Scholz Maschinenbau

What Scholz Maschinenbau does

Scholz Maschinenbau (Maschinenbau Scholz GmbH & Co. KG) is a fourth-generation, family-owned German industrial engineering company founded in 1919 in Coesfeld, Germany, specializing in the design, engineering, and manufacture of custom industrial autoclave systems and proprietary quick-closing pressure-vessel doors (Schnellverschluss). The company's product portfolio spans large-format autoclaves (up to 985m stated maximum diameter and 50m length), hot-air autoclave systems for composites and laminated/tempered safety glass, vulcanization systems for tire retreading, wood-impregnation autoclaves, gypsum and sand-lime brick curing kettles, continuous vulcanization (CV) systems for cable insulation, pressure-vacuum sintering autoclaves, and complete sterilization autoclave lines through its LAGARDE (acquired 1983, France) and LUBECA (established 1993) subsidiaries covering pharmaceutical and food-industry sterilization. Underlying technology centers on the 1919-patented bayonet quick-closing door (available in 2-part and 3-part configurations), precision temperature-homogeneity guarantees, fail-safe door control automation, and flow-optimized loading spaces — with 500,000+ quick-closing doors shipped to date and 160-tonne fabrication capacity.

Scholz serves nine primary industrial verticals: aviation and aerospace, automotive and motorsport, rubber and tires, glass, building materials, wood, cable and electrical, gas and oil, and food and tobacco. Revenue mechanics are project-based: each autoclave is individually specified by length, diameter, pressure, and temperature requirements, with pricing quoted via dedicated contact persons and multi-year contract terms. Revenue streams combine one-time capital-equipment sales (custom autoclaves, standard systems, quick-closing doors as standalone products) and recurring service revenue (modernization of existing installations and spare parts for legacy Lubeca equipment), with distribution handled through a 14+ country network of regional sales representatives (Lauren Trading in Denmark, J.B. Chenery and Holmach in the UK, Vente Technique Service in France, Oxytek and PONTA in Italy, IBERTEC in Spain, De Gorter and Glass Machine Sales in the USA, plus representatives in Turkey, Russia, China, India, Japan, Korea, Singapore, and Taiwan) supported by direct enterprise field sales from Coesfeld.

The company is managed by the Graeber family (Managing Directors Martin Graeber and Marius Graeber), operates with 250-350+ employees worldwide, maintains CE and UL certifications, and attends major industry trade fairs (Interpack, Glasstec, JEC World). Recent capacity investments include a 2017 electric-assembly building expansion, a 2021 turn-mill centre installation, and the 2025 launch of a 5.8m-diameter aerospace autoclave in collaboration with the German Aerospace Center (DLR). No public revenue or funding disclosures are available; the company has remained privately held across its four-generation history without external institutional investors.

Name

Scholz Maschinenbau

Legal name

Maschinenbau Scholz GmbH & Co. KG

Website

https://scholz-autoclaves.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1919

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Scholz Maschinenbau is a fourth-generation, family-owned German manufacturer of custom industrial autoclaves and proprietary quick-closing pressure-vessel doors, serving aerospace, automotive, glass, building materials, rubber, and food/pharmaceutical sterilization customers worldwide via direct sales and a 14-country distributor network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Autoclaves and Pressure Vessel Manufacturing

akta.pro primary industry

Fuel Cycle Chemical & Process Equipment (Cylinders, autoclaves, fluorination systems) (EUAKACAI)

Keywords

• Industrial autoclaves
• Pressure vessel manufacturing
• Quick closing doors
• Vulcanization systems
• Composite curing equipment

Headquarters

HQ city

Coesfeld

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Custom Autoclave Manufacturing: Project-based manufacturing of custom industrial autoclaves tailored to individual customer specifications across various industries including aerospace, automotive, glass, and building materials.
2. Standard Autoclave Systems: Sale of standardized autoclave systems including hot air autoclaves for glass/composites, wood impregnating autoclaves, vulcanization systems, and sterilization autoclaves.
3. Quick Closing Doors: Sale of proprietary quick closing doors (bayonet 2-part and 3-part) as standalone products and components for their autoclave systems. Over 500,000 units delivered.
4. Modernization and Spare Parts Services: Modernization services for existing autoclave installations, replacement parts for Lubeca autoclaves, and technical support services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels15 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Scholz Maschinenbau designs, engineers, and manufactures custom industrial autoclaves and pressure vessels, including hot air autoclaves for composites and glass, vulcanization systems for rubber/tyres, sterilization autoclaves for food/pharma, wood impregnation autoclaves, and continuous vulcanization (CV) systems for cable insulation. The company also manufactures its proprietary quick closing door (Schnellverschluss) systems in bayonet 2-part and 3-part configurations, originally patented in 1919 and with over 500,000 units delivered.

