Felss Group
Felss Group is a German cold forming specialist founded in 1905 that sells custom forming machines and produces 36+ million precision metal components annually across five global plants, serving primarily automotive tier-1 suppliers (Bosch, ZF, Stellantis, BYD) plus aerospace, medical, and industrial customers.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1905
- HeadquartersKönigsbach-stein, Germany
- Headcount501–1,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Felss Group does
Felss Group is a German specialist in cold forming (Kaltumformung) of metallic tubes and solid materials, founded in 1905 and headquartered in Königsbach-Stein. The company operates a dual "Make & Buy" model via two core subsidiaries: Felss Systems designs and manufactures custom cold forming machines (axial forming, rotary swaging, Tube+, HMP rolling, pipe bending, end machining, flat sheet bending), and Felss Rotaform produces ready-to-install precision components at five global plants in Germany, Switzerland, USA, China, and Slovakia, with annual output exceeding 36 million parts. Proprietary and patented processes include recursive axial forming (DIN 5480 precision class 5-6, up to 5 parts/minute), rotary swaging (Rundkneten) at 1,000+ strokes/minute, Tube+ partial tube thickening, and HMP Rolling nanometer-precision rolling acquired in 2019. Cold forming delivers structural advantages over subtractive machining: no heating required, zero chip waste, up to 30% fatigue strength increase via cold work hardening, and up to 50% weight reduction via hollow shaft designs.
The company's customer base is concentrated in automotive and tier-1 suppliers (Bosch, ZF, Stellantis, Eaton, AAM, BYD, Grundfos, Pilatus), with secondary verticals in industrial fluid technology, aerospace (Pilatus), precision engineering (watchmaking, sensors), and medical technology (endoscopes, catheters, implants). Felss runs an enterprise field sales motion supplemented by a global network of local sales representatives across Mexico, China, India, UK, Scandinavia, Spain/Portugal, Turkey, Japan, and Korea. An Industry 4.0 layer — the Felss Edge Device and Felss Digital Apps — provides OPC-UA-based production monitoring, predictive maintenance, and remote service. The company is majority-owned by Swiss private equity firm CAPVIS (acquired 2017) and reports 501-1,000 employees. Revenue is generated through one-time machine/system sales, recurring component manufacturing contracts, and aftermarket services (24/7 support, retrofitting, tool service, training).
Felss Group firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Felss Group
- Legal name
- Felss Group GmbH
- Website
- https://felss.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1905
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 501–1,000 employees
- Short description
- Felss Group is a German cold forming specialist founded in 1905 that sells custom forming machines and produces 36+ million precision metal components annually across five global plants, serving primarily automotive tier-1 suppliers (Bosch, ZF, Stellantis, BYD) plus aerospace, medical, and industrial customers.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Felss Group industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Cold Formed Metal Components and Machinery
- NAICS
- Machine Shops (33271), Custom Roll Forming (332114)
- SIC
- Metalworkg Machinery & Equipment (3540)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Industrial Furnaces, Kilns & Thermal Processing Equipment (IMAHAEAE)
Keywords
Where Felss Group is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Königsbach-stein
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices8 records
Markets served
Felss Group business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Machine and System Engineering: Custom-designed cold forming machines and production systems sold directly to automotive, aerospace, precision engineering, and industrial customers globally. Machines include axial forming machines (AFH, Aximus H02, Aximus V02), rotary swaging machines (FR, HA, Generation E4.0, Generation E10), Tube+ machines, pipe bending (CBC), end machining (MEC), flat sheet bending (FBC), and HMP rolling systems. Machines are tailored to specific customer requirements from feasibility analysis through commissioning.
- Component Manufacturing (Make & Buy): Felss Rotaform produces precision cold formed components at five global manufacturing locations (Germany, Switzerland, USA, China, Slovakia). Produces over 36 million components annually including camshafts, crash tubes, hollow shafts, drive shafts, steering spindles, steering shafts, rotor shafts, gear shafts, constant velocity joints, and more. Components are delivered ready-to-install. Volume ranges from 20,000 to 6 million parts per series.
- Service, Maintenance, and Spare Parts: Comprehensive service offerings including 24/7 hotline support, field support with smart glasses, modernization and retrofitting of existing systems, tool service (original parts, sister tools, tool refurbishment), spare and wear parts supply, modular service agreements with inspection and maintenance, and training programs. Service contacts provided for different technology areas.
