ASC GmbH
ASC GmbH is a German manufacturer of accelerometers, gyroscopes, tilt sensors and inertial measurement units, headquartered in Pfaffenhofen an der Ilm, Bavaria, and supplying the rail sector across Europe and beyond.
The company operates as an owner-managed, independent business, combining sensor manufacturing with an in-house calibration capability.
Products for rail
ASC develops inertial sensors in analog, digital and smart variants, covering capacitive, piezoelectric and piezoresistive accelerometers, angular rate sensors and IMUs. Its RAIL-Series is designed for applications where rail certification is required.
Capacitive and piezoelectric accelerometers are used for track monitoring and for measuring vertical acceleration in wheelset bearings and car bodies. The IMU 8 provides position determination for rail vehicles, such as freight cars, bridging navigation where satellite signals are interrupted in tunnels or covered stations.
The ASC AiSys smart sensor systems process data on the sensor itself and issue a condition status, supporting predictive maintenance and real-time monitoring of rolling stock and infrastructure.
Market position
ASC holds DIN EN ISO 9001 certification and operates an accredited calibration laboratory in Pfaffenhofen, recognised by the Deutsche Akkreditierungsstelle (DAkkS) under DIN EN ISO/IEC 17025 for acceleration measurands. Its rail products reference the relevant European standards for track geometry and vehicle testing, including EN 13848, EN 14363 and EN 13749.
Customer types span rolling stock manufacturers, infrastructure managers and testing engineers. Alstom uses ASC capacitive accelerometers to measure running dynamics and bogie strength under operational conditions. Deutsche Bahn has used ASC sensors for track data acquisition on long-distance trains, and ASC developed a customised capacitive acceleration sensor with Siemens Mobility for the monitoring system of Velaro high-speed trains.
Current activity
In 2024, ASC signed a collaboration agreement with Japan Aviation Electronics Industry (JAE) to distribute JAE quartz-based accelerometers and digital IMUs in Austria, Germany and Switzerland, adding to its own inertial sensor range.
The company has expanded its geographic reach with a sales office in China and maintains an active presence at rail sector events, including Rail Live and the Railway Forum.
