Schafer Werke
SCHÄFER WERKE is a family-owned German industrial group (founded 1937, headquartered in Neunkirchen, Siegerland) operating five B2B divisions: EMW steel service, SCHÄFER Lochbleche perforated metals, SCHÄFER IT-Systems data center infrastructure, SCHÄFER Container Systems stainless steel KEGs/IBCs, and Büro-/Betriebseinrichtungen workshop and office equipment.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1937
- HeadquartersNeunkirchen, Germany
- Headcount1,001–5,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Schafer Werke does
SCHÄFER WERKE GmbH & Co KG is a privately held, family-owned German industrial group headquartered in Neunkirchen in the Siegerland region, tracing its origins to 1937 as a sheet metal goods manufacturer and now operating across five core divisions: EMW Stahl-Service-Center (mill-independent processing and trading of coils, slit strip, cut-to-size sheets, and fine sheet steel), SCHÄFER Lochbleche (custom and stock perforated metal sheets), SCHÄFER IT-Systems (data center, colocation, and network/server cabinet infrastructure), SCHÄFER Container Systems (stainless steel KEGs, IBCs, and special containers from 5 to 1,500 liters, with 25M+ units sold since 1978), and SCHÄFER Büro- und Betriebseinrichtungen (workshop and office equipment for industry, trade, and crafts), supplemented by an in-house Werkzeugbau (tool manufacturing) unit and an Austrian IBC automation site acquired in 2025.
The group sells almost exclusively through direct B2B channels, using division-specific websites, a customer newsletter ("dialog"), and industry trade press to reach industrial buyers in steel processing, construction and architecture, IT infrastructure, beverage and chemical packaging, and general industrial/workshop end markets. Revenue mechanics are one-time hardware sales or project-based contracts (steel coils, perforated sheets, IT cabinets, stainless steel containers, furniture), with pricing not publicly disclosed and quoting handled per inquiry. The group employs 1,001–5,000 staff across sites in Neunkirchen, Iserlohn, and Langenwang (Austria), and reports a global footprint while concentrating most production in Germany.
Strategically, the group is executing a measured expansion program — most recently the 2025 acquisition of Automationstechnik GmbH to consolidate stainless steel IBC capability, a February 2026 strategic partnership between SCHÄFER IT-Systems and Thomas-Krenn.AG targeting digital sovereignty demand from the German Mittelstand, a 2024 capex upgrade at the Iserlohn steel service site, and a 2025 solar park inauguration at Pfannenberg — under family ownership led by CEO Michael Mockenhaupt alongside managing directors Marcus Düber and Dr.-Ing. Sebastian Nollau.
Schafer Werke firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Schafer Werke
- Legal name
- SCHÄFER WERKE GmbH & Co KG
- Website
- https://schaefer-werke.de
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1937
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1,001–5,000 employees
- Short description
- SCHÄFER WERKE is a family-owned German industrial group (founded 1937, headquartered in Neunkirchen, Siegerland) operating five B2B divisions: EMW steel service, SCHÄFER Lochbleche perforated metals, SCHÄFER IT-Systems data center infrastructure, SCHÄFER Container Systems stainless steel KEGs/IBCs, and Büro-/Betriebseinrichtungen workshop and office equipment.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Schafer Werke industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Industrial Manufacturing
- NAICS
- Metal Service Centers and Other Metal Merchant Wholesalers (423510), Hardware Manufacturing (33251)
- SIC
- Wholesale-Metals Service Centers & Offices (5051)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Hot Rolling & Primary Mills (Plate, Hot-Rolled Coil/Sheet, Strip) (IMAKABAE)
Keywords
Where Schafer Werke is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Neunkirchen
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices3 records
Markets served
Schafer Werke business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- EMW Stahl-Service-Center: Steel service center providing coils, slit coils, cut-to-size sheets, and fine steel products. Operates as an independent, globally positioned company offering diverse steel grades and quality-focused service.
