Dec. 2, 2005 – Measurement Specialties Inc., a Hampton, Va., designer and manufacturer of sensors and sensor-based consumer products, announced it has acquired the capital stock of HL Planartechnik GmbH, a sensor company located in Dortmund, Germany for $7.1 million ($3 million at close and the assumption of $4.1 million in debt and liabilities). The company said the sellers can earn up to an additional $3.5 million if certain performance hurdles are achieved in 2006.

Measurement Specialties CEO Frank Guidone said in a prepared statement that the combination of proprietary and complimentary IP, existing product platforms, and the management team made HL Planartechnik attractive. For 2005, HL Planartechnik is expected to post approximately $14 million in sales.

HL Planartechnik specializes in thin-film metallization processes, producing sensors in four main categories: (1) infrared thermopiles used in appliance, automobile, medical and other applications for non-contacting temperature measurement; (2) magneto-resistive sensors that measure changes in magnetic fields to determine position, angle, rotation, or current; (3) mass air flow sensors to measure the changes in air flow and other gases for use in automotive, medical and industrial applications; and (4) MEMS-based inclination sensors for the precise measurement of level, angle or tilt in construction equipment, automobile and aerospace applications.