Suspa
SUSPA GmbH is a German industrial manufacturer producing gas springs, hydraulic dampers, friction dampers, lifting columns, piston rods, and crash management systems for automotive, medical, furniture, industrial, aerospace, commercial-vehicle, and household-appliance OEMs globally.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1951
- HeadquartersAltdorf, Germany
- Headcount1,001–5,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Suspa does
SUSPA GmbH is a privately-held German industrial manufacturer founded in 1951 and headquartered in Altdorf, Germany (Industriestraße 12-14, 90518 Altdorf). The company produces gas springs, lockable gas springs, hydraulic dampers, friction dampers, lifting columns (Movotec SMS and ELS3 lines), piston rods, automotive crash management systems, and complex drives and actuators. Underlying technology centers on gas-pressure mechanics, hydraulic damping, friction damping, and electromechanical spindle-driven lifting, with product families organized under the sub-brands Movotec, Varilock, Lockline, ELS, and Liftline. SUSPA generates revenue through custom-specification B2B sales for OEM applications and standardized product sales via the suspa-onlineshop.com storefront; pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed.
The company serves seven declared verticals — automotive, furniture, commercial vehicles, industrial, household appliances, medical/rehabilitation, and aviation — with named reference customers including LINET (hospital beds with HD15 dampers and 16-4 gas springs), Voith Turbo (Movotec SMS profiles for 900 kg assembly workstations), and Biohort (garden equipment with gas springs operating at -10°C under a 20-year warranty). Go-to-market combines direct enterprise sales for custom applications, an e-commerce channel for standard products, and regional channel partners (HENNLICH in Slovenia, Astra in South Africa, SUSPA UK Ltd). Operations span five manufacturing sites in Germany, Czech Republic, USA, China, and India, plus a domestic sales office in Kleve and an online distribution footprint across Germany, the UK, USA, Czech Republic, China, India, Austria, and Slovenia. Disclosed scale benchmarks are ~EUR 261M revenue and ~2,000 employees (2017).
SUSPA transitioned ownership in June 2018 when Belgian entrepreneur Pascal Vanhalst acquired the company from Andlinger & Company; Vanhalst, previously co-owner of the TVH Group, serves as Chairman of the Supervisory Board, with three Managing Directors (Oliver Gold, Oguz Tekin, Ender Erat) operating the business. No venture or institutional funding rounds are disclosed, and the company remains privately held. Ongoing investments include a new Altdorf headquarters (2026), sustainable energy buildout at the Czech facility (recognized by the German-Czech Chamber of Industry and Commerce in 2023), and a suite of product launches spanning modular sit-stand workstations, home-office ergonomic frames (VariFrame, 2021), and lightweight aluminum piston-rod gas springs for aerospace.
Suspa firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Suspa
- Legal name
- SUSPA GmbH
- Website
- https://suspa.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1951
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1,001–5,000 employees
- Short description
- SUSPA GmbH is a German industrial manufacturer producing gas springs, hydraulic dampers, friction dampers, lifting columns, piston rods, and crash management systems for automotive, medical, furniture, industrial, aerospace, commercial-vehicle, and household-appliance OEMs globally.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Suspa industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Industrial Motion Control and Damping Components
- NAICS
- Motor Vehicle Steering and Suspension Components (except Spring) Manufacturing (33633), Motor Vehicle Steering and Suspension Components (except Spring) Manufacturing (336330)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Suspension Systems & Components (Springs/Shocks/Struts/Air Suspension) (IMACAIAA)
Keywords
Where Suspa is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Altdorf
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices7 records
Markets served
Suspa business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Hardware Product Sales: Sale of gas springs, hydraulic dampers, friction dampers, lifting columns, piston rods, and related components to industrial customers
- Custom/Specialty Manufacturing: Development and manufacturing of customized adjustment systems and components for specific customer applications in automotive, medical, and industrial sectors
- Online Shop Sales: Direct consumer and small business sales through suspa-onlineshop.com for standard gas springs, hydraulic dampers, and height adjustment systems
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Custom industrial products - quote-based pricing |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels8 records
Suspa product offering
Product offeringCore offering
SUSPA GmbH manufactures mechanical adjustment and damping components including gas pressure springs, lockable gas springs, hydraulic dampers, friction dampers, electric and electromechanical lifting columns (ELS3 and Movotec SMS systems), piston rods and tubes, and automotive crash management systems. These components serve industrial OEMs in automotive, medical, furniture, commercial vehicle, industrial, household appliance, and aviation sectors for applications such as controlled motion, vibration absorption, height adjustment, and occupant safety.