- SCHÄFER Lochbleche: Perforated metal sheet manufacturing with individual customization and short-term availability of high-quality products. Includes efficient processing and customer-specific finishing.
- SCHÄFER IT-Systems: Data center infrastructure solutions including network and server cabinet systems for conventional and complex applications. Offers both standardized and custom-tailored solutions.
- SCHÄFER Container Systems: Stainless steel container manufacturing including KEGs (beverage kegs), IBCs (intermediate bulk containers), and special containers. Long-standing market leader with over 25 million containers sold since 1978.
- SCHÄFER Büro- und Betriebseinrichtungen: Office and workshop equipment solutions for industry, trade, and crafts sectors.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
Schafer Werke product offering
Product offeringCore offering
SCHÄFER WERKE is a diversified German industrial group that manufactures and sells perforated metal sheets, stainless steel beverage KEGs and IBC industrial containers, server and network cabinets for data centers, processed steel products (coils, slit strips, cut-to-size sheets), and office/workshop equipment. The company operates through five wholly-owned business divisions plus a tool manufacturing unit, supplying industrial and commercial customers globally from its headquarters in Neunkirchen, Siegerland, Germany.
Product overview
SCHÄFER WERKE is a diversified industrial group headquartered in Neunkirchen, Siegerland, Germany. The company operates across five main business divisions: EMW Stahl-Service-Center (independent steel service center for coils, slit strips, cut-to-size sheets, and fine sheet steel); SCHÄFER Lochbleche (perforated metal sheet manufacturer); SCHÄFER IT-Systems (data center infrastructure and network solutions); SCHÄFER Container Systems (stainless steel KEGs, IBCs, and special containers); and SCHÄFER Büro- und Betriebseinrichtungen (office and workshop solutions). Additionally, the company maintains a tool manufacturing division. Founded as a sheet metal goods manufacturer, the company has evolved into a globally active steel expert with operations spanning steel service, perforated sheets, IT infrastructure, and reusable container solutions.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- EMW Stahl-Service-Center Independent steel service center providing coils, slit strips, cut-to-size sheets, and fine sheet steel trading services to industrial customers.
- SCHÄFER Lochbleche Manufacturer of custom perforated metal sheets and stock perforated sheets with extensive processing capabilities for construction, architecture, and industrial applications.
- SCHÄFER IT-Systems Solution provider for data center infrastructure, colocation, and network technology, offering standardized and custom network and server cabinet solutions for conventional and complex applications.
- SCHÄFER Container Systems Manufacturer of KEGs (beverage kegs), IBCs (intermediate bulk containers), and special containers made of stainless steel ranging from 5 to 1,500 liters, with over 25 million containers sold since 1978.
- SCHÄFER Büro- und Betriebseinrichtungen Solutions for operations, workshop, and office environments serving industry, trade, and crafts sectors with efficient and economical workplace equipment.
- SCHÄFER Werkzeugbau Tool manufacturing division of SCHÄFER WERKE providing industrial tooling capabilities.
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 25 million containers sold since 1978
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Schafer Werke
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Schafer Werke technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Schafer Werke partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Thomas-Krenn.AGcoreStrategic partnership between Thomas-Krenn.AG and SCHÄFER IT-Systems to strengthen digital sovereignty, reduce complexity, and create planning certainty for medium-sized businesses, channel partners, and managed service providers. The cooperation focuses on comprehensive IT solutions.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Schafer Werke competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Rittal (Friedhelm Loh Group): Rittal is the global market leader in industrial and IT enclosures/server cabinets, and is the most direct competitor to SCHÄFER IT-Systems in standardized and custom data center and network cabinet solutions. Comparable as a German Mittelstand industrial group with a similar mix of enclosure, power distribution, and IT infrastructure offerings.
- Vertiv Holdings: Vertiv is a pure-play data center infrastructure vendor offering power, thermal, and IT management solutions including server and network rack systems. Comparable to SCHÄFER IT-Systems' server and network cabinet business serving colocation and enterprise data center customers.
