design department is spun off to form the independent company AMAC. The entire Interpolation Technology department and around 15 employees move to AMAC.
2017
In February 2017, GEMAC files for bankruptcy. Since August 2017, Robert Hermann has managed and developed GEMAC as a family business. Production of rotation rate sensors begins in late 2017.
2019
GEMAC presents the IMU+ for the first time at SPS and Agritechnica – the next step toward its own IMU platform.
2020
In 2020, IMU+ becomes GEMAC MOTUS®; the trademark is registered on December 30, 2020. With GEMAC MOTUS®, GEMAC launches a 6-axis inertial measurement unit that simultaneously measures inclination, acceleration, and rotation rate. A new sensor fusion algorithm combines complementary and Kalman filters, thereby ensuring significantly improved static and dynamic accuracy as well as reliable performance even when in motion.