- Online Trainings and Knowledge Transfer: Know-how and knowledge transfer programs delivered directly by cold forming experts. Customized training on technology and processes, machine operation, inspection and maintenance, and troubleshooting.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels8 records
Felss Group product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Felss Group is a cold forming specialist offering a Make & Buy portfolio: it engineers and builds custom cold forming machines (Felss Systems), manufactures precision cold formed metal components at five global plants (Felss Rotaform), supplies HMP rolling systems, and provides Industry 4.0 digital services through its Felss Edge Device and Felss Digital Apps. Its primary customers are automotive OEMs and tier-1/tier-2 suppliers, with additional service to aerospace, industrial, precision engineering, and medical technology manufacturers.
Product overview
Felss Group is a specialist in cold forming offering a unified Make & Buy portfolio: it designs and manufactures custom cold forming machines (via Felss Systems) and produces components on those machines (via Felss Rotaform), alongside HMP Rolling rolling technologies acquired in 2019. The machine portfolio includes axial forming machines (AFH, Aximus H02, Aximus V02), rotary swaging machines (FR, HA, Generation E4.0, Generation E10), Tube+ machines, pipe bending, end machining, flat sheet bending, and a full range of HMP rolling systems. The component manufacturing division operates five global plants producing over 36 million components annually across automotive, industrial, aerospace, precision engineering, and medical technology sectors. Industry 4.0 capabilities are delivered via the Felss Edge Device and Felss Digital Apps suite. The company was founded in 1905 and is headquartered in Königsbach-Stein, Germany.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Felss Digital: Industry 4.0 solutions combining Felss Edge Device with digital apps for production data management, predictive maintenance, and process optimization.
- Felss Edge Device
- HMP Rolling
- Axialformen
- Rundkneten
- Felss Eco Lube
- Tube+ Verfahren
Products and services
- Felss Systems Maschinenbau (Cold Forming Machines) Custom-built cold forming machines and systems engineered by Felss Systems GmbH for automotive, aerospace, industrial, precision engineering, and medical technology customers. Each machine is tailored from feasibility analysis and simulation through prototyping, commissioning, and digital support.
- Felss Rotaform Komponentenfertigung (Component Manufacturing) Contract manufacturing of precision cold formed components at five global plants in Germany, Switzerland, the USA, China, and Slovakia. Produces over 36 million components annually, including camshafts, crash tubes, hollow shafts, drive shafts, steering spindles, rotor shafts, and gear shafts, delivered ready-to-install with optional in-house turning, grinding, washing, and painting.
- HMP Rolling Systems Rolling machines and rolling technologies acquired in 2019 covering wire reduction rolling, flat and profile wire rolling, ultra-precision rolling, strip rolling, and cross-profile rolling for nanometer-precision profiles in fine mechanics, medical technology, and precision engineering.
- Felss Digital / Felss Edge Device
Quantifiable outcome
- Fatigue strength increase of up to 30% through cold forming and rotary swaging
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use Felss Group
Customer profileNamed customers22 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Felss Group technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration1 record
Feature6 records
Felss Group partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- HMP Gesellschaften (HMP Rolling)coreAcquisition of HMP companies in 2019 added rolling technologies and rolling systems to Felss product portfolio, significantly expanding technology offerings to include wire reduction rolling, flat/profile wire rolling, ultra-precision rolling, strip rolling, and cross-profile rolling.
- University of Stuttgart - Institut für Umformtechnik (IFU)coreResearch partnership for advancing cold forming technology and process development. Supports Felss in maintaining technology leadership through academic collaboration and access to cutting-edge forming research.
- Fraunhofer IWU (Institut für Werkzeugmaschinen und Umformtechnik)coreStrategic research partnership with leading German manufacturing research institute for tooling, forming technology, and production science. Collaborates on process optimization and new technology development.
- wbk - Institut für Produktionstechnik, KIT (Karlsruher Institut für Technologie)coreLong-standing partnership with KIT's production engineering institute for manufacturing technology research.
- GUROSA (Mexico)minorLocal sales and service representative for Felss in Mexico.
- Pearson Panke Limited (UK)minorSales representative for Felss products in Great Britain.
- STRECON A/S (Scandinavia)minorSales representative for Felss products in Scandinavia (Denmark).