Product overview
SUSPA is an innovative manufacturer of gas pressure springs (gas springs, gas dampers), hydraulic dampers, friction dampers (vibration dampers), lifting columns, piston rods, crash and safety systems, and complex drives and actuators. The product portfolio centers on mechanical adjustment and damping solutions, organized into core product categories (gas springs, lockable gas springs, hydraulic dampers, friction dampers, height adjustment systems), automotive products (crash management, adjustment systems), and components (piston rods, tubes). Height adjustment offerings include electric lifting columns (ELS3 series), electromechanical Spindle Motor Systems (Movotec SMS), and mounting profiles with integrated actuators. The company operates an online shop and CAD configurator for product specification. SUSPA serves diverse industries including automotive, furniture, commercial vehicles, industrial machinery, household appliances, medical/rehabilitation, and aerospace.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Movotec: Lifting column and height adjustment systems for industrial applications including workbenches and assembly systems
- Varilock
- Lockline
- ELS
- Liftline
Products and services
- Gas Springs (Gasfedern) Gas pressure springs manufactured in highest quality for lifting and lowering applications such as machine flaps, roof windows, height-adjustable desks, and hospital beds. Available in multiple type series with custom configurations.
- Lockable Gas Springs (Blockierbare Gasfedern) Gas springs with elastic or rigid locking mechanisms for applications requiring position retention, including automotive seats, steering columns, furniture, and medical equipment. Sold under the Varilock sub-brand.
- Hydraulic Dampers (Hydraulikdämpfer) Shock and vibration absorbers (HD15, HD25 series, and commercial vehicle, lightweight, and furniture variants) used for damping motion in trucks, buses, white goods, and medical equipment.
- Friction Dampers, Struts and Spring Suspensions (Reibdämpfer) Friction-based dampers, struts, and spring suspensions for vibration control and comfort applications across industrial uses.
- Height Adjustment Systems (Höhenverstellsysteme) Height adjustment solutions for offices and industry, including electric, hydraulic, and pneumatic table columns sold under the ELS and Liftline sub-brands.
- Piston Rods and Tubes (Kolbenstangen und Rohre) Precision-manufactured piston rods and tubes, including lightweight aluminum variants (Lockline) used as core components in SUSPA gas spring and damper products and supplied for OEM applications.
- Automotive Crash Management Systems Safety and crash management systems for automotive applications, including crash sensors and related safety mechanisms developed in partnership with automotive OEMs.
- Automotive Adjustment Systems (Verstellsysteme) Adjustment systems for the automotive industry including steering column adjustments, seat mechanisms, and similar in-cabin adjustment applications.
- ELS3 Lifting Columns (ELS3 Hubsäulen) Electric lifting columns for office and industrial sit-stand workstations, with up to 60kg per leg capacity and 35mm/s adjustment speed, available in white, silver, graphite, or black finishes.
- Movotec Spindle Motor System (Movotec SMS) Electromechanical spindle motor system for height adjustment of workstations, workbenches, and industrial applications, available as integrated aluminum profiles in 40x80mm and 45x90mm standard sizes with 150kg maximum load per actuator.
- Movotec SMS Mounting Profiles (SMS-I-40x80 and SMS-B-45x90) Aluminum mounting profiles with integrated SMS actuators in standard sizes 40x80mm (SMS-I-40x80) and 45x90mm (SMS-B-45x90), with stroke options 150mm to 400mm, maximum load 150kg per actuator, and optional side cable exit.
- Lockline Lightweight Gas Springs for Aviation Lockable gas springs with lightweight aluminum piston rods designed for aerospace seating (aircraft seats, pilot seats, leg rests), achieving approximately 60% weight reduction versus conventional steel-rod designs.
