Ernst Umformtechnik

What Ernst Umformtechnik does

Ernst Umformtechnik GmbH is a privately held German metal forming specialist headquartered in Oberkirch-Zusenhofen, Baden-Württemberg, founded in 1970. The company manufactures precision stamped, deep-drawn, and assembled components for the automotive industry and selected non-automotive sectors, serving as a tier-1.5/tier-2 development partner from concept through series production. Its product portfolio is organized across seven application domains: transmission technology (~30% of mix), small motors and automotive electronics (~22%), engine and turbo components (~21%), automotive safety (~10%), e-mobility (~6%), thermal management (~6%), and non-automotive (~5%, including white goods and industrial).

The company's core technology stack centers on metal forming — progressive compound tooling, transfer press manufacturing (40–1,500 ton press forces), deep drawing, CNC machining, laser/projection/MAG welding, in-house tool design and build, cleaning technology, and assembly production. Notable proprietary capabilities include double sheet metal construction for NVH (noise/vibration/harshness) reduction, cold forging performed inside transfer presses, and material thickening techniques. All five global facilities (Germany, France, USA, China, Czech Republic) are certified to IATF 16949, ISO 9001, ISO 14001, and ISO 50001.

Commercially, ERNST operates a direct enterprise field-sales motion into automotive OEMs (Audi, Daimler/Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagen, Volvo, Fiat Chrysler) and tier-1 suppliers (Bosch, Schaeffler, Magna, BorgWarner, Mahle, Aisin, Vitesco, Autoliv, Mitsubishi Electric). The 2025 group revenue is reported at €126 million, generated primarily through quote-based B2B manufacturing contracts with annual production volumes ranging from prototypes to millions of parts per series. Logistics capabilities include Kanban, just-in-time, milk runs, consignment warehousing, and EDI integration across the global footprint. The company employs 650+ people worldwide, with additional Chinese and Czech workforces of approximately 120 and 13 respectively.

Name

Ernst Umformtechnik

Legal name

Ernst Umformtechnik GmbH

Website

https://ernst.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1970

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Ernst Umformtechnik is a family-owned German precision metal forming manufacturer supplying stamped, deep-drawn, and assembled components to automotive OEMs and tier-1 suppliers across transmission, safety, e-mobility, and engine applications from five global production sites.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Precision Metal Formed Automotive Components

NAICS

All Other Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (33299)

SIC

Miscellaneous Fabricated Metal Products (3490)

akta.pro primary industry

Metal Forming & Fabrication Machines (Presses, Bending, Shearing, Stamping) (IMAHADAC)

Keywords

• Precision metal forming
• Stamped and drawn parts
• Automotive component manufacturing
• Transfer press production
• Tool and die making

Headquarters

HQ city

Oberkirch

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Precision Metal Formed Parts Manufacturing: Manufacturing and sales of precision stamped and drawn parts as well as assemblies in forming technology for automotive and non-automotive customers. Revenue from production contracts with major OEMs and tier-one suppliers.
2. Tool Manufacturing and Development Services: In-house tool design and manufacturing, prototype production, and process development services for customers.
3. Assembly Production: Ready-to-install assemblies combining formed parts with welding, joining, rivets, and toxing operations.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Ernst Umformtechnik manufactures precision stamped, deep-drawn and fine-blanked metal parts, as well as ready-to-install assemblies, primarily for the automotive industry. It operates as a development partner from concept and tool design through series production, with capabilities in progressive die forming, transfer press production, CNC machining, laser welding and component cleaning at plants in Germany, France, the USA, China and the Czech Republic.

