About two and a half months after filing for insolvency, the Hessian analysis and measurement specialist Meter-Q Solutions has found a new owner. As of August 1, 2026, the company based in Friedberg will become part of the Friedrich Vorwerk Group from Tostedt near Hamburg. The acquisition is subject to the approval of the creditors' meeting.
According to insolvency administrator Alexander Eggen, 15 of the 17 jobs at the Friedberg site will be retained. Meter-Q specializes in measurement and analysis technology for hydrogen and natural gas and is, according to the insolvency administrator, one of only three companies nationwide in this segment.
Meter-Q to complement Gas Technology division
Within the Friedrich Vorwerk Group, the Friedberg site will operate under the umbrella of Vorwerk Gas Technology in the future. This subsidiary consolidates the group's activities in the fields of gas and hydrogen technology.
“By acquiring the Friedberg site and its highly qualified workforce, we can expand our group's offering by a crucial area,” says Tim Hameister, CFO of the Friedrich Vorwerk Group. “Like Friedrich Vorwerk, Meter-Q stands for high technological competence, strong innovation power, and cooperative collaboration.” The group has been specializing in complex pipeline and plant construction for decades.
Insolvency administrator Eggen, who heads the Frankfurt office of the law firm Schultze & Braun, also views the solution positively: “With the Friedrich Vorwerk Group, we have found a partner from the industry for whom the expertise and products of Meter-Q are a perfect complement.” The business operations were continued during the insolvency proceedings. This created the conditions to maintain the core competencies in the field of hydrogen and natural gas analysis and measurement in the market.
Products in use by almost all network operators
Meter-Q was founded in early 2014 and operates in the field of critical infrastructure. The portfolio includes solutions for natural gas storage, natural gas distribution systems, and biogas plants. Additionally, the company produces mobile measurement and analysis systems, handles their installation and commissioning, and offers engineering services.
Another business area is gas measurement systems. Meter-Q calibrates these itself, installs them in network operators' facilities, and handles maintenance and recalibration. According to the company, Meter-Q devices are in use by almost all network operators in Germany.
Pre-financing led to liquidity gap
The economic difficulties of Meter-Q arose mainly from the structure of project financing, according to the insolvency administrator. The orders typically run over several months. During this time, the company had to pre-finance the projects from its own funds, while revenues only flowed at the end of the project. This resulted in a liquidity gap that Meter-Q could no longer close on its own.
The acquiring Friedrich Vorwerk Group employs more than 2,400 people at 15 locations in Germany and Europe, according to its own information. The company has been specializing in pipeline and plant construction for over six decades.