- SUSPA Bench Solution for Duo Workstations Flexible bench solution for duo workstations that connects two opposite desk frames with independent tabletop height adjustment, recognized as a TOP 100 Büroprodukt des Jahres 2019 by das Büro magazine. Includes the modular FixFrame, VariFrame, TeamFrame, and BigFrame building block system.
- SUSPA Design and Engineering Services (Dienstleistungen) Engineering and support services for SUSPA products, including access to the CAD configurator for gas spring and lockable gas spring specification, ISO/IEC 17025 calibration certificates, and a supplier portal.
- SUSPA Online Shop (Standard Component Sales) E-commerce shop (suspa-onlineshop.com) selling standard gas springs, hydraulic dampers, and height adjustment systems for smaller buyers, workshops, and individual users.
Quantifiable outcome
- 60% weight reduction in aluminum piston rod gas springs for aviation compared to conventional steel
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Suspa
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments7 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Suspa technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature8 records
Suspa partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators4 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Suspa competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Stabilus: Global market-leading manufacturer of gas springs, dampers, and electromechanical actuators serving automotive and industrial markets; the closest direct competitor, explicitly named alongside Suspa in the gas spring market.
- Bansbach Easylift: German manufacturer of gas springs, dampers, and lockable gas springs for industrial and medical applications; a named direct competitor in the same core product category.
- ACE Stossdampfer: German maker of industrial shock absorbers, gas springs, and vibration/damping technology, competing directly across Suspa's damper and gas spring lines.
- LINAK: Danish specialist in electric linear actuators and lifting columns for desks, medical, and industrial use, overlapping directly with Suspa's Movotec/ELS height-adjustment systems.
- TiMOTION: Manufacturer of electric linear actuators, lifting columns, and control systems for ergonomic, medical, and industrial applications, comparable to Suspa's motorized adjustment product line.
- Ewellix: Producer of linear motion and actuation technologies including lifting columns and actuators for industrial and medical markets, overlapping Suspa's electromechanical adjustment systems.
Regional players
- Hahn Gasfedern: German manufacturer of gas springs, dampers, and hydraulic elements offering closely comparable products, primarily focused on custom industrial applications.
Emerging players
- DewertOkin (Limoss): Provider of actuator and drive systems for furniture and medical/rehabilitation equipment, overlapping Suspa's adjustment-system offerings for beds and seating.
Broad incumbents
- Barnes Group (Associated Spring): Diversified industrial manufacturer whose Associated Spring unit produces springs and precision motion components for automotive and industrial customers, overlapping Suspa's spring/component business.
Others
- ITT Enidine: Manufacturer of energy absorption, vibration isolation, and damping products for industrial and transportation markets, adjacent to Suspa's friction and hydraulic damper lines.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Suspa social profiles
Digital presenceSuspa compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance3 records
Suspa financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Suspa leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
Suspa subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Suspa funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Suspa M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Suspa
What does Suspa do?
SUSPA GmbH manufactures mechanical adjustment and damping components including gas pressure springs, lockable gas springs, hydraulic dampers, friction dampers, electric and electromechanical lifting columns (ELS3 and Movotec SMS systems), piston rods and tubes, and automotive crash management systems. These components serve industrial OEMs in automotive, medical, furniture, commercial vehicle, industrial, household appliance, and aviation sectors for applications such as controlled motion, vibration absorption, height adjustment, and occupant safety.
Is Suspa a public or private company?
Suspa is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Suspa founded?
Suspa was founded in 1951. It employs 1,001 to 5,000 people.
Where is Suspa based?
Suspa is headquartered in Altdorf, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does Suspa make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Hardware Product Sales are the primary driver. The others are custom/Specialty Manufacturing and online Shop Sales.
Who are Suspa's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Stabilus, Bansbach Easylift, ACE Stossdampfer, LINAK, TiMOTION and Ewellix. Hahn Gasfedern is listed as a regional player. DewertOkin (Limoss) is listed as an emerging player. Barnes Group (Associated Spring) is listed as a broad incumbent. ITT Enidine is listed as an others.
Does Suspa have an API?
No public API is recorded for Suspa.
What industry is Suspa in?
Suspa's product category is Industrial Motion Control and Damping Components. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMACAIAA, Suspension Systems & Components (Springs/Shocks/Struts/Air Suspension). Its NAICS code is 33633.