Product overview

Maschinenbau Scholz is a world market leader in industrial autoclave and plant construction, offering a comprehensive portfolio centered around high-performance autoclaves and quick closing door systems. The core product line includes various autoclave types (CO2 pressure, gypsum, curing autoclaves for sand-lime brick and aerated concrete, scraper traps, process tanks, reversing vessels for CV plants, pressure vacuum autoclaves for sintering/investment casting, and custom special vessels), complemented by complete industrial systems (hot air autoclaves for glass/composites, wood impregnating systems, sterilisation autoclaves, vulcanisation systems, and CV systems for cable insulation). The company also manufactures proprietary quick closing door systems (bayonet 2-part and 3-part) which were patented in 1919 and remain central to their business. Through subsidiaries LAGARDE AUTOCLAVES (acquired 1983, food industry sterilisation) and LUBECA (established 1993, pharmaceutical/food sterilisation autoclaves), the company provides industry-specific solutions across aviation, aerospace, automotive/racing, rubber/tyres, glass, building materials, wood, cable/electrical, gas/oil, and food/tobacco sectors. All products are individually customized to customer specifications with guaranteed temperature homogeneity and fail-safe automation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• LAGARDE AUTOCLAVES: French subsidiary brand specializing in sterilisation systems for the food industry. Located at 285 Impasse Nicolas Apper, 26780 Malataverne, France.

Products and services

• Industrial Autoclaves (Custom Configurations)

Quantifiable outcome

• 985m maximum diameter autoclave production capability
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments9 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• LUBECAcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1993LUBECA specialized alongside LAGARDE in the development and manufacture of sterilization autoclaves for the pharmaceutical and food industries.
• LAGARDE AUTOCLAVEScoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1983Lagarde has been part of the Scholz Group since 1983. The company expanded the product portfolio to include sterilization systems for the food industry. Located in Malataverne, France.
• DLR (German Aerospace Center)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSCHOLZ collaborates with DLR on lightweight construction research. Featured at DLR Science Day 2025 with keynote on resource-efficient autoclave processes.
• Wood Research InstituteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOngoing research collaboration with the Wood Research Institute.
• Ruhr University BochumminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPractical project cooperation with tomorrow's engineers at Ruhr University Bochum.
• DJK Coesfeld e.V.minorOthersPartnership for sport. Sport for everyone - community sports sponsorship.
• Kreuzschule CoesfeldminorOthersCooperation with Kreuzschule Coesfeld - pupils today, trainees tomorrow - school partnership for talent recruitment.
• DVS MünsterlandminorOthersActive participation in DVS (German Welding Association) Münsterland district. Site visits for members and anniversary celebrations.
• IHK Nord WestfalenminorOthersIHK award ceremony participant and supporter of apprenticeship excellence in Coesfeld region.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• ASC Process Systems: ASC Process Systems designs and manufactures industrial autoclaves and ovens for composites, aerospace, and glass industries, with capabilities in large-format composite curing vessels comparable to Scholz Maschinenbau's core offering.
• Harter Autoklavtechnik: Harter Autoklavtechnik is a German manufacturer of industrial autoclaves used for composites, vulcanization, and wood impregnation; directly overlapping with Scholz on German-built custom pressure vessels for similar end markets.
• Müller Druckaufbereitungsanlagen: Müller Druck specializes in pressure vessel and autoclave systems for cable vulcanization, building materials, and composites in Germany, making it one of the closest direct domestic competitors to Scholz on custom-engineered process vessels.

Others

• Boeing Aerostructures (autoclave operations): While primarily an OEM, Boeing operates large-scale autoclave infrastructure for composite airframe parts (e.g., 787, 777X) and represents both a customer archetype and a benchmark for the size of aerospace autoclave projects that Scholz's space-industry 5.8m unit competes for.

Broad incumbents

• Stork Technical Services (now part of Aebi Schmidt): Stork Group historically operated large industrial autoclave and pressure vessel projects across aerospace, food, and chemical markets; comparison illustrates the competitive set when large diversified process-equipment groups bid for high-spec autoclave contracts versus specialty manufacturers like Scholz.
• Getinge (industrial sterilization autoclaves): Getinge's sterilization division produces industrial autoclaves for pharmaceutical and food sterilization, directly overlapping with Scholz's LAGARDE and LUBECA subsidiary businesses in those verticals.
• STERIS Life Sciences (industrial sterilization): STERIS is a global leader in industrial sterilization equipment for pharmaceutical, food, and life sciences markets, making it a relevant broad incumbent competing for the same pharmaceutical and food autoclave contracts as Scholz's Lubeca line.
• Sandvik (Process Solutions division): Sandvik's materials and process technology divisions serve aerospace, energy, and industrial customers with high-spec process equipment, providing a benchmark for large diversified industrial technology groups that may compete with Scholz on major aerospace or energy autoclave tenders.

Emerging players

• Tungku (Taiwan) autoclaves for composites: Asian-based autoclave manufacturers serving the growing composites and electronics laminate markets in Taiwan and mainland China provide regional competition in the Asia-Pacific end markets that Scholz accesses through HK Great Harvest and other partners.
• Boschert (industrial pressure equipment): Boschert produces specialized pressure vessel and process equipment for the German industrial market with overlap on aerospace and automotive customers; relevant comparable for custom-engineered German process equipment similar in scale and specialization.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@Scholz_Autoclaves
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/maschinenbau-scholz-gmbh
• Instagraminstagram.com/maschinenbau__scholz

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries2 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 Scholz Maschinenbau