- Víctor Cebrián (Spain/Portugal)minorLocal sales representative for Felss products in Spain and Portugal.
- KAVAME Danışmanlık Tic. San. A.Ş. (Turkey)minorSales and consulting partner for Felss in Turkey.
- Illies K.K. IRISU / Illies Co., Ltd. (Japan)minorSales representative for Felss products in Japan.
- Correns Corporation (Japan)minorAdditional sales representative for Felss products in Japan.
- LIT Autotec Co., Ltd. (Korea)minorSales and service representative for Felss in Korea.
- Dr. Wamser + Batra India Pvt. Ltd. (India)minorSales and service representative for Felss products in India, covering both components (David Bennett) and equipment (Andrew Rush).
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves13 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Felss Group competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- voestalpine AG: Austrian steel and automotive components conglomerate. Comparable as a vertically integrated supplier of metal formed automotive components and precision parts; broader incumbent that overlaps with Felss's automotive and industrial customer base.
- SMS group: German metallurgical plant engineering group covering rolling mill, forging, and processing equipment. Broader incumbent serving some of the same automotive and steel-processing customers as Felss, though at a much larger scope.
- ThyssenKrupp AG: German industrial conglomerate with steel and automotive components (forgings, chassis). Functions as a customer/buyer ecosystem participant to Felss while also competing with Felss's component division in broader formed parts supply.
Direct peers
- Bharat Forge: India's largest forging and metal forming company producing automotive and industrial components globally. Comparable to Felss Rotaform in scale and vertical (automotive drivetrain/chassis formed components), with overlapping global OEM customers.
- Hatebur: Swiss manufacturer of cold forming and hot forming machines (including multi-station cold headers and part formers). Closest direct peer to Felss Systems in cold forming machinery for automotive components.
- Hirschvogel Automotive Group: German producer of forged and cold formed steel components for automotive drivetrain and chassis applications. Closest direct peer in the Rotaform-style cold formed component manufacturing business serving ZF, Bosch, and tier-1 accounts.
- Metalsa: Mexican Tier-1 automotive supplier of chassis, structural, and powertrain formed components with global manufacturing footprint. Direct peer to Felss Rotaform in serving light-vehicle OEMs (Stellantis, AAM, others) with formed metal components.
- Schuler AG: German global market leader in metal forming machinery (presses, automation, dies) servicing automotive OEMs and tier-1s. Direct peer in industrial metal forming equipment; competes with Felss Systems in press-based forming technologies.
- National Machinery: US-based manufacturer of cold forming machines (cold headers, thread rollers) and part formers. Direct competitor in the cold forming machinery market, with comparable automotive tier-1/tier-2 customer base.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Felss Group social profiles
Digital presenceFelss Group financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Felss Group leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles9 records
Felss Group subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries9 records
Felss Group funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Felss Group 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 Felss Group
What does Felss Group do?
Felss Group is a cold forming specialist offering a Make & Buy portfolio: it engineers and builds custom cold forming machines (Felss Systems), manufactures precision cold formed metal components at five global plants (Felss Rotaform), supplies HMP rolling systems, and provides Industry 4.0 digital services through its Felss Edge Device and Felss Digital Apps. Its primary customers are automotive OEMs and tier-1/tier-2 suppliers, with additional service to aerospace, industrial, precision engineering, and medical technology manufacturers.
Is Felss Group a public or private company?
Felss Group is a private company. It is classified as private equity controlled and is currently operating.
When was Felss Group founded?
Felss Group was founded in 1905. It employs 501 to 1,000 people.
Where is Felss Group based?
Felss Group is headquartered in Königsbach-stein, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does Felss Group make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Machine and System Engineering is the primary driver. The others are component Manufacturing (Make & Buy), service, Maintenance, and Spare Parts and online Trainings and Knowledge Transfer.
Who are Felss Group's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are voestalpine AG, SMS group and ThyssenKrupp AG. Direct peers are Bharat Forge, Hatebur, Hirschvogel Automotive Group, Metalsa, Schuler AG and National Machinery.
Does Felss Group have an API?
No public API is recorded for Felss Group.
What industry is Felss Group in?
Felss Group's product category is Cold Formed Metal Components and Machinery. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAHAEAE, Industrial Furnaces, Kilns & Thermal Processing Equipment. Its NAICS code is 33271 and its SIC code is 3540.