About Us Your expert in the field of tribology
Everyone who strives to analyse, understand and control friction and wear processes will sooner or later get in touch with us.
From experts for experts: We are your specialist when it comes to investigating the conditions of friction, lubrication and wear in any machine components or simulating practical applications. The outstanding quality of our products with their reliable and precise results is a safe investment for the future.
Our Mission
To provide customers from all over the world with assistance in subjecting lubricants, materials and material combinations to reliable tests before these are included in industrial development or manufacturing processes.
For more than 50 years we have assisted customers from many different industrial sectors. Offering competent advice and a comprehensive range of services, we are your reliable partner and problem solver. We cater to individual needs and requirements and offer innovative and tried and tested solutions.
Our Expertise
Our roots lie in a renowned manufacturer of special-purpose lubricants, which is why our direct practical relevance overtops any other provider. Ever since we started, our concentrated know-how in the design and development of efficient tribological test systems has been an integral part of Optimol's key corporate values.
We develop processes for accelerated and more cost-efficient decision making procedures regarding friction optimisation, CO2 reduction, reduced energy consumption, increased durability/sustainability, protective measures against interferences (e.g. vibration-induced damages), and the specification of lubricants and materials. Our processes help reduce development times and improve the quality of existing products to a significant extent. The development of time-effective and cost-saving product screenings helps customers increase the failure safety of their products, as it takes little effort to subject them to a large test matrix in order to depict, if possible, the entire range of operational situations in the run-up to the launch.
Our Range of Products
We are a globally leading company specialising in the development and sales of tribological model test systems and test benches. Offering innovative technologies, tried and tested solutions, competent advice and a wide range of services, we are a reliable partner to our customers. With our internationally renowned SRV® test system, we have succeeded in creating the industrial standard for tribological model testing.
Would you like a personal consultation?
Then book an appointment with our experts directly here:
Dr. Ameneh Schneider
Till Geisemeyer
Milestones in
Our History
2024
Katharina Köhnlein becomes a member of the Management Board
Publication of DIN 51834-5:2024 for the quantification of friction-related noise development of brake fluids in EPDM steel contacts
Re-publication of ASTM D7594-24 for the determination of the fretting protection properties of lubricating greases
First draft of ISO 20120:2024 for the determination of the coefficient of friction for synchronizer ring fluids
Consolidation of test methods for transmission fluids in drivetrains
Presentation of a test method for determining the dynamic elastomer compatibility of lubricants at Lubmat in San Sebastian
2023
Update of ISO 19291-2016:12 as the basic standard for the tribological evaluation of greases and oils
Publication of ASTM D8503-23 for the determination of the temperature-dependent upper performance limit of lubricating oils
First edition of ASTM D8317-23 Standard Test Method for Measuring Friction and Wear Properties of Greases Under Rolling Motion Using SRV Test Machine (standard test method for measuring the friction and wear properties of greases under rolling motion using the SRV test machine)
New development of an oscillation high-temperature module with surface temperatures > 1000°C
Start of development of a new type of 2² disk tribometer for quick and easy testing of micropitting and pitting on gear components
Establishment of a new business unit focusing on the customer-oriented development of standard test procedures for the specification of components in drivetrains and transmission systems
2022
Start of development of the hydrogen tribocell, with which SRV® standard tests can be carried out under gas pressure up to 100 bar
Development of a standard test method for the tribological assessment of water-based metalworking fluids
Construction of the dynamic normal force unit, with which high-frequency vibrations can be generated in the load unit
2021
SRV test standards become an integral part of the new NLGI specification for high-performance greases.
Using the SRV®, the TriNoWE project develops a method for quantifying the stick-slip phenomenon.
2020
The ETS – Easy Tribology Screener – is launched.
2019
Using the SRV®, the CEC is working on a standard regarding the wear in the contact area between a piston ring and the working surface of a cylinder.
Optimol starts subjecting used oils to functional condition monitoring.
Successful simulation of the wear processes in turbocharger components at a global automotive supplier.
2018
Relocation to new premises.
Start of interlaboratory tests regarding test concepts for transmission oils and the rolling friction that greases are subject to.
2017
Gregor Patzer becomes managing director.
2016
Johannes Ebrecht retires from the company management and Optimol Instruments Prüftechnik GmbH becomes part of the Harras Group.
2010
Gregor Patzer joins the company in his capacity as technical director.
1994
With the aim of increasing the speed at which new and individual customer requirements are catered to, the research and development activities are pooled in Munich.
1992
Johannes Ebrecht acquires the company that is now called Optimol Instruments Prüftechnik GmbH.
1985
A standard work group is founded on the initiative of SRV® users. First interlaboratory tests are performed.
1980
The global success story of the SRV® standard commences with the establishment of a sales organisation.
1978
Johannes Ebrecht joins Optimol Ölwerke, making the SRV® ready for series production.
1970
Due to the SRV® results' excellent correlation in practice, customers of Optimol Ölwerke show an interest in using the SRV® appliance in their own development and quality assurance processes. The distribution of the SRV® is started.
1964
A medium-sized manufacturer of special-purpose lubricants, Optimol Ölwerke develops the SRV® (Schwingung-Reibung-Verschleiß = oscillation-friction-wear) appliance as an important instrument for supporting the company's in-house product development and quality assurance processes. Functioning with translational oscillating motion to simulate extreme loads, it is the first tribometer for investigating tribological systems. The SRV® test becomes permanently established as a quick, reliable and documented assessment tool for lubricants and materials.