Product overview

Ernst Umformtechnik is a global metal forming technology company offering precision stamped and drawn parts as well as assemblies. The product portfolio spans seven key areas: Transmission Technology (30%), Small Motors & Automotive Electronics (22%), Engine & Turbo Components (21%), Automotive Safety (10%), E-Mobility (6%), Thermal Management (6%), and Non-Automotive (5%). Core manufacturing competencies include progressive compound tool manufacturing, transfer press manufacturing, deep drawing, CNC machining, welding technology, cleaning technology, tool manufacturing, and assembly production. The company operates globally with manufacturing sites in Germany, France, USA, China, and Czech Republic, all certified to IATF 16949 and ISO 9001:2015 standards.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Transmission Technology Components Precision formed transmission components including clutch bodies, synchronizer rings, intermediate rings, clutch housings, oil dams, drive plates, pressure plates, dual-clutch system housings and slat supports for CVT, automatic and hybrid transmissions in passenger cars and commercial vehicles.
• E-Mobility Components Precision formed components for electric mobility, including stator housings, rotor arms, inverter covers, bearing covers for e-bikes and rotor end plates used in plug-in hybrids and mild hybrid electric motors.
• Automotive Safety Components Safety-critical formed components including airbag diffusers, pressure vessels, bumper brackets and IPB (inflator press plates) for driver airbag and passenger safety systems, produced under 100% inspection and IATF 16949 quality controls.
• Thermal Management Components Formed thermal management parts including pole housings, radiator headers, manifolds for AC evaporators and connection sleeves used in engine cooling and HVAC systems across vehicle platforms.
• Small Motors & Automotive Electronics Components Precision formed components for small motors and automotive electronics, including ABS housings, control unit housings, housing covers, base plates, magnet housings and flat motor housings for safety and driver assistance systems.
• Engine & Turbocharger Components Heat-resistant formed engine and turbocharger components including actuator levers, crankshaft room masks and heat shields manufactured from stainless steel materials that retain shape under extreme temperatures.
• Non-Automotive Formed Components Precision formed metal components for non-automotive sectors, including motor housings, belt pulleys, rotor fan motors and motor housings for white goods appliances and industrial applications such as Siemens, Miele and Vorwerk products.
• Progressive Compound Tool Manufacturing Manufacturing service that combines multiple operations (punching, piercing, bending, deep drawing, coining and embossing) in a single progressive compound tool with press forces of 40–1,000 tons and table lengths up to 4,000 mm.
• Transfer Press Manufacturing Service Manufacturing service using transfer presses for medium and large sized forming, with 400–1,500 tons press force, table lengths up to 4,200 mm and drawing heights up to 150 mm.
• In-house Tool Design and Manufacturing Integrated tool design, manufacturing and try-out service with vertical integration, state-of-the-art machinery and dedicated tool testing on try-out presses for customer-specific projects.
• CNC Machining Service Two-spindle horizontal and vertical CNC turning services for fully automated, high added-value metal cutting of formed parts.
• Welding and Joining Service Welding services including laser welding, pressure welding, projection welding and MAG welding for assembled component production.
• Industrial Cleaning Service Component cleaning services including PER cleaning, aqueous cleaning, pass-through washing installations and alcohol-based systems, supported by an in-house residual dirt analysis lab.
• Assembly Production Service Ready-to-install assembly services combining formed parts with MIG/MAG welding, joining, riveting and toxing operations in cost-optimized semi or fully automatic processes.
• Worldwide Delivery and Logistics Service Global logistics services including Kanban, Just-in-Time, milk run, consignment warehouse and EDI connection, organized near customer destinations across the ERNST Group's five-country production footprint.

Quantifiable outcome

• Material savings and weight reduction through optimized forming processes
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers23 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature8 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• University of Applied Sciences (Green Hydrogen Project)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 August 2024Joint research project with University of Applied Sciences to develop cost-effective methods for producing green hydrogen. ERNST Production Manager Markus Hausmann participates in university events to discuss project progress.
• Cluster Elektromobilität Süd-WestcoreOthersActive member of the electric mobility cluster in South-West Germany. Cluster received ECEI GOLD-Label recognition. ERNST participates in general meetings and presents at cluster events.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Martinrea International: Canadian automotive metal forming and stamping manufacturer serving OEMs globally with body structures, chassis, and powertrain components. Comparable product mix, customer base, and Tier-2 supplier role.
• Shiloh Industries: US-based automotive metal forming and lightweighting specialist supplying body structures, chassis, and propulsion components. Comparable precision metal forming focus with similar OEM customers.
• Muhr und Bender: German automotive metal forming parts manufacturer producing precision stamped and assembled components. Directly comparable German Mittelstand precision metal former serving similar Tier-1 and OEM customers.
• Hirschvogel: German automotive metal forming company producing precision forged and machined components for drivetrain and chassis applications. Comparable in technology, customer base, and family-owned Mittelstand profile.
• Seissenschmidt: German precision metal forming and stamping manufacturer for automotive drivetrain and safety applications. Closely comparable German precision parts supplier with similar OEM and Tier-1 customers.
• Gestamp: Spanish-headquartered global automotive metal forming and stamping company supplying chassis, body-in-white, and mechanism parts to major OEMs. Directly comparable as a Tier-1/Tier-2 supplier with a global footprint and similar OEM customer base.

Broad incumbents

• Magna International: Large Canadian automotive supplier with extensive metal forming capabilities across body, chassis, and powertrain, including legacy Tower International operations. Broader portfolio than Ernst but overlapping automotive metal forming activities.
• Voestalpine: Austrian steel and automotive components group with significant metal forming operations (Automotive Body Parts division). Larger and more diversified than Ernst, but overlapping automotive metal forming business.
• Benteler International: German automotive supplier with metal forming, chassis, and module production capabilities. Broader portfolio than Ernst but overlapping automotive metal forming and component business.

Others

• Schuler Group: German manufacturer of metal forming presses and automation systems — the type of equipment Ernst uses in its production lines. Equipment supplier to the same industry rather than a direct competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/ernst.de
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ernst-umformtechnik-gmbh/?originalSubdomain=de
• Instagraminstagram.com/ernst.umformtechnik

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Ernst Umformtechnik