- RMIG: RMIG is a leading European manufacturer of perforated metal sheets with a broad finishing portfolio, directly comparable to SCHÄFER Lochbleche in product offering (custom and stock perforated sheets), customization capabilities, and target end-markets (architecture, industry, filtration).
- nVent Electric: nVent's enclosures and network/server cabinet portfolio (including the Schroff brand) competes head-to-head with SCHÄFER IT-Systems in standardized and custom IT infrastructure solutions. Highly comparable product/customer overlap in data center and network cabinet systems.
Others
- ABB: ABB's electrification and industrial automation portfolio spans data center power infrastructure, industrial enclosures, and process automation—comparable to SCHÄFER IT-Systems at the data center layer and to SCHÄFER WERKE's broader industrial manufacturing footprint. Serves overlapping European industrial customers.
Broad incumbents
- Thyssenkrupp Steel Europe: Thyssenkrupp Steel is one of Europe's largest flat steel producers, comparable to EMW Stahl-Service-Center at the upstream steel processing and distribution level. While Thyssenkrupp operates primary mills and EMW is an independent service center, both serve overlapping downstream industrial and construction customers in Germany.
- Schneider Electric: Schneider Electric is a global leader in data center infrastructure, power distribution, and industrial automation. Comparable to SCHÄFER IT-Systems at the data center infrastructure layer and to SCHÄFER Lochbleche/Container Systems at the broader industrial manufacturing level, though at vastly greater scale and breadth.
- ArcelorMittal: ArcelorMittal is the world's largest steel producer with a global steel service center and distribution network, comparable to EMW Stahl-Service-Center at the wholesale and processing layer. Overlap is in flat steel supply to industrial and construction customers across Europe.
- Salzgitter AG: Salzgitter operates integrated steel production and a broad steel service center business in Germany, closely comparable to EMW Stahl-Service-Center in customer base (industrial buyers, fabricators) and product portfolio (coils, slit strip, cut-to-size sheets).
- Eaton: Eaton's power management and data center infrastructure portfolio (including rack systems and power distribution) overlaps with SCHÄFER IT-Systems' data center and colocation offerings. Comparable at the integrated data center infrastructure level serving enterprise and colocation customers.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Schafer Werke social profiles
Digital presenceSchafer Werke financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Schafer Werke leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Schafer Werke subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries6 records
Schafer Werke funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Schafer Werke 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 Schafer Werke
What does Schafer Werke do?
SCHÄFER WERKE is a diversified German industrial group that manufactures and sells perforated metal sheets, stainless steel beverage KEGs and IBC industrial containers, server and network cabinets for data centers, processed steel products (coils, slit strips, cut-to-size sheets), and office/workshop equipment. The company operates through five wholly-owned business divisions plus a tool manufacturing unit, supplying industrial and commercial customers globally from its headquarters in Neunkirchen, Siegerland, Germany.
Is Schafer Werke a public or private company?
Schafer Werke is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Schafer Werke founded?
Schafer Werke was founded in 1937. It employs 1,001 to 5,000 people.
Where is Schafer Werke based?
Schafer Werke is headquartered in Neunkirchen, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does Schafer Werke make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. EMW Stahl-Service-Center is the primary driver. The others are SCHÄFER Lochbleche, SCHÄFER IT-Systems, SCHÄFER Container Systems and SCHÄFER Büro- und Betriebseinrichtungen.
Who are Schafer Werke's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Rittal (Friedhelm Loh Group), Vertiv Holdings, RMIG and nVent Electric. ABB is listed as an others. Broad incumbents are Thyssenkrupp Steel Europe, Schneider Electric, ArcelorMittal, Salzgitter AG and Eaton.
Does Schafer Werke have an API?
No public API is recorded for Schafer Werke.
What industry is Schafer Werke in?
Schafer Werke's product category is Industrial Manufacturing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAKABAE, Hot Rolling & Primary Mills (Plate, Hot-Rolled Coil/Sheet, Strip). Its NAICS code is 423510 and its SIC code is 5051.